Page 144 of Bae

“Squeeze my hand,” I told her, watching her face.

How long was she going to have to do this?

“That’s a big one,” the nurse said, reading the machine again.

“Can’t you do something?” I snapped as Rimmel squeezed my hand with more force than I thought she had.

About a minute later, her grip relented, and she rested back against the pillows.

“Did you change your mind about an epidural?” the super unhelpful nurse asked.

“No,” Rimmel replied immediately. “No drugs.”

“Okay. I’ll be back in a few minutes with the doctor to see how everything is progressing.”

When she was gone, I looked at my father. “You see that negligence. We have a solid case.”

He laughed.

“What the hell is so funny?” I demanded.

“We aren’t suing anyone, Romeo,” Rimmel declared.

I went back to pacing.

Braeden piped up from his position near Ivy. “Dude, you gotta tell the kid to hurry up. That’s what I did with Nova. She came right out.”

Ivy rolled her eyes, and my mom laughed.

“Rimmel, can I get you anything?” Mom asked her, stepping up beside the bed.

“No, thank you. I’m fine. Just a little nervous.”

“Everything is going to be just fine.” Mom assured her and brushed her hair from her face. “I can feel it.”

Rimmel nodded and relaxed against the mattress.

The nurse came back into the room, followed by her new OB, who had already signed a NDA. “Should we see how things are coming along?” she asked as she went to check the machines.

“We’ll be in the waiting room. If you want or need anything, you just have Roman come and get us. We’ll be right here,” my mother told Rimmel.

Rimmel surprised me when she grabbed my mother’s hand and squeezed. “Thank you for everything.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart,” Mom replied, her eyes actually misty.

“See, Moms, I told ya Rimmel was a good one,” Braeden said.

“You were right.” She agreed as she and my father left the room.

Trent and Drew both went to kiss Rimmel and rub her belly for good luck (I glared at them both) before following along behind my parents.

The doctor glanced at Braeden and Ivy.

“I’m not leaving,” Braeden announced. “That’s my sister.”

Rimmel sighed. “It’s okay,” she told the doctor.

“Go stand in the corner!” I ordered B. “Don’t be looking at my wife.”

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