Page 119 of Sometimes You Fall

“Scottie is okay, Grady,” Astrid says, catching me looking over at her for the hundredth time since the games started.

“I know, I’m just worried about her swelling. She’s been complaining about it all morning and she said that her back has been killing her.”

“All normal things at the end.” My sister puts her hand on my shoulder. “She’s in the shade, Chase is over there right now, and in a few minutes, we will be one step closer to winning this thing and then you can take her home, okay?”

I nod and glance down at my watch, noting that we have less than five minutes until they announce the next event. “You’re right.”

“Citizens of Carrington Cove!” Timothy shouts over the microphone as the crowd turns to face him and quiets down. “It is time for the final competition of the games!” Applause rings out among everyone.

“Grady!” Chase yells, racing over to us.

“The final competition will crown this year’s winner from our final two teams: Catch & Release and Smells Like Sugar!”

“Grady!” Chase shouts again as he stumbles to a stop in front of me.

“What’s up?”

“It’s Mom. I think…I think the baby is coming!”

“Our final game is an egg and spoon race,” Timothy continues, but my mind doesn’t even process what he’s saying anymore as Chase stands in front of me and his words sink in.

“Shit.” I spin to my sister. “Astrid, I have to go.”

“What? Now?” she whines. “But we only have one more game…”

“Scottie is in labor.”

Her eyes bug out. “Oh my God! I’m going to be an aunt!”

“Yeah.” I lean forward and kiss her on the cheek. “Good luck, sis! Beat Dallas’s ass and I’ll call you from the hospital!” I yell over my shoulder as I run after Chase, back over to my fiancée.

“Grady,” Scottie says as she winces, pushing herself up from her chair. “I think this is it. This pain in my back…it won’t let up.”

Grabbing her hand, I help her stand and then lead her out to the parking lot behind the boardwalk, hoping the traffic isn’t a nightmare to get through. People come into town from all over to watch the games, and normally, I’m all for it. But right now? I wish we lived somewhere else so I could get this woman to a hospital as quickly as possible.

“How far apart are the contractions?”

“A few minutes,” she says, groaning as we keep walking, Chase trailing behind us. “Ow, shit. It hurts!”

“Fuck. Chase, go start the truck and get the AC going.” I toss him my keys as he nods and races to my truck. “It’s okay, baby. We’re gonna get to the hospital as soon as we can.”

“I’m sorry you had to leave the games,” she cries as I hear my truck start in the distance.

“This is way more fucking important, baby. We’re about to meet our daughter.”

Scottie freezes in her steps. “Oh my God. Grady, I think she’s coming right now.”

“Fuck, really?”

“It hurts! Everything fucking burns down there.” She squeezes my hand so hard that I’m afraid she might breakmy fingers.

“Okay, hold on!” I bend down and pick Scottie up, walking as fast as I can to the truck. “Chase! Call 9-1-1! The baby is coming now!”

“Holy shit! Really?”

“Don’t cuss, Chase!” Scottie screams at her son as I open the back door to my truck and lay Scottie down on the back seat.

I have no towels, no gloves, nothing that would help with what’s about to happen. So, I strip my shirt from my body, ask Chase to do the same, and lie one under Scottie’s butt as I lift her dress and see blood already staining her underwear.

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