Page 116 of While We Waited

“I need to go,” Caleb says. “Stay safe, Maya.”

“That sounds like goodbye!” I shout after him.

“Because it is!”

Silly man. As if he can get rid of me that easily. I now have a mission. Find out why Caleb thinks everyone in his life is better off without him. And then convince him he’s wrong.

Chapter 37

Introducing Iliana

Two Months Later

Hudson

Iglare at Nova. “We’re going to the hospital.”

She grits her teeth as she fights another wave of pain. I can’t stand watching her in pain. I need to do something about it. Which is go to the hospital.

“It’s not time yet.”

“You’re in pain. Whenever you’re in pain, it’s time to go to the hospital.”

“No, it’s not, Crabby Crabapple.”

Any man would be crabby after watching the woman they love suffer through pain for several hours.

“You’re having our baby. I don’t want you to give birth to our baby girl in this chalet.”

“Why not? Women give birth at home all the time.”

I blow out a breath before I snap at her. Me yelling will not get us to the hospital any quicker. I kneel in front of her and grasp her hands.

“You’re not being a hypochondriac if you go to the hospital when you’re having contractions.”

“It’s early labor. I don’t need to go to the hospital until my contractions last at least one minute each and occur at least every five minutes for more than two hours.”

This is what I get for buying every single book about pregnancy I could find. Nova memorized everything she could about labor. She’s determined to overcome her hypochondria. Considering Dr. Katz rang up last week to ask if everything is okay since she hadn’t heard from Nova in over a week, she’s winning the battle.

“Sunshine, no one will think you’re a hypochondriac if you go to the hospital now.”

She scowls at me.

“I’m so fucking proud of you. You’ve worked really hard to fight your fear of death. I’m in awe of your strength.”

Tears well in her eyes and she sniffs to stop them from falling but one manages to escape. I wipe it away.

“I’m serious, Sunshine. You’re the strongest person I know.”

“Thank you and I love you, but I’m not going to the hospital until my contractions occur every five minutes for two hours.”

“Can we compromise?”

She giggles. “Listen to you. Captain Cranky is going to compromise.”

“I compromise with you all the time. Didn’t I let you go out with your friends last week despite worrying about how close you are to your due date?”

She rolls her eyes. “You gave me a curfew.”

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