Page 103 of Tangled Desires

He brushes my hair back gently. “It’s nothing, baby. Just a small scratch. You’re okay. I promise.”

Two nurses step closer, one a young woman with a smile. “Hi, Imogen. I’m Tayla, your midwife tonight,” she says softly. “And this is Eileen.” The older woman offers a gentle nod, reaching for my hand.

They guide me carefully as I slip out of my clothes, switching me into a thin hospital gown. Tayla wraps a blood pressure cuff around my arm, the soft beeping of the monitor filling the air. Each sound feels like an anchor, pulling me back from the edge. Eileen’s hand moves to my cheek, but as soon as her fingers graze my skin, a sharp, searing pain shoots through me.

“Fuck!” The curse escapes and my eyes flood with tears.

“Sorry, love.” She’s already reaching for an ice pack. “Let’s get that swelling down, okay?”

Tayla finishes setting up, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Alright, Imogen. I’d like to do a quick exam to check your cervix, if that’s okay with you.

“Yeah, okay.”

“Good,” she says gently lifting my gown. “Just breathe, darl. It won’t take long.” I grit my teeth, bracing myself as she carefully checks. After a moment, she slips the gown back down and looks up. “You’re about five centimetres along—halfway there.”

Bradley ducks back into the room, turning to Harrison. “I’ll be outside, checking on the others.” He pauses, eyes softening as he looks at me. “You want me to call anyone?”

“My dad.” My voice is shaky. “Please... tell him I need him here.” Bradley gives a firm nod and disappears through the door.

Harrison stays close to me, brushing soft circles against my hand. “We’ve got this, sugar. Just breathe. I’m right here. I’m so sorry,” he whispers, his voice breaking as he repeats it over and over, his eyes full of raw guilt. “Immy, I’m so fucking sorry.”

Tears well in my eyes, “I was so scared, Harrison. I tried to be strong… I thought they were gonna take me.” My breath catches, the fear still holding me tight. “I thought—”

“They wouldn’t have gotten far. If Isla hadn’t been there—” He pauses, his voice cracking. “Fuck, I can’t even imagine.”

“Isla… Is she okay?”

“With Xavier, love,” he assures me. “She’s fine. She called the police. She called us.” His words hit me hard. She saved my life. She really did. Grateful isn’t the right word to describe what I’m feeling right now. I can practically feel Harrison’s relief.

The door opens again, and the midwives are back. But before I can react, another contraction grips me, ripping through my body. I double over, breath ragged. They guide me, coaching me to breathe, to focus on short bursts of air. Harrison’s brow tightens as he watches me, gripping my hand like it’s his lifeline.

“What can I do?” There is desperation in his voice.

“Help her breathe through it,” Tayla says. “Keep her focused—let her squeeze your hand if she needs to.”

Eileen adjusts the monitor around my stomach. “We’re timing each contraction and tracking the baby’s heart rate,” she explains. “Mum’s been through a lot of stress, so we need to keep a close eye on the baby.”

“Just going to get some fluids in,” Tayla says calmly. A sharp prick in my arm, and then—agony. Another contraction hits, fiercer than the last, tearing a raw, guttural cry from my throat.

“Can’t you give her something for the pain?” Harrison asks.

“Yes, we can start the epidural, if that’s what you’d like.”

“Hell no,” I snap through gritted teeth. “I’m not having a huge ass needle in my back!”

“Okay, okay,” Harrison says. “Anything else you can give her?”

“We can try the gas.” Eileen holds up a mouthpiece. “This is nitrous oxide—it’ll take the edge off. When you feel a contraction starting, put this in your mouth, bite down gently, and breathe in slowly and deeply. It works best if you time it right, so start as soon as you feel the tightening.”

“Do you want to give it a go?” Harrison asks, gently swiping loose strands of my hair back from my face. I grit my teeth, nodding as I take the mouthpiece from her, ready to try anything to manage the discomfort.

39

Five hours. Five hours I’ve been in this agony.

The thought hisses through my mind as another contraction digs in, making me double over. The pressure in my lower back feels like a vice, squeezing and twisting, threatening to split me in two. I told myself I could do this naturally—no epidural, no drugs, just pure strength.

But right now, in the thick of it, I’m fucking regretting it.

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