Page 121 of Growing Into Love

I look up at the sky, a rich deep blue, and for a moment I can feel Mum’s spirit looking down on me. Dad’s too. The next generation of Wrights is starting at Oak Hill.

As I slip my hand into Jaz’s, his eyes sparkling with joy, I can’t help feeling like the luckiest girl in the world.

My future burns bright—and Jaz will be by my side for every step of it.

EPILOGUE

CASS

“Do we have everything?”Jaz calls as I shove a jumper into my purse.

“What would we need?” I say, storming down the stairs and into his kitchen.

“Craig and Theresa might have forgotten something,” Jaz says, shrugging into his jacket.

“The only thing Theresa will be needing is an epidural,” I tell him. “And neither of us is going to be helping with that. Let’s go!”

We pile into his car and head to hospital.

Craig called us ten minutes ago: Theresa’s water broke.

It’s time.

I’m glad Jaz is driving because I can’t think straight. My heart pounds in giant pulses that thud over my skin and make my vision blurry.

I reach out and grab Jaz’s thigh to steady myself. “This is really happening,” I say.

“It really is,” he says.

It’s raining, and the mist surrounding the fields gives the world a dreamlike quality. After months of waiting, I can’t believe the day is finally here. Almost as if I never thought Baby would be born at all. Like he would always only exist inside Theresa.

We pull up to hospital and park in the lot, hurrying inside and nearly skidding on the slick floor. “Theresa Wellington,” Jaz says to the nurse on duty.

“Maternity ward, second floor,” she says.

Jaz and I scamper down the hall and up the stairs. A nurse at reception greets us. When we give Theresa’s name, she points to a small area with a couch and some chairs where we can wait.

Jaz runs a hand through his hair, shaking out the raindrops. He doesn’t sit, but paces back and forth across the cramped space.

“Jaz, you’re making me dizzy,” I tell him. I twist my engagement ring around on my finger as Jaz sits beside me.

“Fancy a coffee?” he asks. I know he just wants something to do.

“Yeah, thanks,” I say.

Jaz heads down to the café on the first floor. I take out my phone and text a bit with Zara, telling her the baby is on the way. Jaz comes back and hands me a small paper cup.

“I’ve texted Craig to let him know we’re here,” he says.

“Good,” I say, taking a sip of coffee. It’s terrible but at least it’s something to keep my hands busy.

Otherwise, there’s not much we can do except wait.

Every second feels like a minute, every minute the length of an hour. I’ve dealt with pregnancy my entire life (hello, lambing season) but this isn’t like anything I’ve ever experienced. My nerves are frayed and my bones feel about to jump through my skin. Jaz’s leg bounces up and down so hard, I finally put my hand on his knee to still it.

“Sorry,” he says. I release it and immediately, it starts bouncing again.

Five painfully long hours later, a nurse comes into the waiting room.

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