Page 128 of Midnight Wedding

She stares at me grimly. “You’ll survive. You’re strong, Lena. You can do this.”

“I didn’t read the books.” I gasp and squeeze Sona’s hand. “Oh my god. I never read them. Arsen told me I should and I promised that I would, but I never did. I’m the worst mother in the world. I’m going to screw this up so badly. Oh, shit, I can’t do this!”

“Lena, stop it.” She leans in close and touches my cheek. It’s the most intimate we’ve been since we started working together. “You are going to be a wonderful mother. You know what I was worried about when Arsen was coming? I kept thinking my figure was about to be ruined. But you care about this baby.Arsen cares about both of you. Things are going to be alright, I promise.”

The car lurches to a halt. “We’re here,” Haik shouts and throws open the door. “You there! Orderly with the ugly shoes! I need a wheelchair for my pregnant queen. What the fuck do you mean, you don’t work here?” He storms off into the building, yelling like a madman.

“You can do this,” Sona says, pushing open our door.

“I just want Arsen,” I say, struggling to keep myself from crying.

I thought I had more time. Two whole weeks! We planned on being together twenty-four-seven starting soon so there’d be no way I could go into labor without him, and look at what’s happening. It’s all falling apart.

If only I had read the books, maybe I’d feel like I can handle this.

A wheelchair arrives. Haik’s marshaling orderlies and nurses like he owns the place. I’m pretty sure he’s going to get kicked out soon. They push me back and Sona comes along when I tell them she’s my aunt. I give them the name of my OB and they send her a page. They time my contractions and another doctor comes to visit, and all the while I’m sitting in a bed in a private room in Baltimore’s best hospital, but everything’s all wrong.

Arsen won’t pick up his phone.

“I know it’s early, but we’re following the birth plan,” Dr. Balian says. She’s the calmest person I’ve ever met, but even she can’t make me feel like I’m not falling to pieces. “It’s not too late to change your mind about pain medication.”

“I’m doing this natural,” I say, breathing fast through another contraction. “But please, doctor?—”

“You’re pretty far along,” she says with some surprise after taking a look at me. “Further than I thought, actually.”

“Arsen’s not here. I can’t do this.”

“That baby’s coming. Keep calling him.” The doctor leaves but promises to come back soon.

The contractions get worse. I feel like I’m breaking to pieces. Only Sona’s with me, and she’s doing her best to keep me grounded, but I’m freaking out.

All wrong. All freaking wrong.

“You can do this,” she says as the doctor comes back followed by a bunch of nurses. They’re wearing scrubs and operating gear like they’re about to rip me open. “Trust me, Lena, you can handle it.”

“Arsen,” I whimper as another contraction rips through my body.

“Time to push,” Dr. Balian says. “Okay, Lena, you can do this. When I say?—”

The door rips open. And it’s like I can breathe again.

“Baby,” Arsen says, running to my side. He looks like he ran a marathon to get here. “Fuck, I’m so sorry. When I heard, I got here as fast as I could.”

“Great timing, Dad,” Dr. Balian says. “We were just about to get pushing. Are you with me, Lena?”

Arsen wraps his hand around mine. I blink away tears. He nods at me, squeezing gently. “Go ahead, baby. You got this.”

I hold his hand. My big, perfect husband. Suddenly all my fears wash away. All my worry evaporates. Who gives a shit about the stupid books?

Arsen read them all, and I’ve got him.

Sona watches from over near the window.

Dr. Balian peers between my legs.

“Push!”

Chapter 44

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