Page 18 of Unexpected Delivery

Hayes nods and heads after her.

The other nurse leans over Arbor, telling her something in words too soft for me to make out.

Hael comes over, getting very close to my ear. “I might have accidentally committed insurance fraud, but uhh, we can worry about that later. I’m just telling you, so you don’t contradict what I put down. We’re on the paperwork as the responsible financial party, and I listed our insurance for the baby. I also kinda wrote myself down as the dad.”

My eyes widen. “Shit.”

“Yeah, I know,” he mutters, still keeping his voice low. “I panicked. She doesn’t have insurance. I mean, I guess she could, but wouldn’t that be the first thing you’d bring with you to the hospital?”

“Absolutely.”

“Right, so…” His head shakes. “I don’t know, but there’s more to it. We can get into all that later. Hayes said the mark on her cheek isn’t from the accident. We think she’s running from someone.”

My fists clench because I agree.

When she came into the shop, I didn’t have the full picture.

Now I do.

She must have been wearing makeup the day I saw her outside the grocery store and again when she came in to have her car checked out. Otherwise, I’m positive I would have noticed it…unless she was purposely covering it up.

“I’m going to keep an eye on Hayes,” Hael says, clapping my shoulder.

Hayes has his own trauma left over from the military, and it’s the kind that only time heals. If I didn’t need to be with Arbor, I’d be checking on him to see how he’s coping after delivering the baby, but right now I have to trust Hael will support his brother.

Arbor sniffles, leaning into my shoulder as the nurse wraps up another round of massaging her stomach.

Once she’s done, she tells Arbor to call if she needs the bathroom. “They should be back with the baby soon. Are you planning to nurse, or will you be bottle feeding?”

“I want to breastfeed,” Arbor says sleepily. “They had me do the first round in the ER.”

“Sounds good. No more than two hours before your next feed.” The nurse smiles, wheeling her cart toward the door. “We have a lactation consultant. I’ll schedule her to stop by in the morning. I can help with latching too. If you need anything, especially the bathroom, hit the call button.” She heads out, and I run my fingers through the little omega’s hair.

“Have you thought of names?”

“I have spent so much time on names.” She smiles. “I love Gracie and Sutton. Bexley is cute too.”

“Those are all beautiful names.”

“Holland is pretty, but I’m not sure how I feel about Holly as a nickname.” She yawns and carefully scoots closer. I’m in awe that she’s able to move like that at all. The baby weighed seven pounds, six ounces. She’s so tiny compared to my giant hands, and still, I saw the agony she caused Arbor. “Wrenley is nice, and Wren makes a great nickname.”

“Those are both great too.”

“I love Ally or Clover, but Adam hated those.” Her entire body tenses, including her hand on my chest.

I must have been distracted when she put it there, but I bring my free hand up, giving hers a squeeze. “Would you like to tell me about him? Or even how you got here?”

She sighs. “We were only together for a few months when I found out I was pregnant. It didn’t make any sense, I always took my birth control on time. I had to because it had my suppressants together with it all in one pill. Anyway, that part doesn’t matter. Long story short? He was nice until he wasn’t. Once I was tied to him…”

Tilting my head, I study the side profile of her face.

Her eyes clench and her head shakes. “I needed to get out. I saved up for months. Every time I made a cash tip, I split it—I kept half and gave the rest to a friend from work. She kept it safe until I was ready to leave. Without her help, I don’t think I ever would have gotten away. She’s the one who gave me the car and lent me her family’s cabin. That’s how I ended up here.”

There are so many things I want to say. So many questions on the tip of my tongue, but I know she’s exhausted—both mentally and physically.

Instead, I will myself to purr. It’s been so many years since I even tried that I’m not sure it’ll work, but eventually, my chest begins to rattle.

“I’m grateful you did.” I continue soothing my fingers through her hair, trying to comfort her. “Get some rest. I’ll wake you as soon as the nurse brings the baby back.”

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