Page 322 of As The Shifter World Turns

He was on the huge exercise ball bouncing, and sobbing quietly.

“Daire.” I said softly. “Why are you so sad?” I rushed to his side feeling helpless.

“I’m not sad. I slept in an awkward position or something.” He sucked in his snot. “And my back hurts so bad.”

I looked up at the clock, even the urgent care would be closed.

“Did you want to go to the ED?”

He shook his head adamantly. “The next time I go to the hospital it will be to have our baby. And besides, the bouncing helped a little bit.”

“Do you think a shower will help more or maybe ice packs?” I knew better than to offer him any medication. He was sure that they would be bad for the baby even when it was the doctor telling him he could take them.

“Heating pad. I think I need a heating pad, but ours broke.”

“I can go get you a new one. There’s a twenty four hour pharmacy on the other side of town.” I held both hands out to him. “But I’d feel better if you were either sitting on the couch or in bed. I don’t want you tipping over.”

He didn’t argue, taking my hands and righting himself. “Can I get some blue corn chips too?”

“Of course, mate. Of course.”

He ended up back in bed and I drove across town to the pharmacy. They didn’t have the size heating pad I wanted and I ended up with two smaller ones instead. It wasn't ideal, but given the time of day, it would have to do. I also grabbed his blue corn chips and some gummy worms just in case he wanted something sweet.

The line wound up being remarkably long and had I not seen him in theliving room crying, I’d have second guessed the value in waiting in it. But the line did move and I was able to get home in fairly decent time.

I wasn’t prepared for what I found when I walked back in and announced I was home. Daire was in bed, crying out in such distress.

“I’m calling the ambulance.” I fished my phone out of my pocket, dropping it on the ground as I tried to unlock it.

“I said I wanted to have my baby in the hospital.” This time it wasn’t pain in his voice, it was anger. “The. Hos. Pit. Al.”

“I’m dialing,” I assured him, the phone now secure in my hand. “They’ll?—”

He smacked it from my hand. “Help me. The baby is coming now!”

I wanted to ask him what to do to help, but he squeezed his eyes shut and a feral sound built in his chest. “I need to push.”

“Then push, omega mine. Then push.”

And push he did, our beautiful baby girl, Benate, born not long afterward. I’d helped deliver our baby. I set her on his chest, leaving the umbilical cord attached and cleaned up enough to call the ambulance. Both Daire and Benate looked amazing, but I would feel better once a doctor told me I was right.

“You did it.” I kissed his brow as we waited for them to arrive. “We’re dads.”

“We’re dads,” he said, his voice raw with emotion. “We’re dads.”

149

BONE-SHAKING

Daire

Sunday mornings used to be about sleeping in but now we were parents, that was a thing of the past. Other than Anthony, the Sunshine Manor adults all had kids. Nate and I were the last pair to join the group.

When Benate cried at six, Nate got up and after changing her diaper, brought her to me in bed to be fed. While she suckled, I closed my eyes and almost dozed off.

“Daire.”

“Mmmm.”

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