Page 262 of On a Fault Line

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.Now,” she clarifies.

Nic looks at Graham, then at Collins.

“It’s probably safer to do this here and wait for help to arrive,” Collins suggests, “than to be stranded on the side of the road on the way there.”

His focused but calm demeanor helps me not to completely freak out, which would normally be my default reaction.

Nic runs into the bathroom to wash his hands and returns with a look of apprehension. I know he’s scared that the baby is too small and will possibly need more medical intervention than we are equipped to handle, but he doesn’t express his fears verbally in front of Claire.

“You guys got here fast,” I comment. I’m relieved they are here, and that Nic won’t miss out on the birth that very well could go down in his living room.

“We were already en route to my place,” Graham explains. “So, we just made a detour here.”

Claire does a series of exaggerated breaths. “I was trying to help Collins kidnap Penny and make you men see that they belong together and to get your heads out of your asses.”

“Is that so?” Nic growls.

“Yes,” she cries out. “I am done with this tension and feud. It ends right now.”

“Let’s discuss this later.”

Claire looks at each of us one by one. “You all are the family I never had. I’m not allowing anyone to leave me.”

Nic helps put a few pillows under her hips. Then he leans over to kiss her on her lips. “No one is going to leave you, Baby Girl.”

“It’s always an adventure with you, isn’t it?” Claire chokes out.

Nic lets out a nervous laugh. “I’m up for the challenge.”

Graham helps prop Claire’s body up to give her more back support.

“Angie and Penny, grab a knee,” Collins instructs. “Nic, remove anything Claire has on from the waist down.”

“How do you know so much?” I ask him. He’s basically a pro.

“I watched a lot of medical dramas.”

We all laugh, while Claire screams about how badly she wants this baby out and that it’s all Nic’s fault for putting one inside her in the first place.

“I’m going to put another one inside you as soon as it’s safe to do it again. I have never seen you more beautiful than when you’ve been carrying our child.”

“You are such a caveman!”

“You’re doing great, Claire,” Nic soothes, ignoring her anxiety-induced rage.

“This baby is coming too early. I can’t lose it.”

“You won’t,” I promise blindly, helping to hold her knee back and give her the angle needed to push this baby out.

Another contraction hits, and Nic moves between her legs, holding a towel.

“Push now,” he demands. “Push, Claire—like you mean it.”

“You’re doing great,” Collins says with confidence, not seeming the least bit scared over all the blood and fluids surrounding us.

And with a bellowing wail from Claire, the baby comes out.

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