Page 89 of The SEALs' Single Mom Baby Surprise

I brush the hair from her face. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, shit,” Sloane bites out, and wetness spreads across her sweats. “Oh, shit.”

I gather her by the elbows as she looks at me with a wild mix of fear and determination.

Leaning back, I yell up the stairs. “Go time. Bring down some fresh sweats.”

Sloane’s working through her breaths, one of the patterns we were taught in Lamaze class.

Hastings comes thundering down the stairs, panic bright in his eyes as he spots Sloane and the giant wet spot on her sweats, a new pair in his hand. I send him a stern look, and he puts himself back together in a blink.

“Cole is already downstairs,” he says, taking Sloane’s other elbow as we steer her toward the basement.

A giant wooden tub sits in the middle of the concrete floor, the scent of freshly cut wood wafting through the space. Water is running, filling the tub in a steady gush. He’s far calmer than Hastings, but then, he’s been through this before.

Even though we’ve all been trained and registered as midwives to be able to do this at home, worry has rooted itself too deeply to carve out. Cole nods, flipping a switch that will help heat up the water for her to be more comfortable.

Sloane wants a water birth, and we want to give her everything she’s ever wanted. It makes decisions rather easy most of the time.

I help get her sweats and underwear off, but she bats my hand away when I reach to remove the T-shirt. “Just… help me in.”

I have to wait as a contraction doubles her over. Her jaw tight, teeth clenched, she barely grunts before she slowly straightens again and I’m able to help her climb into the tub.

We take care of her while we wait, rotating being the one beside her, holding her hand and breathing with her. The best we can do is provide support and calmness until the baby comes.

And when he does, I’m completely in awe of the little guy. Cole cleans him up and tucks him in a soft towel before he hands the baby over to Sloane. Her eyes are dreamy and tired, but she looks down at him like he’s the most amazing thing in the world.

She’s right. Well, the sight of them both, together, makes the world feel complete at last.

We all stand around her for a moment, watching our woman and our baby bonding. His little hand wraps around her finger as she coos at him.

When she’s ready, Cole takes the little guy back as Hastings and I gather Sloane up out of the water. I lift her in my arms to carry her upstairs for a proper shower. Hastings gets it ready, and I step into the tub without a care for my clothes.

It’s a quick job, cleaning her up and drying her off. With the two of us, it’s easier to manage, and I strip out of my clothes to put on my own sweats as Hastings carries her back downstairs to the couch where Cole is waiting for us.

Sloane settles down with our babe, feeding him and rocking him against her.

God, I never thought I could feel this way. But I’m full of such overwhelming gratitude that she’s a part of our lives. That I get to call her mine.

I brush her light auburn hair from her glimmering eyes and plant a kiss on her forehead, murmuring, “You’re the strongest person I know, and this kid? He’ll have all of us. Always.”

---