Page 34 of Banking on Love

“She’s a trooper, Nick,” my grandmother patted my back. “Her and the baby will be fine, but they need you in there.” She gestured at the door.

“I know,” I whispered. “I don’t want to see her in pain, Grandma.”

“I know you don’t, Honey,” she said softly and smiled.

There was a noise on the other side of the door. It sounded like an old shopping cart being pushed. The sound of steady beeps grew louder and louder until…

“Just going to stand out here all day?” Kensi asked as she opened the door. One of her hands was on a hospital machine that had wheeled over to the door. She was wearing a hospital gown and had cords from the machine running under it.

“Mrs. Campton!” A nurse shrieked from the nurse’s station. Kensi made aut-oh-I’m-bustedlook, which made me chuckle.

“Yes?” Kensi called out sweetly. The nurse came running down the hallway.

“You need to be in bed. You’re nine cenimeters. The baby will be here any minute,” the nurse said, trying to usher Kensi back into the room.

“My husband is hiding out here in the hallway though,” Kensi pouted. The nurse looked at me and glared. She pointed a finger at me.

“I’ve told you several times that you were needed inside the room,” she scolded. “And, now, your wife has escaped her bed.”

“Sorry,” I offered.

“Let’s get you back into bed, Mrs. Campton.”

“But he’s still out here,” Kensi sighed. She seemed torn between being out in the hallway or returning to the bed. The nurse was right though. If Kensi was that far along dilated, she needed to be in bed. No ands, ifs, or buts.

“Here, let me help you back in bed, Beautiful,” I said, wrapping an arm around her waist.

“There ya go, Champ!” Kimberly patted me forcefully on the back, causing me to choke slightly.

“Why are you so damn strong?” I muttered, making the others laugh. Kallia stepped closer to me.

“You hid in the hallway. You’re lucky we don’t beat you up,” Kallia whispered harshly.

There they are,I chuckled to myself.

My sister-in-laws were a force to be reckonned with. Only a fool would try to piss them off. And add Kensi to the mix and the person’s body would never be found again.

“Why are you laughing?” Kensi asked with an eyebrow raised.

“Oh. Nothing, Dear,” I chuckled.

“Mmhmm.”

“Am I late! Did I make it in time?” Mr. Wallace’s words boomed throughout the hallway. We all looked down the hallway to find him running towards us with balloons and a giant white teddy bear. “Is the baby here ye–”

He stood in front of us and frowned at Kensi.

“Why are you out of bed?” he asked. Kensi, my grandmother, the twins, and the nurse all pointed at me.

“Tattle tales,” I muttered.

“He wouldn’t go in the room,” Kallia further snitched.

“What?” Mr. Wallace growled.

“Let me get Kensi in bed and then I’ll explain,” I offered before ushering my wife into the room, in hopes to hide from my father-in-law’s wrath.

Once Kensi was settled in bed, the nurse adjusted the cords and pressed a few buttons on the monitor. A fast beeping sound filled the room. I opened my mouth to ask what the noise meant, but Kensi grabbed my hand and squeezed the life out of it.

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