Page 106 of Paternal Instincts
I moved to the abandoned chair at Bryn’s side and took her hand, still buzzing with mild anxiety, even though she seemed whole and well. “How are you?”
“In labor.” Her smile was pure, and it indented her cheeks. The cosmic spray of freckles across her face seemed more pronounced under the harsh hospital lights. Her fiery red hair glowed like always, accentuating her bubbling personality.
“You look more nervous than me,” she said, studying my face.
“I probably am.”
Aslan drew a chair to Bryn’s opposite side. “He’s been pacing for nine months. We’ll have to replace the carpet now.”
I sneered playfully at my husband.
Bryn handed me a scrunchie. “Can you help me put my hair up? It’s having a wild day, and I don’t have the energy to tame it. I need to save it for pushing.”
I took pride in helping and did my best to pull her mane into a high ponytail. It was not my forte, but I got it out of her eyes and off her neck, which was all she wanted.
“I won’t be winning any beauty contests today,” she said after I apologized for the lopsided effort.
“You look beautiful.”
“You’re a charmer, Quaid.”
“Nah, he’s right,” Aslan said. “You’re glowing.”
“That’s it. CallThe Bumpand tell them I’m ready for my cover shot.” She struck a Vogue pose, and Aslan and I laughed.
Bryn was a ball of positive energy and so full of life that I knew the second we met her that I wanted her to carry our child. Her heart was full of love, and she understood the amazingness of the gift she was giving us and how important her role was in our lives. For that, we loved her.
From stranger to surrogate to friend to family, we had formed a lifelong bond. If I lived a thousand years, it wouldn’t be enough time to express my gratitude.
“For real. You look good, Bryn. Even in this sexy muumuu getup they’ve given you to wear.” I thumbed the hospital gown.
Bryn’s laughter was like bells. “Well, thank you. Liar, liar, pants on fire. Besides, blue’s not really my color.”
“You make it work.”
She turned to Aslan. “Your husband is such a flatterer.”
“Yeah, we’re still teaching him how to flirt. He’s a work in progress and doesn’t have much experience with women.”
I shrugged at Bryn’s smirk. “What can I say?”
“How’s your case?” she asked.
My smile disintegrated. A knot pulled tight in my belly, but I shoved away the niggling worries. “It’s… someone else’s problem now.”
Strain pulled at her eyes. “Did you find the little boy?”
“Not yet,” Aslan said, taking my hand and squeezing. “But we have good people out there right now, and they’re going to find him and bring him home.”
I tried hard never to lie to parents and make promises I couldn’t guarantee to keep, but hearing Aslan speak so confidently gave me hope, and I needed hope.
Costa and Jordyn had been gone over an hour. They had initially been going after Jude before I gave them new information. It could take a while to drive to Pickering if traffic was heavy. Had Costa called? Messaged?
I moved to check my phone, but before I could release Bryn’s hand, she tightened her grip, drawing my attention. Her face contorted into tight lines of concentration. The sunny smile she was never without vanished. Tiny, squeaky noises of pain left her throat.
I was about to panic when I registered what was happening.
“Contraction,” Aslan said, confirming my thought.
