Page 85 of Paternal Instincts
Not long after I lost him to dreamland, I drifted as well, the TV droning nonsense in the background. I was almost under when my phone vibrated on the coffee table, and I jerked awake with a gasped breath. It took a second to figure out what I’d heard, and I checked to be sure Quaid was still asleep as I carefully reached for the device, but it was too far away.
“Dammit.” I cautiously shuffled, trying to dislodge my husband and extend my fingers as far as I could, but I barely managed to scrape their tips against the edge of the phone case.
Quaid’s phone was closer, and it rang with an incoming call before I could get mine in hand and check the message. His was set to topvolume and pierced the quiet room. Lately, he ensured the sound was always high, so he didn’t miss a call or text.
I reached for his phone instead of mine, lowering the volume so it didn’t disturb him as I checked the screen to see who was calling.
Bryn.
I jolted. “Oh shit.”
It was after midnight, and the only reason our surrogate would be calling at this time was because she was going to have a baby.
“Oh shit,” I said again.
The call would switch to voicemail in a second if I didn’t answer it, so I swiped to accept and glanced at Quaid, keeping my voice at a whisper. “Hey, Bryn. It’s Aslan.”
“I… Oh. I thought I called Quaid’s phone. I texted you. Did you get my text?”
“I got it.” I hadn’t, not yet. “Quaid’s asleep. Is it time?”
“Yep. Delivery is imminent. Labor has begun.” She laughed her Bryn laugh, so full of happiness and life. In my mind’s eye, I saw her freckled face full of joy. “My contractions are coming regularly now. Iggy confirmed. We aren’t going to the hospital yet. They’re still about nine minutes apart, and he said we should wait until they’re under five, or else I’ll get sent home. It might be a while yet. My last birth was thirty-six hours. I knew Quaid would want to know right away, so that’s why I called.”
My heart warmed and pattered anxiously against my ribs, adrenaline flooding my veins. Blood whomped so loudly in my ears it was a wonder Quaid didn’t hear it. I wanted to shake him awake and tell him the news, but I also knew he would make himself a wreck since his case was still open and he’d barely slept in forty-eight hours as it was. The last thing he needed was to pace and worry for the following who knew how long.
I’d experienced labor and delivery with my sister’s two kids, so I knew the drill and the possible lengthy stretch of waiting ahead of us.
“Do you need anything, Bryn?”
“No. I’m okay. I’m not even uncomfortable yet. I have Iggy and Arden here. Iggy says I should rest as much as I can right now. If Quaid’s sleeping—”
“I’m going to let him sleep, but you call me the minute you decide to go to the hospital.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Or if you need anything at all.”
“Okay.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
An unexpected flood of tears filled my eyes and clogged my throat. I was going to have a baby.Wewere going to have a baby. It was time. Our little munchkin was preparing to come into the world.
“Keep me posted, Bryn. Text my phone. I don’t want Quaid losing his shit until he has to.”
She giggled the same Bryn laugh and promised.
I stared at my sleeping husband in awe. The next stage of our lives was about to begin. It was a lot to process. The sheer magnitude was impossible to absorb. We were about to become dads. Quaid’s lifelong dream was about to come true.
I tucked my dozing husband back into my arms and buried my nose in the fine hairs along his nape, inhaling and crying silent tears of happiness. This was it. This was our moment.
Sleep would not come, but I didn’t care. I lay quietly, alert for any messages from Bryn and doing my duty to ensure we didn’t miss the call to head to the hospital. Quaid slept on, oblivious. Part of me feltcruel for not waking him to share the joyous news, but another part knew I was looking out for his well-being. He needed sleep.
In the early morning, as I hovered someplace on the cusp of consciousness, another buzzing noise sounded.
That time, Quaid responded before I was fully alert.
