Page 83 of Breaking Free

“Been better,” I manage to say.

“When did you notice contractions?”

“Earlier. Maybe two or three hours ago. I thought they were Braxton Hicks. It’s early, and you told me that there was nothing to worry about.”

The doctor pushes his stool back, slides his gloves off, and looks at me. “Well, you’re at seven centimeters. The baby is coming tonight. Everything looks okay, so I expect the baby will be okay, too. We’ll give it a little longer before we start pushing.”

I like how he says “we” like it’s a joint effort. It will literally just be me. He’s just there to catch her when she comes out.

“How much longer?” J.R. asks the doctor.

“Probably another thirty minutes.”

I could puke. I’ve got to feel this pain for another thirty minutes? Every contraction is worse than the last, and I swear this it for me. No more babies. I’m done.

“Rach, I’m going to let Mom know what’s going on. I’ll be right back, okay?” He kisses me. “Promise.”

“Between the two of us, I’m the one with a history of leaving and not returning. I believe you.” I force a smile on my face.

“I love you.”

“I know.”

“Come with me, Knox. Give your mom some time to be in pain alone.” J.R. says, and then the two of them leave the room.

I ask the nurse to hand me my phone from my bag, and when she does, I dial Kelley. She would kill me if I called her after birth. The fact that it was sudden wouldn’t matter much to her.

“I was beginning to think you had forgotten me,” Kelley answers.

“It’s only been three days since we’ve talked,” I reply defensively.

“Long enough. What are you doing?”

“Having a baby,” I say nonchalantly.

“Seriously,” she replies, not amused by what she assumes is a joke.

“I’m being serious.” I manage a chuckle, but even as I do, I feel another contraction begin to build. My free hand clutches the side of the hospital bed, and I let a heavy breath slide from my mouth.

“Oh no, you’re serious,” she says. “When?”

“Doc says I’ve got about thirty minutes. We were already here at the hospital. J.R.’s dad—he’s not…it’s not good,” I explain. “I just thought they were Braxton Hicks or something.”

“I’m packing our stuff right now, and we’re coming. Adam and I are on our way.”

Another contraction comes and goes. I don’t think I’ll make it another half hour, but then again, I’m not a doctor. What do I know?

“Drive safely. Don’t drive the way you did the night Knox was born.”

“I got you to the hospital in one piece,” she says.

I laugh through tears as they stream down my face. “Be safe, okay?”

“Fine. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

“Kelley, it takes at least three to get here,” I point out.

“Like I said, I’ll see you in two hours,” Kelley quips, and then she hangs up the phone.

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