Chapter thirty-five #3
“May I have the rings, please?” He turns to my best man as Julian hands them over. “These rings are a symbol of the love and commitment that Shane and Aubrey share,” he says as he hands them over to us. “Please repeat after me. I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.”
I hold up the ring to Aubrey’s finger, waiting for her contraction to pass, before repeating the words and slipping it onto her finger. She then places my ring at the tip of my finger and does the same. “I give you this ring as a—OWWW! Ow, ow, ow... Oh God…”
Julian passes by us and goes to Aubrey’s side along with Veronica. He holds on to her by the waist as she doubles over, crying. “Symbol of my love and commitment to you.” She pulls through with tears rolling down her cheeks.
I hate this. All I want to do is grab her and run out of here. I look at the officiant, telling him with my eyes that it’s time to hurry up.
“Shane and Aubrey, you have exchanged vows and rings and have pledged your love and commitment to one another in front of your friends and family. It is my great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride,” he rushes out and I grab Aubrey as she screams once more, falling into my arms as I hold her up.
When the pain subsides temporarily, she reaches up, wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me passionately, her wet lips pressing to mine.
Everyone cheers as I quickly pull away and turn us to step down from the platform just as Greyson takes Julian’s place and helps me walk Aubrey down the aisle.
“The ambulance should be here soon, let’s get her to the front if we can,” he says quickly as a few people follow behind us.
Aubrey’s head lolls on my shoulder as she tries to catch her breath. She looks out at all our worried guests and offers a faint smile.
“Please, stay and enjoy the party. Eat, dance, drink and take as many pictures as you can for us. Thank you all for coming,” I shout out to them. There’s no point in wasting a whole night because we can’t attend.
“AHHHHHH!” Aubrey stops again. “Wait, Shane. Oh my God… I can’t…” she pants through her tears.
“I know, sweetheart. We’re leaving.” I rub her back, trying to straighten her and get her walking again.
“No, Shane. I think… I think I can feel her…” It’s then I notice how she’s standing with her legs parted but her dress is restricting them from widening further.
“Oh God. Okay. Ford, help me lay her down.”
Greyson’s face pales. “Right here?”
“Yes, right here!” We make quick work of setting her down in the middle of the aisle, still in the ceremonial hall.
I look back at our families that are all standing behind us. “Can you guys get everyone out of here and to the reception hall?” I try to remain calm, but my insides are jumping all over wildly. My sisters quickly nod and begin to guide people away from the scene.
I grab the hem of Aubrey’s dress with both hands. “I’m sorry, Angel,” I say before ripping the dress in half at the seam along her thigh. I make quick work of shredding her panties out of the way, then place my hand between her legs to see if I can feel anything.
“TERRY!? Is Terry still in the room?” I shout out for our team doctor who is thankfully on the guest list. He might not specialize in childbirth, but he’s still a licensed doctor and will know better than I do what to do.
“What’s going on!?” Greyson questions with concern.
“What’s going on is that I just touched my daughter’s head. This baby is coming now.” I keep looking around for my friend, finally spotting him running over.
“I’m here, I’m here!” He kneels down in front of Aubrey as I move out of the way. “Shane, grab my phone and call my wife. She’s an OB and at the hospital right now. Keep calling until she picks up and put her on speaker.”
I reach into his pocket and tap in the code he tells me, then video call his wife, thinking it might be a better option. She picks up on the second call and frowns when my face pops into view.
“Aubrey’s in labor!” I rush out and turn the camera toward my wife and her husband, who has pushed up her dress to give him better access.
My wife… God, I love that.
“Oh, dear lord!” she exclaims. “I’m going to need someone to take over here while I deal with this emergency,” she says to someone on her end. I’m guessing she was getting ready to deliver a different baby at the hospital.
“Hi, honey. I’ve never done this before, so I’m going to need you to guide me,” Terry says, not looking up at the screen and keeping his eyes on Aubrey.
“Okay, start by telling me what you see or feel,” she begins with her instructions.
Aubrey cries out, dropping her head back. I hurry to her and settle in at her back, laying her against me. I brush the hair out of her face and hold her, kissing the top of her head when Greyson takes the phone from my hand and holds it up for Terry. “I’m right here, Angel. I won’t let go of you.”
“It hurts so much…” she sobs.
“I know, baby. It’s almost over.”
Her mother comes to her side, taking her hand as Greyson stays at her other side.
The sound of shuffling shoes and quickly clacking heels draws my attention and I look up.
My heart constricts as I find all our friends forming a human wall around us, blocking Aubrey from view to anyone who’s still inside the room.
I also spot the Storm brothers as well as Lionel trying to evacuate the rest of our guests out.
Silas glances over his shoulder and winks with a tender smile when our eyes lock. “We’re family, Coach. Family sticks together.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat as my eyes gloss over, remembering the very first time I told him that, and now here he is, years later repaying the favor. “Thank you,” I mouth back with a nod, then kiss the top of my girl’s head.
“All right, Aubrey. On the next contraction, I need you to push with everything you’ve got. Okay?”
She nods quickly and within seconds, Aubrey is screaming at the top of her lungs, her nails clawing at the skin on my forearm as she pushes with all her strength.
“I’ve got her!” Terry calls out as Aubrey’s exhausted body turns to mush against me.
And only a few seconds later, the most beautiful sound graces our ears.
“WAAAAAHHHHH!!!”
“We did it, Angel,” I whisper into Aubrey’s ear as my vision blurs once more.
I look down at my baby girl still in Terry’s arms as Phoebe hurries over with a blanket she must have gotten from the staff, followed by two paramedics running over as well.
Aubrey laughs in disbelief through her tears as she tightens her hold on my arms. “We did it.”