EPILOGUE
Angela wrapped her fuzzy robe around her and left the bathroom, her steps slow. In the bedroom, she placed her hands on the bed and blew out a long breath, slowly swaying from side to side.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
The pain finally ebbed, and Angela took one more deep inhale, then let it out before straightening.
The pains were still several minutes apart and didn’t last too long, but the time for her and Jude to meet their little one was nearing. It was a week before her due date, but at her last appointment, the doctor had said she could deliver any day.
Jude was at the security building, and Angela knew she had to let him know soon. However, she was trying not to ramp up his worry too much.
From the moment she’d shown him the positive pregnancy test, his protectiveness of her had ramped up even further. Thankfully, she’d had a fairly easy pregnancy.
She texted Kiara and Annie to let them know that she was in labor, but she made them promise not to tell Jude yet.
Kiki: Do you want me to come over?
No, I’m fine. I’ll tell Jude once the contractions get a little closer.
Kiki: Okay, but let me know if you change your mind.
She sent back a thumbs up, then tucked her phone into the pocket of her robe. While she waited for the next contraction, she retrieved her hospital bag from the large walk-in closet.
It had been packed—with Jude’s help—for almost three weeks. If he’d had his way, they would have moved to Coeur d’Alene two months ago.
Thankfully, Angela had managed to convince him to stay in their home on the estate. She liked the haven they’d created together since their marriage, and it was where she wanted to be as they prepared to welcome a child into their lives.
After doing a final check through the bag, Angela carried it out of the room. She paused in the hallway leading to the large open living area when another contraction crept up on her.
Setting the bag on the floor, she pulled her phone out and opened the app she was using to track the contractions. She started the timer, then put the phone back in her pocket. She pressed her hands against the wall and allowed her head to fall forward as she breathed her way through the pain.
Once it eased, she took a cleansing breath, then picked the bag back up. After setting it by the front door, she went to the kitchen to make herself something to eat.
She wasn’t really hungry, but she wanted to make sure she had fuel in her body for what was to come.
The contractions continued to come as she prepared herself some pasta with tomatoes and Parmesan cheese. From the app, she could see they were coming about seven minutes apart.
She settled into her favorite overstuffed rocker with her bowl of pasta balanced on her stomach, and her large water bottle on the end table beside her chair. Tucking one leg under her, she used the other to set the rocker in motion.
She connected her phone to the Bluetooth speakers and brought up her favorite playlist.
Slowly, she ate her pasta, leaning her head back with her eyes closed when a contraction would tighten her stomach.
Though she would have liked to put off contacting Jude to spare him the worry so early in her labor, she knew there were logistics to take into account.
After two contractions that were a bit more intense, she set aside her nearly empty bowl of pasta and sent a text off to Jude.
I’m having contractions. <3
Jude: OMW
Knowing the man she loved and who would take care of her was on his way to her side made Angela feel more settled.
It was only a matter of minutes before the front door swung open and Jude walked in. He spotted her immediately and hurried to her, bending down on one knee in front of her.
He cupped her stomach in his hands just as a contraction started. Angela covered his hands with hers and let her head drop back, closing her eyes.
Jude's hands were warm through the fabric of her robe, and Angela found herself focusing on that warmth as the contraction peaked. His presence alone seemed to ease some of the intensity.
"How long?" His voice was steady, but she could hear the underlying tension in it.
"Since around seven this morning," she said as the pain receded. "They're about seven minutes apart now."
Jude's jaw tightened slightly. "You should have called me sooner."
"I wanted to be sure it was the real thing." She smoothed her hands over his, loving the way his calloused fingers felt against her skin. "Besides, I knew you'd want to rush to the hospital the moment I said the word contraction."
"You bet I would." He leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "How are you feeling otherwise?"
"Good.”
“Well, the helicopter is getting prepped, so whenever we decide to go, it’ll be ready.”
Angela still didn’t love flying in the helicopter, but she’d gotten more used to it over the past year and a half.
“Have you told Annie and Kiara you’re in labor?” he asked.
Angela nodded. “But I made them promise not to tell you.”
Jude chuckled. “Sneaky girl.”
As she gazed at Jude, her heart swelled with the love she had for her husband. There wasn’t a day… a moment, really… where he didn’t make her feel safe and protected.
His love for her and his faith in God had made him an unmovable rock in her life. One she depended on.
“Is there anything I need to do before we go?” he asked. “Have you got your bag?”
“Yes, it’s by the door.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Anything else?”
“I need to get dressed at some point,” she said.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “You look pretty comfy.”
“I’m not going to show up at the hospital in my robe,” Angela told him indignantly.
Jude grinned as he got to his feet and held out his hands to help her up. “Well, let’s get you dressed then.”
She had another contraction on the way to the bedroom, but this time she leaned on Jude for the duration.
“Have you picked out what you want to wear?” he asked once they reached the bedroom.
“That dress there,” she said, pointing to the light pink floral dress with cap sleeves that hung on a hanger on the closet door.
Jude retrieved it for her, then helped her get out of her robe and into the dress. It was loose, which felt good against her swollen abdomen.
Once dressed, Jude helped her brush her hair and get it looking like she wanted, then he retrieved her sandals and knelt to slide her feet into them.
With each contraction, he was there for her to lean on.
“You need to cancel our reservations for tomorrow night,” she reminded him.
“Guess we’ll be celebrating our first anniversary in the hospital, huh?” he said as he helped her back to her chair.
“But what a lovely anniversary present we’ll have,” Angela said, running a hand over her bump.
“The best,” Jude agreed.
He picked up the bowl of pasta and her large water bottle and took them into the kitchen. After cleaning out the bowl, he put it in the dishwasher and then filled her water bottle with fresh ice and water.
Again, Angela thanked God for Jude. He was a wonderful husband, and she knew he would be an equally wonderful father.
She continued to track her contractions while Jude made a call to the resort to cancel their dinner reservation for the next evening. He followed it up with a call to the helicopter pilot to make sure he would be ready to go when Angela said the word.
“We need to let Duncan know so he doesn’t hear about it from someone else,” Jude said.
“Go ahead and give him a call.”
Both her and Jude’s relationship with Duncan had changed over the past year. For Angela, she’d come to view him as her father, and she called him Dad now.
For Jude, though Duncan remained his boss, they now shared a closer relationship outside of work as father and son-in-law.
“I think maybe it’s almost time to go,” Angela said after the contractions seemed to be stronger and were coming a little closer together and were lasting a little longer.
Jude came to where Angela sat, and once again took a knee in front of her. He put her hands on her belly and covered them with his, then he began to pray.
He prayed for strength for her, and for a safe labor and delivery of their child.
After he ended the prayer, Jude straightened and helped her to her feet. He led the way to the front door and picked up her bag. Angela kept a grip on her water bottle as she waited for him to lock up.
Before he guided her off the porch, he wrapped his arms around her. She looked up at him.
“Ready to meet our child?” he asked.
Angela nodded. “I’m excited to finally meet them.”
They didn’t know yet whether they were having a girl or a boy. They’d decided to keep that a surprise, though it had been super hard not to ask the ultrasound technician to tell them the gender.
“Then let’s go.” He bent to brush a quick kiss on her lips, then took her by the hand and led her away from their home. They were leaving as two, and in a few short days, they’re return as a family of three.
Angela could hardly wait.
~*~
The hours seemed to crawl by, and Jude was struggling. He absolutely hated seeing the woman he loved in pain. It was his job—literally, but also as her husband—to protect her.
He wished he could do more to help her through the contractions, but there was nothing he could do but be at her side and offer his support. She had even refused an epidural so far.
His petite wife was once again showing him that she was a powerhouse of strength. It was what had drawn him to her initially, and it was still one of her most amazing qualities.
“I need some ice chips,” she murmured.
Jude immediately picked up the cup and helped her spoon some into her mouth. She leaned back against the elevated bed, her gaze holding his.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair that had stuck to her sweat-dampened cheek behind her ear.
She gave him a weary smile. “I hope that if we have a son, he looks just like you. I hope he is just like you.”