Chapter 16 Kingston
KINGSTON
Father's cabin was the most luxurious one at the resort. He had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the magnificent scenery and a gourmet kitchen. And tonight he was hosting a dinner for the whole extended family. Not that he’d done any cooking.
Nope, he’d ordered room service from the main kitchen at the resort.
We were back at the resort where Merrick and I went after meeting at the ball.
It was Father’s suggestion and his treat.
While he and my omega dad’s relationship would never be repaired, having a son-in-law and a baby on the way had softened their attitude toward one another, and they were more than civil.
Not exactly friendly, but I didn’t expect that.
We sat around the large wooden table, and Merrick was picking at his food. He’d been quiet all evening and had cushions tucked behind him as I rubbed his back. Knowing he was only two weeks from his due date, we’d agreed we’d eat and make our excuses because he was tired.
"Uncle Merrick, can I feel the baby kick?" Marvin leaned across the table.
“Me too, me too.” Rosa slid off her chair while baby Eric banged his spoon on the highchair tray and cried. Chase got Eric out of the chair, and the three kids crowded around their uncle.
Merrick guided their hand to his belly. “The baby’s been active today.”
“Our cub is very strong,” I told them.
“Is there a bear in there?” She patted Merrick’s belly again.
“You rhymed. Bear in there. Bear in there.” Marvin danced around the room and clapped.
Arnold attempted to get Marvin to lower his voice, but Rosa joined in, and Eric bounced after his siblings. Father’s brows shot up so high, I expected them to take off. But Dad quieted the kids and nudged me while looking at my mate.
Merrick's hand was still on his belly, but the other one gripped my thigh.
“King.”
Father’s brows were permanently raised, so he’d apparently never heard my mate refer to me like that.
“What’s wrong?” Blood had drained from his face, and his breathing was shallow.
“Something’s not right.”
Everyone stopped talking, squealing, or running about.
Something being wrong with the baby, Merrick, or both was my worst nightmare, but the baby books had insisted complications were rare. Or perhaps I’d skimmed over those parts, thinking we’d had our share of trauma after being apart for five years.
My dad suggested Father would read the kids a story in one of the bedrooms, and Father must have agreed because he hustled them off, along with a plate of brownies, and closed the door.
My mate groaned and shoved his chair back, and liquid splattered onto the floor. “My water broke.”
“Now?” Of course, in theory we’d been prepared for the baby to come early. But not like this, when we were on vacation.
My omega dad moved to Merrick's side and squatted. “Are you having contractions?"
“I’ve been feeling owie all day, but I thought it was indigestion.”
Why didn’t he tell us? My bear was concerned.
Not now.
Dad asked how far apart they were, but my mate gasped and doubled over. I put an arm around him. “Close,” he managed.
“We should get you to a hospital.” I asked Arnold to call for an ambulance, but Merrick shook his head and insisted the baby was on the way. Dad agreed because the contractions were so close.
“Now? The baby’s going to be born here?” This was never part of the plan, but my dad knew how I was with plans, and he reminded me that babies didn’t keep to a schedule.
This was it. We were about to become parents, but in order to do that, my mate had to endure excruciating pain.
“I think we need to take the kids back to our cabin.” Arnold glanced at his mate, who nodded, but Chase offered to stay.
“It’s fine, no, you go,” Merrick grunted, and I helped him to his feet.
“And take Father with you,” I said over my shoulder as we headed to the main bedroom. My mate needed a warm shower.
“I want to see the baby,” Rosa protested as her parents herded her and her brothers out, along with Father.
“You will. Tomorrow.” Dad closed the front door.
I got Merrick undressed, and I got into the shower with him while I was fully clothed. He leaned against me as he suffered through another contraction.
Dad was bustling around the bedroom when I brought Merrick out of the shower dressed in a robe.
“I’m getting towels to put on the bed because there’s no large sheet of plastic in a luxury holiday cabin.” He took off, mumbling about boiling water.
Merrick didn’t want to lie down but preferred to pace across the thick carpet.
“I’m not sure I can do this.”
Who’s going to do it? You?
He’s scared.
“You and the baby are taking your cues from all the ones who have come before you. Your body knows what to do.” It sounded good in my head, but I wasn’t the one having to push the baby out.
Dad appeared with a first-aid kit he'd found and another pile of towels, pillows, and bedding from the second bedroom. He and I shared a look, and he mouthed, “Stay calm. Merrick needs you.”
Right. My mate panted, and I worried he was going to hyperventilate, so I mimicked his breathing. He managed a wan smile as we breathed in tandem.
Another contraction wracked his body, and he cried out as his hand crushed mine.
“You’re doing great, Merrick.” Dad was beside us. “And the baby will be here soon.”
I swallowed my panic at the word “soon” and tried not to fall apart as my mate labored.
“I need to push.” I helped him onto the bed, where he got on hands and knees, and Dad kneeled behind him.
“Then you push on the next contraction,” Dad told him.
I got on my belly beside Merrick, and we pushed together. He screamed, and the sound tore shreds off my heart. The pushing went on for ages. Push, scream, grunt, and pause. My mate’s strength was waning, and we’d have to get to a hospital if he couldn’t push the baby out.
But dad yelled he could see the head, and that gave Merrick the impetus to keep going. Dad urged me to help deliver the baby. What did I know about bringing babies into the world? But he reminded me of what I’d said earlier, that instinct was guiding our child and my mate.
“Oh my gods, yes, I see the head. Merrick, I see our little one.”
“And the shoulders.” He encouraged me to hold our child, saying they wouldn’t break.
My mate pushed again, accompanied by a screech, and the baby slid out onto the towels.
“Did I do it? Is the baby here?”
Before I could answer, our son cried, and it was the most glorious sound. I sobbed along with the baby, unable to take in that this was our reality.
Dad helped Merrick lie down while I held our son close. He had dark hair like Merrick and his nose, and he wasn’t happy about being in the light. After breathing with Merrick during labor, I now couldn’t breathe as I stared at our son.
My mate held out his arms, and I placed the little one on his chest. Dad slipped out of the room and closed the door.
“I hope he doesn’t expect this type of luxury every day.” Merrick kissed the baby’s damp head. The room was sumptuous, with silk wallpaper and a chandelier.
“You’ll have to prepare yourself for Father.” Much as he’d not paid me attention, he’d been showering us with gifts since we announced the pregnancy.
We have a very fine cub. My bear was in love with our son already.
Dad poked his head in, asking if we wanted to wait until tomorrow to have visitors. It was up to Merrick. He’d done all the work over the last nine months.
“Best to do it now and then we can cocoon ourselves for the next few days.”
Dad held our son while I helped my mate shower and got him back into bed.
“My grandson chose to be born on expensive sheets.” Father nodded as he stroked our son’s head.
“Of course, the first thing our son queried after he was born was the sheet's thread count.”
Father laughed, though the kids were amazed the baby could talk already.
“The cabin is yours for the rest of our stay.”
Poor Father, he’d have to slum it at our place.
Dad shooed everyone out, and I ordered room service because we were starving after giving birth and helping in the delivery.
“We need to choose a name.” Merrick was studying our son’s face as if looking for clues regarding a name.
“Maybe one that means mountain.”
“Ridge?”
I checked the phone. “Montgomery, and we call him Monty.”
“I like it.”