Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
ONE MONTH LATER
Jenna
I stood in the bathroom mirror as tears fell down my face.
“What’s wrong?” Lucas asked as he stepped out of the shower.
“My boobs are leaking.” I pointed to the round, wet spots on my nightshirt.
“I’m fat as fuck, my back hurts, I have hemorrhoids, I can barely put my shoes on, and I have to pee every five minutes while you stand there looking as perfect and sexy as ever with your defined six-pack and stupid god-like body.
I hate you.” I walked out of the bathroom.
I heard him chuckle as he walked over and wrapped his arms around me from behind.
“You are incredibly perfect and beautiful just as you are, and I love you so much.”
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
“Do you feel that?” he asked as he pushed his body against me.
“This is how much you turn me on, leaky boobs, hemorrhoids, and all.” He pressed his lips against the side of my neck, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“As much as I want to show you how sexy you are, you better get dressed because the guys will be here shortly to finish the nursery, and the furniture is being delivered today. Now stop being silly. I love you, babe.”
“I love you too.” I turned around in his arms and pressed my lips against his.
Lucas
I waited at the elevator because the workers were on their way up.
“Morning, Mr. Thorne,” Jimmy and Wes spoke at the same time.
“Good morning. Listen, I need you to do me a favor.”
“Sure. What do you need?”
“I need you to give Jenna a few compliments. She’s feeling really bad about herself right now.” I gave them each a fifty-dollar bill.
“Thank you, Mr. Thorne, but you don’t need to pay us to give her compliments. We give them out for free.”
“Just take it and buy yourself something with it. You guys have done a great job in the nursery.”
“Well, in that case, thank you again.”
I patted Jimmy on the back, and they headed to the nursery.
When I walked into the kitchen, Jenna was leaning against the island, holding a cup of coffee and scrolling on her phone.
“Was that Jimmy and Wes?” she asked.
“Yeah. They should only be here a couple of hours. I got a text message from the delivery guys, and they’ll be here around three o’clock.”
“Okay. I made a cup of coffee for Jimmy and Wes. Grab one and follow me to the nursery. Good morning, boys,” Jenna said as we handed them a cup of coffee.
“Good morning. You look absolutely beautiful today, Miss Larson,” Jimmy spoke.
“Yeah. You’re like glowing.” Wes smiled.
“You’re one of the prettiest pregnant women I’ve ever seen.” Jimmy grinned.
“Thank you. You’re very kind, and I appreciate your compliments. If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
“You’re welcome. You look stunning,” Wes said as we walked out of the room.
“How much did you pay them to throw compliments my way?” she asked, and I knew I was in deep shit.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, babe.”
“It was a little over the top, don’t you think?” A smirk crossed her lips.
“I thought it was very nice of them to say what they did.”
She rolled her eyes and went into her office to record a podcast.
I went down to the apartment on the fiftieth floor to inspect the final repairs of the ceiling.
Everything looked great, so I called my realtor and had her put it up for sale.
There was no use in keeping the apartment any longer, not even for investment reasons.
I had another investment I was working on as a surprise for Jenna.
One Month Later
Jenna
I sat in the nursery rocking chair and held the gray stuffed elephant Lucas had bought against my belly. As I slowly rocked back and forth, I chatted with my daughter.
“Listen up, kid. We have two weeks left until you make your arrival into the world. Mommy would be so grateful if you could speed it up a bit. Not today or anything, maybe just by a week. And whatever you do, do not be late. Because honestly, my back can’t take anymore.
I’m just so excited to meet you and hold you in my arms. So, feel free to come out anytime in the next week. ”
“Are you telling our daughter to hurry up and be born?” Lucas smiled as he stood in the doorway with his arms folded.
“Basically.” I smiled.
He walked over to me, took my hand, helped me up from the chair, and we started dancing.
“I can’t wait to meet her.” He smiled as we swayed back and forth.
Suddenly, I felt a trickling sensation running down my legs. I let go of his hand and looked down.
“Did you just pee on the floor, or did your water just break?” he asked in a panic.
“I don’t know.” I looked up at him. “How do we tell?”
“I have no clue. Shouldn’t you know these things?”
“Have I ever been pregnant before?” I asked with irritation in my voice.
“Well, go sit on the toilet, and I’ll get the book. It has to say something about that.”
“Good idea.”
I sat down on the toilet, and Lucas walked in with the book.
“It says if it only happens once then it’s probably urine or vaginal discharge. It also says to wait a few hours and see. I bet you just peed. Nothing to worry about. Right?”
“You’re right. She is pressing really hard on my bladder. Can you help me up?”
“Of course, babe.” He held out his hand and the moment I stood up, a gush of fluid hit the bathroom floor.
We both looked down and then up at each other.
“I don’t think that’s pee,” Lucas said.
“I don’t either. I think my water broke.” I sighed.
“I’ll grab your bag and call Thaddeus to meet us downstairs.”
“OH MY FREAKING GOD!” I yelled as I doubled over in sudden pain.
“Are you okay?” Lucas came running into the bathroom.
“DO I LOOK OKAY?” I shouted.
“Shit. Come on, babe. We really have to go.”
He grabbed my bag and hooked his arm around me as we slowly walked to the elevator.
“Oh, my God, Lucas.”
“It’s okay, babe. Just get in the elevator, and we’ll get you to the hospital.”
I was highly agitated. Not just from the pain but from the way the damn elevator kept stopping on different floors.
I grabbed his shirt.
“I just want you to know that I hate you for living on the 82 nd floor. Hate you!”
“Duly noted, babe.”
When the elevator finally stopped on the lobby floor, I had to stop for a second while another contraction hit.
“OH, MY GOD!” I doubled over in pain.
“No need to panic. She’s in labor.” Lucas smiled at the people who were staring.
“Do you need help, Mr. Thorne?” Russell came running over.
“Thaddeus is waiting outside for us. We need to get Jenna to the hospital.”
“Okay. It stopped. I can make it to the car,” I spoke.
We were on our way to the hospital, and the contractions were coming four minutes apart. I could barely breathe I was in so much pain.
“Are we almost there? I feel like this baby is coming right now!” I shouted.
“Jenna, you are not having our baby in the back of our car. Hold her in.”
“Oh, okay, Lucas. You idiot.” I slapped his chest.
“Listen, don’t get an attitude with me. You’re the one who just told her it was okay to come now.”
“You’d be wise not to say another word to me!” I shouted.
The car pulled up to the ER entrance, and Thaddeus ran inside to alert someone while Lucas tried to help me out of the car and into the wheelchair a nurse had brought out.
“I’m going to take you up to Labor and Delivery,” she spoke as she wheeled me inside.
“Listen to me, lady. I won’t make it. This baby is coming NOW!” I shouted.
“Okay.” She pushed the button on the wall while I screamed.
“What’s going on here? Why aren’t you taking her up to Labor and Delivery?” a doctor asked as he walked over.
“She said the baby is coming right now.”
“Is this your first baby?” he asked me.
“Yes.”
“Of course. First-time moms.” He sighed.
“What did you say!” I shouted, and Lucas gripped my shoulder.
“Get her in room four and in a gown so I can take a look. Call me when she’s ready.”
“I feel the need to kill him, Lucas.”
“No, you don’t, babe. It’s the pain talking. Just try to breathe through it,” he said as he and the nurse helped me change into a gown.
“I need this kid out of me right now, Lucas. Just go down there and get her out. Please.” I begged.
“I’m going to check you, Jenna. Okay?” the nice nurse spoke. “Oh boy, you are having this baby now.” She ran out of the room.
Another contraction hit, and I had to push. I couldn’t help it as I let out a scream.
“Breathe. Breathe through it,” Lucas spoke.
“Tell me to breathe again, and I swear to God I’ll scratch your eyes out.”
The doctor and nurse came running in. He pulled up a stool and sat down.
“You weren’t kidding. Your baby is coming.”
“NO SHIT!” I yelled. “NOW APOLOGIZE!”
“Get the fetal monitor hooked up,” he told the nurse. “I’ve called Dr. Lewis, and she’s here at the hospital. She’s on her way down now.”
“Thank God. Oh God, here comes another one.”
“Push, Jenna. One big push!”
I pushed with everything I had as Lucas supported my back and tightly held my hand.
“I see her head, babe. She’s coming.”
I fell back on the bed, and I wanted to die. I felt like I was being ripped in half.
“Hello, Jenna. Oh, look at that. I see a head.” Dr. Lewis smiled. “I can take over from here. All I need from you is one more push. The biggest push you got, and then it will all be over. Okay?”
I nodded my head as Lucas helped me up, and I screamed as I pushed my daughter out. Instantly, I felt relief when I heard her cry.
“And here she is. Two weeks early. I guess she couldn’t wait to meet her mom and dad.”
Tears of joy fell down my face as Dr. Lewis laid her on my belly.
“You did it, babe. She’s beautiful. Look at how beautiful she is.” Lucas cried as he kissed my cheek.
“Hey there, Scarlett Elyse Thorne.” I reached out and touched her tiny hand.