Chapter 37
Claire
I stood at the dresser in the nursery, folding some onesies and placing them neatly in the drawer. Nick walked in and wrapped his arms around me from behind, placing his hands on my belly.
“I can’t believe how many clothes our daughter has already, and she isn’t even here yet.” His lips pressed against the side of my neck.
“I know.” I laughed.
“I have to get to the hospital. I wish you weren’t going to work today. I think you need to stop working until after the baby is born.”
“I want to get as much done as I can before I go on maternity leave,” I said, turning around in his arms.
“You’re due next week, babe. You need to rest as much as possible.”
“And you need to stop being so protective.” I kissed his lips. “Go to work.”
“I’ll never stop being protective over you or our daughter, so get used to it.” His lips formed a smile. “I love you, babe.”
“I love you, too.”
I was sitting at my desk, feeling very uncomfortable. I thought I was in labor last week, but after seeing Georgia, she told me I was having Braxton Hicks, and it was completely normal. I made it through the day, and when I got home, my phone rang. When I saw it was Nick, I knew he wasn’t getting out of work on time.
“Hey, babe,” I answered.
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m going to be stuck here for a few more hours. One of the doctors went home sick, and they need me to stay. How are you feeling?”
“I’m good,” I lied, placing my hand on my belly.
“You sure, babe?”
“Stop worrying, Dr. Russo. But when you get home, I am going to need a back massage. Your daughter is killing my lower back.”
“You got it. I’m sorry I have to stay. I miss you like crazy.”
“It’s okay. I miss you too.”
“Babe, I have to go. Grayson needs me. A trauma just came in.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later.”
I grabbed a bottle of water and walked down the beach, where I saw the bonfire was lit.
“Hey, sis.” Sam smiled.
“What are you guys up to?” I smiled, sitting beside Sam.
“Just shooting the shit like we always do,” Simon said.
“You look miserable,” Stefan spoke. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just tired.”
“I keep telling her that she’s done with work, but she still keeps coming into the office.” Shaun smirked.
“I need to keep busy. I can’t sit around the house all day,” I said, bringing the bottled water to my lips.
I shifted in my seat and let out a breath, trying to mask the pain I felt.
“You sure you’re okay?” Jackson asked as he held Liam.
“My lower back is killing me. I can’t sit here.” I went to get up, and pain gripped me. “Oh, God.” I placed my hands on my belly.
Sam grabbed hold of my arm as I fell back into the chair.
“I do believe you’re in labor,” Jackson said.
“No. I can’t be. I’m not ready yet. Oh, God.” I doubled over.
“Sorry to break the news to you, sis. It doesn’t matter if you’re ready or not. If our niece is ready, she’s coming,” Simon said.
“Georgia told me last week it was Braxton Hicks.”
“That was last week. This is this week,” Jackson said. “I’ll call her. She’s at the hospital with a patient.” He pulled out his phone.
“I need to go home and lie down.”
“Come on. We’ll help you,” Sam said, helping me from the chair.
I took one step, stopped, and let out a scream. “Okay, these aren’t Braxton Hicks.” I gripped Sam’s arm.
“Georgia said to come to the hospital,” Jackson said.
As I stood in the sand, gripping Sam’s arm while pain ripped through me, I felt something trickling down my legs.
“Umm, I think my water just broke.”
“Okay, that’s it. Let’s go.” Simon jumped up from his chair. “Sam, Stefan, put her in my car. I can get her to the hospital faster.”
“What’s going on out here?” Julia asked.
“Our sister is in labor, babe,” Sam spoke. “We need to get her to the hospital.”
“Oh my God. What do you need?” she asked me.
“Can you just grab my bag from the house? It’s in the bedroom, on the chair.”
“I’ll go get it,” Stefan said.
“I’ll call Nick and let him know you’re on your way,” Jackson spoke.
Sam and Julia helped me to Simon’s car. Stefan ran over and threw my bag in the backseat. Simon pulled out of the driveway and turned his sirens on.
“Okay, I’m over this,” I shouted as I doubled over.
“You got this, sis.” He reached over and took hold of my hand.
“No. No, I don’t. I don’t have a high pain tolerance. Women actually go through this?”
Simon chuckled. “You’ll forget about the pain once the baby is born.”
“And you know this how?” I glared at him as another contraction tore through me.
“Trust me. You will. Just hang in there.” His grip on my hand tightened.
He pulled up to the entrance of the ER, and I instantly calmed down when I saw Nick standing there with a wheelchair. He opened the car door and helped me out.
“I knew you seemed off today,” he said. “Our baby is coming.” His lips pressed against the top of my head as he wheeled me to the elevator.
We reached the OB Unit. When the elevator doors opened, Georgia stood there with a smile.
“Let’s get you into a room and check you out.”
I lay in the bed, hooked up to the fetal monitor, as another contraction hit. I screamed as the pain gripped me like no other.
“You’re dilated to six,” Georgia said.
“Give me pain meds, Georgia. I need an epidural right now.”
“I’ll call the anesthesiologist.” She left the room.