Chapter 12 - Flynn #3
“Only kind of,” he laughed. “We spent forever opening all the presents for her.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
We enjoyed the festive atmosphere for several minutes. Lights were still strung along the street, and several businesses had searchlights pointing toward the sky. The pre-fireworks drone show was in full force, though it was sometimes hard to make out shapes from our distance.
I gasped and doubled over as our daughter decided that it was the perfect time to be active and head-butt my insides. I whimpered as she kept up the pressure.
I breathed through it, then slumped against Dylan.
“Again?” he asked.
I nodded. “Mm-hmm…”
“You sure it’s not contractions? Your due date is only a few days away.”
“I think so?” I replied, though I wasn’t entirely sure.
He made a noise, then glanced at the clock on his phone. “The fireworks should start any time. It’s ten till.”
I nodded as I curled against his side.
The drones moved aside as the first fireworks started. The display grew, then it was almost like anticipation settled over the city.
We weren’t close to the beach or to the commercial areas, but I could still hear the countdown. The synchronized rumble of people mingled with neighbors who were enjoying the sights from their yards and patios.
“Three…”
“Two…”
I doubled over with a gasp as pain ripped through me again.
I fought back tears from the intensity as “Happy New Year!” sounded from all around. My breathing was ragged as Dylan supported me.
“Ten minutes,” he said when it finally passed. “I think you’re in labor, Sweetheart.”
I nodded. “I… I think you’re right.”
He kissed my temple. “You stay here and enjoy the rest of the fireworks. We’ve probably got some time to rest, but I’m going to go ahead and put the bag in the car. I’ll be right back to walk you in.”
“Ok.”
He stood, then tilted my chin up for another kiss.
I tried to get comfortable as the fireworks continued to explode over the ocean, but it seemed an impossible task.
The show was ramping up again, seemingly for a grand finale, as Dylan came back out.
“Bag is in the car,” he murmured as he sat and pulled me against him. “We’re ready whenever your contractions are close enough.”
“Ok.”
I was just starting to feel settled when another contraction tore through me.
Dylan made a concerned noise. “Nine minutes. We should get some sleep. We’ll probably have to head over in a few hours.”
“Ok…”
We stayed cuddled through the end of the fireworks, then Dylan took the blanket and mugs inside. He returned to help me up, but there was a different sensation as soon as I stood.
“Alpha…” I whined, shivering from the wetness along my legs.
“What’s wrong?” he murmured.
“I… I think my water broke.”
“Oh… Ohhhhhh.” There was a note of panic in his voice. “Ok. I’m going to grab some towels as we pass the linen closet, then we’re going to the hospital.”
I nodded. “Ok.”
He steadied me as we walked to the stairs, pausing to grab some towels, then we headed down to the car. He got me in the passenger seat just before another contraction started.
“That was nine minutes,” he said as he got behind the wheel. “I think you’re progressing fast.”
I made a noise of agreement as he backed out onto the street.
Unfortunately, we’d barely made it out of our neighborhood when traffic started to back up. The New Year’s Eve parties were over, and everybody was heading home at the same time.
I gripped Dylan’s hand while we waited for a traffic light to let through a handful of cars at a time, and people honked behind us.
Then another, only a couple of lights later.
The hazard lights flashing on the dashboard were almost infuriating. The click-click of them was another reminder of time passing as we waited for the cars in front of us to move.
We’d thought the hospital was the ideal distance from the house. We’d tested the drive, and it was only supposed to be about ten minutes away, but as I breathed through another contraction, I saw that we’d spent nearly half an hour in traffic.
“They’re getting closer together,” Dylan said as I released his hand. “I’m calling the hospital to let them know we’re coming in hot.”
“Ok.”
He thumbed the phone button on the steering wheel. “Call labor and delivery.”
The speakers were silent for several seconds before a computerized voice declared a poor signal.
“Damnit!” Dylan cursed, then thumbed the button and repeated the call request.
That time, the call went through, but I was terrified that it was going to drop again as it rang… and rang… and rang…
It was probably a full minute, maybe two, before somebody answered.
“Harris Cove General Hospital, Labor and Delivery, how may I help you?”
“My mate’s in labor,” Dylan declared. “We’re stuck in traffic, but coming in hot. Labor started around eleven forty, initially ten minutes apart. Water broke at twelve fifteen. Contractions are now seven minutes.”
There was a beat of silence, then, “How far out are you?”
“I don’t know… ten minutes? It’s hard to tell with the traffic. We only live ten minutes away but have already been in the car for half an hour.”
The pressure was building again, and I tried to hold on so my alpha could talk to the nurse, but I cried out with another contraction.
“What are you driving and what’s the plate number? We’ll have somebody meet you at the emergency entrance,” she said as soon as I was able to breathe again.
Dylan gave her the car information and breathed a sigh of relief when the call disconnected. “We’ll be there soon, and they know we’re coming.”
“Ok,” I whimpered. Even between contractions, the pressure was almost overwhelming.
The traffic sped from a standstill to a crawl as Dylan pulled onto the road leading to the hospital, and he stopped at the emergency entrance just as another contraction started.
Somebody in scrubs opened my door as I screamed through the pain, then helped me into a wheelchair as soon as it passed.
Then there was a moment of awkward indecision as Dylan looked between me, the car, and the ambulances coming down the street.
“Go,” said a nearby cop. “I’ll park and lock it for you. Give me your name, and I’ll leave the keys at the security desk.”
My alpha tossed the keys at the cop and gave his name as he rounded the car, then he jogged beside me as I was rushed inside.
The emergency room was chaotic, but as soon as I was on the elevator to labor and delivery, it was almost too quiet.
Until I screamed with another contraction.
The doctor was waiting as nurses helped me onto a bed and removed my sweatpants.
It was clear that there wasn’t even time to get me into a gown.
“Looks like yours decided it wanted to be the first baby born in the hospital this year,” declared the doctor as he got a look. “You’re dilated and ready. You can push on your next contraction.”
Nurses scrambled to do what they could, but it was clear that my baby wasn’t going to give them the time to do more than ensure that the essentials were ready.
“Push!” ordered the doctor as the next contraction started.
I screamed and clung to Dylan’s hand as I bore down.
“I’ve got the head,” the doctor said as the contraction ended. “The next one should do it.”
Dylan kissed my forehead. “You’ve got this, my beautiful Flynn. You’re doing great.”
Part of me wanted to yell at him for knocking me up, but there wasn’t time.
“Push!”
I screamed as pain ripped through me. Then there was relief.
A tiny wail pierced the air.
“I think she’s upset about missing the fireworks,” the doctor said with a laugh. “Congratulations, dads. First baby of the year for this hospital, and all I had to do was play catch.”
I collapsed onto the bed as a nurse moved beside me. She and Flynn helped me take off my shirt, then my baby was placed on my chest.
I looked down at her scrunched-up face as she cried for another minute, then she settled, small fists against me.
Dylan’s hand joined mine on her tiny back.
“She’s gorgeous, omega-mine,” he praised.
I smiled and ran my thumb through a tiny tuft of black hair. “She’s perfect.”
“What’s her name?” asked a nurse as she input data onto a tablet.
“Mia,” I murmured. “Mia Rose.”
“Pretty,” she replied. “I’ll give you a moment before I take her to weigh and measure.”
“Ok.”
I sniffled as I continued to gaze at her: our daughter.
“Are you ok?” Dylan asked, panic creeping into his voice. “Are you hurt?”
I smiled and shook my head, even as a tear fell down my cheek. “I’m just so happy.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Me too, my beautiful Flynn, me too.”
A year before, I’d been tipsy on champagne—trying to avoid the writing on the wall about my job. My dating life had been abysmal, and every day felt like another turn on the hamster wheel. Now, I had my mate and our daughter. I was successful as an independent businessman.
My alpha—my Dylan—had arrived in Harris Cove ready to improve the lives of the interns that would be trained at his branch, but he’d improved my life just by stepping into it.
And I couldn't wait to see what the new year—and beyond—had in store.