Chapter 19
VAUGHN
Sitting on Declan’s plane back to Lake Spark, the coaching and management staff study the schedule for our new players as Declan and I sit next together a good distance from everyone.
The new players we drafted are very young, and we quickly need to get them settled in their new surroundings, while they also tackle development training and full-on marketing appearances.
“It feels great to have fresh blood on the team. I think our defensive players are strong,” Declan mentions as he drinks from his water bottle.
I chuckle from his comment. “I’ve never seen an owner so involved. Normally a team is their hobby, and they only show up for games, when the board of governors need to vote, or when shit hits the fan with the general manager or coach.”
He smiles proudly. “I’m not a normal owner. I played for far too many years to make me sit still. Likewise, for you. That’s why we’re a winning formula.”
I lean into my elbow. “A good philosophy to have.”
“I kind of need a break from team talk, it’s been nonstop for the past few days. Ready for fatherhood?”
I chortle a sound. “Hardly, but not much I can do about that. Timing isn’t on my side.”
“Fate may be. You were moving to Lake Spark before you discovered the happy news. Now it just means that you get both without complication,” Declan notes.
My brows raise up then down. “Uh, not exactly, but I guess it will figure itself out.”
He chuckles in understanding. “That tends to happen to a lot of people. Violet and I eventually came to our senses and maybe one of you will too. There is always someone in a relationship who gets there first, yet it’s not a race.”
I scratch my chin, internally agreeing. An answer doesn’t come to me, partly because our bedtime fun the other night may have taken us off track.
My thought is broken when a flight attendant arrives and whispers something in Declan’s ear. His eyes nearly darken then he winces. When the attendant walks away, Declan looks straight at me.
He claps his hands once, as if we’re about to enter a team huddle. “So, here is the thing. The pilot got a message, and it seems that Isla has gone into labor.”
“What?” My voice raises an octave, and apprehension drops straight to my stomach. “She should have another week or two!”
Declan touches my arm. “The baby can also come early.”
“Not while I’m on a plane she can’t.” I grip the armrests with full strength, trying to figure out if it’s fear or worry that’s the prominent emotion flooding me.
“We’ll be back in an hour then get you straight to the hospital,” he promises.
I shake my head. “This can’t be happening… I haven’t even read the baby book yet.” I’m stressing now. “Not to mention, I’ve only known that Isla is pregnant for barely a millisecond, and now she’s delivering a baby?”
Declan looks at me with a strained expression. “To be fair, nothing goes to plan like those books.” He slaps my shoulder. “Besides, the first baby is normally a long labor.”
Blowing out a breath, I rub my face. “I’m not sure what to do right now. I’m going to go out of my mind. Isla’s in labor, and I’m not there.”
“In an hour you will be. Try to relax because it could be a long day ahead. What’s important is that you show up for her.”
“Christ, I knew I should have listened to the daddy preparation podcast. Fuck, first I miss an entire pregnancy, and now this? Someone upstairs hates me.” I tip my head to the sky, only to grumble a sound because we’re already in the damn sky, as in not on the ground, more so as in I can’t drive like a maniac to the hospital.
“Just stay calm.”
I give Declan an unamused look because his advice is absolutely impossible.
I’m not ready for this. I thought I had a little more time to adjust. Hell, I didn’t even get a gift yet for this kid. And coaching Isla through this? Holy hell, all I know is to pat her back, except she isn’t some animal who gets a treat.
She’s Isla.
The mother of my child.
The woman who has flipped my world upside down.
And I have an hour to switch my mind and be there for her.
Running down the hall of the hospital, I recognize Briggs pacing, and his head whips up at my arrival. He quickly stomps in my direction before grabbing my shirt and pinning me to the wall.
I can’t even process until his mouth opens. “You listen here, Vaughn Madden. In there is the biggest game of your life. I couldn’t handle it. She’s in pain, and they talked about needles if she wants an epidural, and I nearly fainted. You suck it right up and take one for the team.”
His pep talk sounds like we’re going to war.
He doesn’t stop there. “Do not falter on us. It’s up to you to be in there no matter what.”
“Where the hell is Hadley or her mom? Is she really in there alone?” I screech.
“They’re in Chicago and driving back as fast as they can.
Violet can’t be here because their baby has a virus, and she doesn’t want to risk giving it to Isla.
I’ve failed her, because this—” he points to the door of Isla’s room “—is not meant for brothers. Now get the fuck in there, and you do not leave.” He lets me go, and I immediately go to the door, already hearing Isla weeping in pain.
“For the team, Vaughn. You’re captain of this ship,” Briggs calls out.
For fuck’s sake, his speech as a sailor going to war doesn’t help this situation.
Opening the door, I find Isla sitting on a yoga ball and holding onto the railing of the bed with a nurse next to her. She’s trying to control her groan, nearly screaming as she’s in the middle of a contraction. As I run straight to her, the nurse backs away.
“I’m here. I’m here.” I touch Isla’s back, and she looks at me. She seems worn out, and her hair is damp from sweat, her eyes desperate.
When her contraction passes, she cries, “It’s too early. I mean, I had another week or so. This shouldn’t be happening.”
I cup her face. “She wants to come now. The doctor already warned us that you’re pretty much ready.” I do my best to ease her thoughts.
“This is our fault,” she wails.
“How so?” I ask as the nurse brings a cup of ice chips and hands it to me.
Isla knocks it out of my hand with force, causing the ice to fall on the floor. “Screw the ice chips, they do fuck all. And yes, this is our fault.” She breathes through pressed lips. “We had sex. They say it can induce labor.” The hint of a barely-there smile graces her lips.
“Really? Why didn’t you mention that to me?” I play along.
A humorous look of disapproval hits her. “Sorry if I didn’t want to ruin the mood.”
“Hey, you know I use these kinds of balls in my hockey training.” I smile at her, but I’m met with a near sneer.
“Really?” She doesn’t sound impressed. “This is the moment you want to compare labor to your training regime?”
I hold a hand up in agreement that she is right.
Another contraction hits her, and I rub her back as the pain appears to rip through her. Briggs was right, this isn’t for the faint of heart. I’m hurting for Isla, but I can’t show it because I need to be here for her.
“Give me the epidural,” she pleads to the nurse.
The nurse looks over her shoulder, checking the monitor. “I’m sorry, Isla. You’re too far dilated and so close. The best you can do is keep breathing through the pain. You’re doing great.”
Oh God, Briggs really was preparing me, because this is like a battle in the trenches.
Isla wails again as she abandons the ball. “Make this stop, it hurts too much.” She leans her head against my shoulder.
I kiss the top of her head. “It’s going to be okay. Before you know it, she’ll be here.”
Isla grips my shirt with both hands. “Promise me that no matter what you’ll go straight to her to make sure she’s okay. Focus on her, not me.”
It conflicts me, because what if something happens to Isla? It didn’t cross my mind until now. That thought unnerves me, but right now, she needs reassurance.
“Of course, Isla.”
“Oh no, the car seat. We didn’t even install it.”
I offer her a simple smile. “I did. In my car before I left.”
Her face brightens up with comfort.
She’s delicate right now, which is why I can only be honest with her. “I think I believe that, even though I just found out about your pregnancy, it was because I am meant to be here in the moment to help you.”
A lightness shades her eyes. “You’re not still mad at me?”
“No, Isla, I’m not still mad,” I tell her point blank.
It seems to bring relief to her, only for it to be interrupted by another wave taking over her body. I grip her arms so I can carry her weight as much as I can. I murmur encouragement until she sighs from the contraction ending.
“Okay, Isla, I think you’re nearly there. I will call Dr. Forest.”
Isla nods while our eyes lock. I’m not going to let her down, and I think she realizes it.
For a moment, while the nurse goes to the corner to make a call, Isla and I get a chance to have some privacy.
“I’m scared. I’m not ready,” she breathes out.
Moving so she can waddle to the bed and lean against me, I hold her up, as she seems to be weak.
“You can do this. I know you can. You’ve done everything so far because you want to give her a good life.
So you’ll make sure she enters this world on the right foot, and in order to make that happen, you have to get through this. ”
She laughs. “Easy for you to say. You don’t have a baby goblin ripping through your body.” Another contraction hits her, and she clasps onto me for dear life.
“You’ve got this. You’re so close,” I soothe her.
The contraction is short but seems to be stronger than what I imagined.
I smile at her and stroke her hair. “Goblin, really? That’s what we’re calling her now?”
It makes Isla laugh. “We don’t have a name for her.”
“You pick when she’s here,” I say to encourage her. "Well… the last name is not really up for negotiation, but you know what I mean." I try to make her smile again.
She nods again.
I kiss her forehead, reminding myself to stay calm.