Epilogue
Renee
Today is the sentencing phase for Cherry and her lover. I hate her, but she gave me the life I have today. If it wasn’t for her selfishness, I wouldn’t have met Liam.
“Relax, baby; you’re going to do just fine.”
“You can tell I’m stressed?” He rubs his hand on my lower back as he guides me up the courthouse steps.
“You’ve clenched your teeth all the way here; your entire body feels like a rock. You need to calm down and relax and think about our baby.” He rubs my belly lately and then gives me a kiss on the cheek. I’m thirty-nine weeks pregnant which means that our little one can come at any moment. Their trial would have taken longer if it wasn’t for her lawyer lover demanding a speedy trial.
I entered the courthouse with cameras flashing and reporters demanding comments from me. “Leave my wife alone before I have you arrested for harassment.”
“Let’s not worry about them.” I press my hand on his chest, loving the way he’s so protective over me. I clench my fists on the lapels of his suit.
“You have me worrying about you,” he says, covering my hands with his.
“I think we’re going to miss this bit. I’m having our baby.”
“Move,” Liam snarls, scooping me in his arms. “My wife’s in labor.” He moves so fast that the paparazzi parts the way, so we get down the steps quickly. He has me back in the car as we make our way to the hospital in a matter of minutes, but I’m sent home because I’m not dilated. They believe the stress of the trial set me off, but I need to wait because I’m not ready to pop exactly.
****
A week has passed and we’re back to normal since my contractions stopped and our little guy is perfectly healthy. I take naps when Max does, so I can save my energy, but in the middle of my nap, the pains kick in. It wakes me abruptly from an unpleasant dream. Cherry got a long sentence for her crimes, and I’m a bit saddened that I missed the tears that she cried for herself. Her lawyer lover was disbarred and received probation. The nightmare was Cherry getting away with her crimes and she’s ruled not guilty. “Oh God,” I whimper. The pain is all real this time. I’m going into labor today.
I’m doing my best to remain calm, remembering to breathe when the pain hits. It’s freaking brutal, and Liam’s nowhere in sight. He’s in an important meeting. I don’t want to interrupt, but this is becoming unbearable. I need to get to the hospital; the contractions are coming closer together. “Owen, I’m about to have the baby.”
“Shit, I’ll get the car.”
He quickly leaves the condo while I get Max ready. He’s going to stay with Owen until Liam can take over. Owen’s bringing the car around while I call. My bag has been packed for a week and in the car already.
I dial his number, but he doesn’t pick up. Damn it; I cry out as another pain hits me, dropping my phone onto the wood floor. By the time the pain subsides, I realize that my phone is completely cracked. Great. It’s ringing, but I can’t see who’s calling and I can’t answer it.
Owen comes through the door with the nanny, who helps us with Max. She’s going to stay with him until we get back. I like her, and it looks like so does Owen.
“What’s going on?” he asks me. I look up at him and grunt, holding out my phone. “Shit. I’ll call the boss man.” He helps me to the bench near the front door, but I need a break and pull back.
“Mr. Hart, Renee’s in labor. Yes, we’re leaving right now. Okay. We’ll meet you there.” I can’t hear more than Liam’s voice over the phone. He’s been leaving by three every day just in case the baby came early, but he had several meetings that he wanted to get done before the baby came and I pushed him to stay late today. Man, do I ever regret it.
He handed the phone to me. I take it with a grimace. “Liam,” I pant into the phone.
“Baby, I’m sorry. I’ll meet you there. I’m walking to the elevator.”
“Okay,” I slur out. Then the contraction ends. “I broke my phone.”
“Then I’ll make sure to call Owen. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. I love you. Please don’t have our son without me. I love you so much, Renee.”
“Be careful but hurry. Liam, I love you, too.”
I end the call before I start crying. I know there’s nothing he can do to stop the pain for me, so I don’t want him to freak out and crash to get there. Nina brings Max over to give me a kiss goodbye then Owen helps me to the car. He would carry me, but he doesn’t want Liam to kill him. Liam is a bit possessive like that.
Thank goodness that he didn’t carry me because as I walked to the driveway, I suddenly freeze. My water breaks soaking the floor beneath me. My legs are completely drenched in amniotic fluid. I can’t even feel mortified because I’m in pain. This baby wants to come out and this time I’m staying at the hospital.
Owen helps me in, and we drive off as fast as possible without being unsafe. He’s called ahead to the hospital, but they inform him that Liam has already called, and they have a team waiting. He adds that my water broke to clarify the urgency.
We pull up, and so does Liam. He opens the door before Owen gets to my side. “Park my car, please.” He throws his keys to Owen who catches them easily. Liam carries me to the wheelchair and follows by my side as the lead nurse pushes me inside.
“Breathe, baby. You’re so strong.”
“I need you, Liam. I’m hurting,” I sob. He clutches my hand, rubbing as best as he can while we rush to the delivery room.
“I’m here, Renee. Always.”
As soon as we get into the room, they lift me onto the bed. The nurses and Liam help me into a gown before the doctor takes a look at my aching bits. “Whoa. We’re having a baby right now.”
Everyone is moving quickly around us. I try to focus on my loving husband who’s brushing my hair absently with his hand while staring at the doc and where his hands are. I don’t have time to complain that it’s a male doctor. At the moment, I don’t give a fuck who pulls the baby out.
“Everything seems right on track. I want you to push on the next contraction.”
I nodded and the next hour passed in a painful blur. My son, Liam Evan Hart cries as they hand him over to me. I kiss my baby boy who is huge. “I love you,” Liam sobs, kissing my forehead then our baby boy’s fuzzy head. He has a thick head of dark hair. I can see the resemblance between my three men. I can’t be any happier.