Chapter 38 Perry
PERRY
My back aches and I drop into my office chair in the back room of Pleasures. Sweat beads on my brow. Nerves light up along my spine. No doubt, I’m in labor, but my water hasn’t broken yet, so maybe I’m imagining it. I shake my head and breathe through the pain radiating down my back.
Perry: i think im in labor. water hasn’t broken yet though. ill meet you at home.
There, that seems calm. Shouldn’t freak out Buckle or Abel.
Nest. We need our nest. My squirrel whines in my head.
“I know. I know.” I press a hand to my back and stand.
Nest! Babies will be here soon. We need the nest.
“I know. Please calm down. We’re fine.”
Abel: Flying home now.
Buckle: I’m coming to get you. Don’t you dare try to drive.
I grin at Buckle’s text. Of course, I wasn’t planning on driving home, but walking sounds just as bad.
Abel: I texted Denise, she’ll meet us at home.
Thank fuck someone thought to message the midwife. I’d certainly forgotten.
Fuck. What if I forget other things? More important things?
A strangled cry comes from my lips as a rush of water flows from between my legs.
“Everything o—” Molly’s eyes go wide when she sees me standing in a puddle with soaked pants. “What do you need me to do?”
I shake my head. “I already texted the guys. Buckle is coming to pick me up. Denise is meeting us at the house. I just need to get outside.”
Molly grabs my hand and my elbow. “Don’t worry about a thing. Me and Ryan have the shop covered and we’ll get the...” She nods back. “Cleaned up. Just focus on getting those babies out and being healthy.”
I press my hands to my stomach. “That’s the plan. Thanks.”
Fuck, my back hurts. We waddle slowly through the shop. Past dildos and vibrators and fishnets. Until we’re to the front. The door chime jingles and Elsbeth strolls in. She sucks in a breath upon seeing me. “Is it the day?”
“I believe so,” I say through gritted teeth as a contraction rolls through my body. “I don’t know that I’m a fan so far.”
Elsbeth chuffs and takes my free side. “Pfft. You say that now, but you’ll be pregnant again in no time. We always forget the pain of childbirth until we’re in it again.”
“Don’t tell me that.”
Buckle rolls right up to the door and throws the truck into park before hopping down.
“Ready, baby?”
“Ready to get these babies outta me,” I mumble.
Molly and Elsbeth chuckle. They’re lucky I love them.
Buckle helps me into the truck and I could kiss him for having blankets and pillows arranged in a mini nest. I settle in and he seatbelts me in.
I grip the oh shit bar with each contraction. Are we going to make it before we get home? I’m not entirely sure.
“Just a little longer, baby. You got this.”
I nod and grit through the pain.
We arrive at the same time Denise does and relief floods my veins. Everything is going to be okay.
Abel rushes out of the house wearing one of Buckle’s shirts that is too big for him.
“I got the nest settled the way you like it. Plus, I added a few extra things. I hope you like it.”
I nod and let him and Buckle help me up onto the porch.
Denise opens the door and I have to stop for the next contraction.
Instead of waiting, Buckle pulls me into a bridal carry and walks me to the nest. The beautiful nest. So many blankets and pillows and stuffies.
But it’s the sweet scent of vanilla and cinnamon coming from a new diffuser that settles both me and my squirrel damn near instantaneously.
Everything is going to be okay.
Abel helps me down. He’s so gentle and not one spark of fear in his lovely eyes. He cups my cheek. When did our anxious hawk turn into someone so calm? I lean into his touch. Buckle chats with Denise and I take deep breaths.
I pull Abel all the way into the nest with me. We made it big enough for the three of us, plus room enough for Denise to do what she needs to.
“I need to give you a little looksee to see where we’re at.” She gives Buckle a look, and he nods, but settles in next to me instead of leaving.
“I’m not going to get radical. I know you’re here to help Perry.”
She nods and the three of them help wrestle me from my pants. In hindsight, we probably should have removed them before I sat down, but it’s fine.
“How are you feeling, papa?” She’s between my legs and I look at the ceiling. It’s a bit like when a dentist asks you a question with their fingers in your mouth, except it’s my downstairs instead.
“As good as can be expected?” I squeeze my mates’ hands when another contraction rolls through me.
“Good news is you’re close. Probably won’t be long, but I’m not going to jinx it by saying it out loud.” She winks as she leans back.
I breathe deeply and shut my eyes. However long it takes, I should probably rest when I can.
Abel gently rubs my stomach and whispers soft words in my ear. I’m only half paying attention, but it’s so sweet. I nuzzle into him closer. Buckle rubs my back and the action keeps me grounded. My mates know how my squirrel gets anxious.
“Fuck,” I grunt at the next contraction.
“You’re doing good, Perry.”
I nod and do my calm the squirrel exercises.
Hurts. Hurts so much.
We’re going to be okay.
“Okay, how about we get you situated in a better position,” Denise says.
We all shift until I’m squatting and holding on to my mates for dear life.
“Alrighty, on the next contraction, push,” Denise says.
And I do. Hard. My squirrel retreats, and it’s just me and my mates.
“Good!”
A screech fills the air, and I turn to face our first born.
“Perfect,” Abel whispers.
“Fuck.” More pain wrecks my body.
Denise checks me and pats my side. “Relax a moment, dear.” She hands me the squirming, crying baby and I look down at their little face.
I choke on a sob. “What about Mia?” I say.
“Mia.” Buckle nods as Abel lifts a finger to pet our baby’s cheek.
I grit my teeth. “I think we’re ready for round two.”
“I think you’re right.” Denise gets me back into a good position and I pass the baby to Buckle. His eyes are wide as he looks from me to Mia to Abel.
Poor Abel. I squeeze his hand so hard he winces.
“And push on the next contraction.”
My knees shake, but I do what I’m told. Our next child screams into the world and I slump to my back to stare at the ceiling. One more to go.
Denise puts baby number two in my arms. Another perfect cherub.
“What about Hannah?” Buckle asks.
“Love it,” I say as Abel nods.
We have a longer wait for baby number three to arrive, but when they do, I roar with my last push.
“You can rest now, papa.” Denise lays the final baby on my chest.
Buckle and I look at Abel, who stares adoringly.
“What’ll be?” I ask.
“Hmmm?” He says.
“Three babies, three fathers, three names.”
“Really?” He asks, and it almost breaks my heart, but he’s still working through feeling worthy. Now that the excitement of birth is gone, he’s not sure if we were serious about this being a three-man show.
“Yes, really. One for each of us.” I grin up at him before kissing the tip of his nose.
He buries his face in my neck.
“What about Liam?”
“Liam is perfect.”
We each have a baby in our arms. I may have been the one to give birth to all three, but I know my men were right there with me the entire time.
“Everything looks good,” Denise says. I totally forgot she was even there. “You can clean up when you feel up to it. Eat when you’re ready. But take it slow the next couple of days, maybe weeks. You have two strong partners. Use them instead of straining yourself. Okay?”
“Sounds good to me.”
Denise takes each baby and washes them up before swaddling them for us. She makes sure we all know how to change a diaper. Abel was nervous he’d forgotten and asked her to show him again. He takes notes, and it’s so endearing. I lean into Buckle as we watch our mate.
When Denise leaves us, Buckle helps me into the shower while Abel cleans up and refreshes the nest. I really want to be cuddled around my mates and babies.
Abel is terrified of co-sleeping though, so we have special nest cribs for them so we can all be close, but there’s no danger of accidentally crushing any of our babies.
Once clean, Buckle guides me into the nest while Abel arranges the cribs. Abel hands each of our babies one of the dozens of crocheted octopuses he created. My mates climb in and I cuddle as close as possible, turning into a Perry sandwich. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.