Chapter 19
ALLY
Igripped the back of the couch and took a deep breath. Then, a shallow breath. My stomach clenched, and it felt like a contraction, but I wasn’t due for three days, and first babies were supposed to be late.
And Dom was getting on a freaking plane soon to fly home from his road trip.
“Now is not the time, Baby Girl,” I said, my voice tight as I glared down at my stomach.
It was probably just those Braxton-Hicks things. It’s not like the stabs of pain were minutes apart or anything. According to the last baby book I’d read, this was normal.
Not very comfortable, but normal. I glanced at the stopwatch I’d set on my phone. Nine minutes since the last one. Still, no need to panic. It was fine.
I walked into the kitchen to fill my water bottle, then took a sip. This was going to be fine. My computer pinged with a message, so I headed back to my desk to keep working. I had a few reports to review and emails from clients that needed my attention. Everything was going to be fine.
***
Less than two hours later, it was not fine. Dom was in the air, and my contractions were six minutes apart. I squeezed the armrest on my chair as another one hit. Five minutes and forty-five seconds apart. And they freaking hurt.
And I had no one to call.
Tears pricked the backs of my eyes. I mean, yeah, I had people I could call. Hell, this building was typically full of hockey players, and some of them had partners living with them who I’d gotten to know. But none of them were my family or my best friend. Brooke was probably the closest friend I’d made so far, and that was only because she was a former Striker WAG, but she didn’t live in the building.
I tapped on Darcy’s name and sent her a text.
Ally: I think I’m in labor.
Darcy: OMG! What? Now? It’s early.
Darcy: Go to the hospital.
Darcy: Where is Dom?
Darcy: Are you okay?
Ally: He’s on a freaking plane, and I’m panicking. They’re just under six minutes apart. It could be false labor. Dom should be home in a few hours.
Darcy: It might not be fake. Go to the hospital. Need me to order you an Uber? I know your bag is already packed.
Then she was calling me.
“Don’t freak out, okay? You’re going to kick ass and get through delivery, and then she’ll be here,” Darcy said before I could even say hello.
My laugh was watery, and then I let out a little cry as another contraction hit.
“Ally, go to the hospital now. Can someone take you?”
“Um, I’ll call Cora. She lives in the building and told me to reach out. Fuck. Contractions freaking hurt.” I gasped.
“It will all be worth it. Now go call Cora and text or call if you need anything from me. Do you need me to call anyone?” she asked.
“No, I’ll text the rest of my family. I’m so glad you called. I needed to hear your voice. I miss you, Darc,” I said.
“Don’t make me cry. I freaking miss you, too. And as soon as you’re ready for me, I’ll be there with gifts and food that I haven’t cooked.”
“Don’t make me laugh. Everything hurts,” I said.
“Hang up and call Cora. I mean it.”
“Love you, Darc.”
“Love you, Ally.”
After I ended the call, I tapped on Cora’s name. She’d given me her number shortly after I’d moved to Denver.
“Hey there, Mama. How’s it going?” she asked.
I sucked in a breath as another contraction hit. They were definitely getting closer. “Could you take me to the hospital? Um, I think I’m in labor right now.”
“Oh shit. Yeah. Are you home? I’ll be right down.” She squealed a little. “This is so exciting. You’re going to be just fine.”
“Uh, thanks. I’m already packed and ready.” I slowly moved to the front closet where I’d stashed my go bag.
“On my way. Of course, they would be on a plane right now. But Dom will be back hopefully before the baby shows up. Need me to call Nate?”
“No, no. Just come get me.” I rifled through my bag to make sure nothing was forgotten on my list. I needed my charger, my water bottle, and the baby’s going-home clothes and blanket. Everything was there, and I was ready.
And not ready. Was this really happening now? I had a feeling that my life as a planner was about to go off the rails.
“Almost there.” Cora’s voice came through the phone as I slipped on my shoes. Thank god for slip-on shoes.
I needed to text Dom, but instead, I opened the door for Cora.
“Ready? What can I take?” she asked, beaming as I handed her my bag. “And Joy was at my place, so she’s tagging along. You know, in case you give birth in the car.”
“Seriously, Cora. Don’t even joke about that. Yes, I’ve helped deliver a few babies in the last two years, but I’d prefer the hospital setting for that,” Joy said, giving me a wink. “We got you, Mama.”
A sense of calm fell over me, knowing that I’d have an ER resident in the car with me just in case.
“Is today your day off?” I asked.
She waved her hand at me and then put her arm around my waist as we walked down the hallway to the elevator. “Doesn’t matter. I was hanging out with Cora, and now we’re going to my hospital so you can have a baby.”
“Thank you,” I said to both of them as we took the elevator down to the parking garage. Then Joy was helping me into the back seat and climbing in next to me.
“How far apart are your contractions?” she asked.
“Um, just about five minutes for the last thirty, maybe. They’re speeding up, but this is early, so I wasn’t expecting it to be actual labor,” I said.
“Babies run the show on delivery day,” she said with a smile, patting my hand.
We made the short drive to the hospital, and as soon as we pulled up to the front, Joy was out and grabbing a wheelchair. She then grabbed my bag and wheeled me in as Cora left to go park the car.
Before I knew it, Joy was pushing me up to the desk on the labor and delivery floor. She greeted a few of the nurses and rattled off my information.
“She’s five minutes apart, but it’s getting closer to four,” Joy said.
“Thank you. Are you coming into the delivery room?” the nurse asked as she put a few bracelets with my information on my wrist.
“Yes. And send Cora Monroe in there when she gets up here, please,” Joy said.
As they helped me into the bed and started taking my vitals, I remembered that I still had to tell Dom. The last thirty minutes had been a whirlwind, and I’d completely forgotten to let him know that it was possibly baby time. We hadn’t even agreed on a name yet. I had a list, but naming a kid was hard. They had it for life—well, unless they changed it. But still, it was a big responsibility. I couldn’t name her until I met her.
“Can I have my phone?” I asked.
Joy opened my bag and found it, handing it to me.
“Should probably tell Dom he’s about to be a daddy,” I said, then winced as another contraction hit me. I breathed through it like I’d watched on a few pregnancy breathing videos. You’d think they would’ve covered that in the birth class, but they hadn’t, so I’d done extra research online. Not that it was really helping the pain.
Crap, that hurt.
“He’s going to freak that he’s not here,” Cora said. I hadn’t even noticed her stepping into the room.
“First labors are long, right? They land in two hours. He’ll be here in time.” I just had to keep telling myself that.
“The baby wants what the baby wants, but it should be a while,” the nurse said, patting my knee. “Now, let’s check to see where we are.”
Ally: So, the little diva is diva-ing and decided to come early. Maybe.
Ally: Waiting for someone to tell me if it’s really labor.
Ally: But I’m at the hospital right now. Cora and Joy brought me.
Ally: I hope you get this and get here before she does.
“Well, it looks like actual labor, not Braxton-Hicks, and you’re dilated four centimeters. We should have some time before you deliver,” the nurse said.
“Okay. Good.” I opened my family group chat.
Ally: Looks like Baby Girl has a mind of her own. I’m at the hospital and in labor. So far, not awful, but I’ll let you know when she gets here.
Mom: Oh my goodness. I’m so excited. We’ll be on the first flight out.
Dad: Or we can wait until you’re ready.
Mom: Don’t tell me when I’m going to see my very first grandchild.
Ethan: Hope it goes smoothly. Let me know if you need anything.
Ethan: You got this, squirt.
Ally: Don’t call me that. And no flights yet. I’ll let you know.
Mom: Fine. But I’m so excited, honey. You’re going to do so great. Love you so much.
Darren: Good luck, Ally.
Dad: Love you, Ally.
Ally: Love you guys.
I smiled. And then another contraction hit. “Dammit, that hurts.”
She was finally going to be here. I put my hand on my belly, careful to avoid hitting the fetal heart monitor.
Almost here.
Now I just needed Dom to show up in time.
DOM
“Two nights off. Grabbing a beer tonight?” Micah asked as the plane touched down.
“I’m up for it,” Sin said.
“Oh shit, Dom.”
I looked over at Tally as his gaze darted between me and his phone.
“What?”
“Ally’s in labor,” he said.
“What?” I fumbled with my phone, almost dropping it, then took it out of airplane mode.
“Holy shit. That wasn’t supposed to be happening yet, right?” Sin asked.
“It’ll be fine. She text you?” Micah asked me.
I had a string of texts that I quickly scanned through. Nothing newer than two hours ago.
“She called Cora, and Joy was at our condo, so they both took Ally to the hospital,” Tally explained.
My emotions were all over the place, but I was grateful that she’d called them. Joy was an ER resident. She’d know exactly what to do to keep Ally calm.
I tapped on Ally’s name.
Dom: Are you okay? How’s it going? We just landed. I’ll get to the hospital as soon as they let us off the plane.
Dom: Do you need anything?
Dom: You’re going to be so amazing, Ally.
Dom: Fuck. I
I paused, then deleted the message. I’d almost said I love you. The feeling had just hit me, but now was not the time to say that for the first time. Fucking hell.
Dom: I’ll be there soon. You’ve got this, Ally. I know you probably aren’t looking at your phone right now.
Tally looked up from his phone. “I just texted Cora that we landed and you’ll be there as soon as possible.”
Taking in a deep breath, I gave him a nod. “Thanks, man.”
Sin let out a low whistle. “You’re going to be a father.”
“Now is not the time for some dick comment, Sin,” Micah warned.
“Hey, I wasn’t going to joke. This is serious business,” Sin said.
“I don’t know how I feel about you not trying to take the piss out of me,” I said with a chuckle.
Sin grinned. “All right. I hope you don’t get there and pass out when the baby arrives. Big, strong hockey player gets queasy in delivery room,” he continued.
“Please. Of any of us, you’re passing out first,” I fired back, needing his nonsense so I didn’t go insane because I couldn’t get to Ally right this minute.
“I’m not having kids, so we solved that one. But there’s no way I’m fainting,” Sin retorted.
“Idiots, the door is open,” Micah said, quirking a brow at me.
Tally stood up. “Dom’s off first. Ally’s in labor and at the hospital.”
The guys all cheered and slapped me on the shoulder or arm as I headed down the center aisle where the flight attendant was standing at the now open door.
“Tell Ally good luck,” she said.
“I will.” Then I lifted my hand to my teammates as they shouted more words of encouragement for me and Ally. I wasn’t doing anything. I just had to get to her and stay on my two feet while she delivered our little girl.
I couldn’t stop my grin as I raced to my car in the player’s lot.
Dom: In the car. I’ll be there soon.
***
Less than an hour later, I walked into Ally’s room. She was glistening with sweat, and her hair was a mess, piled on top of her head. She gripped the sheet and had never looked more beautiful.
“Baby Daddy is here,” Joy said, spotting me. She was sitting on Ally’s left side as Cora stood next to Ally.
“Sorry I’m late,” I said, rushing over to her side. Cora stepped away to give me space, and I ran my hand over Ally’s forehead, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Hello, gorgeous.”
Then I leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“Gorgeous? It’s not fair. You coming in here, looking all hot and everything,” she muttered, and I couldn’t stop my chuckle.
“What?” I asked.
“I don’t like you right now, and you look hot. Unfair,” she repeated.
Joy laughed.
“The contractions have increased, and she’s not a fan of you right now,” Cora said with a soft smile.
“He did this to me. I said I wasn’t going to say that, but he did,” Ally said, then she cried out and squeezed the hell out of my hand.
“And you’re doing great, Ally.” Unsure of what else to say, I figured asking her not to crush my hand because I needed it to play hockey was something I should keep to myself.
“We’re going to step out. If you need any of us, just send a nurse,” Joy said. Cora stood next to her.
“Thank you so much. Both of you. For being there for Ally today when I couldn’t,” I said, hearing the emotion in my voice.
Cora patted my shoulder. “We’re a family, Dom. You need us, and we show up. Now, you just focus on Ally and we’ll be waiting for when you have news.”
Her words squeezed my chest almost as hard as Ally was clenching my hand.
“Thank you, Cora, Joy,” Ally said, her breathing stilted.
“Good luck, Ally. You got this,” Joy said, giving me a big smile before she and Cora walked out of the room.
“It hurts.” Ally gasped.
I leaned down. “And you’re strong and amazing, and you’ve got this, and I’m going to do whatever you need today, tomorrow, and forever.”
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t ask what I meant, and thank fuck for that, because I’d showed my hand, and I didn’t want her to brush it off at the moment.
***
Hours and plenty of cursing and growling directed at me later, our daughter came into the world. She was red and squirming and screaming and so perfect that I swore my heart stopped. Ally had been the rock star I told her she’d be, and I’d held her hand the entire time. I’d never witnessed anything so amazing. Seeing my daughter being born was even better than winning the Stanley Cup.
I’d kept that thought to myself as well.
“I still say we should name her Allison after her incredible mom,” I said as one of the nurses laid my daughter on Ally’s chest for skin-to-skin time.
Ally laughed. “Absolutely not.”
I leaned in close to them. “It could be her middle name.”
“I just birthed a human, Dom. I don’t have the energy to argue with you right now, but I’m not giving her my name.” Her voice was raspy as she gazed down at our baby girl. The look of pure love in her eyes was breathtaking and I couldn’t help but move in closer so I could kiss Ally’s forehead.
“She’s beautiful. You’re beautiful.” I met Ally’s gaze. “Ally, you were fucking incredible. Kick-ass. The strongest person I’ve ever met.”
“I think you’re delirious.” She smiled. “I can’t believe she’s here.”
I had never been so overwhelmed and ecstatic in my entire life. I couldn’t even begin to describe the emotions rolling through me. I ran my finger down our daughter’s soft cheek. She had perfect little lips and an adorable nose. Her eyes were blue now, and I hoped they’d stay that way, like Ally’s. Her dark brown hair was closer to my color, but I’d read that could change, too. She was just perfect.
Yeah, I was a goner. And I didn’t have it in me to care. I should have just presented her with my heart and my wallet. Both of them. Really.
One of the nurses moved a chair over near Ally’s head and I sank into it, not wanting to miss anything with my girls. Fuck, it was crazy to think how quickly my life could change, and I was totally here for it.
“How about Olivia?” Ally said.
It’d been on our short list, but Ally had said she wanted to see her before deciding.
“Olivia Allison?” I asked.
She gave me a weak glare. “No. For two reasons. One, we aren’t using my name and don’t think you can wear me down on this. And two, because her initials would be OAT, and who knows what kind of horrible nickname could come out of that. Initials shouldn’t spell a word.”
I chuckled. “Okay, weird issue, but it’s fine.” I wouldn’t tell her how much it thrilled me that she gave our daughter my last name so casually.
“Olivia. I like Olivia,” I said, touching her cheek again. “Do you like that name, little one?”
She made a sound. It wasn’t a cry. “Guess she does.”
Ally snorted. “Or she’s hungry.”
***
A short while later, I sat in a chair and held a sleeping and swaddled Olivia while Ally dozed. It’d been a long day, and I wasn’t going to disturb her. While the nurses had gotten Olivia and Ally cleaned up and taken all of their vitals, I’d slipped out to let everyone know that she had arrived. A bunch of my teammates had joined Joy and Cora in the waiting room, and they’d been loud as fuck when I’d shared the news.
Ally’s phone pinged again next to me. I glanced at it, then silenced it so it didn’t wake either of them. The messages were from her family group chat. We’d texted them the news along with some pictures before I’d gone out to tell my teammates. Ally’s family was over the moon, and I could tell they were already waiting impatiently for Ally to tell them to come and visit.
“So many people want to meet you, Olivia. You’re going to be the new star of the team, too. Everyone will love you. And I’m going to love and protect you and your mom with everything I have.”
She made a soft sound but didn’t open her eyes.
I was going to do everything I could to keep that promise, which is why I hadn’t texted my family. It’s not like either of my parents really cared anyway. But I didn’t need them. I had everything I needed in this room.