Colters' Gift

She broke off, a grimace tightening her face momentarily. Her body seemed to spasm, and then she relaxed, sinking back into the pillows.

“Lily, was that a contraction?” Lauren asked in concern.

“Yeah,” Lily breathed out. “They’ve become stronger in the last several hours. But still very irregular. I’ll be glad when this is over.”

“But if they’ve gotten stronger, isn’t that something that should be of concern?”

Lauren couldn’t keep the anxiety out of her voice. She wanted to go and get Lily’s husbands, or at least one of them, but she didn’t want to rat Lily out. Even if Lauren was very concerned over these contractions.

Lily shook her head. “I don’t think so. With Rose, I definitely knew when it was time. They were stronger with time and more regular.”

“Uhm, Lily, I hate to be the one to point this out to you, but you just said they were getting stronger. If they were Braxton Hicks, they wouldn’t be stronger. And you know not every pregnancy and birth is the same. Haven’t you listened to Holly’s stories of when her children were born? No two were ever the same, which is why of the four, only one was born in a hospital!”

Lily started to speak, but then her eyes widened and they both looked down as moisture seeped into the bed, dampening the sheets.

“Oh no,” Lily breathed out. “I think my water just broke.”

CHAPTER 4

LAUREN raced from Lily’s bedroom and into the living room, where Michael was sitting. Seth and Dillon were both still in town but thankfully, town was only a few minutes away.

Michael looked up with a frown when Lauren screeched to a halt in front of him. “Lauren? What’s wrong?”

“It’s Lily,” she said breathlessly.

Michael was on his feet before she got it all out. She put her hand out to his arm to restrain him. She hated the fear in his eyes. The instant panic. And she wanted to reassure him. She shouldn’t have freaked out but oh my God, Lily was in labor. Here. Not in a hospital, but here.

“She’s in labor, Michael. Probably has been for a while. Her water just broke. But she didn’t know. Don’t be angry with her.”

Michael stared at her in stupefaction. “Angry? Why the hell would I be angry with her?”

His expression softened and he purposely bit back a further response. She ducked her head because she knew none of the Colters were anything like Joel. They’d never hurt a woman. But her instinct was to protect someone she cared a great deal about. She didn’t want any of the Colters angry with Lily over the fact she’d be granted her fondest wish. To give birth to their child in her home.

Michael squeezed her hand and smiled. “It’ll be okay, Lauren. Can you do me a favor, please? Can you call Seth and Dillon and then call my mom and the dads? Let them know what’s going on, and tell them to hurry. I need to go check Lily and see just how close she is.”

Lauren nodded vigorously and was already reaching for her cell phone when Michael strode away toward the bedroom where Lily lay.

Michael entered the bedroom to see Lily struggling to get out of bed. She was prying the wet sheet away with a grimace and then she bent over, holding her stomach, her entire face beaded with strain.

“Baby,” Michael said lovingly as he went to her, holding and supporting her as she breathed through a contraction.

She glanced up, her eyes wide with fear. “I wasn’t afraid before, Michael. I wasn’t! But oh God, it’s real. It’s here. What do I do?”

The panic in her voice hit him right in the chest, and he went absolutely soft with love. For her. For their child.

He hugged her to him, placing his splayed palm over her still-rippling belly.

“We’re going to have a baby,” he said cheerfully.

She looked at him with such relief in her eyes that it gutted him.

“First thing we need to do is strip these sheets off the bed and get you into something dry and warm. Then I’m going to see just how far along in this process you are.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Lauren asked from the door.

Michael turned to see a very worried Lauren standing there.

“I called everyone. They’re freaking out but they’re on their way. All of them.”

Michael nodded. “Can you help Lily into a new gown while I strip off the sheets and replace them?”

Lauren rushed forward and took Lily’s arm, guiding her toward the chest of drawers where her nightclothes were folded. Michael made quick work of the bed and then positioned the pillows so she’d have plenty of back support. When the others got there, he’d put Dillon and Seth on point to give her all the support she needed.

Right now he was going to do everything in his power to ensure that Lily was calm, even if he was about to lose his fucking mind.

Give him an animal? He could deal. But delivering his own child? Suddenly he wished like hell the dads were already here. They’d delivered three of their children. He could use some reassurance, because all he could think was what if something went wrong? What if he screwed up? He could never face Lily again if he did anything to harm her or their child. And Lily simply couldn’t bear another loss.

“Michael?”

His wife’s soft, sweet voice filtered through his panicked thoughts. He turned to see her watching him, her eyes shining with love. She put her hand on his arm and then leaned into him, nestling her swollen body close to his.

“It’s going to be okay,” she whispered.

How like her to be the one comforting him when he should be doing everything in his power to offer her reassurance.

He smiled and squeezed her close just as her body went tense and a low moan slipped from her lips.

“Let’s get you comfortable,” he said in a husky voice laced with emotion.

“I’ll go watch for the others,” Lauren said anxiously. “Seth and Dillon seemed . . . stressed.”

Lily smiled as Michael guided her toward the bed. “I just bet they did. Poor guys.”

Michael kissed her forehead and then helped her settle down. He gently pulled her gown to her waist so he could see if she was crowning. God, he hoped she wasn’t. Not yet. He at least wanted the others present before their baby slid into his waiting hands.

She bent her knees and spread them, giving him access. When he got a glimpse, he sucked in his breath. Oh shit. She was crowning. Not hugely, but the baby’s head was right there.

He felt light-headed. His hands shook. Hell, he didn’t have anything.

“Lauren, get me my med kit! It’s on the counter. And blankets. I need blankets and some water to clean Lily and the baby when we’re done.”

“Is it time?” Lily asked, her body tensing once more. “Oh God, Michael, I need to push. What’s happening? Is the baby coming now?”

He lifted his head so she could see him over her belly. “Yes, honey. It’s time. But I don’t want you to push yet, okay? I need to get a few things. It’s going to be all right. I swear it. Okay? Trust me?”

Her eyes glowed warm as she blew out the rest of her breath in a whoosh. “I do trust you, Michael. You won’t let anything happen to our child.”

“Or to you,” he said softly. “You’re my life, Lily. Our life. I’ll go to hell and back to keep you with me. Never doubt it.”

She smiled and nodded. “I love you too, you know.”

“Yeah. I do.”