I try to scoot back in bed but it feels like my bladder is going to burst.
“I come bearing good—”
“Hold that thought,” I interrupt her and ease off the bed. “I need to use the bathroom.”
The moment my feet hit the floor and I stand up I feel a trickle down my leg.
Wonderful.
I do a quick shuffle toward the bathroom, hoping she doesn’t notice I peed myself when a large gush leaves me standing in a puddle on the threshold.
“Oh shit…”
“Right.” Mel immediately jumps into action and squeezes past me in the bathroom, pulling towels off the rack and dumping one at my feet. “Back up on the bed with you. Right now.”
She leads me to the bed and puts the other towel on the mattress before helping me lift my feet up. Then she hands me my phone.
“Call your doctor, tell him your water broke, ask him if he wants you to go to the hospital on your own or call an ambulance. I’m gonna grab Lisa.”
Then she’s gone and I’m trying not to have a panic attack.
I’m not an idiot, I know twins can come early, but this is six weeks early. That can’t be good.
I dial and am quickly put through to Dr. Cairns, who tells me to get myself to Mercy right away and try to stay as horizontal as I can. I’m just hanging up with him when Mel storms in, followed by Lisa and Paco, of all people.
“He told me to get to the hospital but stay as horizontal as I can.”
Lisa starts opening dresser drawers and pulling out clean clothes, and Mel turns to Paco tossing him a set of keys he deftly catches.
“Pull my vehicle up to the front door and find someone who can help you carry her out.”
“Tse. We need to call Tse.”
“First we get you cleaned up and out of here,” Lisa says, heading into the bathroom.
She comes back with a couple of pads and a washcloth.
I feel oddly comforted with these two women who clearly know what they’re doing, when I can barely remember to breathe.
“You’ll be fine,” Lisa assures me as they help me get into clean clothes. “Those babies too. Don’t you worry.”
Mel is on the phone talking in a low voice. When she hangs up, she turns to me.
“Tse will meet us there.”
“Wait. What were you about to tell me? Earlier?”
She grins at me.
“The judge signed off on your petition for guardianship. Congrats, it’s a boy,” she jokes.
Ravi is ours and these babies are intent on arriving the same day. Emotions well up and spill over.
I’m still crying when Paco and Brick walk in a few minutes later to help me to the car.
Lisa kisses my cheek when I’m deposited on the back seat of Mel’s SUV.
“Brick and me gotta take care of a few things here, but we won’t be far behind you. You’ll be fine, honey.”
To my surprise, Paco jumps in the driver’s seat, earning a dirty look from Mel.
“It’s my car, I drive my car.”
“Get in, Mel,” he grumbles.
“I will, as soon as you get out,” she argues.
I groan when I’m overwhelmed by a surge of pressure low in my belly.
“Fuck, you’re a pain in my ass. This woman needs to get to the hospital or she’s having those babies in your goddamn back seat.”
“Pressure, Mel,” I manage to get out.
“Shit. Don’t you dare push, Sophia.” She hops in the passenger seat. “Drive!” she yells at Paco, who takes off like a bat out of hell.
I can’t remember the drive. All I know is I’m huffing like a madwoman, trying to keep from pushing, while feeling like the guy from Alien when that creature clawed its way out of his body. Except I have two aliens.
Paco barely comes to a stop in front of Mercy when the back door is yanked open and Tse sticks his head inside, taking one look at me. Then he reaches in and lifts me out. I cling on to his neck helplessly, unable to control my body’s actions.
“I’ve got you, Fee.”
Four hours later Tse pushes my wheelchair into the NICU where Wyatt and Ella De León are being monitored for a day or two.
They’re so tiny.
Wyatt came barreling out less than thirty minutes after we arrived here, and Ella followed seven minutes later.
Tse hasn’t been able to stop smiling.
Tse
Ravi comes running outside the moment we pull up to the house. Behind him Blossom stands in the doorway.
Sophia opted to stay at the hospital these last few days until the babies could come home, while Ravi and I scrambled to get the house in order.
I would’ve liked a few days with just my family at home, but I wasn’t going to turn Sophia’s parents away when they showed up unannounced yesterday.
Blossom makes a beeline for her daughter, while Ravi helps me take the babies out of the car.
“Can I carry her inside?” he asks, holding Ella’s baby seat.
“Okay, but remember, precious cargo, kid.”
He grins at me, “I know,” and leads the way inside.
Duff takes Wyatt’s carrier from my hands in the doorway and I turn around to wait for Sophia. Blossom goes ahead and I fold my woman in my arms on the doorstep. She lifts her face and smiles tiredly as I gently kiss her lips.
“A full house, a full life, and a full heart. You gave me everything, Fee.”
==THE END==
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost I’d like to thank my readers. Both my loyal followers who eagerly await each new release, and those for whom this was the first book of mine they tried. I thank you all for taking the time to read my words. It’s a humbling feeling that never gets old.
I especially want to thank the members of my fabulous Barks & Bites reader group. These folks lift me up, cheer me on, and support me on a day-to-day basis.
My group is very welcoming, so if you enjoy my books and would like to join, we’d love to have you: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FreyasBarksandBites/
Next I have
