Page 26 of Undeniable

Within a few minutes we are pulling up to the hospital. I quickly help Ashlynn waddle inside through triage while the men watch over the kids. We get Ashlynn set up in a cushy room that seems better fitted for a hotel than a hospital before we get her dressed into a hospital gown.

Hours of painful labor pass by and Luca and Giovanni still aren’t here. I have called them with updates every hour on the hour, each one seemingly bringing more anxiety to everyone as they race to get here in time.

Ashlynn is already dilated to a 10 and the doctors say she will be ready to push soon. The guys promised that they would be here soon last time I spoke to them, and I try to convince Ashlynn that they will make it, but at this point I am not so sure. I rub her back reassuringly and feed her ice chips when she asks for them. My hand has also officially become her stress ball and I wouldn’t be surprised if she has fractured a few of my fingers with that last contraction.

“You have to start pushing Ashlynn,” her doctor urges. “The baby is coming. We can’t wait any longer without putting both of you at risk.”

She whimpers and shakes her head as a tear runs down her face. “I can wait. He will be here soon. I know it.”

“Ashlynn, I am afraid we don’t have a choice at this point. I am sorry.”

The doctor begins placing her feet in stirrups as the nurse’s flit around her. I grab Ashlynn’s hand with both of mine as I look at her.

“Hey, look at me. You are a strong, brave woman. You are an incredible mother, and you can do this. I will be right here the whole time, okay?”

Ashlynn nods as her eyes clench tightly with pain.

“Alright, push,” the doctor instructs.

She pushes until her face turns beat red before her body sinks back into the bed, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she attempts to catch her breath. I brush some hair off of her face and rub her shoulders supportively.

“You are doing so good,” I say.

“Okay, Ashlynn. Here comes another,” the doctor says.

She nods when we hear the best noise ever.

“I am here! I am here! Angel! Mi dispiace tanto. Sono qui, ti amo,” A large man, who I can only assume is Luca, says as he rushes into the room.

Ashlynn’s eyes fill with relief as she lets go of my hand for the first time in hours and reaches out to him.

“Amore mio! What took you so long you asshole!” She shouts.

My head swings back and forth between them as he rushes up to her and crushes his lips against hers. “I am here, Angel. I am so sorry.”

I slowly creep out the door as I let them share this moment together. Before I turn around, I back into a stiff body. I whip around to see Giovanni bracing my arms with his large palms.

“Hey,” I say.

“Hey, how is she?” He asks with concern as he looks towards the room.

“Better now that he is here. Shouldn’t be too long now.”

“Thank you for being there for her. She is like a sister to me. I know it means the world to Luca. Her best friend is in Paris right now and if you weren’t there she would have been all alone.”

“I didn’t do much, but I am glad that I could be there for her.”

He gives me a small smile and brushes a lock of my hair out of my face as he cups my cheek gently. Before he can say anything, I hear Alessandro’s voice call out to us.

“Papa! Is Uncle Luc here?” He asks with Seraphina trailing behind him as he holds her hand in a death grip.

“Yeah, he is. How about we get out of here and let them have their privacy?”

“Can Seraphina come?” Alessandro asks.

“No, she has to stay here and meet her little brother soon buddy.”

Alessandro pouts before hugging her and grabbing Giovanni’s hand.

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