Page 83 of Sparks Like Ours

“I’m gonna mix it up. How about a cappuccino, extra foam.”

“My kind of girl. Any special art on that?”

“Can you do a peace sign?”

“You’re insulting my talent.”

Gia laughed. “I’ll let you choose, then.”

Moments later, Autumn delivered a cappuccino with a startlinglyaccurate depiction of the Pink Panther created in foam. “You continue to outdoyourself,” Gia told her. But Autumn wasn’t smiling proudly like usual. In fact,she was frozen in what could only be described as a pain-filled wince with onehand on her pregnant belly. Gia snapped to attention. Her stomach dropped outfrom beneath her. “You okay?” A pause. “Autumn, talk to me. What’s going on?”She was up and standing next to Autumn in less than a second, her handstrembling.

“Not sure.” She shook her head over and over. “Doesn’t feelright.”

“Pain?”

Autumn nodded, gripped a nearby chair for support, but didn’t sayanything, almost as if she couldn’t.

“Okay, no panicking. Got it?” Gia said calmly, though every ounceof her wanted to climb on top of the table and scream for help. Why was hervoice so calm? Shouldn’t it be trembling, too? “Should I call an ambulance? Ithink maybe I should.” She searched the counter for Steve but didn’t catch hisgaze.

“No,” Autumn managed, shaking her head. “Can you drive me? Thatwould probably be quicker at this point.”

“Of course. Can you walk?”

“I think so. I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve never felt likethis.” She winced again and gripped two chairs, her face contorting in pain.Customers turned their concerned gazes in their direction.

“Take my arm,” Gia ordered. She didn’t know how much time they hadand felt her sense of urgency triple.Deepbreaths. She could do this. She had to do this for Autumn, for thekids. “Steve?” she called.

He whipped around and, catching sight of Autumn, practically leaptover the counter. “What’s happening?” he asked.

Autumn shook her head, unable to speak.

“She’s in pain. We’re not sure. I’m going to drive her to theemergency room.”

“Good idea. You’re going to be okay,” Steve said to Autumn, butthe terror that crisscrossed his features said he was just as worried as Giawas. Steve and Autumn were like family, and he would do anything and everythingfor her.

Autumn nodded and squeezed his hand. “Watch the shop?”

“You got it. Don’t give it another thought.”

Steve helped Gia get Autumn to her Jeep. As she drove, Gia placeda call to Kate, who was at work. She was forced to leave a voice mail but wouldcall again once they arrived. Still in what seemed to be crippling pain, andtaking very deep breaths, Autumn called her doctor and in a shaky voiceexplained her symptoms.

“She says not to worry,” Autumn told Gia as they drove. “She’sgoing to meet us at the hospital. But I feel like something isreallywrong. It’s notjust the pain, G. It’s instinct. The babies are in trouble. I can feel it.”

Those words were enough. Autumn had always been intuitive, andwhen it came to her children, that intuition would only be magnified.

Gia pressed the gas and got them there in half the time, dodgingcars and taking every shortcut she knew. All the while her heart thudded awayin her chest. Her breathing came in shallow spurts. Regardless, she would staycalm. She had to.

Once they arrived, a nurse took over and ushered them to an examroom. With the professionals there, she could breathe a small sigh of relief.It was fleeting, however, as she remembered there was still a larger problem.Nothing could happen to these babies or to Autumn. Not sure what to do withherself, she decided to walk to rid herself of the extra energy, which she didin the hallway while Autumn was examined. Now feeling nauseous, she texted herfriends. They had a right to know. She would want to.

Then she waited.

The seconds ticked by like hours, and with each one that passed,Gia was just certain the prognosis was grim. Just as Autumn’s had, her gut toldher something was very wrong.

She had to prepare for that. They all did.

* * *

“Why am I never a match for the giant ones?” Holly asked, swimmingback to Elle, dragging her board behind her. They’d been out in the water for acouple of hours now, having taken the Jet Ski to catch some bigger action. “Iwatch you practically dance across those monster waves, making it look so easy.When I try it, I get smashed to pieces and left sucking water.”

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