Page 116 of Crazy Love

Just then, she lets out an agonized sound. Then another. Penn and I stare at each other.

“Oh my God. Is it happening?” I ask.

“Iknewit,” he whispers.

She stands up—or tries to—and a wave of panic rolls over me because holy shit, this is actually happening. Penn scrambles to his knees as Jezebel circles once, twice, and then dramatically flops over with a heavy plop. Her tail thrashes.

“Okay,” Penn says in a gentle tone. He moves toward her carefully and barely shudders when he lifts her. “Let’s get you to a soft place, Jezzy.”

Jezzy?

Heart, mush.

I follow him as he goes to the laundry room, where he’s set up the portable crib he bought for this moment. The side even comes down on one side. He sets her in there like she’s so fragile and nods.

“You’ve got this,” he tells her.

Jezebel does not look like she’s got this. Her eyes are huge as she lets out a pained sound that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

“I’ll be right back,” Penn says.

I watch as he rushes back into the living room and grabs the birthing kit.

“Good thing I bought this,” he says, grinning at me. And then he’s all focus, smoothing out the pad he’s put on top of a soft blanket.

“Should we call Dr. Amber?” I ask. “I feelextremelyunderqualified for this situation.”

“No, it’ll be okay.” He grabs a towel and scoots closer to Jezebel. “We just have to stay calm and let her do her thing.” His eyes are bright when he looks up at me. “Would you tell Sam I think it’s happening? He wanted to see this.”

I nod, backing up. “Maybe I’ll turn on a movie for Winnie, just in case she doesn’t want to see it?”

He grins at me reassuringly. “Sounds good.”

“How are you so calm right now?” I ask as I’m leaving the room.

“I have no idea,” he says.

When I go outside, Sam is playing tennis with himself against the house as Winnie dances nearby.

“Sam.” I motion for him to come closer and he jogs over. “I think Jezebel might be having her kittens.”

He gasps. “Is Penn with her?”

“Oh, he’s all over it.”

We grin at each other. It’s been a source of constant amusement for us to tease Penn about Jezebel.

“If you want to come in and watch, I’ll set a movie up for Winnie,” I tell him.

“Good idea. She doesnotlove the sight of blood.” He moves toward the house, his level of excitement rivaling Penn’s.

I’ve gotten attached to Jezebel and am excited to see her kittens, but I’m nervous about the delivery part.

Once Winnie is happy with her movie and snacks, I go back to check on Jezebel. When I walk into the room, she’s stretched out and her legs are working back and forth as she pushes. Soothing music is playing and Penn is reassuring her.

“You’re doing so good,” he says.

It makes me emotional, seeing how sweet he’s being to her. My lip starts to tremble as I watch him calm her as she struggles and strains.

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