Page 56 of Unpredictable

“That’s not water.”

“Your water broke.”

She nods while whimpering.

“Okay, let’s get you changed and then head to the hospital. I’ll call my father’s cleaning service and ask if they can send someone to clean this up, yeah?” I soothe.

I pull her back down the hall towards our bedroom and leave her in the bathroom while I grab a pair of cotton panties from her after-baby pile and a maxi dress. I help her change into both while she holds onto my shoulders and hisses when a contraction hits.

“Come on, baby,” I tell her while I walk alongside her towards the door.

“Did you grab the towel for the car? I don’t want to ruin our seats.”

She’s worried about seats while in labor, God love her.

“It’s right here,” I tell her as I grab the towel and her purse.

“Come on, let’s go have a baby.”

Amethyst Rose Brooks came into our world kicking and screaming after six hours of hand-crushing labor. Next to her mother, she’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. I watch her lie on Victoria’s chest and feel overwhelmed with love for both of them.

Victoria, the calm in all my chaos. She brought out a love in me I never thought was possible, and Amethyst tied us together for life, giving me something I never knew I needed.

“God, she’s beautiful,” I say softly.

“We did good, Brooks.”

“We did. But you know what would make it better?”

“What?” she asks while running her finger down our daughter’s cheek.

“If your last name was Brooks too. I may never find words beautiful enough to describe all the things you mean to me, but I promise I will never stop searching for them. All I want is to love you and be yours in return. Marry me.”

“Oh, Sterling,” she says on a sigh with a soft smile on her face. “Will you ask me again when I can feel my legs?” she teases.

“I’ll ask every day until you say yes.”

“I’ll say yes one of those days. Promise.” She kisses me softly.

“I love you.”

“I love you more.”

???

Epilogue

Victoria

August

Iwake up to the sound of Sterling talking to our daughter coming through the baby monitor.

“Mommy needs to rest, oh yes she does. You know, sweetheart, one of these days I’m going to convince her to marry me.”

I can’t help but chuckle as I stretch. His phone starts ringing.

“Oh, it’s Uncle Finley calling for his Amethyst time. Maybe we’ll be able to convince him to come home, yeah?”

---