Page 112 of Once Upon a Holidate
“Just remember, you need to give yourself an extra five minutes every time you need to pee,” Wynn teased. “Someone hasto undo the buttons, then redo them. Unless you want a couple of us to come in with you and hold the dress.”
Holly winced. “I’m not really comfortable having my friends do that for me.”
Joylyn rubbed her belly. “I wouldn’t have wanted to do that, either,” she said. “But I think after going through childbirth where everyone is standing around looking at my girl parts, I’ll be a lot less modest.”
She moved to a chair and sat down. Her back was aching. She’d noticed it that morning. The massage had helped but now the dull but steady pain was back. No wonder, she thought. There was too much baby and not enough her.
The photographer came in and took pictures of Holly, and then a few of Holly and Joylyn together.
At almost four, Renee appeared, a tablet in her hand. She paused to smile at them both.
“So beautiful,” she said with a happy sigh. “All your guests are here, the caterer is busy with the food, Silver is getting ready for the postceremony drink rush and I have triple-checked everything. There are six handsome men waiting by the minister.” She smiled. “I assume you only want to marry Rex, but the other five are tempting, too. Ready to get married, Holly?”
“I am.”
Joylyn took her bouquet of flowers and started for the door. The pain in her back seemed to circle around to the front and squeeze.
Not now, she told her baby. She was a week from her due date and knew that false labor could happen at any time.Give me about three hours and then you can fake labor all you want.
Amazingly the pain went away.
“I have superpowers,” Joylyn murmured to herself as she walked toward the foyer.
Ninety minutes later, she stood with the five co–best men,talking about how beautiful the ceremony had been. The bride and groom made a wonderful couple, and by the time they exchanged rings nearly everyone had been fighting tears.
“I can’t believe how fast this wedding got pulled together,” Will said.
“It took a village,” Joylyn told her.
Servers circulated with trays of champagne and appetizers. The guys helped themselves. Peter got her a glass of juice, while the two Bens and John offered her food. Joylyn smiled at them and tried to participate in the conversation, but couldn’t seem to follow along. She’d been hungry before, but since the earlier cramping, she’d kind of lost her appetite. Plus the pain was back, but with a little more intensity. She was just about to go look for a place to sit when she felt her insides twist with so much intensity that she nearly doubled over from the pain.
The shock of it was followed by bone-numbing fear. Nothing was supposed to hurt that much. What if something had happened to the baby?
She no more than thought the question when the pain returned, sharper this time—a rip cord circling her belly, wrapping tighter and tighter. Panic joined fear. This was bad. Really bad.
She looked around at the party going on and had no idea what to do. She didn’t want to create a scene but knew she couldn’t stay standing much longer. She was breathing in pants and she’d broken out in a cold sweat. She had to—
Her mouth literally dropped open as the truth dawned. Nothing bad had happened. She was in labor!
Her dad walked up and put his arm around her, while smiling at the guys. “This is about the prettiest wedding I’ve ever been to. You did good, kid. Holly’s going to remember this day for the rest of her life.”
Joylyn stared at him. “That’s true, Dad, and for more reasons than you think.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about, sweetie?” He studied her more closely. “Are you all right?”
Before she could answer, she felt a rushing wetness between her legs. It was as if she’d peed herself, only she hadn’t had to go to the bathroom. She stared down at the dampness on her pink dress, then at her father.
“I’m in labor.”
His eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “What?” he demanded in a loud voice. “Now? Are you sure?”
His freak-out had a calming effect on her. She motioned to the front of her dress and managed a smile. “Pretty sure, Dad.”
“Okay.” He put his still-full glass of champagne on a table. “We can do this. It’s early, but not too early. You’ll be fine.”
“I know.”
“Your mom’s in Phoenix. We’ll call her on the way to the hospital. Chandler’s on a plane, so that’s more complicated.” He took her hands in his. “Joylyn, I’m going to be here for you. I want you to believe me. We’ve taken the classes together, and we both know what to do. I won’t leave your side, little girl. I’ll be right here, taking care of you.”
