Page 99 of Manny's Surprise Baby
“Okay. And I know you well enough to realize when you’re scared you get angry. But this isn’t the time for that. This is the time for you to take a deep breath and trust that it’s going to be okay. You and your baby’s safety is my number one priority. Do you believe me?”
Pierce nodded, his eyes red rimmed.
“Good. Go home. Eat something healthy. Take a walk and enjoy the moment. Because peace and quiet will be a thing of the past in a few days.” Dr. Peters smiled and left the room.
Pierce sat up, sniffing and turning his back so I couldn’t see his face. He buttoned his shirt and zipped up his pants as best he could.
“You okay?” I asked softly.
“No.” He sniffed some more. “I’m a pathetic, emotional wreck lately.” He faced me and his eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I’m so scared that something will happen and—” He shook his head. “I don’t want to let you down.”
I scowled. “Let me down? What are you talking about?” I pulled him into my arms, and he melted against me. “Honey—God. You can’t let me down. Even if something, God forbid, did go wrong. It wouldn’t be your fault.” I pressed his face to my shoulder. “Please don’t talk like that. It fucking breaks my heart, Pierce.”
He held me tight, his warm breath against my neck. “I just want to be safe. I want our baby to be safe. Is that too much to ask for?”
“No. Of course not.”
“Why can’t anything ever just be easy for me?”
“I don’t know. I wish I had an answer for you.”
He sighed and pulled away slightly, and he seemed calmer. “At least I found you. Lots of people never find love, and I found you.”
“Yeah. That’s right. See, life has ups and downs. But I trust Dr. Peters. Soon the baby will be here, and this will all just be a frustrating memory.”
“Okay.” He nodded. “You’re right.”
“Shall we go home and eat a healthy snack? Maybe walk, like the doctor suggested?”
He shook his head. “No. I want to eat salt-and-vinegar chips in bed with you and watch a movie.”
I laughed. “How about we take the long way home, and then we eat those chips but also a carrot and watch a movie in bed?”
He grinned. “Deal.”
I cupped his cheek. “It’s going to be okay, Pierce.”
“Yep.” He kept his eyes down and moved to the door.
The fear in his eyes made my heart ache. But I kept that to myself and followed him out of the office.
Chapter Seventeen
Pierce
I’d just stepped out of the shower and tugged on my bathrobe, when the first contraction hit me. It was so painful I almost fell to my knees, struggling to pull air into my lungs. I grabbed my stomach and squeezed my eyes closed, unable to even call for help. It felt like an eternity until the clenched muscles slowly began to relax, and I was able to hobble to the door and open it.
Seth was in the kitchen eating a bowl of cereal. I could see him through the open door of the bedroom, although he was distracted by the TV. I opened my mouth to yell, and another contraction came. I gasped and stumbled out of the bathroom, praying I didn’t face-plant and possibly hurt the baby. I braced myself on the bed, in so much pain I almost passed out. As the contraction slacked, I tried to straighten and call out to Seth.
I don’t know if he sensed something or if he caught sight of me out of the corner of his eye, but he dropped his bowl in the sink with a crash and bounded across the space to me.
“Shit, what’s wrong?” His face was ashen as he gripped my arm.
“Contractions.” That one word was all I could squeeze out before another one hit. I doubled over and groaned, clenching my jaw and struggling to stay conscious.
I could hear him pressing buttons on his phone. “Dr. Peters, it’s time.” Seth’s voice shook. I couldn’t hear the doctor’s voice, but then he slipped his phone into his back pocket and he took my arm. “We’re going.Now.”
I couldn’t walk. “Wait,” I gasped, praying the contraction ended soon so I could move my legs.
