Flame and Ink: An Anthology (Happy Ever After #1)(7)

“You’re plenty strong on your own, Sierra. You don’t need my strength because you have the strength of thousands. Fuck, Legs, you can do this. I know you can.”

Sierra warmed at the nickname, remembering the first time he’d called her that. He might have been an ass about it, but it had grown on her. Come to think of it, so had he.

She loved her broody, bearded, tattooed man. Of course, at the moment, all she wanted to do was yell at him for putting her in this situation. After all, it was his fault that she was in pain and trying to give birth. She wasn’t going to think of biology and how it takes two…or the fact that she was pretty sure she had been the one to jump him the day they’d decided to not use birth control.

Details, people. Details.

Austin kissed her forehead, his beard tickling. Damn she loved that beard of his. He’d mentioned possibly shaving it before the baby came, but she was so happy they hadn’t had time for that. Their child should see Austin in his element the first time. Beard, ink, and all.

Another contraction hit and she gripped Austin’s hand again, trying to remember her breathing exercises. I can do this, she chanted to herself. If she just kept breathing, she could do this.

Once the contraction passed, she leaned against her husband, her body already exhausted. It had only been a few hours, and she wasn’t even fully dilated. She had a lot of time to go, but the end result would be worth it. Leif would have a little brother or sister, and she’d have a new life to hold and care for.

Scary, yet so freaking amazing.

“Knock knock.” Meghan, Austin’s sister smiled as she walked into Sierra’s room. “I thought I’d come in and see how you’re feeling. The rest of the family is in the waiting room, placing bets and doing their normal Montgomery Baby Day thing.”

Austin snorted and squeezed Sierra’s hand. “We did that for your two, Meghan. I guess we’re continuing the tradition.”

Meghan nodded and came to Sierra’s side. “Placing bets on times, gender, and weight is a time-honored Montgomery tradition. All of the Montgomery cousins were born under bets like that. And believe me, Sierra, we have a lot of them.”

“I know. I’ve met most of them.”

“Mom and Dad would be in here, but we’re giving you guys space. Maya and Jake have Leif, and Luc is watching my kids with the rest of the siblings. We’re all just hunkered down, waiting. We’re here for you if you need us.”

Sierra winced as another contraction hit. “Darn it. These are coming closer and closer together.”

“That’s good, right? It means the baby is coming.” Austin looked like he was ready to start pacing, but refused to leave her side or let go of her hand. Thank God, because it was getting a little hard to hold her hand up at the moment.

Giving birth was taking all her energy. She blinked a couple of times, her vision graying.

“Austin? I don’t feel so good.” Her words slurred and she tried to swallow. Only she couldn’t remember how to do that.

“Sierra? Sierra! Get a nurse! Oh, God. Is that blood?”

Footsteps sounded, but Sierra couldn’t focus. She tried to squeeze Austin’s hand to let him know that everything would be okay because there was no other option, but she couldn’t.

Other noises sounded, but she couldn’t tell what they were. People spoke around her, their voices urgent, but all she could do was close her eyes. It hurt so much, but at the same time, she started to go numb. She wasn’t giving up. There was no way she would ever do that, not with her baby relying on her. But if she closed her eyes, then she could try to keep holding on.

Because there was no other way she would have this work.

She wasn’t scared. She couldn’t be. Not now.

They would save her.

They would save her baby.

There wasn’t another option.





THREE


As soon as he saw the blood, Austin knew this was one of those moments where he would remember each second, each fragment until the day he died.

They wheeled Sierra out of the room and away from him faster than he could blink. He barely had time to squeeze her hand and kiss her knuckles before she was gone, and the nurses were trying to explain to him what was going on.

Thank God Meghan was there. She wrapped her arm around his waist and asked the right questions while he tried to soak it all in. Yes, Sierra was going to get an emergency C-section. No, he couldn’t be with her, not at this time. Things were moving too fast, and they needed to get in there without having to worry about having a visitor in the room. Yes, he could see her as soon as possible. No, he didn’t have to go back to the waiting room. Yes, he could stay in the other waiting room, and Meghan or one of his other family members could be with him if needed.

No, Leif could not come and see him.

No, they couldn’t say Sierra would be okay.

Then they gave him forms that asked him if something were to happen to Sierra, if they were to save the baby or his wife.

His hands shook as he signed where Sierra had told him to sign when they’d had that horrible conversation of what-ifs. He didn’t know if he would have made another decision if he’d been able to think. But with all the complications they’d had so far during the pregnancy, they had sat down and had the tough talk about whom they would choose.