Miles Ever After (Miles High Series)(12)

“Breathe,” he says.

I pant. “Did you learn how to say that in prenatal classes?”

“Yes. I did actually, smart-ass.”

I smile up at him.

“Even in labor.” He rolls his eyes. “Un-fucking-believable.”

We get in the elevator and ride to the basement parking lot, he takes my hand in his and marches us across to the car, another contraction hits and it knocks the wind out of me. “Ahh,” I moan as I stop on the spot, my breathing is labored and I’m beginning to perspire.

“Babe, you’re scaring me. Should I call an ambulance?” He waits patiently as I have my moment. “This seems to be progressing very fast.”

“No, it’s fine. Let’s go.”

“Maybe I should take a look,” he says as we get to the car, he opens the door for me.

“At what?” I frown as I climb in.

“To see if I can see the head.”

“You fucking idiot, you will not be able to see the head,” I snap, infuriated. Another contraction hits and it’s the hardest yet, shattering pain sears through me. “Ahhh.” I cry as I grip the dashboard.

Jameson’s eyes widen and he takes off with speed, he floors it out of the parking lot so fast that the car flies through the air. “Cross your legs,” he snaps, his eyes are darting between me and the road.

“I have a watermelon trying to smash its way out, crossing my legs is not going to fucking stop it.”

“Jesus.” Jameson is perspiring as we fly through the streets of New York.

I get another contraction and I cry out in pain. “Ahhh.”

“Ahhhhhh,” he cries too as he reaches over and tries to put his hand up my dress. “What are you doing?” I yell.

“Just putting my hand there to stop it coming out.”

I swat him away. “You are the dumbest smart man I know,” I cry.

A few contractions and in the quickest time known to man we make it to the hospital and Jameson parks out the front in the no-standing area.

“You can’t park here,” I pant.

“I dare someone to try and stop me.” He runs around and opens the door and helps me out. We make our way up to the maternity ward, and although we have been here before on our tour, it all seems so much more real now. Jameson makes his way to the nursing station. “Hello, I called before. Emily has gone into labor.”

“Mr. Miles, yes.” The nurse smiles. “This way.”

We get to the room and the kind nurse hooks me up to a monitor and makes me comfortable. She seems so relaxed, just the opposite to how I’m currently feeling.

I wanted so badly to feel in control and calm, I was sure I was going to be a pro at this labor thing, so far I feel like a feral animal who is about to go through an exorcism.

The nurse smiles. “I’ll leave you alone for a little while, I’ll be back in a moment to check your reading.”

“Thanks.”

Bleep.

Bleep.

Bleep.

Bleep.

Jameson smiles as he stares at the baby’s heartbeat monitor, “Look how strong that heartbeat is, Em.” He sits on the side of the bed and smiles down at me; his demeanor has changed and he pushes the hair back from my forehead. “It’s going to be fine.”

Butterflies swirl in my stomach. “How do you know?”

“Because this baby has you as a mom.”

My eyes well with tears.

“And its father loves its mother so, so much.” He kisses my forehead.

Another contraction racks through my body and I begin to cry as fear fills me. “Jay, I don’t think I can do this,” I whisper in a panic. “I changed my mind; I changed my mind now.”

He holds my hand through it, finally it ends and I slump back into the mattress.

“It’s okay, sweetheart.”

“Is it?” I sob. “I knew it was going to be bad, I thought I had it in the bag but nothing can prepare you for this. It’s worse than I thought, Jay. Much worse.”

“You’re the strongest person I know, Em.”

“I don’t feel very strong right now.”

“You’ve got this babe; I know you do.” He holds my face in his hands and kisses me softly. “Bring our baby to life.”

My eyes search his.

“If I could do this for you, I would,” he whispers. “You know that I would.”

And that right there, those words put a fire in my belly.

He would do anything for me.

It’s me, it’s all me, I’m the only one who can do this for us. There is no shortcut.

I want to meet our baby.

I nod, filled with renewed determination.

“Let’s do this.”





Jameson


Five and a half hours later, with my heart in my throat, I watch on as Emily, the love of my life, moves heaven and earth.

This is without a doubt the most incredible thing I have ever borne witness to.

How women do this every day blows my mind, there are no words to describe the awe I have for the female race in this moment.

“Last push, Emily.”

The midwife smiles.

Em bears down and pushes hard and the baby slides out, the nurse picks it up and turns it over. “It’s a boy.”