Stay With Me(38)

Real labor was supposed to be regular with the time between contractions gradually lessening. Which meant she was probably just having…what? Fake ones? She almost laughed. There wasn’t anything fake about the pain.

With a grumble, she finished dressing. Now after making such a big deal out of eating, she was going to have to figure out a reason why she’d suddenly lost her appetite.

She’d taken a step into the bedroom when liquid seeped down her leg, soaking the maternity pants she’d pulled on. She stopped in her tracks and stared down as more liquid pooled on the floor.

Her first thought amused her. Or maybe she was just a babbling fool in shock because the only reaction she could muster was one of extreme aggravation because now she’d have to get dressed all over again. The second thought was that she hadn’t bothered to shave her legs, and now she was most definitely going to the hospital. With hairy legs.

“Cat, what the hell is taking you so long?” Rhys asked from the doorway. “Breakfast was on the table a half hour ago.”

She turned to look at him. Her fear and uncertainty must have shone on her face because Rhys went from teasing aggravation to utter seriousness in two seconds flat.

He strode across the room and cupped her elbow with his hand. “What’s wrong?” he demanded.

She stared down at the puddle of water on the floor then tried to pry the wet material from the inside of her leg.

“Oh shit. Honey, did your water break?”

Stupid question. But she nodded anyway.

“Oh boy,” he breathed. “Logan is going to freak.”

She giggled and relaxed just a bit. Things were going to be fine. Rhys wouldn’t flip out on her, and between the two of them, they could handle Logan and get her to the hospital.

“Let’s get you changed,” he said in a calm voice. “I’ll call for the driver, and I’ll send Logan down with the bag. It’ll give him something to do.”

Twenty minutes later, Rhys helped Catherine out of the elevator and toward the door where the car was waiting. Logan was pacing outside the entrance, and when Catherine and Rhys walked out, he all but pounced on Catherine.

She smiled as he went a bit, okay a lot, overboard as he ushered her inside the car, but she couldn’t fault how loving he was toward her and their baby. Even if he was a little overzealous.

At the hospital, Rhys took care of checking in and the paperwork, which was just as well since he was the only calm one despite the appearance Catherine gave to the contrary.

Inside she was a mess. A complete and utter mess. She wasn’t ready for motherhood. What the hell did she know about babies? Other than she wanted this one so badly she ached.

Hours later as she panted between contractions and Logan and Rhys hovered nearby, she wondered why any woman ever wanted children.

“It won’t be long now,” the doctor said as he positioned himself between her legs.

Logan and Rhys stood on either side of her head, their hands laced with hers. They squeezed reassuringly even as she caught her breath and bore down with the next contraction.

All the air escaped her lungs and she sagged against the pillows, her strength nearly gone.

“I can’t do this,” she whispered.

Rhys leaned down and brushed her hair from her face. He kissed her tenderly. “Yes, you can. You can do anything, Cat.”

Logan also leaned down, her hand clasped tight in his. “I know you’re tired, baby. I know you hurt. But hold on a little longer. Do what the doctor says. Think of how wonderful it will be to finally hold our daughter in your arms.”

Her body stirred as the next contraction began low in her back. Burning, growing, and with it the undeniable urge to push.

She gripped their hands, sucked in her breath and pulled against them as she pushed with everything she had.

“That’s it, baby,” Logan urged.

“You’re doing it!” Rhys said excitedly.

The doctor’s words faded away. Even Logan and Rhys became a blur as she focused on her body’s urgings. Just when she was sure she couldn’t take a minute more, she felt the most exquisite relief, as if her stomach caved in. The pressure was gone, the pain relief immediate.

“The head’s out,” the doctor announced. “Give me just a minute and then one more push and your daughter will be here.”

Both Logan and Rhys peered over her legs, craning for a view of the baby.

“Push with your next contraction,” the doctor said.

She put her chin down and pushed. The sensation of her daughter sliding free was one she’d never forget as long as she lived.

She collapsed back against the bed as she heard a small cry from her newborn baby. And then she was placed on Catherine’s stomach, wrapped in a loose blanket.

With trembling hands, Catherine gathered her in her arms and pulled her close. Tears blurred her vision as she looked down at the blinking eyes of her baby.

Logan and Rhys bent down so they too could get a good look at their daughter. Catherine opened the blanket so they could all peek at the fingers and toes of the squirming bundle.

“She’s perfect,” Rhys said in a choked voice.

Logan reached out with a shaking hand to touch the side of the baby’s face. “Beautiful,” he whispered. Then he turned to look at Catherine. Her breath caught as she saw the emotion in his eyes. Love. So much love and tenderness. “Thank you,” he said in a voice clogged with tears. “Thank you for my daughter.”