How the hell was I supposed to sleep afterthat?
Chapter 12
When my phone began to vibrate against my nightstand early that morning, I made a quick lunge for it, seeing Scarlet’s name flash on the screen. “Scar?”
“It’s Cole,” his deep voice responded. “She’s in labor.”
I sat up, all thought of sleep forgotten. “How far apart are her contractions?”
“Six minutes. She says it’s coming on a lot faster than it did with Grace. She’s early, Jill.” I could hear the catch in his voice.
He was worried.
“Faster progression is typical with the second one. She’s strong, Cole. The baby looked great during the last checkup. She’ll be fine. The baby will be fine,” I reassured him, knowing how overprotective and prone to worry he was. “You guys headed in?”
“Yep, Kat just got here to pick up Gracie.”
“I’m leaving now,” I assured him. I hung up and rushed around, pulling on my scrubs. I tapped on Cal’s door moments later.
He surprised me by opening the door rather than answering me. He stood in nothing but boxers, sleep evident on his handsome face. “What’s wrong?” he demanded.
“Scar’s in labor. I’ve got to go. Can you stay with Bubs?”
He nodded, his face tense. “She’s early.”
I reached out and grasped his hand briefly. “She’s only a few weeks early. I see it all the time. It’ll be okay,” I assured him in a similar way I had his son. “I’ll bring your grandbaby safely into the world.” I rose up on my toes and for the first time was the one who kissed him.
The fact that Cal had grandchildren was hard to grasp. He was still so young himself, and so goddamn fit and handsome.
“Drive safe, baby. Call me as soon as you can.”
“I will,” I promised.
The streets of Hawthorne were quiet as I made the short drive to the hospital. The heat of the day clung stubbornly to the night air as I hustled into the hospital, which at times felt like a home away from home.
I waved to my fellow nurses as I strode purposefully down the quiet corridor.
Cole was standing at the bedside of a very flushed Scarlet when I walked in. Dr. Green, Scarlet’s doctor, was in the midst of checking her. Cole stroked a large hand over Scar’s forehead, his expression tight with worry as she gritted her teeth in obvious pain.
“She’s already at nine centimeters,” Dr. Green informed me over her shoulder. “At this pace of labor we don’t have time for an epidural.”
I kept my expression purposefully blank, not wanting Scarlet to panic. I sure as hell would have. “Your little one is eager to meet his parents.” I smiled down at my friend.
“No epidural?” Scar gasped, looking up at Cole and then me with wide, panicked eyes.
I looked at Cole. There was a lot I could do for her as both a nurse and a friend. This just seemed like a moment for him.
Obviously he agreed.
He stooped low, pressing his forehead to hers, any trace of fear erased from his expression and replaced with pure focus and adoration. “Baby, you know I’d take any pain from you I could. Kills me to see you go through this and not be able to do a damn thing about it. But it’s up to you to bring our baby boy into the world. You’re almost there—just a little bit more. You can do this, baby. You can doanything.”
I watched as Scarlet visibly gathered herself, took a deep breath, and nodded once.
“My strong fucking girl,” Cole’s deep voice marveled as he rose to his full height and clasped her hand in his.
Scarlet was a force to be reckoned with after that. Not one complaint left her lips as she endured the rest of her labor with me and her husband by her side.
When Tatum Knight Jackson met the world it was with one of the loudest wails I’d ever heard from a newborn.