Breathless (Goose Creek Book 4)

by Lee Wardlow

  Jamie and Sly were developing a plan to start selling Zach’s firewall to selective companies. Zach could care less what they made from it. The firewall had brought him nothing but heartache. He was working out his own plans in his mind to do something with his life that would make a difference. Zach did want to work for Jamie when he got out of prison though. He thought that was a good step towards doing something productive for other people.

  Nova had been nesting for days. The urge to clean the mansion was overwhelming. She thought maybe she had touched every room in the house at least once. Jamie had started working from home this past week in case she went into labor. She was determined to have the baby at home as Lola did the twins. He wasn’t quite as comfortable with that idea as she was but he supported her.

  All morning she had been feeling twinges in her lower back. She didn’t know what they meant. By noon, the twinges were becoming regular pains in her stomach. She walked around the house a lot hoping they would get consistent. She sat in their Jacuzzi tub in the master suite for the longest time hoping to ease her pains.

  Jamie was looking for her. It was almost time for the twins and Mikey to get home. An hour from now, Kaylee and Bradley would be home as well.

  They were all doing summer programs in their respective interests. The boys’ sports, except Mikey. His was computers. Kaylee art. They were well rounded kids if nothing else.

  Wyatt was at Beau’s for the afternoon. They enjoyed each other’s company. Wyatt eased Beau’s loneliness and Beau filled a spot in Wyatt’s life. He called him Grandpa like most of the kids did, Bradley, Kaylee and Mikey too.

  Nova and Jamie stood before a judge with his lawyer and adopted the kids. No one could ever take them from them. Wyatt was most pleased. The twins thought it was ridiculous since they were nearly grown but they did hug Nova afterwards. Kaylee was pretty happy that Nova would be in her life forever.

  He knocked on the bathroom door. “Since when do you knock?” She asked.

  He stuck his head in and saw her lying back in steaming hot water. Her fingertips were tracing circles over her belly. The jets on the tub forcing bubbles to the surface. “Since you closed the door.”

  She laughed. “I was afraid Beau would bring Wyatt home and he would run in here looking for me like he did last week.”

  “Are you okay?”

  She smiled at him. Nova hadn’t told him she was in labor yet. “I am,” she replied. “You’re going to be a daddy soon.”

  “How soon?” She laughed at the look of panic on his face.

  “I think you still have a few hours Jamie. No need to freak out on me yet.”

  He knelt by the tub and took her hand in his. “Did you call your midwife?”

  “Not yet. It’s too soon.”

  “How can you be so calm?” He asked touching her face with his free hand.

  “Jamie, it’ll be fine. Breathe baby just breathe.”

  He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to them. It didn’t get better from there. Hours later her midwife and doula invaded the house. Beau stayed and helped with dinner. He made sure Wyatt was bathed. The pool of water was setup in the family room where everyone watched television usually. The kids groaned and left the room.

  Nova got in the water. She got out of the water. She walked around a lot. Hoping that something would ease her pain. She was sitting in the water when Wyatt came to see how she was doing. He sat on the floor by the pool. Nova had her arms resting on the side, her head leaning on her arms. Wyatt rubbed his fingers across her face.

  “Hi,” she whispered.

  “Hi,” he answered. “Is my niece coming out soon? I really want to see her before bedtime.”

  “Gosh, I hope so Wyatt.”

  He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

  “Thank you sweetheart.”

  “I’m going to watch cartoons. Will you call me if she comes?”

  “I will.”

  Jamie chuckled as he watched his brother leave the room. “I don’t know who loves you more…me or him?”

  She smiled at him. “Will you get in here with me?”

  “Whatever you want?”

  He got into the pool and sat behind her where she wanted him. She leaned back against his chest. He rubbed her belly trying to comfort her.

  The twins came into the room next.

  “What is your problem?” Jamie asked when he saw their faces.

  Nova chuckled. She knew.

  “I’m not sure I would sit in there with Nova when the baby comes out,” Bobby told him.

  “Yeah,” Branch agreed. He swallowed hard. “What else is coming out with the baby?”

  “Just shut up.” He rolled his dark eyes at the twins. When they left the room he whispered to her, “What else is coming out?”

  “Blood maybe. My water has been leaking into the pool since it broke. Nothing else.”

  “Wonderful,” he told her. She could tell he wasn’t exactly pleased with her answer.

  “I feel like I want to push,” she told him.

  “Mags,” Jamie shouted. “She wants to push.”

  Their midwife came to the room followed by the six kids. Jamie looked at them. “What?” Bobby said. “We want to see it too. We’ll stand over here though.”

  “I won’t,” Wyatt said. He started to head towards the pool and Bobby grabbed his little brother by the collar.

  “Oh yes you will.”

  Jamie focused on Nova. He held her legs for her while she pushed. The midwife kept leaning over the pool and checking her. “Everything all right?” Jamie asked.

  Maggie smiled at him and patted his shoulder with her dry hand. “Jamie, she’s doing great.”

  Nova gritted her teeth. She clenched them tight and pushed against the pain. She noticed Beau had joined the kids in the doorway to the living room. She laid her head back against Jamie’s shoulder and took several deep breaths.

  She started pushing again. “It hurts,” she cried. Nova squeezed Jamie’s hands holding her legs. Maggie checked for the head.

  “The head is close Nova. Keep pushing,” Maggie told her. “You can do it.” Nova kept bearing down. Her chin now rested on her chest as she tried to push their child from her body. She was so tired. Nova felt like her body couldn’t stretch anymore to accommodate the baby trying to make its way in the world.

  “You all right Nova?” Wyatt asked in a scared voice.

  “I am sweetheart,” she told him through her clenched teeth.

  “Okay,” he replied uncertainly.

  Nova reached between her legs and felt the baby’s head. She was getting close. She leaned her head back into Jamie’s head. She smiled. “So close,” she told him.

  Nova guided his hand to the baby’s head. “Feel that?” She asked.

  “I do.” She could hear the catch in his voice.

  She felt the contraction tightening her belly. She bore down with everything in her and the baby’s head came out. She started crying. With the next two contractions her entire body floated out of Nova’s. She caught her daughter in her own hands and lifted her out of the water. She laid Ruby Karla Stone against her chest. The baby was screaming. She definitely had a healthy pair of lungs. Nova kissed her brow.

  Jamie kissed Nova’s cheek. He reached over her shoulder and caressed his daughter’s face. Then he kissed Nova again. So much had happened. So much had changed in her life but this child laying against her breast with its head of dark hair looking like her beautiful daddy made everything right in the world.

  Nova glanced across the room at the waiting kids waiting to see their new niece. Her heart swelled with love for all six of them.

  “God, I love you guys,” she told them.

  “Where did that come from?” Branch asked.

  She made a chortling sound in her throat. “A simple I love you would suffice,” she told him.

  He laughed. “We love you too Nova.”

  She kissed her daughter and held her close. Then she
turned her head and kissed Jamie’s jaw. “I love you too Jamie Stone. You’re my everything and you’ve given me everything. You know I don’t mean the material things right,” she stated.

  “I know,” he said wrapping her and his daughter in his arms and holding them tight. He knew exactly what she meant.

  The End

  About the Author

  Lee Wardlow is my pen name.

  I’m a small town girl who has always loved to read and write stories. I’ve been in the Information Technology field for a long time (translation Computer Geek/Project Manager). While laid off several years ago I dusted off my manuscripts and self-published one.

  My first book was Welcome to Hell: Rediscovering First Love about small town in Michigan known as Hell. It is a very real town with my very own special fictional twist.

  Then I wrote another novel, You Were Born for Me and I just kept writing. I love the Pointe Royal Series. I had a hard time quitting them. Adam and Joy were my favorite couple.

  I had always wanted to be a writer but I kept letting things get in the way. I’m artistic as well as having a love of reading other author’s Romance novels. Other genres of books such as Stephen King and John Grisham are often favorites of mine as well. A good Sandra Brown novel will get me every time.

  I have one daughter Caitlin with two beautiful grandsons Gavin and Jase that I love to pieces. A new son-in-law who brought two more grandchildren to the mix. Life is never boring with them around. I’ve been with my husband Bill for twelve years. At some point, I will just have to say years and quit updating this thing. We have two four legged babies Dixie and Evi the spoiled pups.

  My Pointe Royal series is about a small Ohio fictional town based very, very loosely on my own experience growing up in small town Ohio. They are about family with a hint of romance, all with happy endings.

  Pointe Royal Series Books

  You Were Born for Me- Declan Moore and Stevie Bond

  Never Leave Me – Noah Moore and Lexi Michael

  I Knew I Love You When – Codi Alvarez Moore and Jessie Gatlin

  For Always – Scarlett O’Halloran and Ben Murdoch

  I Will Always Love You – Tegan O’Halloran and Rhett Martin

  At Last – Shawn Martin and Bronagh Riley

  I Told You So –Delany O’Halloran and Ian Black

  The Beginning and The End- Pointe Royal Series The Final Book

  What She Wanted - Part 1 of Joy’s Story

  What She Got- Part 2 – Joy’s Story

  Originally Published as Gavin Carter – now published under Lee Wardlow. I just wanted to try something naughty and not be inhibited…

  One Wild Ride – Mia and Jaxson part 1

  Coming Undone - Mia and Jaxson part 2

  Dantea’s Hell – Sebastian and Dantea’s Story

  Ruby Lake Series

  Second Chances

  My Sweet Bobbie

  Goose Creek Series

  Jorga

  In My Dreams

  Home Is Where You Are

  Breathless

  I’ll Always Catch You

  Smokey Mountain Series

  Forever

  Never

  Wild

  Dangerous

  The Summer of Sins – McGuire Family Saga

  Killing in God’s Name – Maya Michael’s story of struggle against oppression in America.

  The Timekeeper – A man who saves souls from damnation by helping them alter tragedies in their future by changing their past lives.

  Cannons and Corsets, A Civil War Novel follows Raven Truth and her family through their lives surviving the Civil War. Espionage, love and babies always trying to do the right thing while keeping themselves alive during the bitter, bloody war.

  Dark Secrets of the Craft

  Ana’s Disappeared

  Waking Promise

  Contact Information

  I would love to hear from anyone, your good or bad reviews on my novels. I can only grow if you let me know what you are thinking.

  Email Lee.Wardlow.12@gmail.com.

  My Website: http://www.leewardlow.com

  Twitter: @leelee12wardlow

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorleewardlow/

  Amazon Author Central: http://amazon.com/author/leewardlow

  Acknowledgements

  Front cover photo copyright © ASjack – Fotolia-stock.adobe.com

  Special thanks to:

  My sister for always pushing me to keep writing and carrying my books with her so people are asking, “What are you reading?” She has become my one-woman marketing team.

  My friends Tammy and Andrea for being so supportive during this new path I’ve taken in life. Reading my books, offering advice and being the friends that I’ve known for my lifetime. Encouraging and loving in everything I do.

  My husband for letting him ignore him when I’m really into writing something which is most of the time.

  I just enjoy the power and the captivation of creativity. Where else can you have so much control over life but in your own imagination?