“Please don’t hover, Christian. I get enough of that with my family.”
He took a deep breath. Mood swings were apparently part of the deal. At least that’s what he’d read.
“Are you coming in to see the scan?”
“Of course. I’ve been to all of them so far. Why would I miss this one?”
“Be sure not to look at the sex.” She seemed agitated and preoccupied.
“Sarah, we’ve been over this a hundred times. I can wait.” He couldn’t contain a certain amount of annoyance in his voice.
There was a long silence, then Sarah sniffed. “Sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. My back’s aching and my feet are swollen, it took ages to find a pair of shoes that would fit, and I feel so fat.”
He hated to see her upset. It wasn’t like her at all. “You should have said. After the specialist, how about we go find some comfortable shoes?”
“Shopping? I don’t think so. Not carrying this around.”
Okay. Perhaps he should try to stop fixing things, it only annoyed her. He had friends with kids, and he knew that Sarah’s behavior was completely normal. Something to do with raging hormones. If it was his body being stretched like that, he’d be more than annoyed. He’d seen the pictures. Organs being pushed out of the way so the little one could have room to grow. It seemed unfair.
When they arrived, the specialist took them through for the ultrasound. Seeing Sarah’s naked stomach so distended, he again felt sorry and guilty for putting her through this. As the radiologist pushed the gel around by the hand-held wand, they were both mesmerized by the pictures on the screen.
“Is the baby still moving a lot?” The specialist asked while she reviewed her notes.
“No. It’s been quieter the last couple of days.” Sarah told her.
“Ah.” The radiologist nodded to the specialist.
“Is everything okay?” Christian asked.
The specialist pointed out a section of the scan. “Baby is now engaged. I don’t think we’ll have too long to wait before we welcome this little one into the world.”
Sarah paled. “But I’m not due yet. It should be another couple of weeks.”
“The dates we talk about are only an approximate, Sarah. We discussed that a couple of weeks either side is totally acceptable. Some babies need less time than others, or we got the dates wrong.”
Christian felt a little sick at the thought, so he pushed it to the back of his mind. “She’s having backache.”
“I see. Backache can be another sign that things are happening.”
“You don’t mean…? Sarah’s voice was filled with disbelief.
“To find out for sure, let’s have a wee look, shall we?” The radiologist cleaned Sarah’s stomach, and they both helped her adjust the hospital smock then she left the room so the specialist could do the examination.
“Right, can you move down a little Sarah?”
Sarah leaned heavily on Christian’s arm as she shuffled down the bed. She winced as the specialist began.
“Oh my,” she said, after a moment or two.
“Is there something wrong?” Sarah was getting agitated.
The specialist pulled down the hospital gown, removed her gloves, and smiled. “Nothing’s wrong, but you are dilated, and quite a bit. This baby is on its way.”
“Now?”
Doctor Reynold smiled. “Maybe not this minute, but today, I should think.”
Sarah looked at Christian, her face full of fear, and it gripped him too. He wasn’t a panic kind of guy, and if this is what it felt like to do so, he didn’t want anything to do with it. But Sarah’s vulnerability held him in check. He’d promised to be there for her and he wouldn’t let her down. She was in this situation because of him. He hoped.
“I don’t see any point in you going home, unless you can be quick.”
“No way are we going anywhere.” Sarah was emphatic.
Christian nodded. “That’s my exact take on it. We’re staying.”
“I’m not prepared for this.” Sarah stated.
“Your bag’s packed, isn’t it?” he asked, innocently.
“Yes, it’s in my room, but that’s not my main concern right now.” She glared at him.
Perhaps banter wasn’t the way to go at this moment. “I know, and I’m here. You can do this, sweetheart.”
“It’s not like I have choice, is it?”
Christian knew this was the fear talking. He was scared too, and all he had to do was hold her hand. And see his child being born. What if he couldn’t handle it?
A patient, no matter how well you knew them, wasn’t a part of you. Sarah and the baby were. When that had happened he wasn’t sure, but it had. The thought of anything happening to either of them made him sweat.
Sarah kept the hospital gown on, and with a blanket draped around her and Christian carrying her clothes, they were taken to a sunny, private room. Apart from the hospital bed, they could have been in a motel somewhere.
“It’s not Rarotonga, but it will do, don’t you think.”
She glared once more. “I’ll tell you what I’m not thinking about, and that’s how I came to be in this position.”
Christian could feel a rebuttal on his lips, but he did the gentlemanly thing and didn’t mention positions. It was neither the time nor the place.
The specialist arrived to explain what would happen now.
“Of course, there is no real timeline, but you’re already ahead of the schedule by being so dilated. I don’t anticipate a long labor, but don’t hold me to that.” She smiled encouragingly.
Sarah wasn’t playing that game. In fact, she had that look on her face which meant she wasn’t amused and might not be ever again.
“Sometimes we can experience labor a bit more painfully with a fast labor.”
“Oh, great.”
The specialist didn’t react. “How’s the pain level now—between one and ten?”
“It’s uncomfortable at times more than anything else.”
Doctor Reynolds nodded. “Good. If the contractions get stronger and you feel you can’t do this without drugs, then let me or a nurse know. I’ll be back to check on you in a while.”
“Wait. You’re not staying?”
“I understand you’re nervous, Sarah, but you could take hours and I have other patients to see. A nurse will come find me if you need me.”
“I need you now.”
The doctor patted her shoulder. “You’ll be fine, especially with daddy here to look after you.”
Sarah gave the doctor’s back a withering look, and sent one his way for good measure. Suddenly, Christian had a strong urge to leave with the doctor. It might not be safe in here. If one look could kill, how would he survive several hours?
Chapter Eighteen
Sarah heard the way she was speaking to Christian and hated herself for it, but everything annoyed her right now. She hadn’t liked to admit she was having pains. She thought prior to her doctor’s revelation about her dilation that she simply had backache.
That was then. What had been a few twinges was quickly escalating into something she wasn’t happy about. Sure, she’d seen the videos and been to the classes, but she was a Knight and born to be tough. She could handle this. So she’d believed when it was just theory. Now, she was not so sure.
“Mffph!”
Christian leapt from his chair and came over to the bed. She sat doubled over, unable to speak as the contraction washed over her.
“What? Are you okay? I’ll get someone.”
He was on his way to the door, when it began to ease.
“No,” she managed through gritted teeth. “Stay.”
He turned, looking less like a successful surgeon since he’d run his hand through his hair so many times, it stuck up in all directions. “I don’t want to be annoying, but are you sure there’s nothing I can do?”
Then it hit her. Christian was great, but she did need someone else. “Ri
ng my mom.”
“I could go get her?”
She gritted her teeth as her inner dragon came forth. “You are not leaving me to do this on my own.”
“Oh. I thought—”
“No.”
Christian came back across the room and sat in the chair beside her. He wasn’t comfortable, and that gave Sarah a modicum of evil pleasure. His eyes stayed on her while he rang her mom. She couldn’t hear what she said, but it was a short conversation, and Christian looked relieved.
“She’s on her way, and Caris is coming too.”
The news made her feel better for the next minute, until another contraction hit. She was not a violent woman, nor prone to swearing or bad temper. The last time she’d been this angry, with anyone other than Christian, was when her fiancé had done his best to ruin their wedding. As it turned out that was fortuitous, because she’d seen him for what he was, and given her the strength to jilt him at the altar.
It has been a lucky escape. It was also, nothing like this.
It felt like hours before there was a knock at the door. Christian who had been rubbing her back, ran to answer it, and her mom and sister came into the room with stupid grins on their faces.
“Darling, how is it?” her mother asked.
“It hurts.”
“Yes, it does,” she said sympathetically.
“How did you manage this five times, and why?”
Eloise laughed. “This time tomorrow you will have forgotten the worst of it. When you have this baby in your arms, it’ll become a distant memory.”
“It better. Owwww!”
Caris flinched. “That looks bad. We brought your bag. Lucky you were packed.”
Sarah couldn’t have cared less in that moment about a bag. “This is so painful,” she managed.
Christian paled. “But you told the doctor you were only uncomfortable.”
“I lied. And that was hours ago.”
“Why the hell would you lie about it?” he asked in a desperate voice.
“Because, ohhhhhhh, just because.”
Her mother took pity on Christian and his bewildered look. She patted his arm as if he was the one suffering. Sarah gave them both a filthy look as another stronger contraction forced her into standing.
He was by her side in an instant. “Shouldn’t you lie on the bed?”
“It’s good to keep moving.” Her mother put a hand up to stop him from trying to help her back to the bed.
“I knew you weren’t paying attention to the videos,” she hissed.
“Sorry. It’s going so fast, I’m worried the baby will end up on the floor.”
Her mom snorted, rather inelegantly. “I’m pretty sure that won’t happen.”
Christian did not look convinced, and proceeded to follow Sarah around. Perhaps he had the idea that he would catch the baby. He was an idiot. All men were.
A pain, double the strength that she’d been enduring for the last twenty minutes, ripped through her body, and she threw herself at Christian. Her eyes found his, and as she grunted, she saw a fierce light come into his.
“Eloise, get the doctor, please.”
Her mother also looked concerned, and that frightened Sarah more than she already was. She began gasping for air, her breathing technique having completely gone by the wayside.
“Rub her back, Christian,” her mother said firmly as she went into her no-nonsense mode, pushing the buzzer with one hand, and stripping the bed back with the other.
This was getting too real, too fast, and Sarah was on the brink of a major panic attack. She could feel it building and she sent Christian another silent plea.
He led her to the bed, and helped her onto it, tucking pillows behind her back.
“Breathe, sweetheart. In and out. That’s it. You got this.”
“I don’t think I have,” she grunted.
“There is no woman stronger than you. You’re so brave. If I could take the pain from you, I would.”
“Sure. Easy to say.”
He grinned as he wiped her brow with a cool, damp cloth her mother handed him. “You must be okay, if you can dish out a bit of sarcasm.”
She couldn’t smile back, there was no energy for it, but inside, the panic receded a little. Having Christian here with his forcefulness was better than she could have hoped.
Doctor Reynolds came through the door with a nurse. “You look like you’re getting along nicely.”
Sarah grunted in pain and disgust. If this was nicely, she wasn’t going to be happy with not nice.
“Goodness—that sounded like a good one. How’s she been doing?” she asked the nurse.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been in to check. There was an emergency and I was called to that.”
The doctor seemed surprised and a little angry. “Well, that’s not ideal, but I appreciate it’s been mad in here today. Every baby wants to make an early entrance it seems.” Doctor Reynolds bustled around putting on gloves while the nurse closed the curtains.
Sarah was busy with the contractions, and not interested in any other woman or baby, but relieved the doctor was finally here. Hopefully she could help with the pain?
“I’d like to have a look, Sarah. Is everyone staying or going?”
“They’re going,” Sarah managed.
“I’m staying,” said Christian. “I’ll stand up by your head, but I’m staying.”
She glared at him, but didn’t release his hand.
Her mother looked from one to the other, then gave her a hug. “I’ll be on the other side of the curtain if you need me. Come on, Caris.”
Sarah wasn’t sure of her decision right then, but she held Christian’s hand tighter.
The doctor pushed Sarah’s nightie up and was about to check the baby, when Sarah yelled. She couldn’t help it. A pain so fierce dragged down so hard it sucked the air from her lungs. With that, she gave a giant push and her waters broke. She felt the cascade over her ankles and let out a moan as another contraction began.
“Sarah, this is important. Listen to me. Don’t push. Breathe deep and wait for me. Okay?”
“Why, what’s wrong?”
“You’re having this baby right now. I can see the head. There is a risk of tearing, so I’m going to help a little.”
She couldn’t feel anything but the urge to push. It took a lot of concentration, and the pain was horrendous. She began to shake.
“Right, all set. You push when you’re ready.”
Needing no further encouragement, and with one almighty push, her baby entered the world. She could see it laying between her legs. It was a little bloody. A little wriggly. It let out a cry as the doctor cleaned its mouth out then she rubbed it vigorously with a towel, before laying it on Sarah’s chest.
Sarah grabbed at the baby in case it fell, the surreal being replaced by awe.
Doctor Reynold smiled. “He’ll be safe right there. Relax now, the worst is over.”
“There’s more?”
“Just the afterbirth, but first, is dad going to cut the cord?”
Christian was looking at her in wonder, and she nodded. “He’s a surgeon, so I think he can handle it.”
Christian took the scissors from the doctor and Sarah saw his hand tremble slightly. Then something occurred to her. “Did you say ‘he’?”
“Yes.” The doctor looked up and frowned. “Oh, right, you two didn’t find out the sex, did you?”
“No, we didn’t.”
Sarah had unwrapped the blanket a little and was counting fingers and toes as another series of smaller contractions hit. It was nowhere near as bad as the labor and was over much quicker, thank goodness.
“There you are. You did beautifully. Such an amazing quick birth for your first time. I advise you not to wait with another baby.”
Sarah blushed. There was unlikely to be a next time. Not with Christian.
Chapter Nineteen
Having been ushered outside the curtains with his son in his arms so that
the nurse could attend to Sarah, he was surrounded by Eloise and Caris. Christian took the time to really look at his son. His son. The sight of the tiny little boy in his hands made his insides melt. He was in awe that he and Sarah had made this perfect child.
“Okay, you’ve hogged him long enough. Let me hold my grandson,” Eloise demanded.
Reluctantly, Christian carefully put the child into her arms.
“You are one handsome baby,” she cooed. “I guess it’s the quick delivery, since you’re not squashed at all.”
Christian tenderly touched the baby’s cheek with one finger. “Do babies normally get squashed?”
“Only their heads. It seems the longer the birth, the more that happens, and mother nature helped out with two plates in a baby’s skull which can fold over each other. It rights itself soon after.”
“I’m never having babies. Sarah was so brave, but if that was a quick birth, I am not risking having the other.” Caris shuddered.
Eloise kissed the baby’s head and laughed. “You get what you get, and you’ve plenty of time before you need to think about having babies. Besides, you must have seen plenty being born during your training?”
“They weren’t family, and they weren’t mine.” Caris touched the baby’s hand. “He is gorgeous though.”
It was nice they felt a bond with the baby, but Christian was itching to have his son back. When the curtain opened, Eloise took him to Sarah and put the baby into her arms, and Christian was left standing behind the women.
He looked anxiously at Sarah, wondering how this was going to work, but she was blissfully unaware of his feelings, as if sharing their son between a hoard of Knights was to be expected.
Christian understood that everyone wanted to see and hold a new infant, but the Knights were a bigger than average family, and the rest of them were probably already on their way to the hospital. All he wanted was to be with Sarah and their baby. The three of them. A family.
“What’s his name?” Caris asked, in wonder.
Sarah nuzzled the baby. “Benjamin.”
“What?” Christian was shocked.
Sarah’s cheeks flushed, but she didn’t back down. “It’s a family tradition. My grandfather, father, and now my brother are all called Benjamin.”
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