“In my bedroom,” Kiara said as she headed toward it after leaving the nursery. “I just need to add a couple of things.”
“I’m going to run to my place and pack a bag really quick. I’ll be back with a car to pick you up in a few minutes.”
“Okay. I’ll be ready.”
As Lucy left the house to go to her apartment above the security building, Kiara went into her bathroom. She packed the toiletries she used each day into the bag she’d bought to hold them for the trip to the hospital, then went to pack a few more items of clothing, just in case they ended up hanging around the hotel for a couple of days.
She wasn’t sure why she’d decided that going to Coeur d’Alene was the best decision right then, but there was just something in her gut that told her it was time to go. If she was wrong, there was nothing lost.
Once she was confident that she had everything, Kiara sat on the edge of her bed for a moment, feeling the familiar tightening return for the second time since she’d entered her room.
She gazed down at her phone, wishing she could send a message to Angie or Julian. However, without knowing what was going on, she didn’t think it was a good idea to raise the alarm with both of them being so far away.
If the contractions or whatever they were ended up being insignificant, she would have worried them—especially Angie—for no reason.
If they did end up being significant, maybe she’d text them. But there wasn’t anything they could do, even if it was really labor. It would be better to just not bother them until all was said and done.
Angie would only worry, being so far away. And Julian… well, he hadn’t planned to be there for the birth, anyway.
“Ready to go?” Lucy asked from the doorway a few minutes later.
Kiara nodded and got to her feet. Lucy picked up her bag, and after detouring to the kitchen to fill a water bottle, Kiara followed her out to the vehicle. It was one of the smaller SUVs, but thankfully, just as comfortable as the larger ones.
“How are the contractions?” Lucy asked as she guided the SUV away from the house. “Getting any stronger?”
“Not really.” Kiara rubbed her stomach, then sighed. “I’m probably overreacting.”
“It’s better safe than sorry,” Lucy said.
“Do you remember how your mom’s labors started?” Kiara asked.
“I remember the last one most clearly. It was with my brother, Davy. She was overdue with him, and her water broke.”
“Was she overdue with all her pregnancies?”
“Nope. Only me and Davy were overdue. Two of the others came within a day of their due date. The other three were early to varying degrees, with one early by over three weeks.”
“And she had that one at home?” Kiara asked.
She was worried that since she was over two weeks away from her due date, the baby might be too small. All the measurements the doctor had taken over recent weeks had shown that he was growing well, even a little ahead.
“Yep. She was perfectly healthy and didn’t need any time in the hospital.”
“So if Iamin labor, he might still be okay?”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Lucy said. “But even if he has to stay in the hospital, it likely won’t be for long.”
Kiara hoped Lucy was right, because as time passed, she was beginning to think she was going to be delivering her baby soon.
After they had dinner at the hotel, Kiara decided to take a shower and lay down. But as she got undressed, she experienced a mighty gush of water. Staring in shock at the puddle of water on the floor, Kiara knew her pains were about to get intense.
~*~
Julian dragged himself out of bed and went to the small, attached bathroom to splash water on his face. He’d crashed in the bedroom as soon as they’d taken off after refueling.
It had been ten stressful days in Singapore, but the operation had finally been secured, and they were on their way back to the US. It was the first time he’d dealt with corporate espionage, and he hoped and prayed it was the last time too.
Leaving the bedroom at the back of the plane, he found that most of the rest of his team were also sleeping. Elijah, however,was awake and sitting at the small boardroom table, his Bible open in front of him. He looked up as Julian sat down in the chair across from him.
