“Melissa gave birth to a beautiful boy. They’re both healthy and doing well. You’re welcome to come see her.”
I pushed Michael along, knowing that he’d want to be the first one in there with them, and looped my arm around Serena’s, leaning my head on her shoulder. Everything seemed like it was falling into place.
When we walked into the room, Melissa was holding her baby in her arms, her cheeks stained with tears and runny black mascara. Victor stood next to her, one hand on Melissa’s shoulder and a small smile on his face.
“You came,” Melissa said to Michael. “Mom didn’t even answer the phone.”
“Of course I came,” Michael said to Melissa, smiling at her and the baby. “What’s his name?”
“Archer,” she said, sitting up and handing him to Michael. “Here.”
Michael gently took Archer in his arms, cradling his head and rocking him. I grinned as I watched how gentle Michael was with a baby. My stomach fluttered with butterflies, and I couldn’t wait until I gave birth and Michael was staring down atourchildren like that.
CHAPTER20
MIA
To say that Melissa was an over-the-top mother would be an understatement. She had moved back in with us, wanting to give Serena and Damien their space, and had been throwing mini parties every week for the baby. It was cute, and I was really glad that she had changed into a greater person, but … it was a little too much for me, especially when I was about to pop any day now.
My patience was running thin. My back was hurting like hell. My breasts were aching. I wanted to give birth already, so I could get back to a normal-ish life.
I held Archer in my arms and stared down into two big baby eyes. Archer looked almost exactly like Melissa, except those eyes. They reminded me of the devil. But I guessed I’d have to get used to them. Mason couldn’t rule my life forever.
“One month,” Melissa said, gently poking Archer on the cheek and watching him smile. Michael stared at us from across the kitchen table, lip curled up. “You’re one month old today, my baby.”
“Do you thi—” I started, but then I heard the slightest pop and felt wetness pool between my legs. My eyes widened, and I handed Melissa her baby. “Oh my gosh,” I whispered, standing up and thrusting a hand between my legs.
Wet.
I was wet.
Michael stood to his feet almost immediately and hurried over to me. “Your water broke,” he said, scooping up my hand in his, grabbed the hospital bag he had packed a couple weeks ago, and hurried with me to the car. “Melissa, meet us at the hospital when you’re finished here. Call Mia’s mother.”
I grasped my tummy, both so afraid and so excited for this whole pregnancy to be over. I knew that once the babies came, we would barely have any time together, but I wanted to meet the little humans I had been growing inside me for the past nine months.
We made it to the hospital in three minutes flat. Michael had driven so much faster than he usually did that I was damn surprised we hadn’t gotten pulled over and I hadn’t given birth in the front of his car.
They got me into a room almost immediately, and the contractions that had started intensifying in the car were suddenly almost unbearable, coming every few minutes, each one lasting longer than the last.
“Michael,” I said, gripping his hand, “I’m so scared.”
He leaned on the side of the bed, lightly cupping my chin. “It’s going to be fine, Mia.”
“My vagina is about to be torn in two,” I said, holding my stomach as another contraction hit me so much harder than the last. I took deep breaths, trying to remember how they’d taught me to breathe in that pregnancy class Melissa and I took together.
“Okay, Mia,” the doctor said, pulling on a pair of gloves, “it looks like these babies are ready to come now. Take a couple deep breaths because you’re going to start pushing.”
I did my best to mentally prepare myself for this, wishing Mom were with me, but she and James were probably on their way. He had to pick her up from the assisted living place, but I couldn’t wait much longer so I started to push.
“You’re doing great, sweetheart.” Michael seized my hand in his and pushed some hair off my sweaty forehead.
I squeezed my eyes closed and pushed as much as I could.
“Keep pushing for me. You’re so close.”
Piercing pain shot through my body; my pelvis felt like it was splitting in half. I held his hand tighter and pushed as hard as I could until I heard a baby crying. I relaxed onto the bed, a tear falling down my cheek as the doctor cleaned off the boy.
“Don’t get too comfortable, Mia,” she said to me. “You have to push out two more.”
