I rush to close the gap he’s made as fast as my body will allow. Wrapping my hands around his neck and kissing him so fiercely, he almost stumbles.
“So, you know, now.” He grabs the top of my arms and holds me back so he can talk. “There’s no reason for you to leave,there's no threat or danger. We can be together. We can be a family.” He laughs through a smile and presses his palm against my tummy..
“No.” I quickly snap back into protection mode, this time stepping back myself. “Jack, I appreciate what you did. Really, I do, but it doesn't change anything. I’m still leaving.” That hot, flustered feeling comes back over me, making my head pound and my hands shake.
“What do you mean? This changes everything. You’re not running from anyone anymore.” He stares at me as if I’ve lost the plot.
“I can’t. I can’t stay, Jack.” I feel every muscle in my body tighten and clutch the bedpost to steady myself.
“Why don’t you just admit what you're really running from?” Jack shakes his head in frustration. “You’re running from me, and you’re running from your feelings, because you’re too fucking scared to trust someone again.”
“That’s not true.” I shake my head while holding on desperately to my tears. I’ve already shown him too much weakness.
“Of course, it’s true. You're terrified of loving me and loving our child. You're scared of being happy and having something you can lose again.” His accusations make me feel like all the veins in my head are going to rupture. And my only defence is to strike back at him with anger.
“Fuck you, Jack. Fuck. You.” I point my finger at his face and step closer. “I never wanted to fall in love with yoooaaaahhhh…fuck!” I clutch the side of my stomach when pain slices right through the centre of it.
“Gracie!” All the rage vanishes from his face, and he lunges to grab my elbow.
“Gracie, listen to me. Is it time?” he asks, holding me firmly, while I try to withstand the pain.
“I think so,” I manage, once it releases, looking up at him, and clutching onto his arm, like my life depends on him.
“I’ll call Dr. Stratton.” He carefully lowers me to sit on the bed and starts searching around for his phone. “Don’t panic; she won’t be more than five minutes.” He starts flapping when he can’t find it.
“Jack.” I grab his arm when he passes me a second time. “It’s not Dr. Stratton I need. It’s you,” I admit, watching his panic fade into a smile, as he lowers onto his knees and takes my head in his hands. He kisses me hard and with so much intensity, it makes my head swirl.
“You got me, Gracie,” he promises. “But I’m getting her here anyway.” He quickly drags himself back up and continues his search.
JACK
“Are you sure you're okay?” I check. Holding Gracie's hand as the doctor examines her.
“I’m fine,” she promises, smiling bravely but clutching my fingers tight.
“Well, you’re not in established labour quite yet, but we’re getting close.
You're two centimetres dilated,” Dr. Stratton explains, pulling off her gloves and discarding them in the bin.
“It feels pretty fucking established to me,” Gracie tells her, shifting up the bed and stroking her round stomach.
“It could be a little while yet, so make yourself comfortable and keep a track of those contractions,” she explains as she starts listening to the baby's heartbeat. “He sounds happy enough in there.” She smiles to let us both know she’s satisfied.
“Now, this isn’t a usual circumstance for me; you’ll have to let me know where you want me.” Placing her machine back in her bag, she looks up at us dutifully.
“Downstairs.” Grace talks before I do. “I want us to be alone through this as much as possible.” The way she looks up at me so vulnerably has me looking to the doctor and agreeing.
“I’ll have my staff make you some refreshments; anything you need, just ask.” I dismiss her, fluffing the pillow that's now propping up Gracie.“Let me know if you have any worries; I’ll be right downstairs.” She leaves the room, and Gracie sighs with relief as I close the door behind her.
“Looks like he’s on his way.” I smile, excitedly stepping back to my girl and taking her hand. “Now, before you get distracted by another contraction, we need to talk about what you said.”
“How about we talk about the fact that you killed my ex-boyfriend?” I adore how she still attempts to be clever, even while in labour.
“That was necessary,” I point out, still in shock over the way she reacted. I know she’s going to have questions. She’s going to doubt me, not just as a man, but as a human, but I’m clinging to the hope that right now she seems more relieved than anything else.
“Gracie, you said you loved me,” I remind her, my smile growing wider, as I rest my hand on her belly and lower my head to kiss her lips.
“I did not say I loved you.” She pulls back, staring at me in denial.
