My mom gives me a look and points. “Don’t you start with me, Sophia. Half of these are for you guys and we did get something for the babies.”
At that mention another contraction tugs at me. It’s not quite as bad as this morning, but within ten more minutes, another one hits. And another. And another.
After two hours of cramps coming every eight to ten minutes, I can’t keep my calm face anymore. I try to wave it off since everyone is having fun, but once they’re nearly back to back, I just can’t anymore.
Roman glares at me. “How far apart are they, Bambina?”
All eyes on the table turn to me as I relax my grip on the table. I clear my throat. Before I can answer, he fills it in. “Because it seems like they’re every two minutes and that means we should already be at the hospital.”
“What!?” Holden jumps up. “Sophie!”
I duck lower. “We’re having fun and I just-”
“You’re in labor!” My mother gasps. “Well don’t gape at her, Gunner, go get the car warmed up. We’ll be faster than an ambulance.”
My dad just gapes at me while Mom tells the kids they’re going to stay right here with ‘grandma’ and ‘grandpa’. Nick helps me up. “Why didn’t you say something, sweetheart?”
Because I’m not ready for them to be here. We’re supposed to be doing things for the rest of the week and now all our plans and ...
Before I can get out an answer, another contraction grips my body and I bite my lip to keep my yell inside. Nick scoops me up and carries me to the elevator. “It’s baby time.”
23
GUNNER
The hospital is shockingly busy despite the holiday. They have decorations up, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is absolutely a hospital. Sophie lets out a yell as we get inside. Roman tries to take control, but the nurses just shove him out of the way and get Sophie in a wheelchair.
“Only one guest. We don’t need the hallways full,” Another barks at us when we try to follow.
Roman goes without question. I’m not going to take this moment from him, even though I have yet to see Sophie give birth. Nick and Holden sit, but I can’t escape my nervous energy. Nick sighs.
“Babies on Christmas.”
“Labor can last a long time,” Holden comments.
“Not when her contractions are already that close.” Nick disagrees. “She’s been having them since she woke up.”
“And you didn’t say anything?”
“It was just one when we were in bed,” He defends himself. “just the one and no more.”
“We should have noticed. How could we have missed it?” Holden groans.
“We were all focused on the kids and unwrapping presents,” Nick answers. “She’ll be okay. It won’t be long now.”
“We should all be in there.” I huff as I turn and continue my pacing. “We’re all the father.”
A couple looks over and then moves further away. Maybe we sound unhinged to them, but it’s true. It doesn’t matter if Roman is the biological father. Cora is just as much mine as she is Holden’s. The babies coming into the world are just as much mine as Roman’s. There’s no difference as far as my heart feels.
I can’t relax, I can’t calm down. Sophie’s done this twice already, but knowing she’s having twins makes it feel more complicated. I don’t know if it ups the chance for complications or if it could hurt her more.
There’s so much I don’t know. I read some books on what to expect after birth, but after one picture of the actual process, I just couldn’t wrap my head around the process. I rub my forehead and keep pacing until I run into Holden.
He stables me. “You’re making me dizzy.”
“I can’t sit still. I want to be in there with her, holding her hand, feeding her ice chips, whatever is done during birth.”
“You remember she dislocated one of my fingers, right?” Nick asks.