AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Only, she didn’t get a chance. At least, not before her waters broke, at thirty five weeks pregnant, in the middle of Oxford street, while shopping for a cot with Portia.
“Ohmygod.” Portia, her own tummy sweetly rounded now with the twins that were growing there, stared at Georgia in shock before leaping into action.
She fired off a quick text before dialing an ambulance. “They’ll be here soon,” she promised.
“I don’t think I can wait,” Georgia groaned, doubling down as a huge contraction wracked her body.
“Of course you can.” Portia’s confident words were belied by a slight tremble in her tone. “Oh, to hell with it.” She flagged down a cab. The driver looked terrified. “It’s illegal to refuse a fare, you know,” she muttered, as she shepherded a very-much-in-pre-term-labour Georgia into the back seat.
They arrived at the hospital at the same time as Dante, who somehow had enough presence of mind to press a two-hundred-pound tip into the cab driver’s hand before putting an arm around Georgia and half carrying her through the sliding doors.
“I’m okay,” she moaned, in immense pain and through gritted teeth.
Dante took one look at her and felt like the bottom was falling out of his world.
It all happened so quickly. Not only had Georgia’s labour come almost out of nowhere, their son was born barely an hour later. The pain was intense. Like nothing Georgia had ever felt, and the worry was almost as enormous, because it was too soon, too early.
Despite that, their boy was born a good size and with very healthy lungs, going by his indignant cry and shiny red face.
“Is he okay?” She demanded, squeezing Dante’s hand.
The nurses patted the baby down, weighed him, ignoring Georgia.
“Please,” she cried. “Tell me, is he okay?”
Finally, one of the older nurses turned around, smiling. “He’s good, love, all good. Perfect, in fact,” and she carried their little bundle of joy to Georgia and placed him on her chest. He was a shock of dark hair, dark eyes, cupid’s bow lips and dimpled cheeks, just like Livvie’s had been. It made Georgia cry with so much love and emotion for the little girl she’d never known but loved anyway.
“He’s perfect,” she whispered.
Dante kissed her forehead and their son. “You’re perfect. You both are.” His voice was heavy with emotion. She understood. Nothing in their life would ever be straight forward for him. Everything was shaped by what he’d been through. But that wasn’t a bad thing; it made him appreciate what they had, all the more.
Their son had to be taken to the NICU, mainly for observation, they were assured, though he would likely stay there a week or two, getting up his weight a little. It wasn’t the news Georgia wanted, but at the same time, just knowing he was safe was a huge relief.
Plus, she was tired. And in enough pain to know the best thing for her was to be knocked out on medication for a little while and sleep.
When she woke up, Dante was gone, but he’d left a huge bunch of flowers beside the bed, with a little polaroid of their son propped beside it, and a note. “I’ll be back soon—just checking on our boy.”
Her heart lifted.
He was right where she wanted him to be—with their child. She fell back to sleep with a smile on her face.
The next time she woke up, Dante was sitting at her side, his eyes closed. But the moment she stirred, he looked at her, and smiled. And she smiled back. Everything was perfect.
“He’s doing great,” Dante assured her, before she could ask. “He’s passed all his tests.” He hesitated. “There’s someone here who wants to see you. Actually, there are a lot of someones.”
Her eyes widened.
“My whole family.” He grimaced, and she laughed. “They can wait though.”
“No, no. It’s fine. I’d like to see them.”
He expelled a sigh of relief. “The twins are on their way. They had an exam to sit, but they’re onboard the jet now. They’ll be here by this afternoon.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Thank you.”
“What for?”
“For bringing them here.”
