Page 85 of My Girlfriend is Not the Father

‘Are you purposefully ignoring me?’ Lucy squeezed Jade’s thigh. ‘You have got to stop this fussing, okay? Go see what they’re saying in there! They have the bookstore and coffee shop one next, right, then yours?’

‘I’m not ignoring you.’ Jade grinned and peeked at her watch. Maybe in five minutes she would crack the door and see where they were at, but right now, Lucy was top priority. Something seemed off, and Jade didn’t want to spook Lucy. ‘I just want to make sure you’re okay, that’s all.’

‘I’m totally fin—’

Plurp, plurp. A sound reminiscent of when Jade pulled the drain plug from her tub whooshed from Lucy’s belly. ‘What the hell was th—’ Liquid gushed from Lucy’s legs and onto to the floor.

Lucy’s eyes widened. She glanced at the floor, back at Jade, back at the floor.

The room narrowed, everything outside of Lucy turning a murky grey. No, no, no … now? This wasn’t … was it? A few solid moments passed before Jade flew up. ‘Was that …’ The veins in her neck felt tight, pulsing against her throat. Should she get towels? Did the banquet hall even have towels? Should she carry Lucy to the car? Call 911? What was she supposed to do? No, this wasn’t right. Lucy still had like almost two months to go. Was this bad? This was bad, right?

‘I, uh, I think my water just broke.’ Lucy’s eyes glazed over before panic filled her face. She gripped Jade’s arm. ‘Holy shit, Jade. Jade! My water … oh, we need to call … we’ve got to get to the hospital … is everything gross? Oh, no ­– can someone clean …’

Even Lucy’s scattered thoughts were more coherent than what Jade’s brain could process.

She was so wrapped up in the moment, Jade didn’t realise a commotion started behind her until someone passed her to get to Lucy. ‘Are you okay? Did your water just break?’ The woman from the appetiser table was just squatting in front of Lucy.

Lucy’s mouth was practically hanging open, her eyes glazed and confused. ‘I think so?’

The woman looked at the puddle. ‘I would say definitely.’ She rested a hand on Lucy’s shoulder. ‘I’ve had four of my own. You got this.’

A hand touched Jade’s arm, shifting the swirling tunnel vision and muted voices into sharp focus.

‘You’re the partner, right?’ the woman asked. When Jade nodded, she stood. ‘Let me help you get her to the car.’

‘Can you stand?’ Jade asked, ready to carry Lucy Tarzan-style if that was called for. When Lucy nodded, Jade gripped her around the waist and heaved her up.

The room burst into action, people asking how to help, someone rushing towards them with towels, another person holding a cup of ice while walking behind Lucy as they moved to the exit.

Lucy’s body shook in Jade’s arms, her breath coming out in spurts.

‘It’s too early!’ she gasped. ‘She’s not supposed to come out for like six more weeks. I don’t know what to do. I’m not ready.’

‘There’s nothing you can do, but you absolutely got this.’ Jade glanced at the woman helping them, who tipped her head in a nod. ‘Baby girl’s ready to join the world.’

‘We didn’t even take the birthing classes yet!’ Lucy seized Jade’s arm. ‘I never learned about the breathing and hypnotist and baths or anything!’

Jade knew this, of course, but didn’t want to say anything to add to Lucy’s panic. After Lucy convinced herself she’d forget everything if she took the courses too early, they had actually signed up for the Lamaze classes. They were supposed to start Monday.

‘You’ll be fine, I promise,’ said the woman, keeping stride with Jade, then opening one of the big double doors that led outside the hall. Jade felt a breath of heat from outside on her face. ‘Women all over the world give birth every day who’ve never taken classes. Trust your instincts, breathe for yourself, push when you need.’ The woman grabbed the cup of ice from the person behind, but when several people rushed over, and the woman shooed them away. ‘Give her some space, please. Now.’

Jade had no idea who this woman was, but she was absolutely her new best friend. Okay, wow. It was hot outside. She glanced around the valet space. What in the hell am I doing? ‘My car. Shit. We took the elevator.’

‘Okay, no worries.’ The woman’s calm voice was in direct contrast to Jade. ‘We’ll go sit in the shade and make a call to labour and delivery to find out her next steps while you get the car. I’ll stay with … what’s your name?’

‘Lucy.’ She pushed her name out through gritted teeth.

‘Lovely name.’ The woman tucked an arm around Lucy. ‘I’m Amelia.’

Lucy sucked in such a large breath that stopped Jade’s heartbeat. ‘Amelia? That’s my mom’s name.’

‘Ah. Meant to be then, I suppose.’ Amelia smiled and dug out an ice cube from the cup someone had handed them in the lobby. ‘Why don’t you suck on this for a while and stay hydrated.’ She glanced up at Jade, who was frozen firmly in place, with a solid case of decision paralysis. ‘Better grab that car.’

‘Right, right. Okay, I’ll be right back.’ Jade kissed Lucy on the head and scurried back into the lobby. Holy shit, the baby is coming! Jade could not remember a time when she was so simultaneously terrified and excited.

Twenty feet in, she plucked off her heels, gripped her clutch purse, and sprinted to the elevators.

Chapter 34