Page 134 of The October Arrangement

“What do you want for dinner?” I asked, removing my suit coat.

“I don’t care,” she said.

“Chinese?”

“Sure.” She made a strange noise.

“How about Italian?” I asked.

“Simon, I don’t care!”

I stared at her for a moment.

“I’m sorry. I’m just really tired,” she said.

I headed toward the closet to change my clothes, and Bella let out a sound I’d never heard from her before. I turned around, and she was gripping the dresser with one hand, while her other was planted on her belly.

“Bella?”

She held up her hand and closed her eyes.

“What the fuck is happening?” I walked toward her.

“Just give me a second,” she said.

“A second for what?” I stood and watched her breathe slowly.

“Okay.” She let out a breath. “That was a contraction.”

“A real one?” My brows furrowed.

“No, Simon. I thought I’d practice for your benefit.”

“Have you been having them all day?” I asked.

“On and off. But nothing like the one I just had.”

“All day? And you didn’t bother to call me?”

“No, I didn’t bother to call you because they’re Braxton Hicks. Oh God, here comes another one.”

“I’m calling the doctor.” I grabbed my phone.

“Uh, Simon.” She looked down at the ground.

Her water had broken. I called Nick to bring the car, and then took hold of Bella’s arms and helped her down the hall.

“We need to get to the hospital.”

“Yes, we do. I need drugs, and I need them now!”

“This is actually good timing,” I said. “My father called me earlier, and he and Mary are back in town.”

“Simon, I love you. But I don’t really care right now.”

Bella was in labor for four hours before the doctor decided to do a C-section.

“There he is,” the doctor said.