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Gray reaches down and picks up my nightgown, handing it to me. "Okay, okay. I’m just going to the closet, baby," he says in a rush. "I can't believe...I mean, it's happening, darlin'! It's happening right now!"
I laugh--a little hysterically, given how freaked out I am. "Gray, will you please call Reagan?"
"Shit--yes, let me...let me get my phone," he says.
He disappears into the bathroom and I hear him dial Reagan's number, then return to the bedroom where I'm sprawled on the bed, wearing nothing but a flimsy nightgown.
"Reagan?" I hear Gray say. "Reagan--yeah, I think we're in labor. I'm gonna drive Claire down to the clinic right now."
He puts the speaker phone on and comes back into the room, and I hear Reagan's voice over the line.
"Claire?" Reagan asks. "What do you mean, you're in labor?"
"Um, my water broke," I say, trying to sound calm. "I just had a contraction. I think it's happening."
"Okay,," Reagan replies. "So soon? You're not due for another month. Can you breathe through a contraction? Is there any blood in the fluid?” "
“No. No blood, everything seems ordinary, justsudden,” I say. “And yeah, but it’s, ohfuck.”
“Alright, okay. I’ll meet you at the clinic. Take a couple of Tylenol before you go for me, okay? What were you doing? Were you exercising, or anything like that?”
That doesn't do much to calm me down. She’s not being particularly reassuring.
"We were having sex," I say, trying to make my voice sound as normal as possible. "So I’m about as sure as I can be."
"Okay, Gray," Reagan says. "Okay...you need to take her down to the clinic. I'll meet you there as soon as I can."
Gray hangs up and looks at me.
"Alright," he says. "Let's go have a baby."
Chapter twenty-four
Gray
I'mgonnabeadad.
I'm gonna be a dad.
I stand outside the delivery room shift back and forth, trying to force myself to breathe. I can hear Claire in labor, the occasional grunt or groan of pain. Reagan is in there with her, a nurse having joined us a couple minutes ago.
It's going to be fine...she's going to be okay.
I hear the door to the clinic open and my eyes shoot over to find my whole family headed toward me, my mom's eyes wide.
"She's in labor?" she asks. "Isn't it early?"
I shake my head. "Not enough to be dangerous," I say. "Reagan said she's gonna be fine...I'm just scared as shit anyway."
"It's gonna be just fine, darlin'," she says. "Claire's strong. You're gonna have a beautiful baby by the time you leave here, and we're all gonna welcome them with open arms."
Caleb slaps me on the shoulder. "You'll be a great father, Gray. I know we just reunited, but...I'm certain of it."
"You always protected me," Sadie smiles. "You'll protect her too."
As the minutes tick by, the anxiety in my stomach grows. Thoughts of every possible complication run through my mind. What if something goes wrong? What if I lose her or the baby?
The clock ticks.
