Captive(70)
“Kate?”
“Come home!” she cried happily. “I’m in labor!”
I ran for the locker room in my skates, my chest seizing with worry. This was exactly what I’d been afraid of.
“Dammit,” I muttered. “I’ve got a plane on standby at the airport. I’m on my way. If I miss it, just know that I love you so much, baby.”
Our team towel boy had followed me into the locker room, and I moved the phone away from my mouth to get his attention. “Hey! Unlace my other skate!”
“Harmony said it will take a while. Oh, wow … that hurts.”
“A contraction?” I was frantic, trying to get out of my pads and keep the phone to my ear. “Kate?”
“Yeah, I think so. It’s getting better now.”
“Are you going to the hospital?”
“Carla and Harmony said we don’t need to go yet. The contractions are still too far apart.”
“If you’re in labor, you need to go to the fucking hospital!” I turned to the towel boy, whose eyes were wide with fear. “Just get the shit off me, I don’t care how you do it!”
“Just come, Ryke. I need you with me. But I’m not alone, so don’t worry, okay?”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. Kate, I love you.”
“You, too. And Melody says to tell you hi.”
“Tell her I’m on my way. Call me if you need to. I’ll see you soon, baby.”
“Okay.”
For the first time the whole nine months, there was hope and real excitement in her voice. I grabbed my shoes and ran from the locker room. I’d put them on in a cab. Nothing would slow me down. After everything we’d been through, Kate and I had to be together for this.
***
My nails dug into Mom’s hand and I groaned when the pain of a contraction hit its peak.
“Breathe,” Harmony reminded me. “It’s going back down now.”
I forced a breath in and out, relieved when the pain receded as she promised. She was watching the monitor to tell me when the contractions were rising and falling.
“You’re doing great,” Mom said, smoothing back my hair. She had an arm wrapped around my shoulders and was coaching me through every contraction. It was fitting that she was here with me now. She’d been beside me when I’d delivered Harlow, the daughter I lost. We’d cried together then, and we were hoping together now.
“Thanks, Mom,” I said, leaning against her. “Dale doesn’t have to stay in the waiting room the whole time. It could be a while.”
“He wants to be here.”
The nurse who would be with me through delivery, June, walked in the room. She was sunny and sweet, which was nice now but would probably get on my nerves when I was in hard labor.
“More ice chips, sweetie?” she asked, her blonde ponytail swinging.
I was about to answer when Ryke flew into the room, his chest heaving with exertion. He closed his eyes with relief when he saw my pregnant belly.
“I’m here,” he said, walking over. “How are you, baby?”
“I’m … ah.” I closed my eyes.
“Another one’s starting,” Harmony said, reaching for my hand.
Mom moved aside. “Ryke,” she said, waving him over. He shed his jacket onto the floor and rushed over, putting his arm around my shoulder where hers had been.
“Ahhh.” I squeezed my eyes shut, exhaling like it would help relieve the vise-like grip of the contraction. “Ryke.”
“It’s okay, baby.” He looked at Harmony. “This is okay, right? This is normal?”
“Very normal,” she said, patting his hand.
“Can’t you help her? Give her something?”
“She doesn’t want it.”
“Ryke,” I whimpered. He wrapped his other arm around me and I reached up to his bicep, digging my nails into it.
“Breathe, Kate,” Harmony said. “Every contraction brings you a little closer to meeting your baby. Breathe and visualize yourself seeing the baby.”
I forced slow breaths in and out while she counted in a low, soothing tone.
“There, now,” she said. “Getting better.”
I relaxed my grip on Ryke. “You’re here,” I said, meeting his eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
He kissed my forehead, his eyes wide with concern. “Where’s the doctor?”
“He comes in and out,” Harmony said. “Don’t worry, I’m watching everything that needs watched.”
“Good game,” I said to Ryke. “I never got to tell you.”
“You had more important things to think about. Where’s Mel?”