Jared rose. “Where’s that fucking doctor?” He left in a rush, the door swinging closed behind him.
Erin breathed through another contraction, soothed by Duncan’s warm hands running up and down her back. “Go get a break and send Rachel in.”
Reese came back from rinsing the towel. “I’m not leaving until the doctor checks you again.”
Ten minutes later, Jared came back with the doctor trailing behind him.
Duncan whirled and all but pounced on him.
“Do something, damn it! She’s been in labor for hours!”
Erin gripped Reese’s forearm as another contraction hit.
“Leave Dr. Marsh alone. Ohh!”
Dr. Marsh looked up at her from between her thighs. “Remember your breathing, Mrs. Preston.”
Running a damp, cool cloth over her face and neck, Reese paused only long enough to glare at the doctor.
“She’s been in pain for hours! How much longer is this gonna take? She can’t take much more.”
Erin breathed a sigh of relief when the contraction ended, and hoping the doctor had an answer to Reese’s question, followed his movements as he removed his gloves and tossed them into the metal can behind him.
Shaking his head, the doctor smiled.
“I’m afraid she’s still only eight centimeters dilated. Mrs. Preston, do you feel up to walking a little?”
“Walking?” Reese eyed the doctor as if he’d lost his mind.
Dr. Marsh studied her features.
“It may hurry things along, but it’s up to you. You can walk up and down the hallway as long as one of your husbands is with you. You absolutely can’t fall.”
“She won’t.” Jared pushed her damp hair back. “I wish you’d stay in bed, but it’s up to you, baby.”
“Yes.” Erin shoved the sheet covering her aside. “I need to move. I can’t get into a comfortable position.”
Reese held out the thin robe the nurse brought in, helping her into it. “We’ll walk for a little while. Hopefully, it’ll help move this along. I hate to see you in so much pain.”
Walking down the hallway, she smiled up at him. “Hmm. This is probably a good time to ask for something I really want. I’ll bet I could get just about anything right now.”
Jared chuckled and bent to kiss her hair. “You’d win that bet.”
Duncan walked backward in front of her, holding out his hands as if she would fall with both Jared holding her close to his side and Reese holding on to her other arm. “You can have anything you want just by asking for it and you know it. Slow down, damn it! You’re walking too fast. It’s not a damned race.”
“Duncan, why don’t you—oh!” Stopping when another contraction hit, Erin leaned more heavily against Jared, closing her eyes and concentrating on her breathing until it passed.
Holding her close, Jared rubbed her back. “It’s over?”
Nodding, Erin released her grip on his shirt. “Yeah.”
Duncan lifted her chin, studying her features. “What were you saying, baby? Why don’t I what?”
Erin smiled, trying to ease the worry that she saw clearly in his eyes. “Why don’t you go tell everyone to get some lunch? They’re probably dying to hear some news. Let them know that nothing’s happening yet. Please. Rachel will be frantic. So will your mother.”
Duncan nodded reluctantly. “Okay. I won’t be long.”
Erin smiled. “Take your time. You all need to eat something.”
“Don’t worry about us.” Rubbing her shoulders, Reese bent close, nuzzling her jaw. “How about if I carry you back to bed?”
In an attempt to ease the tension, Erin tilted her head and reached up to slide her fingers into his hair. “Hmm. I’ve heard that before. I think it may have something to do with how I got into this condition.”
Reese chuckled softly, still nuzzling her as he bent to lift her against his chest. “I wouldn’t be surprised.” He carried her back to the room, lowering her to the bed just as another contraction hit.
The next several hours passed in a blur.
Already worn out from hours of pain, Erin dozed briefly between contractions.
During Rachel’s and Isabelle’s brief visits, Erin tried her best to reassure them. “Why don’t you go home? This looks like it’s going to take a while.”
Gripping her hand, Rachel smiled. “I’d like to know what you would have done if I’d said that to you when I was in labor with Theresa.”
Smiling to hide the pain of another contraction, Erin tried to find a more comfortable position. “I didn’t have a baby at home to take care of.”