With a sharp cry, I doubled over, Lewis catching me in his arms and helping me down to the ground.
"Remember to breathe." He whispered into my ear, rocking me back and forth as tears burst into my eyes.
I clung to his shoulder, burying my face against his cotton shirt like an ostrich burying her face into the dirt.
This couldn't be happening, not yet.
I struggled to keep my breathing calm and even, listening as the shrill whir of an ambulance rolled down the street.
The red and blue lights circled the inside of the shop as a few of the EMTs rushed inside.
In a blur of needles, blood pressure cuffs and phrases I didn't understand, they settled me in the ambulance.
"I'm coming with you." Lewis said firmly, leaping in beside me.
I felt his hand on my own, fingers interlacing with me own.
"It's going to be fine." He said gently, and his face was the only one I could see through the panic growing inside of me, "Everything will be okay."
"Karina." I gasped, "You need to call her right now."
"Already did." Lewis responded, grinning at me, "They're going to meet us there."
My eyes closed as another painful contraction rocked me. I gritted my teeth, gasping for breath.
I'd been mentally preparing myself for this for weeks, but it was unlike anything I'd ever experienced in my life. It was torture.
I could only hope that the baby made it through this fine. Poor little thing, it wasn't supposed to be ready yet.
Why had it decided now was the right moment to enter the world?
Quicker than I would have expected, I found myself being wheeled into the hospital with Lewis rushing at my side. Our hands still clenched tight, I squeezed his palm every time another contraction came on.
Despite the fact that I must have been yanking his fingers clean off, he didn't say a word.
"Macy!" Karina called as we reached the maternity ward.
She rushed forward, bending down to wrap her arms around me as Lewis's fingers only just slid away from my grasp.
"I'm okay." I said quietly, struggling to smile though it felt as though my entire body was turning against me.
"I know how it is." She responded gently, wiping hair away from my already damp forehead.
"We need to get her into a room, ma'am." The nurse said, pushing the wheelchair down the hall, "We need to see what's going on here."
"Of course." My mother in law responded quickly, following her.
Harry lingered behind us uncomfortably as Lewis followed Karina.
"Just us ladies." Karina said, frowning at Lewis as he attempted to come in the room.
"It's alight." I said, shaking my head as the nurse helped me up onto the hospital bed, "If he wants."
"I do want." Lewis said firmly, gently moving past Karina, "I need to make sure she's okay."
Karina stared at me, then Lewis, her lips pursing slowly. I could see something rising inside of her, her chest heaving just once. She chose, however, not to say anything at that moment.
Her premature grandchild was of the priority.
"Alright then, Mrs. Davis," The nurse said, handing me a hospital gown, "We're just going to get you changed into a hospital gown then, "Mr. Davis, could you give me a hand?"
Lewis balked, face going slightly pale as Karina stepped forward, "I'll help. Mr. Davis isn't here just yet." She took my hand in her own, shooting a death glare towards Lewis, "And you will turn around if you insist on being in here."
Obedient as a puppy dog, Lewis turned tail as Karina and the nurse wrestled me out of my clothes and into the gown.
Dr. Alvarez walked in as we finished, greeting me with a warm and sure grin. The woman had been with me every step of the way, there was no other doctor I would have trusted.
"Hello again, Macy." She said calmly, "I see we're a bit early, aren't we? Not too bad."
"Is it going to be okay?" I asked frantically, "It's too early!"
"Everything's going to be just fine." She replied, "But I'm going to have a look to make sure."
I nodded, allowing her to help my feet into the stirrups.
"Is Mr. Davis on his way?" She asked, glancing up towards me.
"Yes." Karina chimed in, "Bast is doing his best to get here as quickly as possible."
I bit my tongue, glaring at the ceiling.
If my husband hadn't left me behind in the first place, he could be here now.
But it wasn't him that was here. It was Lewis. Lewis was the only one I could count on, that was becoming more and more clear. Sebastian would put his business over even the birth of his own first child. Perhaps he was more invested in Alissa’s baby right now…
"He'll be here." Karina said gently, rubbing my shoulder as she observed my glare.