The Proposal(87)
“Oh thank God. The anesthesiologist just walked in. Be careful okay?”
“I will. Give Emma my love.”
“Will do.”
Aidan hung up the phone and squirmed in his seat. “Things are pretty rough at the moment, huh?” Pesh asked.
“Yeah,” he murmured.
“It’s going to be fine, Aidan.”
He turned to see Pesh’s reassuring smile. “She’ll still love you after this, too. You’ve made all her dreams come true. The moment she holds Noah in her arms for the first time any of the pain and suffering she experienced will just evaporate in an instant. And you will be the one who gave that to her.”
“Damn, you really are a decent guy, aren’t you?”
Pesh chuckled. “I guess I am.”
The cockpit seemed to start spinning around, and Aidan had to close his eyes from the dizziness. “Is that you doing that or the drugs?”
“It’s safe to say that it’s the drugs.”
The next thing Aidan knew he was being shaken awake. “Come on, sleepy head. We gotta get in the car.”
“It’s over? We didn’t crash?” Aidan asked as he rubbed his eyes.
“Nope. We’re safe and sound here at McCollum.”
The mention of the airport snapped Aidan into action. He fumbled out of his seat belt and then fell out the door Pesh had opened for him. “We’re only ten minutes from the hospital, right?”
“Yep. Last call came through shortly before we landed. Noah’s still not here, and Emma’s only dilated to seven.”
Aidan’s brows furrowed. All the pregnancy knowledge seemed to have flown out the window. “Wait, so that means…?”
“No pushing until ten. We’ve got time.”
“Thank God.”
They slid into Pesh’s waiting Jaguar. At Pesh’s lead foot, Aidan raised his brows. “Not worried about cops?”
“Being a doctor is like having a Get Out of Jail free pass. All I have to say is there’s an emergency.”
Aidan grinned. “I’m liking you more and more every minute.”
Pesh laughed. “I knew I would grow on you.”
“I’m not sure about that one.”
They pealed up to the entrance of Labor and Delivery. Aidan threw open the car door. When he went to close it, he met Pesh’s gaze. “I can never, ever thank you enough for this. I’m serious.”
“I was happy to do it. For Emma…and for you.” Pesh smiled. “Now go meet your son.”
“I will. And thanks again!” Aidan sprinted from the curb and through the mechanized sliding doors. He hopped onto the first available elevator. Once he got to the floor, he raced down the hallway to Emma’s room.
He skidded in the door. At the sight of a nurse between Emma’s legs, he had an odd feeling of Deju vu from when he brought her to the emergency room. Bending over, he propped his elbows on his knees and tried to catch his breath.
“Hello there, Big Papa! You’re just in time,” Connor said, with a grin.
“Really?” he panted.
The nurse smiled. “Yes, she’s just dilated to ten, and we’re going to start pushing.”
“Aidan, come here,” Emma said, her voice a little hoarse.
He stumbled forward to reach her side. He cupped her face in his hands before kissing her on the lips. He then kissed both her cheeks and her forehead. “I’m sorry, Em. I’m so, so sorry I wasn’t here for you.”
“It’s all right. You couldn’t help it.”
“I know but—”
Emma gave him a weak smile. “I’ll let you make it up to me some other time, okay?”
He gave a playful groan. “Ah, so this will be the ammunition you use against me for years to come, huh?”
“Maybe.”
He brushed the sweat slick strands of silky auburn hair out of her face. “Has it been bad?”
“The pain?” When he nodded, she made a face. “It was pretty horrible until the epidural kicked in.”
“The bruises on my arms will vouch for that one,” Connor quipped.
“So you’re not hurting now?”
“Nope. In fact, they have to tell me I’m having a contraction.”
Aidan glanced over his shoulder at Casey. “Guess you guys got to have all the fun without me, huh?”
Casey grinned. “From the brief glimpse you got on the phone with me, I’m not sure how you can categorize it as fun.” She shook her head. “When Em’s in pain, she’s scarier than Reagan in The Exorcist.”
Aidan laughed while Emma blushed. “Was I really that bad?”
“Yeah, but I still love you,” Casey replied. She leaned over and kissed Emma’s cheek.