Page 68 of Eternal Pieces

“Violet—”

The doors open behind us, and Sarah pokes her head around. “Oh, sorry. We’re ready for you.” She looks between us. “Are you okay?”

“Give me a minute.”

“You look pale, are you sure you don’t need me? I can get one of the guys to come in…”

“I can handle this.”

With a reluctant look on her face, Sarah closes the door, and I lock it shut.

“I am about to get married, so unless you have some magical change of heart in the next ten seconds, where you finally accept me for who I am, then go.”

That stitch comes back again, spreading across my stomach to my other side, and I wince. This is what I get for letting myself be stressed out by her.

I walk to the door Mom came in through and hold it open. “What will it be?”

The pain gets worse as I wait for her answer.It’s alright, babies. Mama’s dealing with this, you can chill out now.My legs buckle, and I grip the door handle tight.

“What’s wrong?” Mom hurries over and helps me to stay upright.

“I—I’m fine—ah!” The pain comes again. No. This can’t be happening. It’s too early. Way too early.

“Get Ma—” I can’t get a whole sentence out, the pain is too much. Something is seriously wrong.

“I’ll call an ambulance.”

I shake my head and point to the door where my lifelines are. I’m not doing this without them. I need them.

My knees give out completely. Mom stops me from hitting the floor and gently props me up against the wall.

“Max. Maddox. Please.” I beg her to understand, but she’s got her nose buried in her purse.

Another flash of pain takes hold of me. Is this a contraction? It feels wrong. So wrong.

“Mad!” I scream through it. “Max!”

My ears start to ring as the room spins. A thumping sensation travels up through the floor and courses through my body.

I manage to focus my gaze on Mom long enough to see her pull out her phone. Another falls onto the floor. In a panic, she tries to pick it up and drops it again.Am I seeing things? Why does she have two phones?

Something clicks in my brain, but I struggle to find the connection.

“Mom? What is that?” I can just about get the words out.

“It’s nothing. Just a backup. You weren’t supposed to see it.” She grabs it successfully this time.

Something tells me I have to see that phone. A wave of strength comes over me, and I push myself forward.

“Show me,” I demand.

“No!”

I grab her wrist and almost drag her down with me as I use her to hold myself up.

“Show. Me.”

I don’t know what I’m doing. I need to go to the hospital. I need Max. Need Maddox. But I need to see the truth for myself.