Page 76

She was doubled over.

Her hands were on her knees, and her face was twisted up like pain had sucker-punched her straight in the gut.

“Oh shit,” I muttered, rushing to her side. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

She grabbed my wrist. Hard. “My water—Sam—it just broke.”

“Call an ambulance!” I yelled.

One of the courthouse staff was already on their phone.

I knelt beside her, trying to stay calm as a puddle formed beneath her feet.

She was breathing fast. Too fast. And my hands shook as I brushed sweat off her forehead.

“I got you,” I whispered, even though I was two seconds from losing my shit. “I got you. Just breathe, baby.”

Her mother came barreling down the steps like she’d been shot out of a cannon.

“What happened?”

“She’s in labor,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Her water broke.”

Zane groaned, low and deep, her body already starting to tremble.

The ambulance pulled up in under five minutes. They loaded her in quick, asking questions I barely processed as I tried to stay calm. Her father answered most.

I started to climb in behind her.

“Sorry, sir, there’s no room. The hospital is two blocks up on Ulmerton from here.”

I kept myself from snapping and turned to head to my car as they took off. My heart was beating so fast. Zane’s mother stopped me.

“Did that make you feel better?” she asked, dead serious.

I blinked at her.

She wasn’t yelling. She was scolding me like my momma did—and would’ve if she was there. The disappointment in her eyes hit harder than any punch Mark would’ve thrown.

“I’m sorry.”

She nodded. “It’s okay. I like you, Sam,” she said, lowering her voice. “You’re good to my daughter. I see that. But this?” She pointed back toward the courthouse. “This can’t be how you handle situations when it matters. Not now. Not when she needs you clear-headed.”

I swallowed hard.

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “You’re right.”

She nodded, softened a little, then pulled me into a quick hug.

“Now let’s go. If you make me miss my grandbaby being born, you gon’ have to fight me next.”

Tocara came out of nowhere blocking our path. She had stopped at the restroom. “What’s going on, where’s Zane?

“You missed a lot, but Zane’s about to have the baby.

Chapter 37- Zane

Seven days and a C-section later, I was finally leaving the hospital. My stomach felt like it had been stitched by God himself—tight and sore with every shift—but I didn’t care. My daughter was nestled in my mother’s arms, pink-faced and sleeping like she hadn’t just changed my whole damn world.