Page 9 of Blizzard Babies (Alaska Blizzard #6.5)

Laurel

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine giving birth in a car, but my little girl already has a mind of her own. She’s crowning, and I’m stretched out in the front seat of Charli’s SUV, leaning back as far as I can go, trying to push her out.

And it hurts like a motherfucker too.

Gage is getting snipped the minute we get out of this because this natural childbirth stuff is bullshit.

I’m more worried about the baby than myself, though.

We have no way to cut the cord and without cell service, we can’t even look up what to do. Thank goodness Sara has a good amount of medical experience from her time as a vet tech. It isn’t the same, but a lot of the science classes are, and she’s also first aid certified.

“You’re going to have to push,” Sara says softly, meeting my gaze. “We can’t hold off any longer. Whether Charli found help or not, she’s here, Laurel. I see her head and a whole lot of dark hair.”

“Maybe I should go look for Charli,” Whitney suggests.

“No!” Sara and I snap in unison.

“Okay, okay.” Whitney chuckles. “I’m just scared.”

“Tell me about it.” I groan as another wave of pain washes over me. “Motherfucker… this hurts!”

I try not to push, but that just makes it worse, and I sit there, panting in the aftermath.

“You can’t stop this,” Sara whispers.

“I know. I just keep hoping for a miracle.” I stare out at the ever-accumulating snow in frustration.

Where is Gage?

I was so sure he would find us.

But it’s been hours and he still isn’t here.

Now Charli disappeared too.

And I’m more terrified than I’ve ever been in my life.

I can take care of myself most of the time, but this is something else entirely.

Not only is there the possibility of something going wrong, we aren’t prepared to care for a newborn.

We got a blanket out of the back of the SUV, so she’ll be warm, but beyond that, how long can we stay here?

The storm is supposed to rage all night.

Another contraction hits, and I squeezed the arm rest as I bear down.

She’s steadily fighting her way into the world, and I’m going to have to fight to make sure she succeeds.

“Do you hear that?” Whitney asks suddenly, whipping her head around.

“Hear what?” I ask, even as pain overwhelms me.

“That!” Whitney points and I figure I must be hallucinating as the red lights of a fire truck come into view.

Whitney is out of the car before Sara or I can stop her, yelling and waving her hands.

“Oh, please, let it be Gage,” I whisper.

And with Whitney pushing through the snow, waving her arms, that big, beautiful red truck slowly pulls into view. I would have cried with relief, but the next contraction is on me and there’s no stopping what’s happening.

“I’m here, baby. Everything’s going to be okay.” I’m barely aware of Gage’s soft, soothing voice or his strong hands firmly holding one of mine.

“Fuck, she’s coming!” I growl, squeezing my eyes shut and trying to breathe.

“Mr. Caldwell, you have to move,” someone says.

Then there are strangers everywhere, and even though Gage moves out of the way for the professionals, I can hear him, letting me know he’s nearby.

“Laurel, the baby’s head is out, so one more push and she’s going to be here,” a fireman says.

Those are the sweetest words I’ve ever heard and, sure enough, after the next push there’s a wave of relief. And my daughter lets out the loudest, most annoyed newborn wail I’ve ever heard.

“Oh, she’s pissed,” Sara says, chuckling.

“That she is,” the fireman agrees with a grin.

Someone lifts me out of the car—my strong, wonderful husband—and I’m wrapped in blankets. The next thing I know we’re all in the fire truck, hopefully heading toward a hospital.

“Everything’s going to be okay,” Gage whispers against my ear.

“I was so scared,” I whisper back, meeting his eye.

“I know.” He strokes my hair. “But she’s okay.”

“What time is it?” I ask. “What time was she born?”

“Three seventeen,” one of the firemen calls out.

“Darn. I lost my own damn birth pool.”

Gage laughs. “I don’t think anyone picked a date this early.”

“She’s really early, isn’t she?” I look around, suddenly worried again. “Is she okay?”

“We’ll be at the hospital soon, but she’s a big girl for thirty-six weeks,” someone says. “She looks fine to me. Her lungs are definitely healthy.”

My sweet baby hasn’t stopped crying.

“We never finalized a name,” Gage says. “But I think I have an idea now.”

I meet his gaze knowingly. “Charlotte?”

He smiles. “If she hadn’t gotten to that house with WiFi so she could call me, I don’t know how long it would’ve been until I found you.”

“Charlotte is pretty,” I say softly. “We can call her Lotty, or Char when she gets older.”

He nods. “Yes.” He bends his head and softly kisses me. “You scared the crap out of me, woman.”

“I scared the crap out of myself.”

“I love you, Laurel.”

“Love you too.” I close my eyes, eternally grateful for this man who’ll move heaven and earth for me. To find us in time. He and Charli are both heroes in my book. I might even give her husband an extra day off when he gets back to Anchorage.

Nah.

That might make me look soft to the other guys.

“What are you smiling about?” Gage asks.

I chuckle. “Whether or not I’m going to give Miikka any extra time off.”

He bursts out laughing.

“Only you would be thinking about work at a time like this.”