Page 2 of Falling for Lucifer
“Excuse me?” he asked the older woman, who looked up at him with a scowl. Her lip curled up like she smelled something stank, and she straightened up as if she tried to give off the vibe that she was important.
“I said move. You’re in my way.”
Lucifer’s face turned up as he looked the woman up and down. She was dripping in labels and had enough jewelry on to lace a rap music video.
Lucifer stood straight while peering down at the small woman with a mighty attitude. “I think you got it twisted, ma’am. You walked up on me, so you’re actually in my way.”
The lady sucked her teeth so loud Lucifer was surprised one didn’t snap in half. She opened her mouth to say something, but the door swung open.
“Lu, where are those ice chips? She’s getting ready to push.” Harley’s eyes landed on the woman. “I’m sorry. Who are you?”
The lady huffed and pushed past Harley. That was the moment Lucifer lost all his patience. The woman barely even touched Harley, but she was disrespectful as hell, and one thing he didn’t play about was family.
“Lady, you’re gonna have to get up out of here?—”
Lucifer’s words were cut off when Ellodie said, “Ma! What are you doing here?”
The older woman’s eyes turned to slits as she placed her designer purse on a chair before marching over to Ellodie.
“You’re lucky I don’t slap the hell out of you, Ellodie Glover.
Why in God’s name would you not call your mother when you’re in labor?
I had to find out from Martin, and that was only because he was trying to reach your father and accidentally let it slip. ”
Ellodie groaned. “Uncle Martin, . . . shit.”
The woman took them all by surprise when she swatted Ellodie on the hand. Lucifer instinctively took a step forward. Who the hell hit a woman in labor?
“Watch your mouth, little girl. I can’t believe you didn’t call me. I’m your mother, and it isn’t like you know who the child’s father is. You can’t do this alone.”
“I told you I do know who the child’s father is, Mama.” Ellodie cried as another contraction hit.
“It’s time to push,” Harley said. Lucifer could tell she was doing her best to stay calm and ignore Ellodie’s mother, but her patience had been really thin since she’d gotten pregnant, so it was only a matter of time before she snapped.
“Look at you,” Ellodie’s mother fussed, criticizing her daughter, who now had tears streaming down her face as she looked at the ceiling in defeat. “Pathetic, honestly. I raised you to be better than this. Now you’re going to be a single mother and?—”
“Man, if you don’t get out of my way.” The words left Lucifer’s mouth before he could process them.
The sight of Ellodie crying while her mother berated her at a time that should have been special did something to him.
Just minutes ago, she had a hint of playfulness and fire.
Now, she looked broken, and that shattered something within him.
He bumped her mother out of the way before looking down at her.
“We’re getting ready to bring our child into the world, and I don’t want you in here. You gotta go.”
Her mother’s mouth dropped open as she looked between Lucifer and Ellodie.
Lucifer grabbed Ellodie’s hand and squeezed it.
She squeezed it back, and they looked into each other’s eyes.
A moment of understanding passed between them.
He could see the relief in her eyes, and a bit of that fire came back.
He smirked before subtly winking at her just as she cried out in pain again.
“You? Oh, no.” The older woman looked around Lucifer and at Ellodie. “He cannot be the father of your child. I forbid it.”
Lucifer barked out a laugh. “Too late for that.”
“Is it Ms. Glover?” Harley asked, positioning herself at the end of the bed so she could deliver the baby.
“Yes,” the woman said, looking to be in a daze.
“I need you to step outside, please. We can only have one person in the room during the birth. I can come get you from the waiting room when we’re done, if you’d like,” Harley said with her eyes focused between Ellodie’s legs, where Lucifer was very mindful not to look.
“What? No, he needs to leave. I’m her mother!”
The nurse left her station at the monitor and grabbed Ms. Glover by the elbow. Lucifer appreciated that she didn’t allow Ms. Glover to intimidate her as she escorted her out.
“Thank you,” Ellodie whispered as fresh tears fell from her eyes.
“No need to thank us, honey. I just need you to focus on pushing, okay?” Harley coaxed.
“I’ll just step over here,” Lucifer said, letting go of Ellodie’s hand. He planned to stand watch at the door and make sure her evil mama stayed her ass out, but Ellodie snatched his hand back up and looked up at him with pleading eyes.
“Wait, . . . can you . . . can you stay right here, please?”
He looked down at her, wondering why the hell she would want some strange man by her side while she gave birth, but he didn’t need to open his mouth to ask.
He saw it in her eyes. Baby girl was afraid.
Her mother’s words had gotten to her, and he immediately understood that she didn’t want to do it alone.
Luckily for her, she wouldn’t have to. He gave her hand another squeeze and offered her another smile. “I got you.”
The look of relief that swept across her face made Lucifer’s heart stutter, but it quickly vanished when Harley said, “Okay, Ello. One big push for me.”