Page 140 of Pinch

“Mom!” Haddy groans from the passenger’s seat. “I found this place when we were hiding from the paparazzi. Then we met Dr. Barry.”

“Well, you can’t get there tonight. A semi carrying cheese turned over and both lanes are closed.”

My throat closes, and I jerk the wheel to the right, garnering a ton of honks as I manage to catch the next exit off the freeway.

“What do we do?” My tone is even, and I’m doing my best not to freak the fuck out. “What’s the closest hospital?”

“Gavin, no!” Haddy cries before she leans forward, her eyes squinted in pain.

“Let me see…” Raven’s tone turns to calm, and I see in this moment how my girl is just like her mother. “Yes, there’s Glendale Memorial!”

I quickly type the name into my GPS, and sure enough, we’re minutes away. “That’s where we’re going.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can get to you!”

We disconnect, and in under five minutes, I’m pulling into the circle drive. The emergency guys hustle out to tell me I can’t park here, but as soon as I open the door and they see Haddy, everything changes. A wheelchair is brought out, and two large male nurses help Haddy into it.

“I’ll be right back,” I yell as they shut the doors.

It feels like an eternity, but it’s actually less than ten minutes. I’m in the hallway, and they’re showing me to the room. I can hear Haddy groaning in the hall, and my heart beats faster. She doesn’t remember her mantra.

“This way, Mr. Knight.” The nurse holds out a hand, but I’m taking out my phone and hitting Liv’s contact information.

“Hello? Gavin?”

“Liv, we’re at a different hospital.” I rush into the room where Haddy is on the bed, face red. “Haddy needs you. She forgot her mantra.”

“If I had a dollar for every time I heard that.”

I don’t waste time. “Haddy?” I put my hand on her shoulder. “I’ve got your aunt Liv here. She’s ready to talk you through it.”

Haddy’s blue eyes meet mine, and it’s a punch to the gut. I’ve never seen my girl afraid before. Swallowing my own fear, I force a reassuring face. “Talk to her, babe.”

Digging in my coat pocket, I grab a pair of Air Pods to slip in her ears. Holding her hands, I look into her eyes as the doctor pulls up her information on the computer.

“I see her doctor is Mandy Barry?” I nod, and she continues typing. “I have her birth plan here…”

Sitting on the stool beside her, I hold her hands, doingmy best to help her through. I’d been there for the water birth classes, but I missed the hypnobirthing. Haddy changed it on us. Something about pooping in the water freaked her out.

“Soften…” Haddy’s voice trembles, and I see her doing her best to focus. “Settle…” Her face tenses, and she leans into the contraction. The last word is somewhere between a whisper and a scream. “Relax…”

“You’ve got this, Princess.” I hold her shoulders. “I’m here.”

“Release…” She trembles, and the doctor smiles, looking up at us.

“We’re ready to push. Are you ready?”

“It’s time to push…” This part I remember. “Let’s hum together.”

She turns watery blue eyes at me, and my chest is a mixture of heartbreak and admiration. I can’t imagine what she’s going through right now, and all I can do is hum. Still, I remember from the birthing classes I did attend, being here is a lot.

Our hands clasp, and our eyes meet. She inhales, relaxing her shoulders and her jaw. Her face is red, but she’s doing it. I rub her shoulders, doing my best to keep her encouraged. She groans a low hum, and she’s doing it.

“She’s crowning,” the new doctor cries, smiling. “One more push. We’re almost there.”

Haddy’s blue eyes hold mine, and I press my lips to the back of her hands clasped in mine. Another deep groan, another low hum, and she pushes hard.

All at once, the sweetest, strongest cry fills the room. New doctor lifts our daughter quickly from between Haddy’s legs, placing her on her chest, and we’re all fucking crying.