Page 141 of Power Move

“But what if she doesn’t accept me? What if I’ve fucked it up? What if she moves to London?”

“Apologize for accusing her of running off withyourbabies as if you assumed she was out to get you. She’s been broken up with and thrown out after losing a pregnancy. She’s a mess. You are, too. Just apologize and realize that you hit a sensitive nerve. David, she’s going to stick around and marry the fuck out of you someday if the two of you can get your heads out of your asses.”

“You really think that?”

“Yes. I think once the babies are here and the two of you have a lot of time to yourselves—and she’s not miserably pregnant and insecure about it—you will come to that place and naturally approach things. I love you, brother, but this is not your strong suit. It’s also not Eva’s. If she didn’t love you, she wouldn’t be here. And she always tries to make it work. She doesn’t trust men but knows you will respect her. Somehow, you built trust with her.”

“Well, after this, who knows?” I panicked. “She thinks I’m trying to control her, right?”

“Before the call? I think she just wanted to avoid hurting your feelings with this talk of the dog dying. She didn’t want to ruin Christmas or this time for you—for all of us. But after the call? Yeah. You were acting like an ass. It’s totally out of character for you.”

It was. I didn’t know what set me off. I paced, then dialed, unsure of what else to do. If I didn’t apologize, there was no hope for us. While I waited on the assistant, a call from Eva came in. I answered it, hanging up the first call.

“Baby, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it. I am so, so sorry. Please come home. Let’s talk. All I want to do is make it up to you?—”

“Hello. Uh, this isn’t Eva,” an unfamiliar voice cut me off. “So, apologies, but I am taking Eva to hospital. She’s in labor, I think. I am so sorry, but we are racing there.”

Was Mona taking Eva to the hospital?

I raced to the foyer, “I… I will be right there. Thank you, Mona.”

I hung up, gaping at Daphne who had chased me all the way. “She’s in labor. I need to get everything to the hospital.”

Daphne helped me load the car, hugged me for encouragement, and I departed with a flash. I had no idea what to expect. The babies were too early. Everything was a hot mess. I couldn’t express the fear and turmoil inside except through tears. So, I drove, crying, and finally stopped after being stuck in terrible traffic for forty minutes.

Taking a moment at the valet to breathe, wipe my tears, and compose myself, I dropped the car and proceeded in.

“I’m… I’m looking for my girlfriend,” I said. “She’s in labor.”

“What is her name?” The receptionist asked.

“Pavlak. Spelled P-A-V-L-A-K.”

“Got it,” the woman scribbled. “Here is her room number. You can go up those elevators.”

I followed where she pointed, racing to the maternity ward. After being buzzed in, I had to answer a barrage of questions.

“Look, I need to get to my girlfriend. I am her support system. Someone brought her in—a friend—but she’s not the other parent. I am.”

I was back near tears again, feeling so helpless.

“Okay, give me a second.” The nurse tried to calm me with a sweet tone.

I watched her go down the hall, suffering as I worried Eva wouldn’t let me in. What if she was so angry I’d never see my babies? What if I couldn’t be there to hear their first cries? What if I missed out on everything under the sun? Why did I fuck it all up so badly out of anger and jealousy?

The nurse returned, smiling. “We just are required to check. Sorry. You can go back.”

A weight lifted. I approached the door—now slightly open—and entered. Mona sat on Eva’s bedside. Eva spoke with a nurse, not yet acknowledging me. There were half a dozen people around, poking and prodding. I saw the instruction board and burst into tears. Without a single word from Eva, I knew we were okay.

Everything was there—her pregnancy details, her weeks and days pregnant, and the names of our babies.

Robbie and Max Delphine. Somehow, seeing those names, I realized she wasn’t going anywhere. I sobbed tears of joy at this news—not because they carried my name or had won, but because we were okay.

“Davey,” Eva said. “Are you okay?”

I couldn’t say more than, “I love you so much, Eva. I am so sorry. I have no idea what got into me.”

Eva