Page 37 of The MC’s Surprise (Bikers and Babies #4)

Sierra

P anic bubbled just under the surface. I thought I had a few more weeks to get ready.

I hadn’t even bought half of what I needed yet.

I’d been waiting for my paycheck before even looking.

Justin didn’t have his house yet, and my parents’ place wasn’t set up for a baby.

There wasn’t even a car seat installed in the car.

I wasn’t ready.

A few stray tears slipped over my cheeks as I clutched my seatbelt.

Justin was calm, at least that’s how he appeared, his hand on the back of my headrest as he swung out of the parking spot and headed for the hospital.

Once we were on our way, he pulled his phone out of his pocket, keeping his eyes on the road as he put it on speaker to call my mom.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Mrs. Martin.”

It must’ve been in his tone, because Mom was quick to pick up on the tension. “What happened?”

“We think her water broke. We’re on our way to the hospital now. Can you meet us there?”

“I’m on my way. Am I on speaker? Can she hear me?”

Justin glanced at me, flashing me a sympathetic look before turning to the road again. “She can hear you, but she’s pretty freaked out right now.”

“I’ll bet,” Mom said. “Sierra, baby, it’s going to be alright.”

“It’s too early,” I croaked out before the tears started to fall even harder. We were supposed to have three more weeks. That was almost a whole month early. Had I done something to cause this? Was something wrong with my baby?

Justin set his phone on my leg so he could rub my back soothingly while Mom tried to talk me down.

“Don’t panic. Some babies are just eager to come into this world. You were a week early yourself. Always in a hurry, just like now. I bet this one will give you a run for your money.”

I huffed a watery laugh at the reminder. Mom always said she should’ve known I was in a hurry to experience life when I came out early. Apparently my baby was of the same mind.

“I’m on my way. I’m gonna hang up and call your daddy, give him a list of things he needs to bring to make you comfortable, alright? Will you be okay while I do that?”

I nodded, forgetting she couldn’t see me. Vegas answered for me.

“She’s good. I’ve got to call Mel anyway. I’ll keep you updated on where they put us.”

“Thank you, Justin. You’re a good boy. Don’t forget to call your mama and tell her the baby is on its way. Don’t keep her out of the loop again.”

He winced, which helped a little in making me relax. “Yes, Ma’am. I’ll call her once I’ve got Sierra settled and comfortable.”

They said their goodbyes and hung up. We were already pulling into the hospital parking lot when he got a chance to call Mel, who answered on the first ring.

“What’s up?”

“Mel, are you working today?”

She went quiet for a moment before she replied with a suspicious tone. “What did you do? I’m not in the mood to clean up road rash today. I swear you guys are trying to put me off ground beef for life and Xander said he wanted burgers for dinner.”

Justin rolled his eyes. “Nothing like that. We think Sierra’s water broke. We’re parking now.”

“Go straight to labor and delivery,” she instructed, all serious now. “Do you need a wheelchair? What floor did you park on? I can meet you there.”

“Second floor,” he answered as he pulled into a spot as close to the doors as possible. “See you in a minute.”

He turned in his seat, reaching to tuck a hair behind my ear. “Okay, sweetheart. Just a little farther. We’ll figure it all out soon, alright?”

My bottom lip wobbled and I sank into it when he pulled me into a hug. I felt more out of my depth than when I found out my company was falling apart. I had been avoiding looking at the birth part of the parenting book my mom gave me. It was too terrifying to think about.

He kissed the top of my head and carefully urged me to sit up. “Let me get your door. You just stay here.”

I watched as he slid out of the car and jogged around the front, while I was still clutching my seatbelt like a lifeline. Maybe I could steal some of his calm for myself. It was either that, or lose it completely.

After helping me to my feet, he wrapped an arm around my waist, leading me slowly toward the door. I hadn’t felt any contractions yet, but I was afraid to move. I didn’t want my baby to slip out while I was walking. Was that a thing?

Mel was waiting just inside the glass doors, a wheel chair at the ready. She smiled brightly at me as she came to my other side to help me along. “Hey, mama. Ready to have a baby?”

“Is it bad to say no?” I whimpered.

She snorted, helping me sit in the wheelchair. “Nope. Totally normal. All first time moms say that. But we’ve got a fancy suite waiting for you and a whole team of nurses and doctors at the ready. It’s a party up there, you’ll see. We’ll have a blast.”

Justin chuckled, shaking his head as he matched pace with us. “Do you inject yourself with sunshine and rainbows every morning?”

“Nope,” she replied, popping the ‘p’. “I’m just naturally awesome. Now you be nice, or I won’t get you the good dad cot for tonight.”

They bickered and teased each other the entire way up to labor and delivery, and it eased some of my anxiety a little. Mel was a nurse. If she wasn’t worried, then I was going to be okay.

An older, stern looking nurse sat behind the desk as we came in. She eyed Justin a little suspiciously, but her expression softened when she turned to me. “Hello. You must be Sierra. Mel told me you were coming. Can you tell me why you’re here?”

“I think my water broke,” I answered weakly. “It’s too early, right? I’m only thirty seven weeks. I’m supposed to have more time.”

She pressed her lips together and studied me thoughtfully for a moment before answering. “Well, let’s find out, shall we? Room 2, Mel. Are you joining us today?”

“Yep. Already told my supervisor. Put me to work,” Mel said amiably. She wheeled me into the room with a hospital bed and a ton of equipment, including a baby warmer. I stared at it uneasily. My baby would be there soon. I still didn’t feel ready.

Mel and Justin were helping me stand when the nurse joined us.

“Alright. My name is Nora. Once you’re in a gown and comfortable, I’m going to do a little test to see if it was your water breaking or something else.

I’ll also put you on a monitor so we can get baby’s heartbeat, and check if you’re dilating.

” She eyed Justin again. “Are you the father?”

“Yeah,” Justin agreed, his eyes continually dragging back to me. “Can I do something? Maybe get her something to eat or drink?”

His eagerness to help seemed to soften her a little. “Not yet, no. We’ve got tests to do first. For now, your job is to hold her hand. Got it?”

He nodded sharply. It was a little funny how serious he was about it. I’d laugh if I wasn’t so freaked out.

With three people helping me, I was changed into a gown and comfortable in bed in a blink of an eye. Nora put a monitor around my belly, hooking it up to a machine next to me that showed me the baby’s heartbeat. She finished her tests and was about to leave when my mom burst in.

“Sorry, sorry. I got lost. I thought labor and delivery was on the first floor.”

“It used to be,” Mel replied with a smile. “We moved up here for more space.”

Justin moved out of the way so Mom could be by my side, but when I frowned, he stuck close and put a hand on my ankle to let me know he was still there. It helped having him close.

“I’m guessing you’re mom?” Nora asked.

Mom nodded. “Yep. My husband is coming soon with her essentials.” She patted my hand reassuringly. “Then he’ll wait in the waiting room. I didn’t think you’d want him in here during the delivery.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Maybe not.” Me and my dad were close, but not close enough for me to want him to see all that.

“Well, good. I’m going to leave her in the care of her family and check in with the doctor. Mel, can you come with me for a minute?”

Mel squeezed my hand and smiled at me before following her out. I swallowed hard. Why did I feel better when Mel was here? People didn’t normally need nurses throughout the whole labor, right?

Mom let out a breath, smiling at me when I looked up at her. “That was an adrenaline rush. I forgot for a minute how long first time births take.”

I jerked my head back, surprised. “What do you mean? How long do they take?”

“Could be a few hours, could be longer.” She shrugged. “Depends on you and the baby. All we can do now is wait. Have you felt any contractions yet?”

I shook my head. “Is that bad?”

Mom chuckled, petting my hair reassuringly. “No, sweetheart. That’s not bad. They’ll come eventually. And then you’ll wish you could go back to right now where you were waiting impatiently for them to start.”

That didn’t make me feel any better. Justin made a tick sound behind his teeth, giving my mom a stern look. “Maybe we shouldn’t say things that’ll make her more nervous.”

Mom’s smile grew and she leaned closer to whisper loudly to me. “You got yourself a good one. He’s so protective.”

He blushed at her compliment, which made me laugh. Which, in turn, made more liquid gush out. I grimaced, peeking under the blanket. “I feel like I just peed myself.”

“That’s why you’re sitting on a puppy pad, dear. It’s normal,” Mom insisted.

Justin snorted and I swung my glare toward him, pointing at him menacingly. “Nope. No teasing me. It’s your baby I’m about to push out. You don’t get to make fun of me for peeing myself.”

He put his hands up in surrender, though he was still fighting off a smile. “Not making fun, I promise. Mel showed me where the extra pad things are. Let me know if you want me to switch it out.”

“Yeah, not going to happen.”