Page 15 of Wrong Turn, Right Bear (Beartastic Summer of Love)

FIFTEEN

ASH

“Are you sure about this?”

I wasn’t.

Theo’s due date was three weeks from now and if I had my way, I’d wrap him in cotton balls, make him stay in bed and only leave to go to the bathroom.

“It’s a beautiful day and I’ve been cooped up in the house for too long.”

“But I’ve read some… ummm… you know…” I’d been going to say horror stories about babies coming early. But that wasn’t appropriate advice to give to a heavily pregnant omega. “But babies come early.”

“Sure, but I’ve had no twinges and nothing to indicate the birth is imminent.”

My mate wanted to go out on our boat, just for a few hours. Okay, that didn’t sound too bad. With the motor on the boat, we’d putter around the lake and could return quickly if we had to. No problem.

My bear wasn’t convinced it was a good idea, saying he sensed our little one was coming soon. But soon could refer to next month.

“I need the quiet of water and to be surrounded on both sides by untamed woodlands,” Theo told me. “The lake was the first thing I saw in Boulder Pass and I can’t explain why, but I need to be out there today.”

I hid a smile because when we first met, he was fearful of the forest and its inhabitants and while he wasn’t about to take a solo jaunt into the woods for days, he didn’t think of wooded areas as scary.

“Okay. But the first sign of a cramp or contraction, and we’re on our way home.”

“Sounds good. Can you pack plenty of snacks?”

“Sure. Be right back.”

I didn’t want to tempt fate—hey fate had already brought us together so I figured it’d have turned its attention to someone else—but I tucked the birthing book, a blanket, pillows, an old sheet, towels, and ice in a vacuum bag into my bag.

If my mate went into labor, I wanted to have what we needed.

In the online forums, there were couples who’d had the birth planned to the last detail, but they were at the cinema, on a plane or on vacation when the omega went into labor. I sent a plea to the universe to ignore my preparation and carry on playing matchmaker to other fated couples.

“Ready?” Theo couldn’t walk far without getting short of breath.

“Right here.” I flung the bag over my shoulder and took my mate’s arm.

When we arrived at the boat shed, I chose the punt, my flat bottomed boat, so I could position a folding chair on it for Theo and I’d attached a small umbrella.

Without me saying anything, he promised he wouldn’t rock the boat.

He giggled at his pun but I recalled our first kayaking adventure when he wasn’t heavily pregnant.

But I couldn’t get the motor started.

“Can you row us?” Theo shaded his face and stared at the large body of water.

If I’d been human, rowing to the other side of the lake and back would have been strenuous, but a) I’d been rowing since I was ten and b) I had reserves of strength, common only to my kind.

But while I was faster than a human, rowing was slower than using the motor. If I could convince Theo it wasn’t safe, we could do something else.

“I have a great idea. How about we go for ice cream instead?”

He made a face. “So I voted for the lake and your alternative is ice cream? Make that make sense?” He huffed. “I can’t explain it but something tells me I need to get out on the water and away from everyone except you.”

He gave me a look that said I couldn’t change his mind.

I’d secretly hoped the wind would pick up. When it blew from the south, the placid lake became deadly. But there was no breeze and I eyed the water from the shore, thinking it was a traitor. Why couldn’t you be rough, just for me? We’re buddies .

“Comfortable?”

I began to have not second thoughts but third, fourth and fifth ones and considered turning around. Taking a heavily pregnant omega in a punt was probably contraindicated. I glanced toward the boat shed, expecting the police with bullhorns telling me to return and surrender.

“Thank you for doing this, despite your reservations.”

“You and our baby are the most precious things in my life and I worry I’m putting you both at risk.”

“You worry too much but I love that you care about us.”

Breathe . That was my bear’s advice. Great.

I did my best, taking air in and imagining all my worries being carried away when I breathed out.

“Owww. ”

Not even my mate wriggling his butt would ramp up my blood pressure. I’d promised to chill out. And as we glided over the water and the only sound was the oars dipping into the water, I admitted my mate was right. This was calming and peaceful.

“Do you need another cushion, babe?”

“Owww.”

That was the second owww.

“My belly. It’s tight.”

That wasn’t surprising. There was little room for the baby to maneuver so yeah, space was tight.

“Not long now babe and the baby will be here.”

“Ummm maybe sooner than—” Theo leaned forward and panted. Huh? What was with the panting? Sure, he was short of breath because he was lugging around a baby. Maybe he wouldn’t finish the sentence and we could continue with our outing.

But my mate squealed.

“Oh my gods. You’re in labor and we’re in the middle of the lake.” I’d rowed further than I intended and we were a ways away from the bank.

I pulled the phone from the bag but there was no signal. The universe was messing with me.

“We need to get back to shore.” I began to row, my arms moving like those speedy cartoon characters I’d watched as a kid .

“Ash, remember how I got pregnant quickly and we joked that maybe labor would be just as fast?”

No! I didn’t want to hear that.

“This baby is coming. Get me off this chair.”

Theo tore at his oversized shirt, wrenching the collar as if he couldn’t wait to be rid of the clothing. After I got him undressed, I helped him onto the blanket. He was on his back and pushing before I got settled between his legs. Was this what I was supposed to do?

Gods the baby was almost here but I needed a rewind. It was all happening too fast.

“This hurts.” Theo leaned forward while gripping his legs. He was doing this alone without medical assistance. It was just him and the baby. He needed a partner and that was me, so I took his hands and he pushed, the exertion evident in his red face and the sweat streaming over his cheeks.

“You’re doing so well.” I didn’t know if that was true but I had to offer encouragement.

He lay back down as the contraction eased off but seconds later he moaned.

“Do it with me. The moaning.”

He strained and cried out and I mimicked him. Our voices drifted on the wind and echoed back to us. Huh? I glanced up as my mate lay on the pillows. Chuck, Romey, and Mollie were on shore waving. When another contraction took hold of Theo, he grunted and so did I while the other three did the same.

“Do we have an audience?” Theo panted as I dabbed the sweat from his brow.

“Assistance not gawkers.”

Theo pushed again and the head, it was coming. I blinked back tears because I couldn’t fall apart. My mate and baby needed me.

“Our little one’s almost here, Theo.”

He pushed again and the baby’s head was out. I’d been present when animals gave birth but here I wasn’t just a witness. My heart was involved.

There were more pushes and the shoulders appeared and then everything happened at once. The baby arrived. Theo had done his job and I placed our little one on my mate’s chest and covered them with a blanket.

“We have a son.”

I was torn between getting my family to shore and cuddling my mate and son. I chose cuddles because I could get us home later.

“You did it.” I nuzzled Theo while placing a protective hand on our son. “That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Permission to board.” Chuck’s voice boomed across the open water. “We’ll take you back. ”

Theo nodded and my friend and Romey arrived. After helping my mate onto Chuck’s boat we sped toward shore as Romey rowed the punt.

At home we bathed our son and put him in his first onesie. Neither of us wanted to leave his side, so we wheeled his crib into our room and we crawled into bed. Despite wanting to keep his eyes on our newborn, Theo slept, leaving me to watch over the newest member of our family.

“There’s only one choice for his name.” Theo opened his eyes.

“Let me guess.” I pretended to think. “Ummm, is it Lake?”

“Ummm our little Lake who was born early on a very big lake.”