Page 17 of Riding the Edge
“Uh, guys…”
Ignoring Lauren, Riggs continues to argue his point to me
“But there is shit going on that you don’t know about.”
“All I’m saying is you should’ve been there for him,” I retort.
“Mom,” Lauren cries.
“I would’ve been there if I wasn’t nailing a Russian gangster to the cross. The same prick who is responsible for a bunch of girls going missing, one of them being Cobra’s sister. Now, half the club has been detained in Purchase, New York and Jack and Pipe are on their way—”
“Riggs!” Lauren shrieks, forcing us all to turn to her.
Clutching her stomach, she grimaces and drags in a deep breath.
“My water broke,” she croaks.
“Oh shit,” Riggs exclaims. “The cub is coming!”
Instinctively my eyes lower, taking in the water trickling down her legs. After being forced to deliver Eric by c-section, Robert’s was scheduled and with this third baby, she was set to go in next week. Panic floods my daughter’s features as she reaches for me.
“Mom,” she cries.
“It’s fine,” I assure her, squeezing her hand. “This baby just wants to join this crazy family a little sooner than expected,” I tell her, looking over my shoulder. “Get the car,” I order Riggs.
“I’m going to have three kids,” he mutters.
“Riggs, focus,” I hiss, turning to my son. “Anthony, go get some towels.”
“What about the boys?” Lauren questions. “Adrianna was going to take them when I delivered. Now, with this whole—”
“Shh,” I whisper. “Everything is going to be okay. Anthony will stay here with the boys and me and Riggs will come with you to the hospital.”
“What if it’s too late for a c-section?”
“Stop worrying,” I tell her. Taking the towels from Anthony, I get on my knees and wipe the water from her legs as my son gives his sister a pep talk. The boys run into the room and Lauren showers them with hugs and kisses, promising the next time they see her, she’ll introduce them to their brother or sister. A moment later, Riggs rushes back into the house as I hurry up the stairs to grab her bag. Once we’re buckled in the car, the self-proclaimed Tiger takes off like he’s a participant in the Indy 500 race.
Ten minutes later, he pulls in front of the hospital. Hurrying out of the car, I run inside and check Lauren in as Riggs carries her inside. Immediately they bring her into a room and examine her. Once the doctor declares she’s in labor and has already dilated to four centimeters, things start moving. Since she’s had two c-sections, the OBGYN decides its best to rush her in for a third and as Lauren is prepped for surgery, Riggs is handed a pair of scrubs. I help him tie the mask around his face, give him a hug and promise to call his parents. Then I kiss them both and watch Riggs take Lauren’s hand. Tears well in my eyes as he walks alongside her, and she’s wheeled towards the operating room.
The next time I see my girl, she’ll be a mother of three. Its crazy how time goes by so quickly. It seems like just yesterday she was ripping the heads off her Barbie dolls and coloring on the walls. Now, she’s got a beautiful family of her own and walls full of her own children’s artwork.
Finding the waiting room, I take a seat and lift my eyes to the clock on the wall. A half hour later, Riggs bursts through the doors with a smile from ear to ear.
“It’s a boy!”
Anthony Montgomery was born weighing seven pounds on the scale and ten tons of love in our hearts.
Life was good.
It was beautiful.
