Page 118 of The Only Thing That's Real
“That’s what I told her.”
“I’m sorry, Knox. It’s shitty you have to worry about these things, but you did the right thing.” She stands. “Here, let me get you a refill. I need to move.” Reaching for my empty glass of lemonade, she freezes with her hand a few inches away. Her eyes go wide as Ruby springs to her feet.
“What is it?” I follow Charlie’s line of sight to the lightstream of liquid trailing down her legs. “Is that what I think it is?”
“If you’re thinking my water just broke, then yes. Yes, it is.”
Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!
“Okay, what do I do, Charlie?”
She sits back down, picking up her phone while I pace in front of her. We need to get Cal. We need to get to the hospital. I’m panicking yet, she’s as cool as a cucumber, rocking in her chair as she relays the news to my brother.
When she hangs up, she says, “He’ll be here in five minutes.”
“What do I do, Charlie? Do you have a bag I can grab? What about Ruby? Do you need a glass of water? Are you in pain?”
“Not in pain. Just freaking out a little.”
“So, you’re saying my panic isn’t helping?”
“Bingo.” She points to her nose.
“Understood.”
“My bags and the car seat are on the floor in the bedroom. You can grab that for me.”
“On it.”
I’m about to offer to take Ruby with me, but she’s sitting at attention at Charlie’s feet. She’s not going anywhere.
Rushing inside, I gather the car seat and the bags. On my way out I look around the house trying to figure out what else to do but come up short. By the time I push through the front door, I run into Cal, who brings Ruby in. He shuts the door behind him and stands frozen in place, white as a ghost. He’s scared shitless, and I don’t blame him.
“It’s time, brother.” I hold up the baby gear in my hands.
“I think I might be sick and she’s cool as a cucumber.”
“Why do you think women have the babies? We can’t handle this kind of shit.”
He throws a treat into Ruby’s crate and locks her in. “Sorry, baby. It’s gonna be awhile, but someone will be by to let you out later.” He pats his front pockets, his back pockets, and the non-existent pockets on his dark blue McKinnon Hardware T-shirt. “What am I missing?”
“Uh, your wife melting out on the front porch.”
“I need to get my shit together.”
“You’re good, bro. Just breathe and take care of Charlie. I’ll drive.”
“Thanks. I’m so fucking glad you’re here.” He pulls me into a fierce hug.
I don’t know if it’s the reality of the moment or the mutual feeling, but my eyes sting. “Me too. Now, let’s hit the road.”
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Ryan
The whoosh of the opening hospital doors sends a shiver down my spine. The last time I was in a hospital was when I had the surgery that took away my ability to have children. For years, I thought it didn’t matter. Getting rid of the endometriosis that caused such debilitating pain was worth it. I’d never had dreams of being a mother. It wasn’t a loss as far as I was concerned.
But that was before Knox.
