“Jadon?” she called.
“I’m here.” He came in, and took her hand in his. They’d given him scrubs to wear. “What’s wrong? Another contraction?”
“Yes.” They were coming even more frequently now. “Kylie was supposed to be my labor coach. But I’d rather have you. If you don’t mind.”
He stared at her for a long moment. “I don’t mind. They’re my babies, too.”
“I know.” She sucked in a harsh breath as the contraction crested, sending shock waves of pain through her whole body. “Oh, boy, that was a strong one,” she whispered as it finally eased.
Jadon cradled her hand in both of his. “It’s okay, Alyssa. I’m here. I’ll help you through this.”
He wasn’t going to leave, or call Kylie. He was going to stay.
“I need to do a quick exam, to see how far along you are,” Kim said, coming into the room dressed in fresh scrubs and pulling on a pair of gloves.
Alyssa couldn’t help it, she tightened her grip on Jadon’s hand, full of apprehensive fear. He pulled up a chair with his foot and sat right next to her bed, staying close.
Kim lifted the sheet and Alyssa’s hospital gown and then gently eased her thighs open. “Good heavens, you’re already five centimeters dilated. I suspect these babies are going to be born very quickly.”
“Good.” Another contraction tightened her abdomen and she glanced over at Jadon. “Don’t leave me,” she begged through clenched teeth.
Not just for now, but forever. She didn’t want Jadon to leave her alone ever again, but as the contraction grew tighter and tighter, she didn’t have a chance to explain.
“I won’t,” Jadon promised.
She wanted nothing more than to believe him.
Watching Alyssa suffer through one contraction after another was enough to make him swear off sex forever. Sweat beaded on his forehead, trickling in rivulets down his back, and he wasn’t even the one doing all the work.
This was all his fault, for not having enough selfcontrol to protect her from becoming pregnant in the first place all those months ago. And, again, for allowing his desire to overcome his common sense that morning.
He was about to become a father.
Panic tightened his throat. Juggling his responsibilities with Jack had been hard enough before, but the twins’ impending birth just made it that much more complicated.
He’d promised Alyssa he’d stay, and he’d sensed she meant more than just during the delivery. But what if Jack needed him again? He couldn’t abandon his mother. If Jack needed him, he’d be forced to leave.
He turned his attention to Alyssa, and within moments the entire labor room had been converted into a delivery suite, complete with a neonatal team on standby in case the twins needed them.
He was a doctor, had seen births a couple of times before, but nothing could have prepared him for the miracle of watching his children being born.
“Come on, Alyssa, one more big push,” Kim was saying. “You’re almost there. The first baby is crowning.”
Tears streaked Alyssa’s cheeks but she didn’t sob or cry out. She simply gritted her teeth and pushed, nearly crushing all the bones in his hand in the process.
“Wonderful! Perfect. Congratulations, you have a beautiful daughter.”
Jadon’s grin almost split his face. “Can you see her, Lys? She’s absolutely beautiful.”
Alyssa nodded. “Is she okay? How big do you think she is?”
“We’ll get her weighed and measured in a jiffy,” Kim promised, handing the infant over to Renee, one of the neonatal ICU nurses who was part of the resuscitation team. She took the baby to the first isolette and began the exam with the help of the neonatologist.
Jadon knew they needed to do an Apgar assessment on the baby, along with placing the proper identification bracelets, so he didn’t leave Alyssa’s side, even though he was anxious to meet his daughter.
He was a father. He could barely wrap his mind around the concept. More responsibility. Double the responsibility.
“Oh, no, another contraction,” Alyssa whimpered.
“This might be the placenta,” Kim warned. “I know it’s tough, Alyssa, but hang in there. You’re halfway there.”
“Only halfway,” she groaned, panting through another contraction. “Doesn’t seem fair.”
Jadon leaned down to press his lips to her forehead. He shared her pain. “I know. I wish I could do this for you.”
“You and me both,” she said with a groan.
“Knight baby girl number one weighs in at three pounds, nine ounces,” Renee announced for everyone to hear. “And she’s seventeen and a half inches long.”
Alyssa smiled. “Three pounds nine ounces is pretty good, right? Is she breathing on her own?”
“Yes, so far she’s breathing fine. Don’t worry,” Kim told her. “Your job is to deliver this next baby.”
As if on cue, another contraction caused her to grab Jadon’s hand again. Her determined gaze met his. “I think baby number two is on his or her way.”
Jadon wasn’t sure what to expect. He was an identical twin, but women Alyssa’s age were prone to fraternal twins. Either way, he didn’t care. He was still in awe about having a daughter. “Slow, easy breaths,” he instructed. “Don’t think about the pain, think about the baby.”
The second birth went faster and within another minute Alyssa was pushing again.
“Congrats, you have another beautiful daughter,” Kim announced with a laugh. “Beautiful twin girls.”
The second baby girl was passed on to the neonatal team as well and from where he stood, Jadon could tell the second baby was slightly smaller than the first one. They didn’t look identical, but they were pretty small so it was difficult to tell. Although a little more than three and a half pounds was not a bad size for a preemie.
And if both babies could breathe without any help from a mask or a ventilator, that was a minor miracle in itself.
“You did a great job,” Jadon said, kissing Alyssa lightly on the mouth. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.” This time she smiled through her tears. “I can’t believe we have daughters.”
“Beautiful twin daughters,” Kim corrected with a smile. “Have you thought of names yet?”
Alyssa nodded. “I’ve chosen
