his apartment. “Let me grab my car keys.” He rushed back, slipped on a coat and hurried back to find her waiting with a small bag.
“I hated to ask you, but Nola’s daughter is sick and she’s helping with the grandkids,” Mia apologized.
He took her by the arm and they slowly made their way to the elevator. “I’m glad you asked me, I don’t want Nola to drive at night.” He gave her the once-over. “You okay?”
She smiled. “Outside of being a little scared, I feel pretty good.”
“I think it’s normal to feel scared.”
They rode down one floor and the doors opened. “Thank you for helping me out, Jarrett. I know this isn’t in your landlord duties.”
“Hey, I told you it’s not a problem.” They stepped off the elevator and walked outside. “Is there anyone you want me to call?”
Mia shook her head. “Nola was supposed to be my coach, but I can’t take her away from her grandkids.”
“Is there a backup?”
She stopped and looked at him pleadingly. “You?”
“You’re kidding?”
“Do you think I like asking you again?”
“I didn’t say I mind doing it, I just don’t know what to do.” He wasn’t making any sense.
“Join the club. This is my first time, too,” she began, then suddenly groaned.
He saw the pain etched across her face, but it was her fingernails digging into his arm that told him what was happening. Labor had begun.
“Looks like you’re getting an early Christmas present.”
Thirty minutes and five labor pains later, Jarrett pulled up at the emergency-room door. An attendant brought out a wheelchair, and Mia took the seat. Then Jarrett drove off and she was wheeled inside to get admitted.
After minimal paperwork, she was taken up to the maternity floor and into a labor/delivery room. Once dressed in a gown and in bed, she was hooked to monitors to watch her progress.
“Looks like you lose the bet for a Christmas-day baby.”
Mia looked up as Dr. Drake walked in and nodded to the other doctor leaving. “December fifteenth seems like a fine birthday to me.”
“How are you doing?” Lauren asked, checking the monitor.
No sooner were the words out than Mia felt a contraction begin to build.
“Breathe,” the doctor instructed her as she came to the bedside. “It’s almost over. There. Take a cleansing breath.”
Mia sighed and lay back against the pillow. “That was stronger than the others.”
“They’re going to get even stronger before the baby comes. Don’t worry, the anesthesiologist should be here soon with your epidural.” The doctor glanced around. “Do you have someone here with you?”
“Will I do?”
They both turned to find Jarrett standing in the doorway. He hadn’t gone back home.
“Jarrett, you don’t have to stay. This could take all night.”
He came in anyway. “I called Kira and she’s on her way. So how about I be a stand-in until she arrives?”
“Kira’s coming all the way here?”
“I didn’t ask her to, she just said she’s coming to help you.”
Mia had to blink back tears. She wasn’t going to be alone. She managed a nod at Jarrett. “Thank you.”
“I know my limitations. My only experience is birthing calves.” He shook his head. “And that was a long time ago.”
“I’d like to see you all decked out in Western gear, cowboy hat, chaps.” Mia found herself saying, feeling oddly relaxed in between pains.
“Hey, I didn’t look bad.” She knew he was nervous about his role as coach and trying to distract her. “I had a few girls following me around when I did some rodeos. Calf-roping was my event. I was known for my quick hands.”
Mia couldn’t hide her smile. “I bet you were,” she said as another contraction grabbed her. “Ooh…”
The doctor looked at Jarrett. “Do your job, coach,” she told him.
Jarrett took Mia’s hand as Lauren instructed him on what to do.
Over the next hour, Mia’s contractions grew more frequent and more intense. It helped if she focused on Jarrett’s encouraging words and gentle touch, even his humor. She did her breathing, and he wiped her brow.
After another series of strong contractions had eased, she noticed him watching her. She had to be a mess. Her hair was matted down and she was sweating as though she’d run a mile.
His dark eyes locked on hers. “You’re amazing. And you haven’t even complained once.” He spooned her some ice chips that soothed her throat. “You’re going to make a great mother.”
“You’re not doing so bad yourself. A great stand-in coach.” She started to say more when the door opened and the anesthesiologist walked in.
It didn’t take the doctor long to work his magic, and soon Mia was relaxed and feeling no discomfort, just pressure from the contractions.
Jarrett stood beside the bed. “Is it better now?”
Smiling, she nodded. “Isn’t medication wonderful?”
He laughed. “I’d still have to be knocked out to go through what you’re doing.”
Over the next hour things began to move a lot faster. Mia’s contractions started coming faster and harder, and they were different. She felt more pressure, lower.
Dr. Drake came in and checked the monitor. “Could you step outside a minute, Jarrett?”
He squeezed Mia’s hand. “I’ll be right back,” he promised as he walked out.
The doctor checked her. “You’re close, Mia,” she told her. “It won’t be long now.”
“Really?” She glanced at the clock. She’d only been here a few hours.
Lauren smiled. “Sometimes it happens like this, short labor is rare with the first baby.”
Mia’s thoughts turned to Brad and Karen and sadness swamped her. They should have been here.
Outside the room, a nurse handed Jarrett some paper scrubs. “But I’m not her coach. My sister-in-law is supposed to be here.”
The nurse frowned. “Well, if someone plans to be with her, they’d
