Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 249 -

Весса.

Several months had passed since our honeymoon, and things had been going wonderfully. The baby was developing very healthily, and they were going to be on the way soon. I was tired as I sat on the couch, reading up on some news. The progress with Guatemala went very well. I had made contact with locals who were going to make sure everything ran smoothly and children would be getting what they needed. The thought made me smile. Children deserved wonderful lives.

The kids were just put to bed about an hour ago. 8:00 PM was too early for me to go to bed quite yet, but I was feeling tired. Still, I needed a snack, as my cravings were intensifying lately by quite a bit.

I walked up to the fridge and rummaged through it, pulling out a jar of pickles and giving a satisfied sigh. I grabbed a plate, taking out several to munch on while I watched television. Maybe this would help me wake up a little bit. I wanted to wait until James got home.

He was busy working with Giovani right now, family business of sorts. Though his cousin was the Don, he still had a few responsibilities he needed to take care of from time to time. He assured me he was just helping Giovani out; James was finally free. That was a relief because I knew what 'family business' meant. He was gone for less and less on that issue lately, which was nice. I stretched and yawned, looking down to see a text from Sophia asking if she could stop by to pick up a purse she'd left last time.

I confirmed that she could, offering for her to stay a little bit for a late-night dinner. I had eaten already, but there was still some food left over that she could enjoy. A second helping wouldn't kill me, either!

Soon, security let me know Sophia was here, and I went to greet her. She gave me a big smile and said, "Hello there, Becca. You look tired! I hope this isn't a bad time." She smoothed out her hair and tilted her head, no doubt concerned. "No, not at all, Sophia! Let me set you up with something yummy. I made it a bit earlier," I said, yawning again. I began walking toward the fridge, intent on setting something up for her, when suddenly I felt a 'pop' between my legs. I widened my eyes as a gushing sensation began, a familiar feeling since I'd felt it once already with Dahlia. "My water is breaking," I gasped, panic twisting in my stomach. "It's too early!" I shrieked, my heart pounding.

The baby would be a few weeks premature! This was all wrong! My child wouldn't be big enough. There was a chance I could lose the baby, and James wasn't here, either. I held the side of the counter, shuddering.

"Hey, hey! Becca, it's okay, just take a few deep breaths. I'll drive you to the hospital with your security, don't worry. It will be just fine, things happen like this all the time and work out," she said. She didn't have children herself but clearly interacted with many mothers who did.

I thought about how she'd been there for me so many times lately, between when she first suggested I take the test, the baby shower, and now. She was right. Tears began to crawl down my cheeks as I nodded.

"Let's get you to the car," I said hurriedly. Madeline was there with the kids. One of the security guards grabbed my already packed suitcase. Once everyone was situated, we were off, with Sophia at the wheel. I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness and shakily sent James a voice message, explaining the situation.

He didn't answer. Would he make it in time?

We arrived at the hospital, and I was brought into a Labor and Delivery Room. I settled in on the bed and looked toward Sophia with wide eyes. "James isn't here," I said in a broken voice, wincing and letting out a moan of pain as the contractions began.

The nurses swarmed into the room, getting me into a gown, and setting up IV catheters for me to drip medication and fluid so that I wouldn't dehydrate. The pain-relieving drugs would also help me during this process, thank goodness. Still, the pain was intense. I hadn't gotten there in time for an epidural. One contraction after another, tears pouring down my cheeks as I whimpered and worried James wouldn't be here to see his child born. Sophia held my hand, squeezing it and whispering, "He'll be here. I know it. Try to relax."

My head was swimming with worry, and I let out another gasp as another contraction followed the first. This was going to be a long process, though possibly quicker than when Dahlia was born since I would be a second-time mother. Several minutes of pushing later, James still wasn't here, and my heart was breaking. The labor process was going very quickly, more so than I expected. I was starting to think he wouldn't make it. What was he doing right now to not be here?! I whimpered, suffering another bout of contractions while trying to hang onto Sophia's reassuring words that my husband would be here. Not to mention, my head was swimming with all the worst-case scenarios.

This was happening so early and so fast. What if there was something wrong with the baby? The hospital staff tried to tell me that everything was okay. The baby would be a little small, but that was all. My mind still wouldn't stop bombarding me with worry.

Suddenly, a nurse rushed in and said, "Ma'am, your husband is here." I widened my eyes, relief washing over my features. Sophia grinned, clearly relieved as well. I looked at her and nodded, so happy she was right.

"Please have him come in here as soon as possible," I said, my voice barely above a whimper. The pain was nearly unbearable, and I clenched my jaw from it. The contractions were intensifying significantly.

James was let into the room and rushed over to me, grabbing my hand and squeezing. "Becca," he gasped, tears pouring down his face. Guilt dripped in his tone as he spoke. I fixed my eyes on him, my own tears spilling out of my eyes. "I am so sorry."

"James," I whispered. "I'm glad you're here," I said sincerely. My world was becoming better now that he was here with me. I had been so worried he would miss one of the most important things in our life because of whatever he was doing. He opened his mouth to say something more, but Sophia shook her head, pointing at one of my legs as I let out another whimper. He repositioned to hold one leg while Sophia held the other. The nurses looked on, permitting this, as I visibly relaxed.

I grunted, feeling another contraction and swallowing. James said, "Push, love. Push. We are here for you." They began to start counting to ten between pushes, which was helping me keep a good rhythm.

I focused on their counting, each contraction and subsequent burst of pain varying in intensity. I was glad to have relief between contractions because this was no easy process, and while I couldn't wait to see my baby, the journey there was a tough one.

"Becca, love," James said, taking a break from counting and fixing his eyes on me. "I am so, so sorry." I shut my eyes tightly as another contraction happened, this one quite a bit more painful than the last. The baby was on their way for sure. James then continued between contractions, tears still falling down his face. "I am so sorry I almost missed this. I will never let family business get in the way again. I had no idea things would go the way they did, but we took care of things. I am so glad I got here."

After handling another contraction, I let out a gasp, pushing as hard as I could. I had a feeling we would see the new member of our family very soon. I thought about what James had said, trying to focus on his words and reassure myself. I wasn't angry, and in fact, understood. No one could have predicted the baby coming this soon. I had no idea what he had been so tied up in to be absent for so long after I said my water broke, but he was here now.

I kept pushing, trying to replace the words to reply to him. My breath came out in short gasps as I tried to clear my head, but it was difficult. Eventually, I managed to say, "It's okay, you're here now. I am so happy you're here now." "I am, baby, I am," James said, causing me to smile. I couldn't see his expression, as my eyes were shut very tightly as I pushed now. The bursts of pain were just spiraling into being more and more painful, making it much harder to think. James rubbed my leg reassuringly, reminding me that he was there. However, there was one question that hung on my mind. "The kids," I gasped. "Are they okay? Will they be able to come and meet the baby soon?" "They are," James said, causing me to let out a sigh of relief, which melded with another whimper as I pushed again. I really wanted Alessandro and Dahlia to see the new baby. That was very important.

I wanted the entire family together during this very important time, and thank goodness we were. James thought ahead, making sure they would be able to be here as soon as the baby was born, and that made me even happier. I wasn't mad at all and would tell James that later.

For now, I needed to keep pushing. I took deep breaths between contractions and pushed, listening to the reassurances of both James and Sophia, people I cared deeply about here for me as they counted with each contraction. The nurses kept close watch, making sure I was safe, and that nothing was wrong, and the doctor was encouraging and calming.

Soon, Sophia said, "Keep pushing, Becca, the baby is almost here!" I gasped, feeling a particularly violent contraction and clenching my hands. My nails dug into the palm of my hands as I pushed, the pain ripping through me. The baby was on the way, and nothing was stopping us now. Very soon, I would see the face of my new child, and James would be here to see them too. So would Sophia. That thought made even more tears fall. I was ready.