All Roads Lead Home (Book #1)

Chapter 30

I reach across the bed but Jay is already awake for work. I sit up and rub my stomach. I've been having contractions throughout the last two days but they've been getting stronger since last night.

I get up to go to the bathroom, then I brush my hair quickly and throw it in a messy bun.

I walk down the hall towards the stairs but stop for a moment to look into Everleigh's room. The last two mornings I've found Jay in there just sitting in the rocking chair, but no Jay today.

I head to the kitchen and find him sitting at the island with a coffee in his hand.

I walk up to him and give him a kiss on the cheek. "Mornin' babe," I say as I grab a piece of his toast.

"Mornin'. How are you feeling today?" he asks as he sits his cup down.

Just as he asks another contraction hits. He times it.

"They're getting closer together and lasting longer," he says as he helps me into a chair.

"Yeah I know," I say as I rub my stomach again.

"And your water broke?"

"Yeah it broke last night when I got up to go to the bathroom," I say as he looks at me.

"Looks like we're gonna have a baby today," he says as he helps me up. "I'll call Ethan and Ava."

"And your dad?"

"Oh yeah, I guess I better do that too," he says as he tries to rush me out the door to the jeep.

"You need to slow down Jay. We've still got time and I can only walk so fast," I say as he slows down. "Did you put those bags in the jeep last night?"

"Yeah they're in there. So's the car seat," he says as he helps me into the front seat.

He helps me do up the seatbelt and then jogs back up the front steps to lock the door. I watch as he pulls his phone out and makes a call.

"...on our way now Ava. See you guys there," he says as he climbs into the jeep.

He looks at me and I smile at him. "We're really doing this. This is happening right now," I say as I rub my stomach.

Jay nods his head. "I have to call dad," he says as he puts the jeep in reverse.

I grab his phone and dial his dads number. The phone rings twice and Tony picks it up.

"Hello?"

"Hey dad. We're on our way to the hospital. The baby's coming," Jay says as he navigates the jeep to the hospital.

"Okay I'll be there soon," his dad says before we disconnect.

"I have to call work too," he says.

As I'm about to select his work number another contraction hits. I breathe my way through it while holding his hand.

"That one was stronger than the others," I say as I let go of his hand. I take a deep breath and exhale it.

"Good?"

"Yup," I say as I dial his work number.

"Brady Fence, April speaking. How can I direct your call?"

"Hey April. It's Jayden Newcomb. Is Ernie in yet?"

"He actually just walked in. Let me grab him Jay."

"Thanks."

"Hey Jayden. What's up?"

"Hey Ernie. I'm not gonna make it into work for the next day or so."

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Krys is in labour and we're on the way to the hospital right now," he says as he flicks the signal on to pull into the hospital.

"Congratulations guys! Take a week Jay and let me know if you need more time after that."

"Thanks Ernie."

I hit the end button and he puts his phone in his pocket.

Jay looks at me and smiles. "Ready?"

I nod my head as he climbs out and grabs a wheelchair. He helps me into the chair and grabs my bag.

As we walk through the doors Ava comes walking towards us, still in her scrubs.

"Krystah! How do you feel?" she asks as another contraction comes. I squeeze the arm of the wheelchair and breathe through it.

"The contractions are really close now," Jay says as we follow Ava to the registration desk.

We fill out the information and another nurse guides us through the halls towards an empty room.

I get situated on the bed after the nurse assisted me in putting the hospital gown on. They put the heart rate monitor on my finger and then the fetal monitor around my stomach.

I watch once again as the heartbeat of someone I love dances across a screen. I look over and see Jay watching it as well. He looks at me and smiles.

"This is really happening," he says as he grabs my hand.

"It is," I say as another contraction hits. It lasts for several minutes and then I release his hand.

"Okay Krystah. Let's see how far along you are," the doctor says as she walks into the room.

She walks over to the bed and checks to see how dilated I am.

"Honey, it's a good thing you came in when you did," she says as she looks at me. "You're 5 centimeters dilated. If you had of waited any longer we wouldn't be able to give you an epidural," she says as Ava walks over with the epidural needle.

"You're giving me the epidural right Ava?"

"Yes I am. And I'll be in the room the whole time during the delivery," she says as she helps me turn onto my side. "You're gonna feel a pinch okay?"

I nod my head and squeeze Jay's hand again as the needle pierces my skin.

"All done," Ava says. She helps me turn back over and gives me a quick kiss on the forehead. "I'll be right here the whole time."

"Thank you Ava. I couldn't do this without you and Jay in here," I say as a squeeze Jay's hand again.

Another strong contraction hits and Jay helps me breathe through it.

"By the time she gets here I may not have a hand to hold her with," Jay says with a laugh.

Ava hits his arm. "Be nice to your wife. She's about to give birth to your first born daughter."

Jay raises his hands. "You're right. I'm sorry Krys," he says as he looks at me.

I look at him and smile, then stick my tongue out at him just like I always did when we were kids.

He laughs at me. "Just like old times," he says as he leans over to give me a kiss.