“It’s okay; we’re at thirty-six weeks. Just relax,” Noah said.

Panting from the couch, Lexi glared at him as she clutched the armrest. “I know how many weeks we are at.” Thunder boomed around them, shaking their house. “What I don’t like is the fact there is one of the worst storms of the season going on right now, and we have to get to the hospital.” Her voice went up in volume with each word.

“We can do this. We’ve done it before. We have two other children. Maybe I should call an ambulance.”

“You think?” Lexi glared at him.

Flashing a smile at her, he gave her a thumbs up, and dialed 9-1-1 and gave the operator the information. “What do you mean there are no ambulances available?” He paused. “Okay, well then I’m going to drive her to the hospital. This baby must be delivered in the hospital. We’re only fifteen minutes away.” Another pause. “Oh, thank you, that’s good to know. I won’t take that way. Thank you for your help.” He ended the call and smiled at her again.

“What?”

“There’s an accident, a bad one, on our route to the hospital. Right now they have all available ambulances in our area at the scene. I’m going to drive you, and take a different route.”

Sighing, Lexi closed her eyes. “Figures.”

“Let me put everything in the car; then I’ll come back for you.”

Alone Lexi watched the lightning flash across the sky and tried not to panic. Their son was coming. Now. They weren’t in the hospital, and there were so many things that could go wrong. Even in the hospital, things didn’t always go as planned. Her breathing became rapid. The baby could die. She could die. They both could die. Tears rolled down her cheeks. What would happen then? How would Noah go on? What about her girls?

“Stop,” Noah said as he raced across the room and kneeled in front of her, grabbing her hands. “Look at me. Breathe. You trust me, right?”

She hiccupped and nodded.

“I’m going to get you safely to the hospital. Then you’re going to have our son, and everything is going to be okay. I need to you to try and calm down—this isn’t good for you or Roman.”

Lexi burst out in tears. “Really? We’re going to name him Roman?”

Noah smiled. “That’s the one you wanted, right?”

“Yes, yes it is.” She pulled him close to her and wrapped her arms tightly around him. “Thank you.”

“Now, let’s get moving.”

Helping her up, he carefully led her down the stairs, pausing halfway so she could sit while a sharp contraction tightened her belly.

“We’re going to have to hurry,” she said. “They’re about six minutes apart.”

“We’re good, we’ve got time.”

Letting out a deep breath, Lexi focused on enjoying the contraction coming to an end. “I don’t want to find out exactly how much we really have. Let’s move.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

 

*****

 

As quickly as possible, Noah settled Lexi in the backseat of the car. Getting behind the wheel, he prayed they’d be able to get there in time. Driving as fast as the storm would allow, he gripped the steering wheel so tightly he thought his skin was going to split.

At the first stoplight, he grabbed his phone and opened the app that would give him the fastest route to the hospital based on the current conditions. As of that point, it was going to take them twenty minutes to get there—three, maybe four contractions, assuming they didn’t get any closer together. Should arrive in plenty of time before their son came into the world. As hard as he tried to convince himself, part of him was apprehensive he’d have to deliver their child on the side of the road.

Nervously, Noah started to sing, and had to stop to clear his throat before he could continue, hoping it would calm the three of them down. Lightning flashed across the sky and lit up the inside of the car. Looking out the windshield, it was hard to see more than a few feet in front of the car. They were approaching the worst of the storm.

A small whimper came from the backseat and Noah wanted to be able to comfort her. “Another one?” he asked.

“Yes,” she panted.

“Okay, okay, we’ve got this. Remember your breathing exercises.” He tried to pant with her.

“Noah,” Lexi said. “Stop—you’re going to pass out.”

“I'm all right.” He panted through his teeth. “Just… fine…”

“You can stop. The contraction is over.”

“Boy, that one seemed quick.” Noah wasn’t going to admit it, but he was getting light-headed and was thankful it was so short. “We’re getting closer to the hospital; we got this.”

“Yeah,” she said. “We do.”

Noah continued to sing as even as he could see the bright lights of the hospital. He pulled up to the emergency door and screeched to a stop. Running around the car, he frantically waved, hoping someone inside would notice them and come to help. Opening the back door, he reached in and helped her out. As she stood up, a cry of pain escaped her lips and she bent over while Noah tried to support her. Orderlies burst through the door and had a wheelchair ready for her.

Noah couldn’t take the screams of pain that came from his wife. It was so different from her first two delivers. For the first time since the tumor had been found, he felt the fear that something was going to go tragically wrong. He barked out information to the people that raced down the hall with them, not sure if any of it was what they wanted, but that was what they were getting.

“Hello, Lexi and Noah,” Dr. Halston said. “Looks like we’re going to have a baby really soon. Dr. Ellison Halston is already getting everything set up in the OR and Dr. Patrick is on her way and should walk through that door any second now to handle the delivery. After the baby is born, we’ll make sure the tumor is removed and keep you updated.” He patted her on the shoulder. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

Lexi clutched his hand, and with her voice thick with emotion, she pulled him down close to her. “Please make sure my baby is fine.”

“I’m going to do everything I can. You just worry about yourself and your recovery—I’ll take care of everything else.”

“Thank you,” Lexi sighed.

Noah walked Dr. Halston to the door, and when they were out of Lexi’s earshot he paused. “I’m sure you hear this all the time. My wife and my children mean everything to me and I can’t see my life without them.”

“I understand, Mr. Matthews, and I will do everything I can to make sure that everything goes according to plan.”

“Thanks.”

Noah knew Lexi was curious as he walked back across the room to her, pulling one of the rolling chairs next to her bed and holding her hand. “We’re going to be parents, again, very soon.” He played with a lock of her hair. “Very quickly, my love.”

“What did you say to him?”

Noah smiled. “What do you think I said?”

“Probably thanking him for taking care of our son and asking him to do his best.”

“Exactly what I told him. You just breathe, and soon enough, we’ll see our son.”

The door burst open, and the Dr. Patrick came in. “Anyone ready to have a baby?”