The hospital room is bland, but I don’t care. I’m focused on Dr. Stevens. “Everything looks stable . . . for now. Your bleeding has stopped and the baby’s heart rate is perfect, no signs of distress. Sonogram shows that there’s a tiny separation of the placenta, but we’re doing what we can for now to keep that baby inside you for a little longer.”

I swallow my fear, knowing that Dr. Stevens is good at what he does “Okay, but what does that mean? What do I need to do?”

He gives me a reassuring smile. “The prescription is very simple, but also very difficult for someone like you. Bed rest, and plenty of it. In fact, I’m admitting you to the hospital for monitoring, and you’ll be here until you deliver.”

I gasp, unconsciously struggling to sit up. “Umm, until I deliver? Couldn’t that be weeks from now? I mean, I’ve got so many things that need to get done, and I’m hardly—”

Doc puts a calming hand on my shoulder, shaking his head gently. “And you have one of the best support systems in place that I’ve ever seen. This does increase your chances of delivering a little earlier, but mostly, we’re just going to keep the contractions at bay as long as we can.”

“What dangers are there for her?” I ask, reminded that this is about Amelia, not the boutique or anything else.

“Even in the worst-case scenario, if you gave birth today, odds are really good that she’d be fine and just have a little growing to do before she went home. The best thing you can do to keep her inside, though, is to be calm, stay in bed, and let us help you.”

I nod, glad for his fatherly bedside manner as he walks out. I grab Brad’s hand. He’s been with me the whole time. “Thank you.”

He turns to me, his voice a little deeper than his usual airiness, and I know I’m talking to ‘Real Brad’, not ‘Fabulous Brad’. “You’re fine. Jelly Bean’s fine. I’m here and Nic’s on his way. Just breathe.”

I try to believe him and trust that everything is going to be fine, but inside, I’m freaking out. I curl up into a ball, protective around my hospital-gown-covered belly. “Brad . . . I can’t lose her.”

He leans down, wrapping his long arms around my shoulders and rubbing my belly. “Listen up, Miss Amelia,” he says in a lighter voice, closer to his normal voice, “you are not done cooking yet, little princess. And as excited as I am to meet you and spoil you rotten, you’re not ready. Get a little bigger and then you’ll be able to handle all the love your momma, daddy, and Auntie Brad can surround you with. Mmmkay?” He keeps talking, the words becoming a soft murmur as I feel myself doze off.

When I wake up, it’s nine hours later. Brad’s gone but left a note that he’ll be back, and I realize that I’ve been here since last night. It’s been sixteen mind-numbing hours of constant, droning beeps, half-understood voices over intercom systems just outside the door to my room, and far-off alarms that both bore the shit out of me and fill me with a dreadful terror. “How can I deal with this shit?” I ask the room. “I’ve potentially got weeks of this to look forward to.”

I steel myself. I can handle some boredom to make sure Amelia stays safe. Of course I can. I’d do anything for her. I guess I’m glad that Brad finally had to go home. He probably really needs a shower and some rest. So for the first time, I’m alone with all of this.

Questions swirl in my head. Could I have done something wrong? Could I have prevented this somehow? I know that Dr. Stevens said that my working had nothing to do with what happened, but there’s a little part of me that still feels guilty. Worried about getting a damn mannequin dressed when my baby was inside me? Fucking stupid idiot.

My brain races on to negotiating, begging my little Jelly Bean to stay inside and promising that I’ll meet her soon, but not too soon. I promise her that I’ll be the best Mommy in the whole world. I rub my belly, feeling the little flutters as she seemingly answers me, and I smile.

Suddenly, the door flies open and Nic races in, dropping to his knees at my bedside. He’s a mess, hair disheveled like he’s been running his fingers through it, a few days’ scruff on his face, and rocking dirty flannel that honestly kinda smells. “Oh, my God, baby. Are you okay? I’m so sorry I wasn’t here. Amelia, how is she?”

He’s rambling, stuttering as the words rush out. It reassures me, and I realize that part of what I smell is sweat and pine tar. I wonder if he’s even taken a chance to change his boots since getting the news. A man who’ll race across the country to get to me . . . he’s the man for me. I take his hands, looking him in the eye to get him to calm down and focus. “I’m fine. Doc says Amelia is fine and that I just need rest.”

I can see the relief rush across his face, and then he presses his cheek to my belly, looking up at me. “I was so scared, Rose. I thought I was going to lose you both. Are you sure you’re really okay?”

I nod, tears in the corners of my eyes to see him so upset, but also my heart swelling knowing that he’s so concerned about us. “Really. We’re okay, and you’re here now. Speaking of, how’d you get here so fast?”

He smiles, but it’s wavering. “I was out with Sam, miles out in the forest when his wife called on the radio. Sam’s son arranged for me to grab a chopper to Portland, where I grabbed the first flight back here, landed, and got here as fast as I could.”

I smile, cupping his scratchy cheek. Not his normal look, but there’s a part of me that likes it. “Sounds like you’ve had a busy day. I’ve just been lying here, taking naps.”

I’m trying to lighten the mood, but Nic isn’t having it. “I’m truly so sorry I wasn’t here, and I promise I won’t ever leave you again.”

“Nic,” I reassure him, stroking his messy hair and pulling out a pine needle, of all things, “you’re not gonna be by my side every second of every day. These things happen, but we’re going to get through this together.”

Somewhere deep inside me, the damn that’s been holding it all back bursts and I cry. Nic climbs up in the bed with me, probably against the hospital rules but who gives a fuck, and we lie face to face, the roundness of my belly surrounded by our protectiveness and love.

Nic wipes my tears, kissing my forehead and reassuring me. Eventually, the fear subsides and I feel the calm resolve that we’re going to be okay.

Our first unexpected hiccup as parents, and our people came to our aid, supporting us, and Nic and I are stronger than ever, knowing we’re in this together.