One Year Later:

“That was the best movie, ever! Can we stay and watch it again?”

Calista’s heart expanded as she heard the excitement in her daughter’s voice. She was trailing behind her family and watched the look of love on Nick’s face as he hugged Andi close in the crowd pressing to exit the movie theater.

“I think once is enough for today. Maybe I’ll bring you and Katie next weekend if you’d like to see it again.”

As they walked out into the April sunshine, Cali debated asking Nick to get the car to pick her up at the front entrance. She didn’t want to worry him, but she had barely been able to pay attention to the movie. She hadn’t felt well all day and couldn’t wait to get home and put her swollen feet up.

As the crowd dispersed, he was waiting to take her hand with a concerned smile on his face. “You’ve been quiet. Are you feeling okay, baby?”

Calista didn’t get a chance to answer before a tight cramping consumed her swollen abdomen. She had to stop walking to bend over in pain, squeezing Nick’s hand as hard as she could while she rode out the sharp pain. Gratefully, it passed a minute later, leaving her feeling drained and out of breath.

“Oh my God, are you in labor?”

Calista righted herself but leaned heavily on her husband. “Well, I didn’t think so before now, but that sure felt like a contraction.”

“Mommy, are you okay? What’s wrong?” Cali heard the panic in Andi’s voice as she pressed closer, and Cali hugged her.

“I’m just fine, but I think it’s almost time for you to become a big sister. It feels like your brother or sister was not happy they missed the movie and is trying to join us in time to see it with you next weekend.”

Nick’s face was pale. “But it’s two weeks early.”

“Don’t panic. Dr. Galloway told me it could be anytime when I saw him yesterday.”

“And you’re just telling me this now? We should have stayed home today. You should be in bed. You should be...”

“Shhh.” Cali cut him off with two fingers to his lips. “I’m pregnant, Nick, not sick. Everything is going to be fine.”

She sounded stronger than she felt. Inside she was freaking out at the thought of giving birth again, but since she couldn’t wait to hold her and Nick’s baby in her arms, she steeled herself for the painful labor ahead. Nick, on the other hand, was falling apart.

“What should we do? Should we call the doctor? Should we go straight to the hospital?”

Before she could answer they should go home and wait until the pains got closer together, the next contraction consumed her. A burning pain gripped her lower abdomen and spread up her spine.

Cali made it through the wave of pain by squeezing Andi with her left hand and Nick’s hand with her right. As other families around them filed out of the theater, they stood linked, waiting for the arrival of the newest member to their family.

When the contraction ended, Cali smiled weakly. “I think the hospital sounds like a good idea.”

Nick scooped her into his arms and carried her to the family van. He helped her recline in the back with Andi while he drove too fast to the hospital. He called Katie’s parents from his Bluetooth on the drive. They had arranged for Andi to stay with her best friend when it was time for the birth. Unfortunately, they were an hour away, so it would be some time before they would arrive to pick up Andi.

“But Dad, I don’t want to go to Katie’s! I want to stay with you and Mommy.” Her voice quavered with worry. Cali reached for Andi’s hand.

“Honey, trust me. You’ll be better over at Katie’s until after the baby is born. It could take hours, and we can’t leave you in the waiting room alone.”

“But I’ll come into your room with you. Please.”

Before she could answer, the next contraction consumed Cali’s attention. A wave of nausea had her fighting back the urge to throw up just as she felt wetness in her underwear, spreading quickly to her stretchy yoga pants and onto the seat. It felt like her body was exploding. She was relieved to see Nick run a red light to get her to the hospital as quickly as possible.

By the time they arrived at the emergency room, Calista knew the wetness between her legs was from her water breaking. For the last ten minutes, she’d felt as if she had sprung a slow leak that she couldn’t possibly stop even if she wanted to. While Nick ran in to get a nurse and a wheelchair, Andi held her mom’s hand tightly, afraid to let go.

“Andi, honey. I know we read the book together on where babies come from. Everything that’s happening is completely normal. You’re going to be a big sister very soon.”

“I don’t ever want to be a mommy. Not if it hurts this bad.”

“Oh, you don’t mean that. Having you here with me is worth every single pain I had.”

They had tried to explain to Andrea the complicated circumstances of her birth as best as they could with an eight, now nine-year-old. She was an intelligent little girl and accepted the truth of her parentage with an ease Cali and Nick marveled at.

“Did it hurt when you had me, too?”

Calista’s answer was delayed by another strong contraction that brought grunts of pain. She answered meekly as she saw Nick running out the door of the ER.

“Of course it hurt, and it took a long time since it was my first time, but what hurt the worst was when I thought you had died. That broke my heart.”

Andrea’s face lit up. “But now I’m your little miracle, right?”

“You bet you are. Finding you and your daddy was the best thing that ever happened to me, Andrea.”

Time passed in a blur for Calista as she was rushed into an ER examination room before quickly being transferred up to the maternity ward after the nurse’s examination discovered she was already at nine centimeters and moving quickly through labor. Apparently, it was true second births progress much quicker than the first.

Cali fought hard to hold back from screaming as the burning pain consumed her. Not one part of her body was left out of the party. The strain of the baby pressing to evacuate her womb was intense. She wanted to push so bad, but the nurses were all cautioning her to hold off until the doctor arrived.

Nick and Andrea sat next to her, each holding her hand. Nick wiped a cold washcloth across her forehead, worry etched on his handsome face. Surprisingly, Andrea appeared calmer as the birth approached. She watched the OB nurses carefully, taking in the excitement of the event.

Dr. Galloway arrived just as the urge to push wouldn’t be denied. Cali held her breath as she propped herself to her elbows to bear down. The elderly doctor calmly examined Calista with a broad smile on his face.

“Well, I see the Mikos family is about to have its newest member join them. This little one is just about to make their appearance.” He looked up at Andrea with a kind smile. “Are you ready to be a big sister, young lady?”

“Yes, sir.” Her voice was surprisingly strong.

“Well, I think it’s great you’re here to greet your brother or sister. I’m sure you’re going to be a big help to your mom and dad when the baby goes home, won’t you?”

“Yes, sir. I already helped decorate the nursery.”

Calista’s heart pounded. The exchange temporarily distracted her from the all-consuming pain.

When Nick’s phone dinged with a text from Katie’s parents that they were there to pick up Andi, his eyes locked with Cali’s. They silently communicated before she saw him respond back quickly. The decision was made—Andi was staying with them for the delivery.

Nick got up on the bed behind Cali, taking her in his arms, propping her body up, so she was supported as she pushed. He held her hands so she could squeeze when the pain got too intense. They gave Andi the job of wiping Cali’s forehead with the cool compress between pushes. Nick’s loving words whispered into her ear helped her stay calm when the pain threatened to overwhelm her.

“I love you so much, baby. You’re doing so great. I’m so proud of you.”

Fifteen long minutes later, Calista was exhausted and desperate for a rest that wasn’t coming. The consuming pain never subsided, and she found herself begging.

“Please, Dr. Galloway. I give up. I need drugs. I can’t do this anymore.”

“I’m sorry, Cali, but it’s way too late for an epidural. Your baby’s head has crowned, and in just a few minutes, you’re going to hold him or her in your arms. Let’s give it a big push now.”

Cali took strength from Nick and Andi holding her up, encouraging her with loving words, and she pushed until she was completely out of breath. Then it happened. She felt her baby slipping from her body as if a dam had broken. The intense pressure was gone, leaving a full-body ache that was forgotten as soon as the healthy baby’s cry filled the room.

“It’s a boy!” the doctor beamed as he announced. “Cali and Nick, you have a son. And you, young lady, have a brother.”

There was a flurry of activity as the nurses rushed to take care of the newest addition to the Mikos family. Nick reached up to cut the umbilical cord, and within minutes, a baby swaddled in a baby-blue blanket was placed in Cali’s waiting arms. She held him in one arm and put her arm around Nick who was moving in close with Andi for their first look at the baby.

Love flowed through Cali as she gazed down at the newborn in her arms. His shock of black hair contrasted with the splotchy pinkness of his skin. As his family looked down at him in awe, he opened his eyes and seemed to look directly into Cali’s soul.

He was perfect.

“Welcome to our family, Alexander Nicholas,” Nick’s voice warbled with emotion. “We’ve been anxious to meet you.”

As if he had understood his father’s words, the baby looked at his sister and broke into a smile.

“Look Mommy! Alexander smiled at me!”

“I love you so much, Calista.” Nick leaned into kiss Cali’s forehead. “Thank you so much for bringing these two perfect babies into my life.”

As she looked up at her family, Cali once again felt a peace she had only known for the last year. She looked lovingly into her husband’s eyes as she answered.

“Don’t thank me. Thank God. He’s the only one who could have made this moment happen. We are truly blessed.”

I’d like to thank you for reading Blessed Betrayal. It would mean a great deal to me if you could leave a review or drop me a note to let me know what you thought of Nick and Cali’s story. Feedback from my readers is how I continue to improve as an author. I’d love it if you’d check out one of my many other stories by visiting my