Mae braced a hand against the side of Merit’s SUV when another sharp pain contracted her abdomen. As she breathed through the worst of it, her brain screamed this isn’t right! She’d told him earlier in the day the cramping was Braxton Hicks, but she was afraid these latest ones were more than that.
The cold November air snuck up under the hem of her dress and sent a shiver down her spine as she swallowed past a lump of fear in her throat. It was too early. She wasn’t due for another seven weeks.
Her first impulse was to call Merit so they could go to the hospital to get everything checked out, but her heart ached as his words echoed in her head.
“This means more to me than anything.”
The words had struck her like a physical blow. Her heart split wide open, and she’d done the very thing she’d accused him of doing—run away.
Nothing in her life was more important than her family, with Ian, the baby, and Merit at the very top of the list. They were all well above Lockhart Construction even. She’d give up her company in a heartbeat if it meant guaranteeing she wouldn’t lose any of them.
Should’ve thought of that before ignoring what Merit wanted so you could do what you thought was best.
Yes, she should’ve. She should’ve tried talking to him again, but she hadn’t wanted to start a fight. She’d accused him of being afraid, and it turned out she was just as much of a coward. Maybe even more so. She’d—wrongly—thought forcing him to out himself to his family at the showing was the best option.
Honor had texted her a few minutes ago about the conversation between Merit and his family. Even knowing things worked out okay didn’t ease her guilt over betraying her promise to him. At the time, she’d justified the wrong action with the right reason, but seeing the look on his face, hearing him say he didn’t know how he’d trust her with anything again, she knew she’d been wrong.
And for that, she could very well lose him.
The start of another pain shifted her focus to the baby. She checked the time on her phone to see four and a half minutes had passed since the last one. Being that close together, she didn’t have time to call a rideshare service and wait for a car to show up.
Her hand shook as she called Honor. The moment her friend picked up, she bit back a sob.
“Mae, what’s the matter? Where are you?”
“Outside. I haven’t left yet, and something is wrong.” Fear trembled in her voice. “I think I’m in labor.”
“All right, hang on. We will be right out there.”
The we spiked her alarm. “No—don’t say anything to Merit! I don’t want to ruin his night any more than I already have.”
“He’s already on his way out. I told him you went home and he left—”
“Mae?”
“—immediately.”
She twisted around at the sound of Merit’s voice behind her. Tears sprang to her eyes at the sight of him. “You should be inside.”
“Not without you. If you’re going home, I’m going home.”
She had no chance to answer as the contraction escalated. She cried out and doubled over from the pain as her phone clattered to the asphalt.
He was beside her in an instant, putting an arm around her back while he used his free hand to grip hers. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I’m in labor.”
“Now?” His voice rose an octave. “Isn’t it too early?”
She nodded, squeezing his hand hard as she breathed through the pain.
“We’re going to the hospital,” he said firmly, as if he expected her to argue.
Mae nodded again as Asher and Honor’s urgent voices registered behind them. Merit turned to hand them the keys, then helped her into the back seat of the SUV and climbed in beside her. He fastened her seatbelt, then his, while Honor handed over Mae’s phone before sliding into the driver’s seat. Asher said he’d meet them there and dashed off to his vehicle.
As Honor pulled out of the lot, Merit’s hand found Mae’s again and squeezed. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Hot tears leaked down her cheeks. “You’re doing it.”
He reached to cup her face, his thumb brushing the wet track on her cheek. “I need you to know, Mae, you mean more than anything to me. You, the baby, and Ian. Everything else comes after. I’m sorry about what I said before. I was too angry to think about what I was saying.”
As her contraction eased and his words registered, emotion welled up. Regret, amazement, gratitude. She reached to cover his hand with hers. “It’s me who needs to apologize, not you. And I am so very sorry. I never should’ve invited your family without you knowing.”
“I’m not going to argue that, but it’s hard to stay mad given the outcome.”
“I wouldn’t blame you if you did.” She couldn’t help a small, watery smile. “Though, please take a time-out until we see what’s going on.”
“No timeout needed.”
She didn’t deserve his forgiveness so quickly, not after such a grievous breach of trust. “I’ve been one hundred percent in charge of my life since I turned eighteen. I put myself through college and started my own business all while being a single mom, which means I’m used to making all the decisions of what’s best, and doing what needs to be done to get the job done without asking permission from anyone else.” When he took a breath to speak, she quickly added, “I’m not making excuses. I only hope you can understand what I did wasn’t out of disrespect.”
“I know. Your independence is part of what I love about you.”
Fresh tears threatened as she leaned into his warm touch. “But I forgot for a moment, I’m not the boss in our personal lives, and all the decisions aren’t mine to make. It’s an equal partnership. You and me together. I know it doesn’t mean much right now, and I’ll have to earn your trust back, but I swear I will never betray a promise to you again. I will be here for you as you’ve been here for me.”
“The thing is, you were right about me being afraid, and wanting to run away from facing my dad.”
When he averted his gaze, she reached to tilt his back to her. “But you didn’t.” She made sure her pride rang in her voice.
“Because a smart woman told me not trying is a sure way to fail.” He sighed lightly as he glanced out the windshield before turning back to her. “Before tonight, I thought my art was the only thing I had left that would make them proud. That would make me worthy to be a Diamond. I was afraid because if I failed at that, where would that leave me?”
Her heart broke at the weight behind his words. “Oh, Merit.” If she’d only known that. If he’d only explained that to her sooner.
“I know.” He gave a sheepish grimace. “I realize now how stupid it sounds.”
She quickly shook her head. “No. That’s not what I was going to say.”
“Well, it does sound stupid. Because just growing the hell up and being a man was all I needed to do. Being here for you, and Ian, and our baby. What I do to earn money doesn’t matter as long as I earn it. ”
“You are an amazing man.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed hard. As soon as his gaze connected with hers, she said in a firm voice, “You are more than worthy of being a Diamond. I’m sure your family would say you always have been. I know you have been from the second I told you I was pregnant and you never once wavered from being here for me.”
“I love you, Mae.” He brushed his lips over hers. “I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you, but I swear, I will always be here for you.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered, her voice going hoarse as another contraction began.
He rubbed her back as she leaned her head into his chest while taking measured breaths.
“We’re here,” Honor advised from the front seat, the SUV swaying slightly as she made the final turn into the emergency room bay.
While she went to park, Merit helped Mae inside to check in. She watched in awe as he took command and had them on their way up to the Labor and Delivery unit by the time Asher and Honor strode in from the parking lot.
As a nurse wheeled her down the hall, she had a moment of panic and turned to her best friend. “Bryce took Ian overnight for the art show. Can you call and let him know I might not be able to pick him up in the morning?”
“Of course,” Honor answered without hesitation. “And Asher and I can get him if Bryce can’t keep him.”
“Thank you so much.” As she gave them both a grateful smile, another thought occurred to her. “Tell my brother not to say anything to Ian until we know what’s going on. I don’t want to scare him.”
While waiting for the elevator, Honor leaned down and gave her a quick hug. “We’ll make sure he’s taken care of so you don’t have to worry about him. Just take care of yourself and the baby. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” She blinked away tears as they shared a quick smile before the nurse pushed her into the elevator. Her last glimpse was her best friend’s anxious expression as she splayed her hand on her own pregnant belly.
Over the next few hours, Merit stayed at her side through every exam and test, then held her hand when their obstetrician advised the medication they’d given her to halt the early labor wasn’t working. She wanted to snap she could’ve already told them that from the frequency and increasing intensity of her contractions, but she bit her tongue.
She was already five centimeters dilated. The baby was definitely coming.
All those tests turned up no specific reason for the early labor, but Dr. Steven assured them the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was state of the art. Newborn survival rates at thirty-three weeks were greater than ninety-six percent, with less than ten percent of infants at risk for any long-term medical issues.
The words were supposed to ease her apprehension. Instead, they tightened the knot of fear in her belly. When it was just her and Merit in the room a few minutes later, she admitted in a small voice, “I’m scared.”
He leaned forward in his chair beside the bed and grabbed her hand without the I.V. with both of his. “We’ll get through this, Mae. Together.”
She nodded, concentrating on the comfort of his warm touch until another thought rushed forward. “Ian was three weeks early, and he was so tiny at six pounds five ounces.” The knot in her stomach duplicated in her throat. “I can’t imagine how little this one will be.”
“Dr. Steven said they have great doctors in the NICU. It’s gonna be okay, you hear me?” His voice got all rough, and he rose up to press his lips to her belly through her hospital gown. “You’re gonna be okay, Baby. Mom and Dad are here for you.”
Mae’s heart constricted at the sound of his raspy whisper. He was trying to be strong for her, but she could hear the apprehension in his voice. She threaded her fingers through his dark hair. He shifted up to kiss her lips, and she held him close for a long moment while she got her emotions under control.
When she felt able to speak without bursting into tears, she said, “All my stuff for delivery is in my bag at home.”
“It’s still by the door, right?” He cleared the gruffness in his throat and pulled out his phone before dropping back into his chair after her nod. “I’ll ask Asher or Loyal to get it.”
“Please,” she requested as two nurses came into the room. At the start of another contraction, she tightened her grip on his hand.
“Done.” He kept his fingers twined with hers while texting with the other hand.
After the pain subsided, one nurse checked her vitals while the other checked the fetal monitor screen and then adjusted the belt across her belly. They advised the doctor would be back to check her progress in a half-hour, and then left them alone once more.
Mae took a deep, cleansing breath to relax as much as possible between contractions. Merit’s phone vibrated with a response, and he checked the screen. “Loyal and Rox will grab the bag. Sounds like everyone’s coming.”
She bit the corner of her lip. “I really don’t want anyone in here with us.”
“I’ll make sure they stay in the waiting room.” Then he typed out another text.
“It could be a while,” she warned after a glance at the clock. She’d been in labor with Ian for over eight hours.
Merit shrugged and brought their joined hands up to kiss the back of hers. “That’s on them. I’m staying right here with you the whole time.”
“Thank you.” She leaned back against the pillow with her eyes closed.
“I can’t believe our Lamaze class starts next week,” he muttered into the silence a minute later.
“I’ve been through this before, remember? I’ll let you know what to do when the time comes.”
“Is there anything I can do to help now?” There was a note of helplessness in his voice. “Do you want anything? Back rub? Foot rub? Something to drink? Anything?
She opened her eyes and rolled her head toward him with a bemused smile. It was hard to believe there was a time she thought him nothing more than an irresponsible playboy. He was so much more than she’d ever dared imagine, and she was the lucky one who got him.
“How about you just keep talking,” she requested. She’d noticed many times during their late night chats how the low rumble of his voice had a way of soothing her soul. “It’ll keep my mind off the what ifs.”
“Well…” He scooted his chair closer. “I actually have a what if of my own for you.”
She raised her eyebrows with curiosity at his sudden solemn tone.
“Earlier you mentioned equal partnership. What if we made it official?”
“You mean for the business?” she asked with confusion.
“I mean for us.” He shifted in his seat while drawing in a deep breath, then lifted his gaze to hers. “Mae Lockhart, will you marry me?”
She blinked in shock. Looking at the beautiful face she’d come to love so much, there was no controlling her emotions as tears filled her eyes. His image blurred, but not enough for her to miss his anxious frown.
“I’m sorry I don’t have a ring yet.” He grimaced. “And I know it’s not the most romantic place to propose, but—”
“No, don’t apologize,” she exclaimed, reaching to pull him closer. “It’s perfect. This is absolutely perfect.” When he rose to lean over the bed, she cupped his face with both hands just as her next contraction began to build. “You really mean it? Even after tonight?”
“Especially after tonight.” He touched his forehead to hers, his breath a caress against her lips. “I want you by my side always, in everything. I want us to be a family. You, me, Ian, and the baby.”
“I love you so much,” she whispered, closing her eyes as she tried desperately to enjoy the moment through the intensifying pain.
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes.” She gave a quick, choppy nod, happy tears wetting her cheeks as she slid her fingers into his hair. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He leaned in the final inch to cover her mouth with his—only to freeze when her fingers clenched hard in his hair as the contraction reached its peak.