Chapter Fourteen

Tess couldn't believe Cole had left here not an hour ago and had already slipped into bed with someone else. She'd been right about him.

"I'll be there in a minute," Cole said.

There it was again, a giggle, followed by a woman saying something. Tess strained to hear but Cole cleared his throat, effectively blocking the background noise.

"I said forget it." She said louder, her fear momentarily forgotten, and in its absence, was replaced with anger. She'd no idea why her temperature was rising, she had no right to Cole but all the logic in the world didn't stop her from hating him at that moment. "I'd hate to interrupt you and God knows who, doing God knows what." She practically screamed down the phone.

"What are you talking about?" Cole grumbled.

"I heard a girl Cole. I guess that answers a lot of questions." She was ranting and couldn't stop herself, GG referred to it as her going on a rantage. She had no right but it bubbled inside her like a jealous witch's brew, spilling out over the cauldron.

Cole sniffed out a laugh. "Tess, it was Tina Fey."

"Tina Fey? You know Tina Fey?" She didn't know if she should be angry he was throwing his conquests name's around or if she should pat him on the back and beg him to get her autograph for her when they were done.

He didn't hold back his laughter this time. "No, I'm watching Baby Mama. Do you know the movie? I'm watching it for research purposes. I want to know what to expect as your baby daddy."

Her skin burned with embarrassment. She was thankful he wasn't there to see her sink into the floor.

"Oh, yeah... I know. I was joking. Haha." She forced out a fake laugh.

"It's not something I'm proud of and I know it's just a movie but I've read all the parenting books and they're full of good, practical advice but sometimes, you have to admit, our relationship is anything but normal, run of the mill, practical. I just thought it might help, that's all."

"You've read all the parenting books?" She smiled to herself.

"Of course. Haven't you?"

"Uh... yes. Obviously." She lied and crossed her fingers to prevent being struck down by celestial forces.

"So, you want me to come over and check out the noises? I can bring the movie with me if you like."

"No... no... I'm alright." The thought of having to face Cole after her mini outburst horrified her. She needed to have a good eight hours sleep to convince herself it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

"Tess, if you're worried, I'd rather come and check it out. I'll tell you what. I'll walk the boundary. If it's all clear, I'll come back to my own bed."

He took her silence as a yes.

"Goodnight, Tess." He said and promptly hung up the phone.

A few moments later Tess saw a flashlight pass by the window. Straightening her back she prayed it was only Cole out there when her phone beeped next to her.

'It's just me. It looks all clear out here. Try to relax and get some rest. Goodnight. X'

A kiss? Cole marked it with a kiss. What could that mean? She doubted he would be the type to just throw text kisses around, Willy, Nilly.

Suddenly the world didn't seem so dark. Her heart fluttered around her ears and warmed her. Leaning back in her bed, she wiggled until her pillows were light and fluffy and she sunk into a comfortable spot. The feathers enveloping her in their warmth.

Maybe now she could get to sleep. If only this satin nightgown wasn't so tight. It was almost painful across her waist. Shifting her weight, she tried a new spot, there were plenty of places to lay on this king-size bed. Nope, still uncomfortable. She cinched the nightgown up and inched it over her stomach, leaving it bare. The pain seemed to ease off a touch. But not enough.

Out of bed again and out into the sitting room, Tess rummaged through one bag after another until eventually, she found the Target bag containing the big, baggy nightgown she's been looking for. It would probably be even more comfortable than the flannel pajamas. Standing right there in the sitting room, she pulled the satin torture device from her body and slipped into the tee-shirt material nighty.

That small action was enough to cause her to breathe deeply. Suddenly overwhelmed by exhaustion she eased herself down into the armchair. Any minute now, she would get up and go back to bed. Any minute. Any...ZZZ...minute... Her head nodded. Once the onset of the swoop began, there was no going back. Sleep blanketed her and she dozed off.

She slept there for what must have been a few hours, the night grew darker and quieter. Her breathing deeper and her snores louder.

Until she jolted upright as a thousand bolts of electricity surged through her.

"I'm dying." She called out to the emptiness before her eyes had even flicked open. The pain around her waist had intensified. She winced and grabbed her back and her stomach at the same time.

Could this be it? Could this be her baby entering the world?

It's too early. Her heart dropped.

She groped around, her fingers splayed, searching for her phone.

Think Tess, think. She urged herself. The bedroom. The phone is in the bedroom.

The prospect of walking was not sitting well with her. The pain shot down her back, right through her legs to her feet. There was no way she'd get there. Gripping the arm of the sofa, she pushed herself to a standing position. Running her hands along it for the support she made her way to the wall and inched her way along. One, slow, step at a time. She managed to make it out into the hall before the sharp pain gripped her again.

Her legs buckled from the intensity and she cried out again, making a grab for the closest piece of furniture to steady herself. In this case, it was a sturdy hall table that practically ran the length of the walkway, directly to her bedroom. Crunched over, she froze in that position, hoping the pain wouldn't be able to see her hiding there and go and attack some other pregnant lady.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen and it hit her square in the stomach and it was consuming. There was no way she would make it to her room. A few yards had never seemed so far or so overwhelming. The floor seemed to be on a lean, twisting this way and that, before settling on an incline that put Mt. Everest to shame.

One more step, come on Tess. One more step and you can rest. She chanted the mantra over and over in her head. Step- rest, step-rest.

The door was fast approaching; she could do this. Nearly ther—"Argh." She screamed. "Oh my, that was worse than the others, this is it, I'm gone for." Talking out loud, calmed her somewhat. Made her feel less alone. "Come on. The door's right there."

Making it to the door frame, she peeked around it. Her stupid phone sat proud as punch on the pillow. Taunting her. It may as well, of been a ship out on the horizon. There was no way, no support, nothing to help her.

She slid her feet as far as she could, without letting go of the frame, until she could stretch no more. Slowly uncurling her fingertips she took two quick, brave steps towards the bed when disaster struck.

She may not have fallen on a hundred sharp blades, but she's sure it wouldn't have been nearly as painful as what just hit her in her stomach at that moment. Every muscle tightened, contorting on its own. There was no controlling the spasms, as she dropped to the floor, she screamed and cried out for help, knowing it would do her no good.

When it finally eased she glanced up at the bed. There was no way, to make it. She was officially giving up.

She lay on the ground, writhing in pain, bringing her knees up and then back down again. After a time, she began to rock and it seemed to help.

Focus on the rocking, focus on the rocking. Back and forth, back and forth.

Tess was feeling defeated and quite frankly pretty darn sorry for herself when a thought grabbed her. She couldn't give up. This was her first chance to prove her Mama bear stripes. Her child's wellbeing was at stake. What was she going to do, just go to ground and hope for the best? Not today she wasn't.

"When you can't run, you walk. When you can't walk, you crawl." She growled with a new determination. Furrowing her brow, she took a deep breath in and then out, before dragging herself closer and closer to the bed. "Victory." She moaned through clenched teeth.

Lifting her hand up over her head she felt around until her fingertips found what they were searching for. She snatched up the phone and rang Cole's number.

It rang and rang, the dial tone beeping in her ear. "Come on Cole. Pick up."

Beep, beep, beep. "You have reached the voice mailbox of Cole Washington. Leave a message and he will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you." Beeeep.

Immediately hanging up, she rang again. This time, Cole answered on the second ring. He cleared his throat and his husky voice came down the line. "Look, Tess, this is the third phone call tonight. I'm not taking no for an answer, I'm coming over so we can both get some sleep."

"Yes! Yes, Cole come over but I'm not sure you will get much sleep and bring a key." She yelled.

"What? Why? What's going on." He was wide awake now, she could hear it in his voice, no longer strained and foggy but crisp and panicked. His bed creaked and she let out a breath, knowing he was already on his way while they spoke. "Tess! What's happened? Talk to me."

"Cole, I think I'm in labor."

"Okay baby, stay on the phone I'm on the way. Just keep talking to me."

There was a lot of background noise. Banging and clanging around and then the sound of a door slamming shut, a car horn beeping and the roar of an engine.

"Should we call an ambulance?" She asked meekly. Another contraction was taking hold.

Please, please be a small one. she prayed. As it tightened its hold, the air got squeezed out of her, like getting a hug from a grizzly bear.

"I'll get you there quicker than an ambulance." He said and she heard the squeal of tires out the front.

"Hurry, I'm in the bedroom, ahhhhhhhhh." She cried out.

"Shit, hang on Tess, I'm coming. You're okay sweetheart, I'm coming. "

Clunk, the key in the lock. Clang, the sound of the safety chain pulling tight. "So now you remember to put the chain on. I'm going to have to break a window to get to you." Cole called out.

"Oh God, the pain, Cole. Hurry." She whimpered into the phone.

The sound of glass shattering seemed to echo throughout the house and repeat in stereo through the phone.

Before she even saw him, he had scooped her into his arms and rushed her towards the door. He maneuvered the chain and the lock and they broke out into the fresh night air. He dashed with her to his pickup and laid her down on the back seat. Cole ripped off his jacket and rolled it into a ball and shoved it under her head to use as a pillow.

"Do you have a bag packed?" He asked, his voice shook and his eyes were as wide as the owls that guarded the woods at night.

"No... I... I forgot." She whispered.

"For God sake Tess. This stuff's important." He ran around and jumped in the driver's side and peeled off down the path. "You need to grow up one day. You're about to become a mother. You have time to stick Mohawks and leather jackets on teddy bears but not pack a bag of essentials."

Through all the pain, his words hurt her the most. Straight to the heart. How dare he tell her off like a child?

"I only got the clothes this afternoon and I was tired. I wanted to go to bed. The baby's early I wasn't expect— Ahhh!"

"Alright, alright. Just breathe, deep breaths, in and out, in and out. Breathe, breathe."

"Stop it." She screamed. "Stop telling me to breathe. It's not like I'm holding my breath. Just stop talking and drive. Drive fast Cole."

A million and a half years, and 392 contractions later, Cole pulled right up to the double doors of the hospital. Cole jumped out, landing on both feet and dashed around to the back door where he pulled her out and ran her up to the doors. They flung open but Cole didn't move. He stayed so still the doors slid closed again.

Tess blinked her eyes, looking up at him. He looked different. Pale, frozen, scared almost. Beads of sweat rolled from his forehead to his chin and dribbled down his neck. Tess waved her hand and the doors slide open for a second time but still, Cole stood, planted to the spot.

"Cole, why aren't you going in? What's wrong."

He remained statue-like, the only movement was the breeze blowing his hair and his eyes blinking, rapidly. "I... I can't." He answered eventually. His eyes whipped around, looking for a way out. He was acting like a caged animal. Noticing an orderly inside, he called out. The man spotted them and retrieved a wheelchair, before rushing out the doors and parking it in front of them. Cole bent down, placing her gently in the chair before he turned and strode off and jumped in his vehicle. "I'm sorry." He mouthed as he pulled out of the car park and sped off into the distance.

"Oh hell no!" She seethed. "If the great and powerful Cole Washington thinks I'm going through this alone he can think again." She pulled herself up from the chair and attempted to shuffle to the path.

"I really think you should sit back down Miss." The orderly said. He wasn't demanding but kept his voice even and firm. Clearly, he'd experienced dealing with highly emotional pregnant women before. But unfortunately for him, that was of no use at all. Tess was a different breed and wasn't taking this latest rejection well.

"I don't think so." She replied, her chin tilted up. She rang Coles number and passed it to... she squinted to see his name tag, Peter. The niggle started near the center of her belly and began to crawl its way around. It was a big one, she could feel it already. Throwing the phone at Peter, she said, "Tell him I'm refusing to enter the hospital without him. So, unless he wants his child born in the gutter, he needs to get back here—Ouch!"

Peter reached out and helped her back into the wheelchair. "If you're going to be stubborn, for God sake, at least do it in comfort." He said. Before his tone changed, his voice became louder. "Hi, my name is Peter Gosford. I work for the Virginia Hospital."

"Yes, Peter, is she okay?"

"I don't know." He replied bluntly.

Cole sounded confused. "What do you mean you don't know?"

Peter glanced at Tess who, through her pain nodded her encouragement. "She's refusing to enter the hospital without you. I'm afraid she's going to have the baby any minute now."

"For the love of God. She has to be the most infuriating woman I've ever met. Is that her screaming in the background?"

"Yes sir, we don't have a lot of other women giving birth out here in the carpark," Peter admitted.

The pain eased off again. "Tell him the bit about having the baby in the gutter, ask him how his father would like to add that history to his family." She almost laughed, if it wasn't for those damn knives stabbing her she would have. Imagining his face, she squinted in a half-smile, half, I'm dying from the pain kind of contorted look.

"Damn it, Tess. I can hear you." Cole grumbled seconds before his pickup pulled back into the carpark.

Storming out of the car he stalked over to her, practically pushed Peter out of the way and wheeled her into the hospital, a dark cloud storming above his head the entire time.

She didn't even care that he was mad. She won the fight and that's all that mattered. He could sulk later, but for now, they had more pressing issues.

They were having a baby.