This damn apartment had seemed like a good idea to move into when he had suggested it, but now it was just way too big.
“Daddy!” Arita yelled as she ran circles around the house looking for him.
I paused as another sharp pain hit.
“What?” he said coming down the stairs.
It caught my breath for a second. He was pulling headphones out of his ears, was shirtless and glistening with sweat. I couldn’t help but wonder how lucky I had been to find Barrett after all that time and now be his wife.
“Mom’s water broke,” Aria said dancing around her father in excitement. “I’m finally going to have a baby sister or brother!”
“You’re what?” Barrett said in disbelief coming closer.
He tenderly felt my belly as I leaned against the couch with another contraction.
“How close are they?” he asked me instantly snapping into doctor mode.
“Five minutes maybe. It’s going to go quick though with my water breaking.”
“Okay,” Barrett said spinning in a circle frantic.
“I think Dad's freaking out,” Aria whispered to me.
“I am not,” he retorted. “Okay,” he said again still frazzled. “I’ll change, get the bag and we can head to the hospital.”
I wasn’t entirely sure I was going to make it all the way to the hospital. On the upside I supposed that Barrett could deliver a baby just as easily in the back of a BMW than a hospital bed.
“Emma is going to meet us there,” He said putting down the phone as he sped through town.
“I don’t care if the pope is planning on showing up, I just need this thing out of me now,” I half said half screamed.
“This is getting intense,” Aria said from the back seat.
“Not a good time to kid your mom, honey,” Barrett called back to her.
Finally we got to the hospital. I was barely in the gown and place in a bed when Barrett said it was time to push.
Twelve minutes later I heard the glorious cry of our new child. Barrett was there and ready to tell me the gender, something I had wanted to keep a surprise.
“It’s a girl,” he said cutting the cord and placing the baby close to me. “We have another beautiful daughter.”
He kissed me gently as I cried and as I held her. I looked up at Barrett who was looking at the sweet little angel still crying on my chest. I was so grateful that this time he was here to see her born.
“Destiny,” Barrett said softly.
I looked at him confused by his words.
“It means fate. I thought it might be an appropriate name. What do you think?”
I smiled softly and tilted my head encouraging a kiss. He leaned down and kissed me tenderly on the lips.
“I think it’s perfect.”
Tempting the Crown
Untitled
Tempting the Crown