“I should record this,” Ally said, unable to bite down a grin. “Then next time you think about getting pregnant I’ll bring it out and show you. It’ll be better than any contraceptive.”
“Don’t worry, I’m never having another baby again. I’ve been pregnant for five years.”
“Have you tried raspberry tea?” Ally asked.
“Yep. And spicy tacos, scary movies, and bouncing on a yoga ball chanting ‘out, out, out.’” Ember took a sip of her coffee. “I want to drink caffeinated coffee, eat blue cheese, drink more than a mouthful of wine. Why won’t this baby come out?”
“It’ll come when it’s ready,” Harper said, trying to reassure her. “He or she is just comfortable in there for now.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Ember muttered. “I think it’s painted the walls, set up a flat screen TV, and has decided to stay in there forev—”
Her mouth dropped open. “Oh.” She touched her stomach and sighed. “I thought that might have been a contraction, but I think the baby was just changing channels.”
Ally took their coffee cups, even though they were still half full. “You know what would do you good?” she said, though it sounded like a rhetorical question. “A long walk. I’ll make you both a coffee to go, and then you can head up the beach and enjoy the view. There’s no point sitting around here moping.”
“I don’t want to walk,” Ember told her. “It hurts.”
“It’s probably a good idea.” Harper smiled at her. “I’ll come with you. I need the exercise. I’ve been cooped up in the basement for too long.”
“Are you both trying to kill me? I’m carrying a teenager around in my belly,” Ember chastised, though there was humor in her eyes. She slowly stood, then leaned on the table. “Okay, I’ll try anything once. Don’t expect me to walk very far, though.”
“A marathon should do it.” Ally grinned.
Ember laughed, then her eyes widened. “Stop making jokes,” she whispered. “I just peed myself.”
“It wasn’t a joke…” Ally trailed off as Ember leaned against the back of the chair, her face filled with mortification. “Ember? Are you okay?”
“I’m so embarrassed,” Ember whispered. “The pee won’t stop. I need to go to the bathroom.”
Sure enough, a puddle appeared around her feet. Harper glanced at it, then up at Ally. “Um, I don’t think that’s pee.” She turned to Ember. “Your water’s broke.”
“What?” Ally’s face paled. “Oh shit. What do we do?”
“Sit down,” Harper said to Ember. “Let’s call Lucas and see if he can take you to the hospital.”
“He’s at work,” Ember said, her voice thin. “You should call the station.”
“I’ll go do that,” Ally said, her voice trembling. “Harper, you stay with Ember. If she starts to push, stop her.” She ran over to the counter. “Nate! Ember’s water has broken. We need a mop. And maybe some towels.”
Nate came running out of the kitchen, his eyes wide. “You okay?” he asked Ember.
“No. Not really.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Don’t be scared,” he said softly. “It’s going to be okay. You’re about to experience the most amazing thing, seeing your baby come into the world.”
“Yep,” Ally said. “And that’s great. But unless you mop up that puddle, we’re all going to be in the hospital.”
Nate winked at them, then walked back to the kitchen, as Ally frantically pressed numbers on her phone.
Harper couldn’t help but laugh at the craziness of it all. But then she saw Ember’s expression and the laughter dissolved into the air. She reached out for her hand. “It’s okay,” she told her. “Nate’s right. It’s exciting; you’re going to see your baby soon.”
“I’d better get a year of free coffee for this,” Ember muttered. “Isn’t that what happens when your water breaks in a store?”
“Don’t you get free coffee anyway?” Harper asked her, glad of the distraction.
“Oh yeah, I do,” Ember admitted.
“Maybe they’ll give you a free muffin, too. They’re pretty good.”