CHAPTER 11
Horatio stood back from the door to let Lisa into his apartment. She placed his coffee on a small table by the sofa and went out to the balcony. He followed her while buttoning his shirt.
"Today, I believe is your due date." He slipped on his sunglasses and leaned on the railing next to her.
"Yes, but my doctor said the chances of the baby coming today are pretty low." She sighed fingering the locket he had given her a week ago. "I have my suitcase in my car just--." She stopped and put her hand on her stomach.
"Lissy?"
"Horatio, I think my water just broke." She looked at him in amazement.
He grinned. "Let's go."
"Horatio, you don't have to break any speed records getting to the hospital, okay?"
He grabbed his keys and said, "Meet you out front. I'll bring my car around."
They rode the elevator together then Horatio went to retrieve his car. He pulled next to Lisa and opened the door for her and got back behind the wheel.
Lisa slouched down in the passenger seat and closed her eyes as he pulled out into traffic. "You know how I said not to break any speed records? I might need you to reconsider that."
He looked sharply at her. "What's wrong?"
"I think I'm skipping that easy, let's get ready part of labor the instructor told us about." She gripped the door handle. "Damn. This hurts." She ran her other hand through her hair. "I think I'm in full-blown active labor."
Horatio dialed his phone. "Calleigh. We're on our way. Yeah." He paused. "If I don't hurry we might be having this baby on the causeway."
Horatio pulled up to the emergency room and within minutes Lisa was in the birthing room ready to push.
"Horatio?" She gripped his hand.
"Sweetheart, I'm here." He kissed her forehead.
"I can't remember what to do." She frowned.
He chuckled. "I don't think the baby will mind."
She grimaced. "If you were in my place you wouldn't be joking." She moaned.
"Lisa, it's almost time," the doctor said.
The door open and Calleigh breezed in. "Are you starting without me?" She threw her bag on a chair and went over to the side opposite Horatio.
"Hold my hand. Take a deep breath when the doctor tells you to push." Calleigh stroked Lisa's hair.
Three deep breaths, three screams and three pushes. And the baby was out.
Horatio whispered in Lisa's ear, "She's here, Sweetheart."
Tears rolled down Lisa's face.