Chapter Fourteen
Sue holds my hand when I wake the next morning to a sharp pain and wake up Embry. Emily and Sam are coming over now that Billy has called them. I whimper and cringe at the pain in my back. Embry rubs my back and coos in my ear while I lay on my bed.
"Sue, how long is she going to be like this?" Jacob asks, trying to hold in his pain for me.
"I am not sure, this is her first pregnancy and she has been very active the whole time," Sue says. She puts a warm washcloth on my forehead and caresses my cheek. Charlie knocks on the door and smiles a little.
"Marinna," Charlie says. I smile at him and then cringe again.
"Her contractions are not too far apart," Sue says. The front door crashes open and I hear Sam's heavy footsteps coming to my door.
"Where is she?" Sam asks frantically.
"Sammie, I am right here," I moan. Sam comes in and sighs when he sees me on my bed. "Hi, you got here really fast."
"Only because my baby cousin is in pain and having her first baby. Are you alright?" Sam asks, as he walks over to sit on the bed with me. Embry smiles at Sam for being here to comfort me. I take his hand with my other one and give it a squeeze.
"I will be okay once I have the baby. You guys need to go because the Cullens are waiting for you all. I will be alright with dad, Charlie, Sue, and Emily," I say. Sam caresses my sweaty hair and he sighs before kissing my cheek.
"Be alive and well when we come back. I want to see my healthy nephew with your beautiful face," Sam says. "We will leave you and Embry to have a moment to say goodbye."
"Thank you," I say. Everyone leaves us alone and I grab Embry's shirt when the tears finally fall down my face. "Please ask to stay in case our baby comes while you are gone or don't come back. Please, don't leave me."
"Baby, it is going to be alright. I will be here for when our son comes into the world and I will alright. Trust me, baby," Embry coos. He kisses the top of my head before giving me a hug and then leaving me all alone in my room with just our unborn child.
I walk around with Emily's help and I take deep breathes to keep myself calm. Sue is heating up water to put in the bathtub for me to sit in for a little bit. Charlie and Billy are outside trying not to panic about me, like the typical dads. I stop and lean against a wall when I feel another pain.
"It is too early for me to be going into labour, Emily," I say.
"They might be pains that are getting you ready for when the baby comes, but we have to be careful in making sure that you are not in actual labour," Emily says calmly. I nod my head and we walk back to my room so I can sit down for a moment. "Does it hurt less when you are sitting like this?"
"Very much so, I think the baby just trying to tell me to stay off my feet for a little bit," I say. Matthew comes in and he smiles as he walks over and sits with me.
"Sue said the bath is ready for you. Would you like me to help you get there and into the tub?" Matthew asks. I nod and he stands to help me with getting to the bathroom. Sue has a towel on the sink and she is rechecking the temperature of the water before I get in. Matthew helps me out of my robe and strip to nothing before he and Sue helped me into the water. The moment I am in the water, the pain goes away and I let out a sigh of relief.
"They were Braxton Hicks contractions," Sue sighs with a smile.
"Fake ones?" Matthew asks.
"Yes, Matthew, fake ones," I say with a smile. "Can I stay here for a little bit?"
"Of course, you can relax in here and call if you want more warm water or need help out," Sue says. She leaves me and Matthew in the bathroom. Matthew sits on the floor, leans against the edge of the tub and he rubs my stomach slowly.
"My darling niece or nephew already giving my baby sister a hard time before their birth. Have you picked out a name yet?" Matthew says.
"Not really, but Embry and I are leaning into Emma Marie Call if it is a girl or Emanuel Mattias Call if it is a boy," I say. We look at my stomach and watch the baby move in me with their little feet and hands popping out every now and then. "I am scared, Mattie, I am not sure if I am ready to be a mama. I mean, Billy's wife died not long after we got here and we saw our mama die. What if I am not the best mama and I ruin my poor baby's life?"
"Mari-Belle, you are going to be alright and you will be a great mama," Matthew says. He takes my hand and he kisses it. "You are a great woman and will be a great mama to your beautiful child. Even though it is Embry's baby."
"Matthew Brandon Uley-Black!" I giggle and flick water at him. We laugh a little and we talk for some time before I get out and go get ready to take a nap on the couch while we wait for the boys to return.