"I still can't believe you didn't tell me you were in labor."
"Are we still talking about this?" Folding deeper and deeper into the contraction clenching her body, Sheridan clutched at Luis's shirt. "Oh God, it hurts, Luis."
"I know, Sher. I know." Swallowing his anxiety, Luis pulled her in closer and kissed the top of her head. "Just think about how wonderful it's going to feel to hold her in your arms."
"I'm . . . I'm trying," Sheridan gasped, doubling over in a fresh bout of pain.
His heartbeat accelerating, Luis grabbed hold of her arms through her hospital gown. "Breathe, Sheridan. Just breathe."
Maybe he needed to do the same thing.
Yes, watching her suffer like this was crushing him cell by cell, but Sheridan didn't need to know that.
She just needed to know he was there beside her—supporting her through the pain.
"Luis . . ." Sheridan moaned.
Luis's heart jumped in his chest. "What is it, Sher? Are you okay?"
"I . . . I . . . will be." Sheridan braced her hands against her knees.
Securing his arms around her, Luis helped her stand up.
The tension in her muscles visibly dissipating, Sheridan melted against him. "That was a rough one, Luis."
"I know it was." Kneading the small of her back, Luis took a deep breath in and buried his nose in her hair. "You're a superwoman, Sher."
"I don't feel like one," Sheridan whispered.
"Are you kidding me?" A rush of pride flooded Luis's chest. "You just went through hours of this by yourself."
"I didn't want you to miss your parents' ceremony . . ."
"I know." Luis kissed her head. "And I love you for it—I just wish you'd let me help you through it."
"It's okay," Sheridan breathed, "—I made it through."
"Like I said—you're a superwoman . . ."
"Oh—" Sheridan moaned. "It's . . . starting . . . again . . ."
Luis's heart began to race.
Pulling her in closer, he began to lead them in a gentle sway. "That's it—you've got this."
Luis inhaled. Forcing himself to steady his breathing, he feathered Sheridan's head with kisses. "Just keep doing what you're doing, Sheridan."
"I can't believe this day is finally here." Eve glanced out into the hallway in front of her office, her eyes glistening.
"Neither can I." Julian smiled and checked his watch. "What time did Dr. O'Neill say that he'd have the results?"
"He should be here in about an hour," Eve said. "I just wanted to get here early so we're here when Mike arrives."
"Did you speak with Mike this morning?" Julian asked.
"Only for a brief moment," Eve smiled, her eyes welling with tears. "I have a good feeling about this, Julian—I just know that he is our son."
"I feel the same way." Julian pulled Eve into his arms. "I think today is going to be unforgettable, Eve."
"I hope so." Eve's smile grew. "I hope today is a fresh start for all of us."
A voice sounded from the doorway. "We hope so, too, Mom."
Eve looked up, fresh tears springing to her eyes. "Whitney? Simone? What are you doing here?"
Whitney glanced at Simone and then smiled softly at her mother. "We know what an important day this is—we wanted to be here with you."
"Oh, girls . . ." Eve's voice choked with emotion. "I don't know what to say."
Simone smiled softly. "We love you, Mom."
A tear slipping down her cheek, Eve stepped out of Julian's embrace and held out her arms to them.
Simone flew into her mother's embrace, Whitney right behind her.
"Oh, my beautiful girls," Eve cried, squeezing them against her chest. "Girls, I love you so much."
Luis rocked Sheridan against his chest, kissing the top of her head as she moaned.
They had been swaying back and forth like this for quite some time, and Sheridan's pain seemed to be getting much worse.
If only he could do this for her—if only he could shield her from this suffering.
Dr. Valerii poked her head into the room. "How are we doing in here?"
"Her contractions have been getting a lot stronger and closer together." His chest tightening, Luis looked up. "Please tell me this is almost over—that she's getting close to giving birth."
"Why don't you help Mom up onto the bed after this contraction passes so I can check on her progress," Dr. Valerii suggested.
Sheridan groaned, her knees wobbling beneath her.
"Hey, hey—you've got this." Grabbing hold of Sheridan's arms, Luis steadied her.
Sheridan buried her head in his chest.
Tightening his hold around her, Luis waited until he felt her body relax and then slowly guided her over to the bed.
"Sheridan, can you get up on the bed by yourself, or do you need me to help you?" he asked.
"I . . . I can do it," Sheridan whispered, closing her eyes as Dr. Valerii pressed the button that lowered the bed.
Once the edge of the bed was securely beneath her, Sheridan inched her eyes open, braced her hands against the mattress, and began to maneuver herself onto it.
Her body began to shake.
Luis grabbed her. "Let me help you, Sher."
Nodding, Sheridan hooked one arm around his shoulder, tightening her grip on his arm as he helped her onto the mattress and into the needed position.
Threading her fingers through Luis's, she squeezed his hand and whimpered softly as Dr. Valerii began to examine her.
His heart lodging in his throat, Luis's voice thickened. "I would give anything to do this for you."
"I know you would," Sheridan breathed.
"I have good news." Dr. Valerii looked up and smiled at Sheridan. "You're seven centimeters dilated."
Luis kissed Sheridan's knuckles, his eyes glistening at hers. "You're almost there."
"Yes, she is," Dr. Valerii said. "Just keep hanging in there, Sheridan—we're getting into the homestretch."
"Dr. Russell." Mike smiled as he entered her office, his hand wrapped tightly around Dalla's.
"Mike," Eve beamed, squeezing Whitney's and Simone's shoulders. "It's so good to see you."
"Yes, it is," Julian said.
Mike nodded at Julian and then looked back at Eve.
"These are my daughters," Eve explained, "—Whitney and Simone."
Whitney and Simone smiled shyly at Mike.
"It's nice to meet you both," Mike said, squeezing the hand of the woman beside him. "And this is my fiancée, Dalla."
Whitney stepped forward and shook their hands. "It's great to meet you both."
"Yes," Eve agreed, stepping forward and clasping Dalla's hands. "I've heard so much about you—it's great to put a face to a name."
"Same here," Dalla said, smiling softly at Eve.
Mike looked at Simone. "Haven't I seen you hanging around at the youth center?"
"Yes." Simone blushed. "You probably have. I'm sorry that we've never officially met."
"No worries—that's on me, too," Mike said. "I wish I'd had more time when I met with all of you in January—to talk to you all one on one."
"Hopefully, you'll have a lot of time to do that sometime in the near future," Eve smiled.
Mike smiled at Eve and then back at Simone. "Yes, I really hope so."
"Dr. Russell?" Dr. O'Neill poked his head into the room.
Everyone's eyes flew to Dr. O'Neill.
"I hope I caught you at a good time." Dr. O'Neill pulled out an envelope. "I have the test results you've been waiting for."
