There’s a knock at my door. When I unlock and open it, Kao frowns at me. “Why is your door –” His eyes land on Carla. “Oh, hey. I can come back later.” Kao turns around and hurries back down the hallway, making me chuckle.
“Kao, it’s okay. Come back,” I call after him.
Carla sits down on the couch, giving Kao a smile. “I just need a change of scenery, so I’ll be studying here today.”
Kao lets out a burst of laughter. “Which means Noah won’t be getting any work done.” He turns his attention to me. “Do you have the budget for the graphics department?”
“Yeah.” I turn to my desk, and seeing the mess, I mutter, “I’ll email it to you.”
Kao begins to laugh. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.” He walks to the door, and before shutting it behind him, he says, “Enjoy work.”
Walking to my desk, I fix everything, and then I ask, “Can I get you anything before I get back to work?”
Carla shakes her head as she opens her laptop. “I’m good.”
I take my seat and quickly forward the documents to Kao, then my gaze goes to Carla. Leaning back, I watch as she studies.
“You need to work,” she murmurs without looking up.
“With you sitting there looking beautiful, it’s hard to focus,” I mutter.
Glancing up, she asks, “Should I leave?”
I quickly shake my head and focus my gaze on my work.
CARLA
Noah packs my hospital bag for the hundredth time.
“No matter how many times you do that, the contents will stay the same,” I mutter.
“I’m just checking,” he grumbles before setting the bag down by the front door. “Let’s go over everything again.”
I roll my eyes as I lean my head back against the couch. “No, I’m tired.”
“Okay, we don’t have to act it out. Just run over it with me.”
I let out a sigh. “If I feel a contraction or my water breaks, I have to call you no matter where you are.” I narrow my eyes at him as he sits down next to me. “Which is kind of a given.”
“I’ll take the bag, grab the keys, and get you into the car.” Then Noah adds, “Calmly.”
I give him a look of warning. “When it feels like my vagina is about to tear open, I promise you I will be everything but calm. Prepare yourself for hurricane Carla.”
“Probably category five as well,” he mutters.
My eyebrows pop up. “Say what?”
Noah’s expression quickly turns loving. “Nothing.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” I grumble. “God, she’s sitting on my bladder again.” I begin to struggle off the couch. Noah helps me to stand before I freaking waddle to the restroom.
Just two more weeks.
When I try to pee, there are only a few drops. Sighing, I frown at my stomach. “Haley, get off Mommy’s bladder.”
When I walk back into the living room, Noah grins at me. “Feeling better?”
“False alarm,” I mumble as I sit down.
He gets up and returns seconds later with my pillow. “Turn sideways and snuggle up.”
I do as he says, loving the idea of a nap. Noah sits down next to me, and then he begins to rub my lower back.
“Sorry, I’m so moody,” I murmur.
“Don’t worry about it.” He turns on the TV and puts on Madagascar.
After a couple of minutes of watching, I impersonate Marty, “As long as we are together, it doesn’t matter to me.”
“Me too,” Noah agrees. “Are you going to teach Haley how to do impersonations?”
“I thought they annoyed you,” I say as I close my eyes from the relief I feel in my back.
“I love them,” Noah admits.
“Since when?” I mumble half asleep.
“Since it’s you doing them,” Noah replies.
When I let out a groan, Noah increases the pressure.
“God, that feels good,” I moan before I drift off to sleep.
Mom planned a barbeque for the baby shower. It’s being held at my parent’s place, so there’s enough space for everyone.
The house and back yard are brimming with all our friends and family, and as my gaze sweeps over them, I feel blessed.
Even the Hayes’ family managed to make it today. Seeing Tristan sitting beside Hana, I wonder when they’re going to tie the knot.
Dash and Christopher walk toward me. Noah told me they’re just best friends, but I get the same vibes from them that I got from Forest and Aria.
Smiling at them, I say, “Thanks for coming, guys. It means a lot to me.”
“I wouldn’t dare miss it,” Dash replies. She hands me a gift bag. “This is for you.”
I peek inside, and then my smile widens. I pull the bracelet out, then Dash explains. “It has the birthstones for each of you as charms.” I notice an N, a C, and an H inscribed on the gold leaves where the stones are embedded.
“This is so awesome.” Leaning forward, I hug Dash. “Thank you so much.” Dash helps me put it on, and then I grin at her. “I love it.”
“I thought Mommy deserves something of her own.”
“Christopher, you made it,” Noah says as he comes to join us.
“Dash threatened my life,” Christopher replies. When they shake hands, he asks, “You’re taking three weeks off once the baby’s born, right?”
Noah nods. “Mr. Reed will fill in for me.”
Christopher nods, seeming pleased with the answer.
I hold up my wrist so Noah can see the bracelet. “Look at what Dash gave me.”
Noah’s lips curve up, then he glances at his sister. “Thanks, Dash.”
“I got something for you as well,” she says.
Dash hands Noah a gift bag, and I watch as he takes a tiny shirt out. It has ‘Always his little girl’ written on the front. Then Noah pulls out another shirt, and my tears instantly tear up when I read, ‘Always her hero.’
“Oh my gosh,” I sniffle. “They’re perfect.”
Dash wraps her arm around me, giving me a sideways hug. “I thought you’d love them.”
Chapter 30
NOAH
“Noah!” Carla yells from upstairs.
“Yeah?”
“Noah. Noah. Noah! Oh. My. God.”
I drop the cup in the sink and run out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Carla’s standing in the middle of the hallway, staring down at a puddle of water.
It takes me a second to realize her water broke.
“Shit, Haley’s coming,” I shout.
“Yes,” Carla chuckles. “Haley’s coming.”
“Bag.” I turn around and run to where we left it by the front door. “Keys.” I grab the car keys from the bowl.
Then I hear Carla, “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“Fuck.” I dart back up the stairs and taking hold of her arm, I try to move her as fast as possible.
When I have her in the car, she chuckles, “The bag, Noah.”