Page 233 of A Second Dawn

IreachforElla,but my arms come up short. My eyes shoot open. Her side of the bed is crumpled and cold.

How did I not notice her getting up?

I sit up and look around the dark room. The light of the moon is shining through the window, illuminating the furniture in a silvery glow. The bathroom is dark, so she won’t be in there.

I throw on a bathrobe, pick up my phone from the nightstand, and make my way to the kitchen. She was probably thirsty and went to get a glass of water. That’s a logical explanation. So why am I so nervous?

The oven light is on, suggesting she’s here somewhere.

“Ella,” I call out.

A groan somewhere from the living room is the response.

Now I’m worried. Fuck, what’s happened?

Almost losing her a few times has put me on edge for all of eternity. My urge to protect her and make sure she’s okay is always on my mind.

I nearly slip when I step into a puddle of something wet. Did she drop a glass of water? Fuck, what if she stepped on a broken piece of glass? That would explain the pained groan.

“Ella? Are you alright?” I call out again, more urgently this time.

Using the flashlight on my phone, I scan the floor for broken bits of glass so I can avoid them, but there are none.

Huh?

And then the dots connect.

Merda!

It can only mean one thing.

“Angel!” I yell this time, panic settling in.

I run to the living room where I find her bouncing on a large exercise ball. Her face is screwed up in pain, her head thrown back as she takes deep breaths.

I rush to her side, dropping to my knees and taking her hands in mine.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” I ask, trying hard to project calmness into my voice, but inside I’m frantic. Ella doesn’t answer but keeps bouncing.

Needing to touch her some more, I run my hands up and down her arms.

“It’s all going to be alright,” I murmur. “Let’s just stay calm.”

Who am I trying to convince? Her or me?

Keeping one hand on Ella, I pull up our midwife’s number on my phone and hit dial. After a few rings, the call connects.

“Barbara, she’s gone into labor. Come now,” I order. “You better be here in the next five minutes.”

“Calm down. Eli has already called me. I’m on the way.” Her tone is unfazed. She must be used to panicking fathers-to-be. “I’ll be there in fifteen.”

“That’s not quick enough!” I whisper shout. She ignores me.

“How is Eli doing?” My eyes lock onto her bouncing shape. She’s doing the breathing exercises Barbara has taught her.

“She’s in pain. What do you think?” I snap, but squeeze Ella’s hand to reassure her.

“Well, that’s to be expected. Now tend to your wife. I need to concentrate on driving in this darkness. You wouldn’t want me to drive into a ditch now, would you?”