“Oh yay. Mum, do we have to go to the hospital now?” Emme asks, staring at her dad.
This time when the contraction hits, my back and my stomach tighten, I reach out and grab Hunter’s hand squeezing as I ride out this one. I didn’t want to scare Emme, but all I wanted to do was scream.
“Oh shit. Oh shit.” Hunter starts repeating it over and over again.
"We're going to the hospital, are you coming?" Stef asks Hunter, taking my hand she leads away from a panicking Hunter. I look behind me to Emme who starts to drag her dad as she follows behind us.
I get into the car as Stef calls James, tells him to meet us at the hospital and to bring Si and Tony.
“Jess, fuck, she’s coming.” Hunter breathes as he finally snaps out of his frozen stupor.
“Girl?” Stef shrieks.
Great, well done Hunter. We’re keeping it a secret.
“Yeah, now shush. Emme didn’t hear,” I tell her, wanting it to be a surprise for her. Stef mimics zipping up her lips.
Hunter starts the engine, and before he reverses, he picks up my hand and brings it to his mouth, kissing it. I see the sheer excitement on his face, God this day just gets better and better.
Six hours later and Savannah Stefanie O'Shea is born weighing 7lb 4oz. Hunter held my hand throughout, and I'm so happy that he was here to witness Savannah being born. He missed out on Emme, and I think that will hurt him for the rest of his life. Hunter goes out into the waiting room an hour later to get the kids and Stef to show them Savannah, only to return with half of Saff's bloody wedding guests, which includes the bride and groom.
"Guys, what are you doing here? You should be celebrating your big day." Confused as to why they're here when they should be dancing and enjoying themselves.
"Jess, we are celebrating it. Everyone we love is right here in this room." Saff tells me, and I smile at her as Hunter places Emme on my bed and we help her hold Savannah.
"Emme, meet your little sister Savannah," I say to her as I support Savannah's head.
"She's pretty. She's going to be my best friend. I want you to have loads more babies mummy." Emme says as a matter of fact.
"She's beautiful, baby, just like you are, and I think we can persuade your mum to have more babies don't you?" Hunter tells her.
Like hello? I am in the room.
"One thing is for definite, you two make beautiful babies," Stef says walking around the bed, and I place Savannah into her arms.
"Don't hurt her Aunty Steffy." Emme scolds her, jumping off the bed and following Stef to the chair.
"Thank you for giving me the three greatest gifts in my life Jess," Hunter whispers in my ear.
Leaning back against him I ask confused, "Three?"
"Yeah, babe. Emme, Savannah and your love." I sigh, he's so damn romantic.
"Dad was right you know. Secrets of life make or break you. The secret of Emme made me, it made me into a man and a father." I couldn't agree with him more.
The End
Author Notes:
Darren and Alannah: You deal with my craziness, especially when I’m close to finishing a book. I love you both to the moon and back!
Katy: I’m so lucky to have ‘met’ you! You are amazing, and you have helped me so much with this book, you were my sounding board! Thank you so much for all your help.
Amanda and Trisha: Thank you, thank you, thank you! For absolutely everything you do for me! You girls rock!
Jessica, Stacey, Holly, Nancy, Collette, Julie, Stef and Emma: My beta readers, without you I couldn’t have made this book what it is.
Danni: God, where would I be without you? You are there for me no matter what, always so supportive and always my number one fan! Love ya hun!
Lee: MY COVER!! I love it and my teasers, you are an artist and I’m grateful that you designed this cover. I fell in love with it instantly.
My Brazen Bitches: You are my girls, you’re all amazing and I love my group so much, you girls always make me smile!
The Secrets Of Life (The Working Girls Book 1) Page 20