“We will, but Dr. Livingston is on duty tonight. And she’s great.”
I’d only met Dr. Livingston once, and as the pain took hold, I guessed it didn’t matter which doctor delivered the babies, as long as I got them out of me.
I scrunched up my face. “I need to push again.”
She wheeled me into the delivery room as the brunette nurse joined us. “You can’t push yet.”
Easier said than done.
Sweat beaded on my forehead. The need to push was so strong, I wasn’t sure I could abstain.
“Lacey, I’m Jill,” the brunette said. “I want you to take in a deep breath and blow it out.”
I did as she instructed while they helped me up and onto the bed. As I kept inhaling and exhaling, Becca and Jill managed to undress me before hooking me up to a monitor. The need to push was dire, and I felt like I was about to pass out if I held back any longer. So I shook my head in an effort to distract myself, when Dr. Livingston breezed in.
“How far apart are the contractions?” Dr. Livingston asked as she settled at the foot of the bed.
“Three or four minutes,” Becca said as a scurry of activity started to take place around me.
“Hi, Lacey. Nice to see you again.” Dr. Livingston smiled warmly, regarding me with kind blue eyes. “Is your husband here?”
The minute she asked, Kade blew through the door like a gust of wind, seeking me out and rushing to my side. Sweat coated his face, his hair was tucked under a blue cap, he was wearing a blue gown over his clothes, and he was breathing hard, as though he’d just run a marathon.
Dr. Livingston nodded her dark head of hair at Kade then addressed us both. “Here’s how this will go. I’m going to do a quick exam to see how dilated you are. If you’re ready, then we’ll get started.”
Kade gripped my hand, bobbing his head as he regarded me with panic steeped in his eyes.
“Seriously, you’re not going to faint or anything. Are you?” I asked as another contraction hit me. I sucked in a sharp breath as my face contorted. The need to push was stronger than ever.
“Breathe,” Kade said in a soft voice.
Becca scrambled to get my feet in the stirrups. Dr. Livingston went to work quickly, examining me.
Kade swiped his hand over my head. “Lace, you’re turning red. You have to breathe.”
I growled at my husband. “Want to switch places?” Oh, how nice it would be if he could give birth or experience the pain that I was going through.
I finally inhaled, but that did nothing to ease the pain.
“Lacey,” Dr. Livingston said. “When I tell you to push, I want you to push as hard as you can. Okay?”
Nodding, I wanted to scream “hell yeah,” but I couldn’t find my voice as I was trying to get more air in my lungs.
Becca returned to my side.
“Okay, Lacey.” Dr. Livingston eyed the monitor near me. “I want you to push now.”
Becca placed her hand on my back guiding my upper body forward. “Bear down as hard as you can.”
I put every ounce of energy I had into pushing as hard as I could.
“She’s turning beet red again.” Kade’s voice trickled in my ears over my loud grunting. “She’s going to pass out.”
“You’re doing great,” Dr. Livingston informed me while the medical staff ignored Kade.
I was sure I was red, but at the moment, I didn’t care about anything other than getting the babies out of me.
Chapter 17
Kade
My heart was beating out of my chest as Lacey grunted, growled, and groaned.
Over the last few months, I couldn’t wait for this moment. I couldn’t wait to see Lacey giving birth to our babies. But as I stood next to my wife, who was beet red, in pain, and looked as though she were about to pass out, all I wanted to do was comfort her.
We’d learned what to expect in the delivery room. I’d read books on giving birth. Lacey and I had both tried to be as prepared as possible. But honestly, I couldn’t remember a fucking thing I’d read or learned. All I knew was that I wanted to take away Lacey’s pain. If I could, I would switch places with her in a heartbeat. I would gladly take on the burden of giving birth if I could.
I hated feeling helpless. So I moved her hair off her sweaty forehead in an attempt to soothe her.
But she growled then swatted at me. “Don’t touch me.”
My eyebrows shot into my hairline.
Becca shrugged like my wife’s reaction was no big deal. “It’s normal.”
Fuck if it was normal in my world.
“Maybe you should watch the babies being born,” Becca said. “I got Lacey.”
Granted, Becca had always been there for Lacey in tough times, but I didn’t want her to have Lacey. I wanted to be the one to help my wife.
“Don’t you want to see them come out?” Lacey asked through clenched teeth.
I had planned to watch the entire process, but I didn’t want to leave Lacey’s side.
“I see the head of one,” Dr. Livingston said. “I want you to bear down as hard as you can, Lacey, and push now.”
Lacey took in a deep breath and grunted so loud that the entire hospital had to have heard her.
A chill skated up my spine as anticipation took hold of me like a vise. My heart was still ramming against my ribs. I swore when all this was over, I would have bruised or cracked ribs.
Holding my breath, I watched in quiet fascination as my wife put every ounce of her energy into delivering baby number one.
Before I knew what was happening, a baby cried as Lacey flopped backward, out of breath and looking completely exhausted.
Fuck. She still had two more to deliver, which was the main reason I was going into freak-out mode. Something told me she wouldn’t make it through baby number two.
One of the nurses took the baby over to a counter.
Becca wiped a wet cloth over Lacey’s forehead and face.
I smiled at my wife as she tried to regulate her breathing. I was just about to say “you’re doing great” or something to soothe her when she moaned.
“More contractions,” she said in a cracked and tired voice.
Sweat began to bead on my neck. I didn’t think I could watch her go through another round of pain. This whole process was gutting me.
As if Dr. Livingston could read my mind, she said, “Kade, stand next to me. You should see your babies being born.”
Another nurse who was waiting idly came to my side. “Go. I’ll take over from here.”
Maybe it was best I didn’t help Lacey. Then again, I hadn’t been much help so far. I should let the medical professionals do their job anyway.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I’d left my parents a message that Lacey was in labor. I was sure either Mom or Dad was trying to get ahold of me, but I didn’t want to miss baby number two being born.
Dr. Livingston examined Lacey.
Becca gave Lacey some water.
The brunette nurse who had taken my spot stared at the monitor.
I didn’t know how much time to expect in between births. We’d learned that with vaginal delivery, it could be minutes or hours before baby number two and three were born. But with the pain on Lacey’s face, I didn’t think she would be in labor for very long.
“The contractions are intensifying,” Lacey said.
“I see baby number two,” Dr. Livingston added. “I want you to push, Lacey.”
Lacey bent forward, squeezing her eyes shut, scrunching her nose, and grunting loudly.
I stood slightly behind Dr. Livingston so as not to get in her way. From where I was, I had a decent view, but at the moment, all I could see was nothing. Dr. Livingston had her hands inside Lacey.
Lacey let out a scream of all screams as she pushed, and then before I knew what was happening, baby number two was in Dr. Livingston’s hands.
Chills blanketed my body.
Holy fuck!
Seeing things from this a
ngle certainly made my pulse race for the finish line. But nothing hit me harder than the sudden realization that I was a father.
Me, Kade Maxwell, was a father. It was at that moment that the light bulb brightened. This shit was real.
I’d had plenty of time to wrap my head around becoming a father and to figure out what I would do when my babies came into this world. All that suddenly went out the window because as I saw the tiny newborn with dark hair, my knees became weak. The room began to spin.
I blinked several times as the sounds around me faded to a distant hum. I listed to one side. I heard someone say something but couldn’t make out her words. I shook my head hard when a cold hand landed on my arm.
“You need to sit down, Mr. Maxwell,” one of the nurses said.
I swallowed an elephant. “I’m good.”
“I need to push again,” Lacey said in a tired voice. “I don’t think I can, though.”
My eyes widened as I focused, or tried to, on my wife, who seemed blurry from where I stood.
The nurse left my side and raced back to Lacey.
I blinked again, and Lacey came into better focus.
She was breathing heavily, drenched in sweat, and looking like she needed nine months to recover.
Hunching over, she squeezed her eyes shut as her face glowed red and then pushed.
Suddenly, an overwhelming feeling gripped me, and the room blurred.
The babies, my babies, cried behind me.
I wanted to move. I wanted to turn around to see them, but I was worried if I did, I might pass out.
I took in short breaths and blew them out while the nurses and doctor did their jobs.
When Lacey let out a bloodcurdling scream or grunt or some fucking sound that I felt down in my bones, I swayed too far to the left as the room went dark.
* * *
Something burned my nostrils as I jolted awake.
“Mr. Maxwell,” a female voice said as she tapped my face lightly.
My eyes watered, and I pinched my nose.
The brunette nurse waved a small capsule under my nose. “Are you okay?”
I glanced around. I was still in the delivery room. Dr. Livingston was talking to Lacey. Becca was fiddling with the monitor, and the babies weren’t anywhere in sight.
I pushed to my feet, swaying in the process. The nurse steadied me.
Becca came over and grabbed my arm. “Everyone is fine,” she said as though she knew what I was thinking. “Lacey did great.”
I shoved my fingers through my hair. “Where are the babies?”
“They’re down in the nursery,” Becca said. Then she regarded the brunette. “Jill, can you get Kade some juice?”
Jill scurried out of the room.
I didn’t need any juice. I needed to see Lacey.
With Becca’s help, I ambled over to Lacey’s bedside. She looked spent, as though she’d been through a war. Hell, she had.
“Hey,” Lacey said as her eyelids fluttered closed. “Are you good?”
I kissed her on the forehead. “Never better.” I hated that I had passed out, but I couldn’t have stopped myself even if I’d tried. The dizziness had hit me like a ten-ton brick. I swung my gaze to Dr. Livingston. “So baby number three came out okay?”
“All three are fine,” she said with a smile. “Lacey did well. And don’t worry about passing out. It happens to a lot of new fathers.”
I chuckled. I wasn’t worried. I didn’t care what anyone thought of me, except Lacey and my family. Then again, I was sure Lacey would have something more to say about me blacking out when she wasn’t about to fall asleep.
We’d talked about the delivery. I’d been excited to see the process. I’d been excited to witness every detail of our babies being born. But everything had been too much.
“Get some rest,” Dr. Livingston said to Lacey. “The nurses will bring the babies in later.” Then she met Becca at the door and whispered something to her before she left.
Lacey grabbed my hand. “You should call your parents. And can you call my dad?”
I nodded as our gazes locked. “I love the crap out of you.” In that moment, I couldn’t explain the feeling that took hold of my heart. My love for her was suddenly stronger than it had ever been.
She was my idol. She was my savior. She was my everything.
A tear slipped out and slid down my cheek. We were embarking on a new aspect of our lives, and I couldn’t have asked for a better, more beautiful person to do that with than my green-eyed baseball beauty who’d stolen my heart the minute I met her.
Chapter 18
Lacey
My eyes fluttered open as the faint noise of the heart monitor droned in the background. My body felt like I’d been through the spin cycle a few times. It took me a second to realize where I was and what I’d been through.
Suddenly, I sat up, searching the room. I blinked once, twice, even a third time. When my vision cleared, I spotted Kade sleeping in a chair next to my bed. He had his legs kicked out, hands folded over his chest, and his head hung off to the side, practically touching his shoulder as he slept.
Aside from my sleeping giant, I didn’t see my babies. And I was in what looked to be a private room, not the one I’d delivered the triplets in.
I was about to swing my legs over the side, but my legs were weak, and I groaned in the process, deciding that it wasn’t a good idea to try to get out of bed.
Kade stirred before he popped to his feet. “You can’t get up yet.”
“Why not? I gave birth. It isn’t like I broke my legs.” But they felt like they didn’t have any strength in them.
He fluffed my pillow. “You need to rest.”
He was right. So I decided not to argue. “Where are the babies? I want to see them.” I had this intense need to hold all three of them.
“They’re down in the nursery. I’ll see if I can get a wheelchair.”
As Kade motioned to leave, Becca came in. “You’re awake.” Her dark eyes sparkled. “Wonderful. I’ll have the babies brought up.” She left before I could tell her that I wanted to go to the nursery.
“Are they healthy? Are they okay?” I asked.
Kade grinned. “They’re perfect.”
A warm feeling spread through me. I couldn’t believe I had given birth to three babies. I couldn’t believe I was a mom.
I studied him. Dark circles ringed his eyes. His hair was disheveled, and he seemed as though he needed to get in bed with me. “I guess I should ask you if you’ve recovered. You passed out.”
Never in a million years would I have thought this strong man who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders would get queasy. “Did watching me give birth make you sick?”
He chuckled as his dimples emerged. “Honestly, it was overwhelming watching everything happening. You scared me. I swear you were a second away from dying.”
Rolling my eyes, I grabbed his hand. When I did, an electrical charge zinged up my arm. The man still made my belly flutter even if he looked tired and a bit pale.
He brought my hand to his lips. “You were amazing despite the pain you were in.”
The door opened, and Becca wheeled in the first crib followed by two nurses and the other two cribs.
My heart was beating fast and hard. This was it. I was about to see the tiny humans who’d come out of my body. I’d asked Eleanor how she had carried Kelton, Kross, and Kody. Actually, I had asked her a ton of questions about carrying and raising triplets.
She’d been just as nervous as me when she’d found out she was having three boys. But she’d said it had been the best experience of her life. Raising them had been tiring and tough, and she had wanted to pull her hair out at times, but if she had it to do all over again, she wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Becca lifted up baby number one. “Are you ready to hold your first little girl? She was born first.”
Kade’s face lit up like the northern lights.
The other two
nurses positioned the cribs side by side next to my bed then left.
All three babies were wrapped in pink blankets with pink hats on their heads. All were sound asleep too. And they all looked absolutely beautiful.
I couldn’t hold back the tears. The emotions—love, relief, and trepidation—were too strong to reel in, and I didn’t want to hold back anyway. Kade and I had made these three humans, three tiny girls who would be loved and cherished for the rest of their lives.
I peeked at Kade. He had a tear sliding down his face as he left my side to pick up one of our girls. When he did, I cried some more.
Seeing the happiness jumping off him was priceless. That gleam in his copper eyes, the way he cradled her in his arms, the smile that said “I’m a proud father” gave me a chill that would last a lifetime.
He was going to be a fantastic father, and for that, I cried harder as Becca placed our firstborn in my arms.
I blinked several times to dry the tears so I could take in every detail of this tiny human being.
She had a tiny nose and pink lips, and her cheeks were rosy. I ran my finger over her face lightly so I wouldn’t wake her.
“Have you decided on names yet?” Becca asked.
She’d been part of a discussion Kade and I had had a few months ago when she was at the house, checking on me.
I regarded Kade, who was riveted to the baby he was cradling. “We have a few picked out, but we’re not set on specifics yet.”
Kade and I had only decided on one.
He set the baby back in her crib then picked up baby number three.
I wasn’t sure how we would tell them apart.
“Which one was born second?” Kade asked Becca, who was doting on baby number two as she leaned over the crib.
“They have little wristbands on, which you can’t see since they’re wrapped in their blankets, but their information—like weight, size, and time of birth—are on the white printed labels affixed to the each of the cribs,” Becca said through a smile as though she was in love with the babies.
Dare to Embrace: The Maxwell Series Book 7 Page 10