Time for Change (19 page)

“What is it?” he asked.

“Erm, I need clothes,” she said.

“Why? What’s the matter?”

“My water just broke.” She looked down at his feet. His expensive shoes
were covered in amniotic fluid. “I’m sorry about your shoes.”

****

For the first time in his life Chris couldn’t be inside the room with
her. He stared down at his sleeping son as Libby and Tilly yawned. They’d been
in the hospital for an hour. She’d finally gone down to the labor wing, but he
couldn’t be there to hold her hand. He missed her. David couldn’t collect the
kids, and neither could his woman.

“Daddy, is Mommy going to be okay?” Libby asked.

“Yes. She’s bringing your brother into the world.”

Tilly yawned.
“Bored.”

Every now and then his friends and colleagues would stop to talk with
him. He made sure Rachel was part of his world. When he’d been married to
Claire, he’d tried to separate his work life from his home life. With Rachel,
he made sure she was part of both worlds.

Staring down at his sleeping son, Chris was overcome with love. Rachel
had given him everything he ever wanted. There was not a time he’d ever been
content before in his life. She had given him Libby, and sitting in the
hospital where all of his children had been born, Chris remembered when the
nurses had put each of his babies in his arms.

Every time he’d fallen deeper and deeper in love with Rachel. She gave
him a new reason every day to live his life to the fullest.

He didn’t know how long he sat there waiting for news on his wife when
Eric was stood in front of him. “I was on my way past as they were bringing her
back up. You can go and see her now.”

“How did she do?” Chris asked, standing up, clicking his fingers so his
daughters were by his side.

“She was brilliant. Rachel is always a star through the birth.”

Nodding, Chris followed Eric down to his wife’s room. Beside her was an
empty crib. In Rachel’s arms, she held their son. Libby and Tilly jumped onto
the bed. He calmed them down before they got to her.

“Hello, girls.”

They snuggled in close, laughing at the baby. Chris got close with Paul
in his arms. He didn’t care about the baby. His eyes were on Rachel. He saw the
darkness around her eyes. She was exhausted, and it wasn’t entirely to do with
giving birth. Rachel had been exhausted tonight before her waters broke.

“What are you staring at?” she asked.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Chris.”

“No more for a long time, Rachel. We’ll wait for another baby, and I’ll cut
my hours back.” Rachel smiled, reaching for his hand. He took her hand feeling
connected to her.

“I love you,” she said.

“I love you, too, baby.”

“
Ew
, Mommy and Daddy are going to kiss,” Libby
said.

Not to disappoint his daughters, he leaned down claiming Rachel’s lips.
“You come first in everything, Rachel.”

“I know. We’ll see how long you can last without.” She smiled at him,
and he saw his temptress back in her place.

Once he was sure she was okay, he stared down at his son. Chris eased
down into the chair, looking at his family and knowing in his heart he couldn’t
have asked for a better life.

Holding Rachel’s hand, he refused to let go even as their kids fell
asleep. They stared at each other for the longest time.

Rachel was right. Within a year he’d forgotten the condom, and nine
months later, another daughter was born.

The End

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Other
Books by
Sam Crescent
:

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