Page 58 of A Little Bit More

Callum was all kinds of fine with that. In fact, he’d be happier if he’d brought some earplugs along too. “Let me.” He took the chair from her and placed it where she pointed, watching her rub her back while he did so. “You okay?”

“No. I’m four hundred years pregnant with the world’s largest baby, and the night out I’ve been looking forward to for months has been ruined by my caveman husband.”

“Apart from that,” he said, “are you okay? No pain?”

“No more than usual.” She nibbled her full bottom lip. “Although my back aches. I think it might be because of the shoes.”

Callum fought the urge to say, ‘You think?’

“Here, sit down, and I’ll take them off for you. You don’t need them until the show’s finished anyway.” He crouched in front of her and removed her shoes, taking the time to massage her, no doubt, aching feet. The look of pure bliss on her face made his heart soften. “I’m not trying to ruin your night,” he confessed in a tone low enough for only her to hear. “I want you to have a good time. But I need you and the baby to be safe while you do it.”

Isobel sighed. “I know.” She reached out to cup his cheek. “I still love you even though you’re a total pain in my backside.”

“I’ll relax once the baby’s here,” he promised. Although he was pretty sure that promise was more like wishful thinking.

Isobel leaned forward, clasped his face in her hands and smiled. “No, you won’t.” And then she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.

“Get a room,” Mairi said. “Oh, wait. We have a room.” She glared at Callum.

“This makes me feel sorry for the royal family,” Donna said. “All those shows they sit through, and they can’t even see most of them.”

“Yeah,” Agnes drawled. “Those poor deprived darlings.”

“Shh,” Isobel hissed, “it’s starting.”

In the softly lit orchestra pit, the music swelled as the house lights faded. The sisters leaned on the edge of the balcony, their eyes wide as they took in every detail. As the curtains twitched, a cheer went up. And then ABBA’s music began to play, and for the first time that evening, Callum deeply regretted tagging along.

* * *

It happened during ‘Dancing Queen’.

The women had pushed their seats back and were trying to dance on the tiny floor space. Callum sat wedged into the corner, keeping his eye on Isobel while trying not to get trampled by the rest of them. One second, they were singing at the top of their lungs, waving their arms and grinning at each other, and the next, Isobel was grasping her swollen belly as her wide eyes shot to him.

“Isobel?” He pushed away from the wall to reach for her.

“The baby’s coming,” she whispered.

For a split second that stretched into an eternity, Callum heard the blood rushing through his veins, and he lost the ability to breathe.

“Callum?” Isobel’s hand tightened around his wrist.

And just like that, time started again. “Let’s go.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, while his other hand dug out his phone to dial the emergency number.

“No.” Isobel stayed rooted to the spot. “The baby’s coming.”

“I know, darling. We need to get to the hospital.”

“No!” Her voice began to rise. “I mean, right now. This minute. I can feel the head.” Before he could say or do anything else, she lay down on the floor. Right there, on the burgundy theater carpet. Her knees went up, her hands curved around her belly, and she groaned.

Callum fell to his knees beside her, working to keep his voice steady and grateful that years of military training helped him do it. “Isobel, you can’t lie here. We need to get you to the hospital.”

Head shaking furiously, she grabbed his hand. “It’s too late. My water already broke, and I have to push.” A loud moan rent the air, pulling her sisters’ attention away from the stage.

“Izzy?” Agnes knelt beside Isobel and brushed back her hair, clear worry on her face. “What’s happening?”

“Baby’s coming,” Isobel panted. “Callum, get my knickers off.”

“I’m going to pretend I never heard that,” Mairi said as she knelt beside Agnes.