Page 68 of Then and Now (The Edge of Retaliation 3)
I snort. “I’m looking for Jo, she said she was coming in here to see Tatum. We’re going to lunch. I think she’s already there, though.”
“Not too far away I hope, she’s not delivering my baby on the side of a road.”
I shake my head and roll my eyes. “Two doors down. You guys look super busy today?”
“We’re packed. The club brings in more business than we can handle, we have to turn half of it away but we’re makin’ a killing. It’s fuckin’ great.”
I smile at him, taking his shirt in my hands again. “So you’re happy?”
“So fuckin’ happy. Best thing I ever did was stayin’ here with you. Mom and dad are visiting soon, and I know it’ll all be perfect.”
I love his new faith in life.
Hell, I love my own new faith in life.
It feels good to finally be…free.
“Ethan is coming tomorrow, too. He said he’s not missing his godson’s birth.”
Tanner rolls his eyes, “Well, he doesn’t have to worry about missing his godson’s birth, just his goddaughter’s.”
I laugh and rub my belly, “I guess we’ll find out.”
“Yeah,” he grins, “I guess we will. I gotta get back to work, baby. I’ll see you at home, yeah?”
Home.
With Tanner.
In a house he bought us. A beautiful big, white, two storey house with trees and a yard. A home I could only dream about. A home that makes my whole world come together in one beautiful package.
My phone rings and I look down to see my dad’s name flashing across the screen. He has been calling a lot more in the last few months since he found out I was having a baby. He’s been making an effort, and I’ve been letting him in, giving him my time and letting him fix what he broke.
He’s trying.
Even Max has called a few times, checking in on me. He told me he’d come to visit soon. Mom still doesn’t talk to me, but Max said she does ask about me, she’s just too stubborn to make the first move. I’ve spent my life doing the hard yards, it’s about time she stepped up and did some herself. She really needs to make the effort this time. She needs to be a mother.
I glance at Tanner and he says, “Take it, I’ve got to get back to work.”
I smile at him and pick up the phone saying, “Hey, dad.”
“How are you Callie?” he asks right away, “any baby yet?”
“Not yet, but don’t worry I’ll let you know when bub arrives.”
“Are you having any pains?”
“Nothing yet. It’s all very quiet.”
He chuckles. “The calm before the storm. How is everything else?”
I talk to my dad for about twenty minutes, promise three times to let him know as soon as the baby is born, and then meet Jo down at the café just a few blocks away from the garage. She’s already sitting and waiting when I arrive. Just like I suspected she would be.
She stands, and smiles. “You’re getting bigger by the second, I swear. Is that baby eating everything you’ve got left?”
I laugh, “I’m starting to think so.”
“I’ve ordered us some burgers, I figured you’d be hungry.”
I sit down and roll my eyes. “Not too much in the last few days, the baby is taking up all the room.”
“Maybe he or she is ready to come. You know what they say about when you stop getting hungry, it means they’re ready.”
“Where did you learn that?” I frown.
“In a baby book,” she grins proudly.
She’s reading baby books. That’s so freaking nice I don’t even know what to say. She cares so much about this baby already, and I know she’s going to be an incredible part of its life.
“Since when have you been reading baby books?” I ask.
“Since you got pregnant. I want to know everything, so if you’re having a hard time, I’ll be there to fix it. I won’t let you suffer, I have all the information.”
“Stop it,” I croak, “you’ll make me cry if you keep being this incredible.”
She shrugs, as if it’s nothing that she’s so amazing. “You’re my best friend, I’d do anything for you.”
“I know you would which is why-”
I trail off and my eyes get wide as a flush of water suddenly soaks the seat beneath me. I open my mouth and try to say something, but an incredible pain grips my stomach and has me doubling over.
Just like that. Out of the blue.
I thought this only happened in movies?
“Callie!” Jo says, standing and rushing around the table, leaning over with her hands on my back. “What’s wrong?”
“My waters broke,” I cry, panting between the incredible pain. “Oh Jo. Call Tanner.”
“Shit,” she says, “shit! Oh no. I’m not ready. Hey! Call a paramedic, hurry!”
The waitress she just yelled at stares at me, her eyes get wide, and then she nods and rushes off to call an ambulance. Jo pulls out her phone while rubbing my back and calls Tanner.
