My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 237

Evelyn

"God, this is impossible!" I cried out, gripping Jacob's hand so tight it almost hurt. The pain was like nothing I'd ever felt-cutting through my skin, my bones, and deep down in my soul.

Honestly, I didn't even know when it started exactly. I just remembered waking up that morning and realizing I'd peed on the floor... except it wasn't pee. My water had broken. Jacob scrambled, throwing on his clothes as fast as he could, and got me to the hospital. The pain kicked in on the way there, sharp and relentless, and now I knew every person in the room-everyone except Jacob.

Clara and Dad were on their way from the airport-I overheard Jacob talking to Bianca. Enzo and Rosaline waited outside with her.

"Baby, you're doing so well," Jacob whispered, pressing a kiss on my sweaty forehead. He was trying not to break down, even though I was a crying, screaming mess. I think I even heard him mutter he'd never do this again after seeing me like this.

The pain was something else. How do women do this? I thought of Mom and Clara-I'd begged her so many times for another sibling. Now I understood.

"I'm scared I'm hurting her..." I sniffled, voice shaking. "This is awful."

"Evelyn, sweetheart," the doctor said gently, "You're not hurting the baby. You're doing just fine."

But it didn't stop me from feeling like I was failing. "I'm so bad at this. I can't even push right."

"You're amazing," Jacob said, holding my hand like it was the only thing keeping him together. "We're almost there. Just one last push, okay? I'll count with you."

I tried to catch my breath. My lungs burned, my whole body trembled. I didn't think I could push again, but I had to.

"Okay," I said, looking into his eyes and trying to calm down despite the pain. "I'll try."

"That's my girl," he said softly, brushing my hair from my face. "One..."

I pushed.

"I see the head! Keep going!" the doctor said urgently.

baby," Jacob said.

I pushed again.

"That's it, almost there."

hope and love, mine

"Three," we said together.

I had-screaming through the pain-and then, finally, a tiny cry filled the

bed, letting

Jacob said, kissing my forehead and not letting go

like he

her up and then handed her to

"There you go, sweetheart."

the world blurry around me. All

I gently touched her,

it, Jacob," I whispered, resting my forehead against his. He brushed his fingers over

here. Safe. Our

his—not from sadness or fear, but something bigger,

mother. Me-the girl who'd never believed she could handle herself-now

she's so tiny..."

voice

he gently wiped

@

you hear Mommy and Daddy? We're so incredibly lucky you're here. You've completed us-our whole

he said the

She completed us. Our little world, bursting with dreams and quiet promises. She brought something we'd been chasing

brushed my fingers against his cheek. He leaned into my touch like it was the only place he

His voice

leaving Sienna. Tears pooled there- silent wor unspoken but understood. knew without a doubt he'd never fail her. He would be the kind of father