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.

Jacob said.

I pushed again.

"That's it, almost there."

full of hope and love, mine full of exhaustion

"Three," we said together.

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

bed,

kissing my forehead and not letting go of my

looked like he

her up and then handed her to

"There you go, sweetheart."

world blurry around me. All the pain

as I gently touched

He brushed his fingers over her tiny forehead, careful not

Safe. Our

from sadness or fear, but something bigger,

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

she's so tiny..."

his voice

as he gently wiped

@

pressing a soft kiss.to her delicate forehead Hey princess... Can you hear Mommy and Daddy? We're so incredibly lucky you're here. You've completed us-our whole world."

like that, he said the thing I

Our little world, bursting with dreams and quiet promises. She brought something we'd been chasing for so long-peace. Stability.

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

voice cracked,

something deep and raw. "You've made me the happiest man alive." He kissed the back of my hand, his eyes never leaving Sienna. Tears pooled there- silent wor unspoken but