“Joshua will sue,” he mutters, distracted. Max gets in the front seat and Bridget jumps in next to him.
We drive back around to the other side of the venue to where Joshua is just coming off the field. Cameron jumps out of the car and runs over to him, Joshua listens and then his eyes look up to me in the car. I see a flicker of anxiety as he tries to act calm and nods. He holds up a finger to me. Then he walks Jasper to his strapper, says something, and then comes back over to the car, jumping in the back.
“Its too early,” he pants. Cameron jumps in the other side of him.
I nod. “I know, it’s not due for another month.”
Max dials the other security.
“Where to?” The guard asks casually.
“L.A. Memorial Hospital.”
Chapter 10
I sit nervously in the back seat of the car with Joshua’s hand on my leg. Bridget sporadically looks back to check on me, while Cameron is on his phone looking something up. I think he’s Googling what development stage the baby will be at. I close my eyes. It isn’t time. I’m not ready, I don’t even have my hospital bag packed.
I take out my phone to text Mum and Abbie.
Disaster.
Wet my pants at polo.
Cameron thinks my water have broken.
On the way to hospital, keep you posted.
Damn it, Mum arrives in two weeks for the birth. I really wanted her here. You really are a naughty baby.
I start to dial a number. “Who are you ringing?” Joshua asks.
“I need to ring Adrian.”
“What for?”
“I don’t have anything with me,” I tell him in a panic.
He raises a brow but wisely holds his tongue as I switch it onto speaker.
“Hey, baby,” Adrian answers.
“Oh my God, Adrian. I’m having a nightmare,” I cry.
“What is it?”
“I wet my pants at polo and now Cameron thinks that it’s amniotic fluid and we are on our way to the hospital.”
“But… you are not due for another twenty-nine days.”
I smile. Of course he would know the exact days. “I know. What if they got a shot of me with wet pants?”
Joshua rolls his eyes. “Who cares?” he interjects. “We got bigger fucking problems.”
Adrian pauses as he thinks. “That’s ok, we will just issue a statement saying the images were photoshopped.”
“You could do that?” I ask hopefully.
“Of course we can. Swing past home and get changed and then go to the hospital.”
“Ok.” I nod. Good thinking.
“No!” Cameron snaps. “We need to get to the hospital as a matter of urgency and stop this labour.”
Joshua’s worried eyes flick to Cameron. “What’s the problem with this early.”
“The baby’s lungs are still developing and it may have trouble breathing.”
My face falls and Bridget reaches over the seat and grabs my hand. “Tash, this is just a false alarm. Everybody has false alarm stories, don’t they Cameron?” She glares at him in a shut the fuck up, your scaring her look.
“Yes, yes, of course,” Cameron corrects himself.
I think for a moment. “Adrian, can you go to our house and pack me a bag, please?”
“Of course, baby.”
I think for a moment. “Can you get my pink dressing gown and my nightdress from the bathroom?”
“Yes, what else?”
“Umm.” I think for a moment, what else do I need? Bridget can go and get my personal stuff later. My eyes glance at Joshua in his Polo gear. “Can you grab Joshua some clothes, too?”
“Ok, I will meet you there.”
“Thank you.”
Joshua grabs my hand again and winks.
I feel sick to my stomach. What if something goes wrong? What if the baby is underdeveloped?
“It will be ok, Presh,” Joshua saysassures me softly.
I nod nervously and put my head onto his shoulder. He wraps his arm around me. I rub my large stomach. Please behave in there and stop trying to escape. I’m not ready and neither are you.
After the slowest drive in history, we finally get to the hospital and find two nurses waiting at the door with a gown. They come over to the car and pass it in. “Put this on, dear.”
I take it with thanks and put it over my clothes. No doubt Adrian has rang ahead and organised this.
I waddle my way through the hospital with Joshua, Bridget and Cameron until we get to the maternity ward. The young nurse on the desk sees us and her face drops in shock.
“O-oh,” she stutters before regaining composure. “I mean… Hello. Can I help you?” She’s obviously a Joshua fan.
Joshua glares at her.
“Mrs. Stanton needs to see her doctor. Page Dr. Walton immediately!” Cameron snaps.
“Yes, sir.”
An elderly, kind midwife comes out and smiles. “Hello, my dear, my name is Nancy. What’s going on here?”
Cameron goes to interject and she holds her hand up to stop him.
“I’m talking to?” She raises her eyebrows at him in question.
“Natasha,” I murmur softly.
“I’m a doctor,” Cameron states, annoyed that he has just been dismissed.