Chapter 2

"Fine! We're leaving now! You always turn everything into an emergency."

After I keep pushing him, Liam finally picks up my hospital bag and heads for the door.

At that exact moment, my parents and brother arrive at our apartment.

The second my mom sees me still at home, all the color drains from her face.

"Why are you still here? We're leaving. Now."

Before I can step out the door, Chloe lets out another yelp and touches her damp hair.

"I forgot to curl my hair. I'll look horrible in the pictures."

"Can you wait just a little longer? It'll only take a minute."

My mom tries to reason with her.

"Stay here and finish getting ready. We'll take Maya to the hospital first. This is an emergency."

Chloe plugs in the curling iron.

"Don't rush me. I'll be done in a minute, and we can all go together."

"I'm the godmother. I need to look good when I hold the baby."

"If you want to come, then hurry the hell up! My sister is in labor. She doesn't have time for your beauty routine!" my brother snaps.

"Why are you yelling at me? I'm not doing this on purpose. I'm going as fast as I can."

"Who knew Maya's water would break a month early? I didn't have time to get ready either. I'm stressed too."

My mom ignores her.

She wraps an arm around me and starts helping me toward the door.

My dad and brother run down to the garage to bring the car around.

But Liam doesn't follow us.

He steps back into the living room.

"It's fine. Take your time curling it. Just don't burn yourself."

My mom whips around and glares at him.

Inside me, the baby starts kicking wildly.

I gasp in pain and look at Liam.

"Eleven o'clock. We have to be at the hospital."

"It's 10:30 a.m. Are you coming with me or not?"

Seeing my pale, exhausted face, Liam shows a flicker of guilt.

Then he pushes me back onto the sofa.

"Stop making a scene. You're exaggerating the pain because you want me to choose you over Chloe, aren't you?"

"She'll be done soon. Be good and wait."

I lie there, the contractions shifting from a dull ache into sharp, tearing pain.

Chloe keeps checking herself in the mirror.

"Since I'm curling my hair anyway, I might as well do my makeup. It'll only take another couple of minutes."

"Liam, help me choose. Nude lipstick or dusty rose?"

The doula finally loses her temper.

"Enough! Maya needs to leave right now!"

Chloe walks over and links her arm through Liam's.

She pouts.

"Maya is so lucky. Even the doula takes her side."

"Unlike me. Nobody loves me. I just want one nice photo with my goddaughter. Maya understands, right?"

I'm in too much pain to speak.

She takes my silence as agreement.

Liam looks at me.

"Five more minutes. Then we're leaving."

Another contraction hits.

I dig my fingers into the sofa fabric and wait for it to pass.

"Liam," I finally say. "Remember May twentieth? The day we were supposed to get our marriage license? She wanted to come with us, and you insisted on waiting for her. She overslept. By the time we got there, City Hall was closed, and we never went back."

"On our wedding day, she insisted on riding with you. She was hungover and made us late to our own ceremony."

"Today, I'm asking you one last time. Do you choose me and the baby, or do you stay here and wait for her?"

"Are you seriously bringing up the past while you're in labor?!"

Chloe dramatically covers her mouth.

"Wow, Maya, you really keep score, don't you? Do pregnant women just sit around thinking of old grudges to start fights over?"

"Whatever. I'm not arguing with a pregnant woman. I'm not even ready yet."

It's 10:40a.m.

The amniotic fluid running down my legs is now streaked with blood.

I don't look at them anymore.

I bite my lip to keep myself from screaming.

"Take your time. I'm going without you."

I stumble out the door, clutching my belly.

When I finally reach the garage, my parking space is empty.

The luxury SUV my parents bought me when I got pregnant is gone.

My brother pulls out his phone.

"Where the hell is my sister's car?!"

Chloe runs down the stairs, shielding her freshly styled hair with one hand.

"I told Liam yesterday! I borrowed the car for two days. I was going to bring it back!"

I don't even look at her.

I dial 911.

"Hi, I'd like to report my car stolen—"

Before I can finish, Liam slaps the phone out of my hand.

He grabs my arm and pulls me toward his car.

"You want to go to the hospital? Fine! We're going!"

He shoves me into his compact sedan.

Then he drives like a maniac, flooring the gas before slamming on the brakes at every light.

My mom keeps warning him.

"Slow down! She needs a smooth ride!"

"You couldn't wait a few minutes earlier, and now you want me to slow down?"

At 10:57 a.m., we finally reach the hospital.

The emergency team is waiting outside with a stretcher.

The OR is ready. They only need the consent forms signed before they can take me in.

Liam picks up the pen.

Chloe suddenly gasps.

"Oh no! I forgot my press-on nails. My hands are going to look awful in the pictures. Maya, give me one second."

10:58 a.m.

Liam turns to me.

"We're already here. Just give her another minute. Chloe puts those nails on really fast."

I close my eyes.

Something inside me finally breaks.

Liam keeps talking.

"A few minutes won't hurt. She just wants a picture to remember the day."

"Get out."

A man in a tailored black suit strides toward us.

He shoves Liam aside and steps between us.

"She said, get out."

Then he takes the pen.

"I'm the baby's father."