Chapter One Hundred-Twenty

Chapter One Hundred-Twenty-One
Grace's POV
I woke with a sharp pain slicing across my back.
For a moment, I lay frozen, waiting to see if it would happen again. Maybe it was just the way I'd slept. At 36 weeks with triplets, comfort was a distant memory for me now. The doctors had been amazed I'd made it this far without full bed rest. I'd had to give up working at 25 weeks.
When nothing happened for several minutes, I carefully shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position without waking Hunter. His arm was draped protectively over me, his face peaceful in sleep. These quiet moments in the early morning had become precious to me. I often couldn't sleep now.
Then after a few moments, it hit again, a tightening that started in my back and wrapped around to my abdomen. I sucked in a breath, my hand instinctively moving to my enormous belly.
"Okay, babies," I whispered. "Let's not rush things."
I glanced at the clock: 4:37 AM. Too early to call Dr. Bates unless I was sure this really was labor. I needed to time the contractions anyway if that's what these were. Carefully extracting myself from Hunter's embrace, I slipped out of bed with great difficulty, grabbed my phone and waddled to the bathroom. Waddling was the only way I could describe my walk at present.
In the mirror, I hardly recognized myself. My once-petite frame had expanded dramatically to accommodate our three little miracles. Dark circles shadowed my eyes from weeks of broken sleep.
Another pain gripped me, stronger this time. I gripped the edge of the counter, breathing through it the way we'd practiced in our birthing classes. When it passed, I checked the time on my phone. Just six minutes since the last one.
This was happening. Today was the day.
I splashed water on my face and took a few steadying breaths. I needed to stay calm. We had a plan. The hospital bag was packed. The nursery was ready. The car seats were installed in the new SUV Hunter had insisted on buying. We were as prepared as we could be.
Still, fear flickered at the edges of my confidence. Three babies. Three tiny lives depending on me to bring them safely into this world. What if something went wrong? I was four weeks early. Dr. Bates had told me at my last fortnightly visit that this could happen at any time and that the babies would be okay.
Another contraction seized me, and I couldn't stop the small gasp that escaped my lips.
"Grace?" Hunter's voice was rough with sleep but already alert.
I turned to find him in the doorway, hair mussed, eyes instantly assessing.
"I think it's time," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. I was shaking.
He was fully awake in an instant, crossing to me in two long strides. "How far apart?"
"About six minutes. They just started. I wanted to make sure before I woke you."
His hands cupped my face, his eyes searching mine. "Are you okay?"
I nodded, leaning into his touch. "Just nervous. And excited. Oh, and terrified."
A small smile touched his lips. "Me too." He pulled me to him. We stayed like that for a few minutes, him just holding me.
Another contraction hit, and I clenched my teeth, breathing through it. Hunter pulled back and held my hand so I could grip it tight.
"Five minutes," I noted, checking my phone, breathing through the pain. "They're getting closer together pretty fast."
Hunter's brow furrowed. "Let's not wait. I'd rather get to the hospital early than risk anything with triplets."
I nodded my agreement, grateful he was here and not at the office. While I changed into comfortable clothes, Hunter called Dr. Bates, who confirmed we should come in immediately.
"She says triplets can progress quickly," he told me, already pulling our hospital bag from the closet. "Especially once labor starts."
"Hunter," I said, pausing with my hand on my belly, "we're going to be parents today." I felt tears fill my eyes.
His movements stilled, and for a moment, we just looked at each other, the magnitude of what was happening washing over us.
"We're going to be parents," he repeated softly.
The next contraction broke the spell, this one sharp enough to make me bend forward. "That one felt faster and more intense," I gasped, not even looking at my phone.
"That's it, we're going," Hunter's voice left no room for argument.
He helped me downstairs and into the car, handling me like I was made of glass. I would have laughed at his carefulness if another contraction hadn't hit just as he was helping me into the passenger seat.
"Breathe, sweetheart," he murmured, holding my hand until it passed. "That's it. You're doing great."
The drive to the hospital was mercifully quick due to the early hour. Hunter kept one hand on my knee the entire time, only removing it to shift gears. Every few minutes, another contraction would ripple through me, each one stronger than the last.
"They're coming faster," I said, checking the time. "Just over four minutes now."
Hunter's jaw tightened as he pressed down harder on the accelerator, pushing just above the speed limit.
"Almost there," he assured me, his voice calm despite the white-knuckled grip he had on the steering wheel.
We pulled up to the hospital entrance, where Hunter had called ahead. A nurse was already waiting with a wheelchair.
"Mrs. Sinclair," she said warmly, "we've been expecting you. How far apart are your contractions?"
"About four minutes," I managed, just as another one hit. This time, I couldn't hold back a small cry of pain.
"Make that three minutes," Hunter corrected, his hand steady on my shoulder as the contraction passed.
All of a sudden, I felt pressure and fluid wet my seat and flooded the floor. "I think my water just broke."
The nurse's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Let's get you up to Labor and Delivery."
Everything moved quickly after that. I was whisked to a room, hooked up to monitors, examined by a resident who confirmed I was already five centimeters dilated.
"Moving fast for a first-timer," she noted, "but that can happen with multiples. Dr. Bates is on her way."