Chapter Sixty Three

Her gaze went to Maya. “You can walk if you want to in fact, I recommend it. There’re ice chips and water here. Are you certain no epidural?”

Maya shook her head. She was adamant on that subject, no matter how I pleaded with her to change her mind.

Dr. Suzanne smiled at Maya and patted her hand. “You can change your mind, if you want, but we can’t leave it too long. There is a point we can’t go back.”

“I know. I want to do this without drugs.”

“Okay, you two. Settle in. I’ll be back shortly.”

She left, and I bent over and kissed my wife, meeting her worried gaze steadily. “I’m here, sweetheart. You’re going to be fine. I won’t leave you for a minute. And later, we’re going to meet our child.”

“It’s so overwhelming,” she admitted in a shaky voice. “I’m scared.”

I was relieved she said the words aloud. I pressed another kiss on her head.

“What do you need?”

“You to hold me.”

“You never have to ask.”

She shifted to the side, and I sat beside her, wrapping my arms around her body, spreadi