Chapter 1 - Life

It was dark when the plane touched down. Camryn Thomas was ready to jump out of her seat the moment the doors opened. A car would be waiting, and she just hoped that she had made it in time.

She looked at her watch, a flashy gold thing she had bought at the airport over three years ago, something to mark the passing of time from one life to another. Now, it mocked her. 10:53 p.m.

There should have been another month, but the phone calls this afternoon from Maria, frantically telling her to come now, had put her on this course of action. To get herself back to LA as quickly as possible, because they were not waiting.

The trip north was supposed to be a flying visit anyway. She was just going up to check on the cabin and make sure everything was okay for when they visited it again later in the year. Their friend Lucy Owen had been keeping an eye on it, but Cam wanted to check it over for herself. There had been some snow over Christmas and the new year, and they agreed that it made sense for her to go now. So, she had been up on the lake while Michelle got on with arranging the beach house just how she wanted it. Nesting.

She took the steps down from the plane two at a time. Well wishes from the flight crew were shouted out as she flew past with a quick wave over her shoulder. Gavin was already out of the car with the door open and she all but fell inside.

“Have I missed it?” she asked urgently as Gavin climbed into the seat beside her and took off along the runway towards the gates that she thought would lead out onto the road and the LA traffic.

He shook his head. “No, but we’re cutting it close.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll pay any tickets, just get me there.”

He looked across and grinned. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered.” He spun the car around and headed back along the runway to the far end. In the distance Cam could just make out the shadow of something. The closer they got, the louder it became too, and she recognised it instantly.

“You are brilliant,” she said, leaning across to kiss his cheek. He pulled the car in as close as he could and they both jumped out, running bent over towards the small helicopter that was ready to lift off and get them across town.

She adjusted the headphones over her newly shorn haircut and listened as Gavin filled her in. “Once we get there, we have to set down in a park. But Erin will be waiting with the Audi and it’s a three-minute drive from there,” he said holding up three fingers.

She nodded. “Okay.” Turning to the pilot, she asked, “What’s the ETA?”

“We’re looking at four minutes, ma’am.”

“Great.” She sat back and blew out a breath. There was nothing more anyone could do but ride this out and hope for the best.

10:59 p.m. Three more minutes and she would be in the car again. At that point it was up to the traffic how long it took, but she would be there as soon as she could, running corridors like her life depended on it.

She could see Erin waving up at them from the ground as they hovered above, her pink hair lit up by the lights on the underside of the helicopter. She was grinning from ear to ear.

The car doors were open, and Cam was already unbuckling her seatbelt. As soon as they landed, Cam and Gavin jumped out and straight into the car, Gavin at the wheel.

“Welcome back,” Erin said loudly above the noise. Cam yanked on her seatbelt and grinned at her nervously, while Gavin hit the accelerator.

“Thanks, any news?” Cam asked, twisting in her seat to see Erin. “Is she okay?”

“Everything is fine and going to plan, except for obviously the timing.”

Cam nodded, sucking in nervous deep breaths. “I didn’t think I’d make it.”

“Well, you haven’t yet.” Erin laughed and held onto the door handle as Gavin swung the car at speed around the bend and onto the Santa Monica Boulevard before taking a left onto Fairfax.

“Hang on, I’m going to run a short cut,” he called back to them. At the gap in the traffic he pulled the car across the lanes, ignoring the beeping horns and headed down Oakwood. “Nearly there.”

Cam closed her eyes and did some more deep breathing techniques. Her stomach was in knots, and she felt nauseous as the car sped up and slowed down for each junction. Finally, the car screeched to a stop right outside the building. Cam opened her eyes, and without another word she jumped out of the car and ran for the entrance. There was an elevator that had just let some people off, and she managed to squeeze inside as the doors closed behind her. She hit the button for the third floor. “Come on, come on,” she muttered under her breath. It came to a smooth halt and the doors slid open. She was running again, rounding the bend until she came to the reception desk. “Michelle Thomas,” she gasped out through panted breath. “I need…to find…Michelle Thomas.”

The nurse smiled from behind the desk. “Well, it looks as though you’re just in time, Camryn. She’s been screaming about you for the last half an hour, so you might want to prepare yourself for some abuse.” She winked and came around the desk to lead the way.

Michelle was in a private room with just a small bed and a whole heap of monitors. She was on her feet and bent over the bed when Cam entered the room. She rushed towards her, a warm palm lovingly stroking her back. “Hey, I made it. How are you feeling?” She grinned. Michelle turned to glare at her.

“Like I am about to shove a bowling ball out of my vagina, how do you think I am feeling?” she hissed before wincing again as another contraction hit.

“Okay, well what do you need me to do?”

“Everything. Take them out. I can’t do this.” She began to cry, and Cam gathered her up into her arms.

“Yes, you can, baby. You’re totally prepared for this. You’ve done every class; you’ve eaten well and exercised. If anyone can push those babies out, it’s you,” she reassured her. “Is it helping to walk? Do you want to sit down? Can I give you a back rub? What do you need? Tell me what I can do?”

As soon as the pain lessened, Michelle stood up. “You can shut up, okay. Just please, no talking right now.”

“Got it,” Cam said, earning another glare. She dragged her finger across her mouth and zipped it before going to sit down in the large armchair.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Michelle cried. “Seriously, you just going to sit there while I push these babies into the world?”

“No, I…I thought you wanted…”

“I just want some quiet, with my wife making me feel better,” she whined. The nurse that had shown her to the room popped her head in and grinned, an I told you so look on her face.

Cam nodded. She could do this. Michelle could be as grumpy as she liked right now. She came back across the room and stood behind Michelle as she bent forward on the bed again. “Just rub my back, please. They’ve been kicking like mad.”

Doing as she was asked, she rubbed gentle circles like she had been shown at the classes Michelle had insisted they take. “I’m sorry, Camryn,” Michelle whimpered. “I don’t mean to be mean to you. It’s just, it’s just…damn, it hurts.” She cried out once more as another contraction hit. 

“Do I need to get a doctor?” Cam asked, hating to see Michelle in so much pain.

“No, just do what you’re doing. Thank you.”

“I can’t believe that they’re finally going to be here,” Cam gushed.