Too Late for Regret (Annalise and Roger) novel Chapter 149

Ana’s POV

One Month Later:

The month had flown by as we approached my due date. I had made up several lists of what I wanted to get done before I went out on maternity leave. I was a little forgetful these days with what I loving referred to as ‘baby brain‘. I knew that I might go over my due date, as my OBGYN said it happens a lot with your first baby. I wanted to use all eight weeks to spend with the baby. So I planned on working until my due date, or the day after. My doctor told me that it was fine to work right up until my due date.

I planned on doing just that. Yesterday was my actual due date, and things were still going smoothly. I was in my office with Rita when the first pain hit. It wasn’t that bad. I’ve been having Braxton Hicks contractions for a while now, so I ignored them. But as the day wore on, they got more insistent, instead of tapering off. That was my first inkling that this wasn’t a drill. Rita had been watching me carefully for the last hour.

“We need to head out,” Rita told me.

“I still have a few more emails to reply to, just give me thirty more minutes, okay? It’s my last day of work,” I replied.

“Are you planning on having the baby here, Ana? Because I’ve been timing your contractions, and they’re five minutes apart for the last hour. You can reply to the emails from your tablet. It’s best to go to the hospital now. Besides, Charlie will be here in about five minutes to pick you up. I had him go grab your bag first when I texted him,” she replied.

“How did you know?” I asked. I hadn’t said a word. I figured out by the third hour that it was the start of labor. I didn’t want to alarm Charlie while he was in a meeting with Mark. I thought I had time.

“I have a niece and a nephew. I went through this with my sister. I knew the signs. You’ve been really tired today, Ana. You’re normally walking all over the place, but you’ve only got up to go use the bathroom twice. Fatigue is a sign of labor. Plus you cleaned the house, nursery, and your office from top to bottom three weeks ago. That has a name too, nesting. You’re preparing for the baby. I wanted to get you to the hospital before your water broke, but I’ve got towels and a trash bag ready to go, just in case,” Rita replied drily.

At my shocked looked, she laughed and said, “Charlie’s almost here, so that’s about to be his problem. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

“Ok, let me grab my purse and tablet,” I no longer wanted to argue. I was waiting for my water to break to let me know that I needed to get moving, but I’ll take her word for it instead.

She carried my purse and wrapped her arm around me to help me out of the office building. People noticed and started wishing me well as we approached the door to head outside. I watched as Charlie pulled in front of the door and slammed on the brakes, before jumping out to come help me get in the SUV. He was scared; that much was clear.

“Let me drive, you two sit in the back,” Rita calmly said, as she watched him roar up to the door. He didn’t argue; he just helped me in and then ran around to sit next to me.

Rita had been taking lessons from her boyfriend Jon, who was hands down the most skilled driver at Charlie’s company. She got us there quickly and safely and let us out at the door. “I will go park and come right back,” she announced.

She was jogging up by the time they were taking me to labor and delivery. She was calm, and I passed her my phone to send out the blast in the text chain I had created. That way, no one was missed, and I didn’t have to spend thirty minutes typing and sending the same message out while in labor.

They also knew they had plenty of time to arrive, all except my mother, who would be in the room with me and Charlie when I gave birth. I’m sure my parents are probably on their way now. I knew how much Charlie’s family was looking forward to this, so they were probably on their way too. They could have waited, but they were so looking forward to the baby’s arrival.

“I also sent Mark a text, as I heard from Jon that you just ran out of the meeting without saying a word,” Rita teased Charlie.

“Thanks,” he replied. He helped me into bed and was looking for something to do. He was a man of action; he needed to be actively helping.

“You did such a great job, Ana. He’s perfect,” Charlie said as he looked down at our son holding his finger in his tiny hand.

I held the baby up to hand to Charles, but he was scared to hold him. The nurse came over and said, “Have a seat, Dad.” I guess she was used to nervous fathers. He sat down, and she placed him in his arms and showed him how to hold him. I don’t think I will ever forget the look of awe and love that was on his face as he stared down at our son.

“Hey, baby, I’m your Dad,” Charlie said as he stroked our baby’s cheek with his fingertip. They took the baby to get cleaned up. Charlie hovered and watched over our son as they did what was needed.

Our families came back and took turns holding the baby. All agreed that he was the most handsome baby they had seen for a long time. Melissa had brought Charlie’s baby pictures, and I could see that our baby was a miniature version of his handsome father. The only feature he had received from me was my eye color.

“Have you decided on a name?” Charles asked. I knew what he was truly asking, as he would

love for the name to be continued with our son.

“We have, his name is going to be Liam Charles Billingsley,” I replied.

My parents already knew what the baby’s name would be. I planned on giving my father’s name as a middle name if we had another son, but I also knew Seth might use it. I could see how Seth was reacting to Liam. He already adores the baby like we do. I believe my brother is starting to realize that now that he’s thirty–one, he needs to stop serial dating and get serious. I can see that he would love to have a child, too. I hope he is able to find someone

who loves him for who he is, not because of who his family is.