Page 82 of Through the Storm

I wipe at my eyes. “Okay, okay. No animal sounds. Noted.”

She slumps back in her seat, crossing her arms. “I just…I really don’t want to gross you out.”

That shuts me up quickly.

“I promise I wouldn’t be. But if it makes you uncomfortable, we won’t.”

She frowns. “Wewon’t what?”

I turn the engine off, refusing to leave before we resolve this. “We won’t do it like that. We’ll do it our way. The Katy and Ben way.”

“Our way how?”

I think for a second. Then my mouth twitches. “Okay,” I say. “Hear me out.”

She sighs. “This feels dangerous.”

“Instead of animal sounds,” I continue, completely serious, “I’ll coach you. Like a hype man. Like… playoff game energy.”

She turns to me. “You think childbirth needs a hype man.”

“I thinkyoudeserve one.”

She blinks.

I keep going, warming to it. “I talk you through it. Remind you you’re doing great. That you’re strong. That this is temporary. That you’re not alone.”

Her beautiful smile appears.

“And,” I add quickly, “you get to swear at me, yell at me, throw stuff at me. I’ll duck. We can practice.”

Her brows knit. “Practice… labor hyping? Or throwing stuff at you?”

“Just the coaching part,” I explain. “Come up with our own game plan.”

She hesitates. “Right now?”

“Right now.”

She still looks at me like I’m crazy, but nods.

“Okay,” I say, clearing my throat. “You’re having a contraction.”

She rolls her eyes, squeezes them shut. “Ow.”

I lean toward her, voice steady, warm. “Okay. Breathe. You’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing. Let your body do its thing.”

She opens one eye. “That was actually good.”

“Told you,” I say. “Stay with me. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”

She smiles brighter.

I keep going. “That’s it, Katy,” I continue softly. “Just like that.You’re strong. You’re incredible. And this will end. Every contraction ends.”

Her breath catches for real this time. She half laughs, half sobs. “Stop. You’re making it worse.”

“Worse how?”