She pushed Charlie into James's arms. He seemed about to say something, but the boy's whimpering cut him off. James cradled the child carefully, patting his back as he drifted toward the window, murmuring soft reassurances.
Delia approached me and slowly pulled back the covers. Her eyes widened in what looked like surprise.
Bright red blood was seeping from between my legs, soaking through my nightgown.
She smiled. "Oh my, there's nothing wrong at all! Linda, you're being so dramatic."
James's expression turned icy.
"Linda, I knew you were faking it!"
Delia gave him a coy smile. "Wives are meant to be pampered, aren't they? If she's this delicate, you'll just have to spoil her a little more."
"If she can't handle this much pain, imagine what childbirth will be like. You'd better book her an epidural in advance."
Then her face shifted to something pitiful. "Though I heard epidurals and C-sections can affect the baby. For Charlie's sake, I just gritted my teeth and pushed through."
James scoffed. "She's not getting an epidural. My son will be well-behaved. She'll deliver naturally without any of that."
Pride dripped from every word. A flash of jealousy flickered through Delia's eyes.