When Cora looked from Jack to Frazer, everything stilled. Frazer stared straight at her, eyes green as ever and filled with intensity. In that moment, it was as if Frazer had forgotten the question.

Her eyes flew back down. Her hands moved in slow circles along Jack’s spine. “You’re eight centimetres.”

Whimpering, Jack dropped his head on the bed between his arms. “Birth is shit.”

Cora chuckled. “Yeah, I imagine so.”

“I want the epidural now.” His voice was muffled with his head still buried.

“Okay. I’ll go page the anaesthetist.” Frazer disappeared easily.

Quiet settled around them but for Jack’s panting. He moaned softly, swaying again, and Cora sat and let him grip her hands.

The next thirty minutes were a flurry of activity. Jack ended up back on the bed, blood pressure cuff and pulse oximeter on. An anaesthetist swept in and then swept back out, the epidural placed. The glassy look on Jack’s face intensified, but the pain that scrunched his face up, making him look much older than his eighteen years, smoothed away.

It was only a few more hours. A few more hours of coaching Jack, of avoiding Frazer’s eyes. A few more hours until Frazer was between his legs and Cora was sitting behind him, his head thrown back, his weight pushing back on her front as she gripped his forearms so he could bear down with a grunt tearing from his lips. Between Frazer and Cora, the first client of their programme, their joint venture, trembled with the pain and effort of bringing forth a new life.

With Jack’s final push, Frazer smiled and held up the newborn baby, a wail turning it from a mottled blue to the bright, safe red of life. Thrashing, screaming life, too small and yet so large in the sterile room. Cora, eyes wide, watched Frazer cut the cord and wrap the baby in a blanket. Against her chest, she felt the sobs Jack lashed out.

“I want to hold Bug.” His voice cracked, but his arms were already reaching out.

The baby, when Frazer placed him in his arms, blinked blurrily up at Jack, a fist curled next to its cheek. Cora didn’t move. Frazer didn’t move. And between them, Jack continued to sob while the baby sucked its fist. Cora stared at Frazer, who stared at the baby who had brought them all together.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“You look exhausted.”

Frazer jumped, her feet dropping off her desk as she straightened in her seat. Maybe she’d been falling asleep. Just possibly. Her office was warm and comfortable, and she was so sleep deprived after been up all night with Jack and then thinking her office was a good place to crash afterwards.

Sitting across from her at her desk, her arms crossed and her lips pursed as if trying to smother a smirk, Tia was watching Frazer like she’d been there for ages.