The pain was alive. It was like a monster wrapped around the lower part of Tessa’s abdomen, digging in with steel claws. Each contraction crashed over her in waves, pulling her under, stealing her breath, wiping out any ability to think clearly. She tried to take slow deep breaths like she had once read in a book, but reality was far crueler and more terrifying than any printed words.

Her body, as if betraying her, had decided to start this on its own, ignoring every plan and every medical ...