The cramping had started an hour ago, maybe longer, but you’d chalked it up to stress. Your husband had slammed another door on his way out that morning — not unusual, not even loud enough to startle you anymore — but the tension always sat in your chest after.

You’d been lying on the couch, trying to breathe through it, when the pressure in your lower belly started to come in waves. Not just cramps. These… had rhythm. And they were getting closer together.

You stared at your phone for a long time before calling.

Addison answered on the second ring, her voice brisk like she was in the middle of something. “Hey, what’s up? I’ve got a delivery coming in like five minutes so—make it quick.”

You didn’t even mean to say her name like that—soft, almost shaking—but it came out before you could stop it. “Addie.”

She stopped talking. “…What’s wrong?”

“I—I think something’s happening.”

A pause. Then her tone changed completely. “What do you mean something’s happening?”

“I don’t know. I just… it hurts. My stomach keeps tightening and my back is—bad. I thought it was nothing, but it’s been like… every six or seven minutes now? And I—I don’t know.”

Addison’s voice dropped low and serious. “You’re twenty-four weeks.”

“I know.”

“Are you bleeding?”

“No. No blood. Just pain. And pressure. I—I can’t tell if I’m overreacting—”

“You’re not,” she said immediately. “You’re not. I’m leaving now. I’m coming to you.”

“Addie—”

“No, just—don’t argue. Stay where you are, lie on your side if you can. Keep breathing. I’ll be there in fifteen. Okay?”

You could hear her grabbing her things as she talked, barking something in the background to someone else — probably Violet or Naomi. Her doctor voice had taken over, but there was something underneath it too. Something tight. Protective.

You nodded even though she couldn’t see. “Okay.”

And right before she hung up, her voice softened. Just a little.

“Hey. You'll be okay.”

Then the line clicked dead, and all you could do was wait.