Three Years Later
"C'mon, Shell, you can do this," he encouraged her, brushing back the wet hair from her forehead.
"No," she heaved, her voice tired. "I can't." She licked her lips, making a grasp for the cup of ice he held.
Grabbing a piece, he ran it over her dry lips and pushed it into her mouth. "You can. You're the strongest woman I've ever known. Look how you've put up with me and my bullshit. You got this, sweetheart."
"I'm so tired." She lolled her head around on her pillow, trying to focus her bleary eyes.
Hannah appeared at her bedside, grabbing her friend's hand. "C'mon, girl, you got this. I know you got this. Your birth plan says no c-section, remember how we argued over that? It's time for you to quit messing around and get this baby out."
Shell's eyes flashed with ang
