Wes motions to me to move over on the couch so he can sit beside me. “I think that’s great. The boundary thing we can work on as we go. I’m taking a few weeks off as I transition jobs. I’m going to home base from here instead of Seattle going forward.”
“That had to have been a tough decision. I hope that wasn’t because of me,” Hannah responds.
“It was for me, Hayley, and the baby. I will still have to visit all of my clients, but then not having to also go to Seattle twice a month will make things easier. The nursery in our apartment is finished. Like we started to talk about last time, I’d like to be as hands-on as I can. I, or Hayley, or I guess both of us, will come over during the day so you can shower, sleep, get out…whatever the case may be. I don’t think it’s appropriate to stay the night here, however….”
Wes looks to me. I give him the reassurance he needs.
“However, we put a daybed in our home office. You’re more than welcome to stay with us once in a while, if you need help and still want to be nearby.”
“I wish we could have come to these decisions a long time ago.” Hannah shrugs just before her left hand presses into her back. Her body stretches to the side as she exhales quietly.
I put my mug down on the table, giving Wes a silent concerned look. “Hey, Han. You good?” he asks.
“Yeah. My back has been acting up on and off since late last night. It will annoy me for a while then it will disappear.”
I look back at Wes then kneel down on the floor by her side. “Has it been happening in a steady pattern?”
“I mean. I suppose. I was able to sleep for a few hours at a time. I’m sure the baby is just laying on a nerve or something.”
“Or you could be in labor. Wes, remember the time on the clock.”
“Labor? No. It can’t be. I was just in the doctor yesterday morning. They didn’t see any changes.”
“Well, not trying to set off any alarms, but things can change. How are you now?” I offer her the tea to drink.
“It’s still there. Not as bad though.”
“Okay. That’s good.” I look back at Wes and he’s still staring at his watch. Shit, I giggle. “Hey, you staring at the seconds go by, are you still with us?”
“What? Yeah. Yep.”
“I need to ask who you’re going to call if your mom isn’t here yet and you need to get to the hospital. Will you call your friend then us? Us first?”
“My girl is right down the hall, like the other end usually. I hadn’t considered it with her gone. I guess I would call you.” She pushes herself up off the cushion to move around a little bit. “Sorry I hijacked the conversation.” With her hand still pressing into the same spot on her back, she slowly moves to the kitchen.
I use this opportunity to light a fire under my man. “Hey. You can’t freak out at the mention of labor, pain, or any of that stuff. She is going to need the Wes I’ve had this last week. She needs and deserves that same rock.”
“I know. I do. I will.”
“Um, Wes?” Hannah’s shaky voice echoes in the kitchen.
“Yeah?”
“I think my water just broke.” Hannah retraces the steps she just took, and the evidence is clear. “You were right. Oh my God. You were right. What do I do?”
“Holy fucking shit!” Wes exclaims.
“Okay. Hold on.” I walk over to a drenched Hannah. “Where is your bathroom?”
“First door on the right. I have one in my bedroom too.”
“Can you walk to your room? You might be more comfortable there.” She nods slowly. Her face is growing paler by the minute. “Wes. Hey. I need you to call the doctor, let them know what happened, ask what they want us to do then clean up her floor. Hannah, I’ll help you into your bathroom so we can get you changed. Hey, Mav. You got this?”
“I do. Yes.”
Hannah and I leave him in the common space to complete his to-do list. I get Hannah comfortable and ready to go. She’s equal amounts of scared and frozen. I can hear Wes on the phone within a couple of minutes. I find her bag tucked in the corner of her closet and set it in the open doorway.
“Hayley? Would you go get the gray bear from the nursery? My father sent that to me from Calgary. I want to take it with.”
“Of course. Are you okay in here while I see where things stand out there?”
“Yeah. I think I’m okay. You’ll know if I’m not.”
“I’ll be right back.” Just before I leave her room, I hear my name. “What is it?”
“Thank you. Just thank you.”
I smile before finding Wes on his hands and knees, cleaning up the kitchen floor. “Are you okay?”
Wes sits back on his heels. His hands rest open faced on his knees. “I thought I was ready for this. I really did. I’ve gone over all the scenarios in my head. The middle of the night call. The in a meeting call. Everything. I never expected to be in the middle of her apartment, on my hands and knees, cleaning up after her water broke. Fuck. Why can’t it be the nineteen fifties and the fathers just pace the waiting room? This is too live and in living color.”
“Suck it up, Taylor. It’s about to get more real. What did they want us to do?”
“They want us to get there, and I quote, ‘as quickly and safely as possible.’”
“Well then, that’s what they’ll get. Hannah is as ready as she’s going to be. If she’s in pain, you wouldn’t know it. I’m pretty impressed with her.”
“I’m impressed with you, Hayley. You’re in here calling the shots like it’s not your first rodeo.”
“I had Grey’s Anatomy on twenty-four seven for the past week or so. Meredith was the only person I could think of who would be as miserable as I was.”
Wes instantly begins chuckling. “God, I love you.”
“I love you more. I don’t want her to be alone so when you’re done here, go get the car and double-park if you have to out front. I can get her downstairs by myself. Are you good to drive?”
“I think so. I should be.”
“If you’re not certain, I can do it.”
“I’d rather you were by her side. I think it’s good for her.
“You’re going to be with her in the delivery room. She needs to be able to trust you and you definitely have to be able to trust yourself. Go in and tell her what you’re going to do and that you’ll be right back. Hannah is sitting in that bathroom right now alone and likely the most vulnerable she’s ever been. I know how that feels. Make her feel safe.”
Wes kisses me on the forehead as he passes by to go reassure her. I quickly text Eli to let he and Dylan know what’s happened and where we’ll be. I don’t know how I’m doing what I’m doing. It’s like instincts I didn’t know I have are taking over. I always felt I had this large capacity for empathy when I needed it. Today is one of those days.