I shower in record time, trying to keep my thoughts off Lucy, but it’s impossible. I struggle between the guilt of not being there, the fear of something going wrong, and the sadness I’ll never be able to erase if I miss our daughter’s first breath. I get out and dry off, eyeing the bag that’s hanging on the back of the door, which is holding my suit for the press conference.
“Miles,” I shout, and he comes into the bathroom. “You’re crazy if you think I’m doing the conference.”
He shakes his head. “Obviously you’re not doing the conference. Relax. But what the hell else are you going to wear?”
“I’ve got his bags,” Mikey shouts, carrying my duffle bag into the bathroom. “I called the hotel and had them bring everything over.” He smiles. “You’re lucky the hotel is only a few blocks away.”
“Thanks, Mikey.” I open it and search for my joggers and a T-shirt. When I find them I get dressed and find my sneakers.
Miles walks back into the bathroom. “Sam, I couldn’t get a flight in the next hour.”
“Then keep looking.”
“So I chartered a private jet.”
“Oh…you did?”
“Yeah, it’s ready to go when we are. We just have to get to Teterboro.” He looks at his watch. “Traffic shouldn’t be too bad at this hour. Get your shoes on.”
“How long is the flight?”
“About two hours.”
I close my eyes and exhale a worried breath. “What am I going to do if I miss it, Miles?”
“You’re not gonna miss it. I’m not gonna let that happen, okay?”
“Okay,” I say, knowing he has no more control over the situation than I do.
“But hurry your ass up. You ready?”
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
“Let’s go!”
Chapter 24
Lucy
I lay my head back against the seat rest in Sebastian’s car and close my watery eyes, but tears roll down my cheeks.
“He’ll make it, Lucy, don’t worry,” Sebastian says, driving much too fast.
I grip the door handle nervously. “Please slow down.”
He gives me a worried look that’s mixed with empathy and takes his foot off the gas a little. “Sorry.”
“We have time. I’m probably not even dilated yet.”
Ow! Shit! I grip the door handle again as another contraction squeezes my stomach. My fingers curl around it tightly as it pulls harder and harder. “Shit!”
“Just hold on, we’re almost there. It’s not too much farther.”
The contraction releases its grip on me and I rejoice for the minute it allows me to catch my breath before another one hits. I reach for the door handle again and grit through my teeth, “I had no idea it would feel like this. It burns.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie. We’re almost there. Just a couple more streets.” I look up at the downtown buildings that glitter in the night sky and tower over the one-way streets that lead to the hospital. I stare at them, thinking fondly of our apartment, surprised that I actually miss it a little. When I see the hospital, I inhale a deep breath, feeling only slightly better.
“Okay,” Sebastian says, pulling through the circular drive in front of the main entrance. “We’re here.” He gets out and runs around the car to open my door, which I practically fall out of into his arms, because as soon as my feet hit the pavement, another contraction strikes. I hold on to him and cry against his chest, squeezing his arms tightly, until it’s over. When I loosen my grip on him, he looks down at me and says, “Okay, I now have a totally different opinion about those moaning pregnant ladies you see in the hospital on TV.”
I give him a worried look. “Was it not quiet?”
He pulls his mouth to the side and shakes his head.
“Sorry.” I pout. “It hurts.”
“Sweetie, you can cry and moan as loud as you want.” He rubs my back and grabs my things. “Come on, they’re waiting on you.” He pulls me inside to a waiting wheelchair and a man wearing gray scrubs.
“Lucy Bennett?” he asks, greeting us with an enthusiastic smile.
I look up at Sebastian and say softly, “It’s supposed to be Cole.”
Sebastian gives me a funny look and answers for me. “Yes, she’s Lucy Bennett. She’s a patient of Dr. Fletcher.”
“Okay, Lucy, why don’t you go ahead and have a seat.” He pushes the wheelchair toward me, which I happily fall into. “How are you guys doing tonight? Are you ready to have a baby?” he asks excitedly.
“Oh, um…” Sebastian smiles and shakes his head. “I’m not the father.”
“Oh”—he gives Sebastian a firm nod—“well, good for you.”
“No, I, um…” He looks at me and then looks at the man and says simply, “Thank you.”
I smile and take his hand as the man begins to push me, squeezing it tightly as another contraction works its way around my stomach.
“Her contractions are getting pretty strong,” Sebastian says, wincing with me.
“How’s your pain level, Lucy?”
“On what scale?” I grit.
“Let’s just go with a solid seven?” Bas offers.
“Okay, well we can help with that. After we get you upstairs, we can have the anesthesiologist come talk to you.”
“I don’t want an epidural,” I say to Sebastian, catching my breath.
“Mm-hmm.” He presses his lips together and nods over a concerned smile. “Let’s just see how you feel once you get settled in and then you can decide.”
The man wheels me into the elevator and we ride up to the maternity floor in uncomfortable silence, until the doors open and I’m greeted by two nurses in blue scrubs. One has short blond hair that’s pushed off her face by a stretchy white headband and the other has long curly brown hair that’s pulled back into a ponytail.
“Hi, Lucy, I’m Sarah,” the blonde says, giving me a welcoming smile.
The brunette brings her hands to her hips. “I’m Meghan. We’ll be your nurses tonight.”
“Hi,” I say, glancing up at them.
“Okay, Lucy, I leave you in their capable hands,” my wheelchair driver says, smiling at me. “Good luck.”
I reach for Sebastian’s hand as another contraction squeezes me, and he looks at the nurses expectantly. “Is her room ready?”
“Yes, right this way,” Meghan says, leading us to the far corner of the floor, away from the elevators and the nurses’ station. “Here’s your suite,” she says, walking into the spacious room.
Sebastian pushes me across the hardwood floor to the bed. “Is this where she’ll have the baby?”
“Yep,” Sarah says, closing the blinds over the large windows that overlook the city. “This is where she’ll labor, and when the time comes, we’ll give the room a bit of a clinical overhaul so that Dr. Fletcher can deliver her right here.”
“Is he here?” I ask hopefully.
“Yes. But he’s currently prepping for a C-section.”