I hear a loud bang and then shouting outside the door, and I look across at Lucy as I jump but she doesn’t flinch. I close my eyes.
I don’t want to see him.
Gripping the sheet spread over me, I pull it tight, my throat burning as I prepare myself.
How do I do this?
The door flies open, and he falls through the door, the nurse and Megan at his back. “Nina.”
“You cannot be in here; she needs to rest,” the nurse tells him sternly.
I catch his frown, but as he brings his eyes back to me, I dip my head. It hurts too much to look at him.
He doesn’t deserve anything from me, but he needs to know about the baby. It’s not my reality to withhold.
“He can stay,” I tell the nurse, surprising myself when my voice doesn’t waver.
The nurse moves toward me, checking my blood pressure.
Lucy stirs, lifting her head from her shoulder. She sits up and spots Mason. Her posture stiffens. “You!” She is on her feet and over to him before I can speak. Her hand connects with his cheek with a solid whack.
“What the fuck!” he roars.
“Out! All of you. How dare you,” the nurse scolds, authority lacing her tone, but still she keeps a levelled voice.
“You will never! Never! Hurt her again,” Lucy grinds out, wiping her tears and stepping in front of me.
“What the hell is going on?” he spits, trying to look past Lucy.
I have to face him. Tell him I’m pregnant. I have to.
“Can you give us a minute? I promise I will keep calm,” I tell the nurse and nod at Lucy.
She dips her head to the side, her eyes shining.
“You have a minute,” the nurse tells Mason. “If I can hear you from out there, you are out. The lot of you. Never in my forty-four years have I seen anything like it!”
She leaves the room, and Lucy follows her, shutting the door slowly behind her.
Mason rushes me. “What happened? Scar wouldn’t tell me, she said she couldn’t.” He goes to grasp my hand, but I pull it away. “Baby, I’m sorry. I woke up in a hotel. I cut my head. I think I fell. I don’t know what happened last night.”
I pull the photos from under me, placing them between us. Not being able to look at him, I turn my head to look out the window.
My teeth are clenched so hard they hurt, and it does nothing to hold back the pain that threatens to bring me down.
“You’re pregnant?” he asks. “I… fuck. I’m the dad? We are pregnant?”
The ache in my heart becomes too much, and the first tear rolls down my face.
“No, I am pregnant. And of course, it’s yours.” My voice cracks as I utter the words.
I need to keep calm. I have to.
“Oh my god.” I can hear the smile in his voice. “And you’re okay?” He takes my hand again, and I pull away. “The baby?”
“Healthy.”
Leaning over, I pull my bag from the end of the bed, reaching in and pulling out the envelope. I thrust the images into his chest. “Here. Congratulations.”
