“Yeah. Keep showing up,” she winked and made her way to the galley.
Before takeoff, I sent Mahasin a text message:
Me: I’ll be in the air in about five minutes. Hold on for me.
Hospitals always looked softer at night. Havenbrook University Hospital glowed as if it knew an angel was about to be brought to earth. I sped through the doors, way quicker than I had when I was here to tour the hospital. Mahasin thought it was important for me to get a glance at the building and its maternity facility ahead of time. I felt well prepared—until I got to the check-in counter and forgot my name, why I was there, and who I was there to see.
“Umm, umm,” was all I managed to get out.
“Sir, are you okay?” the guest services representative asked.
Unable to respond, I started blinking rapidly and pointed upward, trying to convey to her that I needed to go upstairs to the maternity ward.
“Suzy, call for trauma. I seriously think this man is having a stroke,” she instructed the girl in matching scrubs sitting next to her. Making her way from behind the counter, she pulled a wheelchair and attempted to have me sit down.
Right before my senses came back and I was prepared to tell them who I was, I heard a familiar voice call my name.
“Gage, get your ass up out of that chair, ain’t nothing wrong with you, boy. Stop being a princess,” Amber fussed. “Kleenex, this is Gage Blaque. He needs to go to the maternity floor. Gage, give her your ID.”
I did as Amber instructed and handed the woman my ID. She scanned it and then turned to Amber with an annoyed look on her face.
“What room is he going to?” she asked.
“Room 225,” Amber said sharply.
“Oh, Dr. St.—” she attempted to say, but Amber cut her off and snatched the printed badge from her hands, handing it to me along with my ID.
“Thank you,” I said, rising from the wheelchair.
“You’re welcome, and my name is Kaleen, not Kleenex—but you already know that, don’t you, Amber.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. See you later, Kotex. Gage, bring your ass.”
We stepped into the elevator, the soft ding closing the doors behind us. Amber leaned against the back wall, folding her arms, watching me.
“She’s doing good, G,” she said quietly. “She’s strong… scared too, but she’s holding it together.”
I nodded, swallowing the knot forming in my throat. “I know she’s up there bossing everyone around, too.”
Amber smirked. “She’d slap you for saying that.”
I cracked a half-smile. “Yeah… she would.” “I hope she ain’t too pissed that I’m late.”
The numbers ticked up—3… 4… 5…
Amber shifted and looked at me for real. “You made it. That’s what matters.”
Before the doors opened, she pulled me into a tight hug. Her voice softened to a whisper, meant only for me.
“Take care of them both… forever. You are their forever, Gage.”
The doors slid open. I nodded once, jaw tight, heart thudding.
“I got them.”
The elevator ride felt slow, then fast, then slow again as we made our way to the sixth floor. When the doors opened, I quickly navigated the hall, locating the room where two out of three of my favorite girls were. Two young nurses were coming out of the room as I approached the door, startling them both.
“My apologies,” I offered, stepping aside to let them pass.
