“Yes, please—“ She gasped, and I could hear the hysteria in her voice. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. “I need him—“ She trailed off again, letting out a groan that made the hairs on the nape of my neck stand up. “I’m on my way to Mount Sinai. Tell him that I’m—I’m in labour, and I need him to pick Sawyer up from my neighbours. I need him to pick her up and take her to his house,” she added urgently.
“Okay. Of course. I’ll get the message to him.”
“Thank you,” she exhaled, the relief palpable, and relayed her neighbour’s phone number to me. I wrote it down quickly, with trembling hands. She let out a pained cry, and the phone clanged to the ground.
Shuffling ensued as someone picked it up, then the call was disconnected. I started dialing Mitch’s number on repeat, knowing the on-site foreman would have his cell phone on him. I had to call three times before he answered.
“Hello?” he barked, clearly irritated.
“Mitch—it’s Gwen. Is Alaric nearby?”
“He’s working. Why?”
“Put him on the phone, please. It’s an emergency.” My voice shook, and I was certain he could hear it.
Mitch’s tone changed immediately. “Of course. Alaric, come here!”
I waited a couple of minutes, worrying my lip. “Hello?”
“Alaric,” I said, pausing at his intake of breath. “Cheryl just called—“
“What? Why?”
“She needs you to pick Sawyer up from her neighbour’s,” I began, looking down at the phone number on the post-it note.
“What’s going on?” he sounded worried.
“She’s in labour and on her way to Mount Sinai.” He exhaled harshly, the sound of it slicing through me. “I’m sure everything’s going to be okay, Alaric,” I added, my tone soft.
I could hear him walking away, likely putting some distance between the other guys and him so that he could talk in private. “She’s not due for another three months.”
“Oh,” I breathed, nibbling on my lip.
“What’s the neighbour’s number?” Alaric asked.
I relayed it, my fingers absently twirling the cord as I read it to him. He thanked me and hung up.
Leaning back in my chair, I stared blankly at the computer screen, trying to process the last twenty minutes, and how I felt, all while my heart pulsed painfully in my chest.
A few seconds later, my cell phone rang. I snatched it up quickly, answering when I saw Alaric’s name flash across the screen.
“We’re loading up now, but I’m still going to be another three hours getting back.”
I glanced at the clock, noting that it was four o’clock already. “You know, I used to pride myself on my babysitting skills. I could go get her and bring her back to my place for a bit.”
He was quiet, save for the sound of his breath when he exhaled. “I’ll call you back in a minute.”
“Okay.”
I placed my cell phone on my desk and went back to staring blankly at the screen, my mind unable to focus. Ten minutes later, my phone rang again.
“Hello?”
“Hey,” he breathed, sounding a little less strained. “If you’re sure you want to…”
“I’m sure,” I assured him. “I mean if you’re sure.”
“I am,” he replied, the relief he felt easily detectable. “I called Cheryl’s neighbour back, and she’s expecting you. I’ll pick her up as soon as we get back.”
