The midwife approached us. “Callie is asking for Lewis?”
“That’s me.” I was relieved to hear she was still conscious.
“This way.”
I looked at Sloane. She gave me a strained smile. “Tell her I’m here.”
I nodded, squeezing her hand before following the midwife out of reception and through the ward. She led us into a private room and the sight of Callie made my legs fucking tremble.
She was on a bed with her shirt pulled up, while a doctor stood at her side with an ultrasound machine.
“Callie.” I crossed the room, reaching for her. I kissed her before she could say anything. She kissed me back and when I finally let her go, she gave me a tired smile.
“I’m okay. The baby is okay.”
Tears clogged my throat. “Really?”
“Really.” She caressed my face. “I’m sorry for scaring you.”
I shook my head, clasping her hand to my cheek. “Not your fault. Your parents are here.”
Callie nodded. “Good.”
“Should we call them in?”
“Well.” Callie looked at the doctor. “I wanted you here because Dr. Andrews checked me over, and all is well, but she kindly offered to share the gender of the baby. And I didn’t want to do it without you.”
Not having expected that, I curled her hand in both of mine, my gaze going from her belly to the ultrasound screen. “Oh. Aye. That would be good.”
Callie smiled, and I marveled at her strength. That after everything she’d gone through tonight, she could still smile.
“You’re sure you’re okay?” I asked.
Dr. Andrews spoke, “Your fiancée is a fighter. Quite literally. I assume because of her extensive martial arts training, her body was able to absorb the shock of the physicality of the fight without endangering the baby.”
“But she passed out.”
“From dehydration.” She nodded to something I hadn’t noticed. A needle in Callie’s other hand, hooked up to a bag of fluids.
Callie grimaced sheepishly. “I was so excited about finding out the gender that I barely ate or drank. I left you a note in case you woke up because I couldn’t sleep and thought I’d do some work at the bakery. Sorry.”
I kissed her free hand. “It’s okay. You’re okay, that’s all that matters. We need to make sure you’re drinking enough from now on, though.”
“Ready then?” Dr. Andrews asked.
My pulse raced as we shared a look and then nodded at the doctor.
Callie jumped a bit at the coldness of the gel, and I felt her fingers bite into me as the doctor passed the probe over her stomach. The baby’s heartbeat immediately sounded, a calm, whooshing noise that made me melt against the bed in relief.
“Lucky for us, Baby is in the perfect position …” Dr. Andrews studied the screen for a second and then she turned to us with a smile. “And Baby is a girl.”
Callie turned to me with a gasp of delight and then promptly burst into tears. I knew her well enough to know they were happy tears. I kissed them from her cheeks, murmuring my love, my chest so full of emotion it was painful. In the best way.
“Happy, mo chridhe?” I whispered against her lips as she pressed her forehead to mine.
“I didn’t think I’d end this night saying so, but aye.” She sobbed through the words. “I’m so happy.” She curled her hand around my nape. “Are you happy?”
“My two best girls are safe and happy so I’m happy.”
