But I picked the salesperson we went with, the person who’d waved earlier and committed the least offenses.
Mom called partway through the negotiations.
“Should I take this?” I whispered to Dad.
“Go ahead. I want to go over this warranty,” he said.
The salesperson flashed me a strained smile as I slid out of their little cubicle with my phone to my ear.
“Hey, what’s up? Did this car have a secret recall we don’t know about?” I asked.
“We’re gonna have to reschedule our dinner,” Mom said reluctantly.
“How come?”
“Jen’s having contractions.”
I straightened my spine as if that’d help me hear her better. Was my sister faking a medical event to get out of dinner with me?
“How far apart are they?” I asked, hedging my bets in case it was true.
Mom sounded like she turned away from the phone. “How far apart are the contractions, sweetie?”
Jen blubbered in the background.
“She's not sure. They’re just starting,” Mom said.
“Okay, well, it might be false labor, but she should definitely rest up. If her water breaks or the contractions get to be about five minutes apart, take her to the hospital. I hope she feels better.”
“Thanks, hon. I’ll call you when—”
“Wait,” Jen whined loudly, then sounded as if they’d switched to speaker phone. “Would you come to the hospital?”
“You want…what?” We weren’t even on speaking terms. Now she wanted me to be there while she gave birth?
“You’re the only one of us with medical knowledge.” She sniffled.
“But Mom has a lot more practical experience.”
“I know. And I need her too. But I think all this stress has been bad for the baby.” She let out something between a sob and a wheeze. “Can we…stop fighting? Please? For the baby? I can’t do this without you, Tori.”
I leaned away from the phone and sighed.
How could I say no to the baby?
Besides, stopping by the hospital might be good for me. I had to reassess my future and welcome a new life into it. If that went badly, at least now I’d have a getaway car.
Chapter thirty
Doctor, Doctor
On the way to the hospital, I flexed my hands around the steering wheel of my new (used) car.
I was fine. There was enough blue and pink in the sky to count as daylight. I wasn't gonna pass out even if I was low on sleep.
Although if the labor went on for more than twenty-four hours, the ride home might be dicey. Stomach churning, I hurried to check in at the front desk, then called Kat. “Hey, are you coming to the hospital?” I asked.
“I’m not planning on it. Seems like it’ll be pretty crowded already, two visitors max, and Jen would probably throw ice chips the second I walked in. But if she wants, I can stop by with something for the baby. Do you think a chain belt would make a good teething ring?”
