“How is she?” The doctors weren’t telling me anything. I’m not family. I glance around the room and force myself to ask, “Where’s Webber?” I hate myself for wishing him to perdition. If he’s inside with her… well… at least she isn’t alone. The thought steals my breath. But if he isn’t…
Teri blinks away tears. “Charlie’s in a coma. They don’t seem too worried. Her blood pressure’s back down, and the baby is fine. She’s in recovery still. They said I can see her in a little while.”
I’m shaking. My Charlie? In a coma?
“Webber with her?” I have to know. He’s Squirt’s fucking father.
Teri shakes her head in disdain. “I don’t understand why she ever dated him in the first place. Spineless son of a bitch.”
“Does he know?”
At these words, Charlie’s friend actually laughs. But it’s a humorless sound. “He was there when she started seizing.” The thought of Charlie having a seizure. I can’t think of it. I can’t imagine her…
“He had a meeting with some VIPs,” she explains. “Told me he couldn’t get away. Gave me permission to go with her. So big of him, don’t you think?”
I look around at the empty waiting room. “What about her dad?” I know her mom can’t be there for her.
“Another rat bastard who’s let her down.” Teri eyes me meaningfully. “If you intend to join their ranks, I’d like to kindly ask you to go the hell back to wherever you came from. She doesn’t need any more of this bullshit.”
I drop into the seat beside her and we wait.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Charlie
It’s difficult forme to keep track of what’s going on. One minute I’m walking into work, and the next I’m in the back of an ambulance. Beeping sound. Needles. Blood pressure cuff squeezing my arms.
“Squirt?” I struggle to talk. “My baby?”
“Hi, Charlie. My name is Derek. We’re gonna take a quick ride to the hospital. Can you tell me what’s going on?” This guy, Derek, stands over me. He’s wearing a dark blue uniform. He’s calm, brushing my hair out of my eyes. “Have you had any contractions?”
I barely answer him with a shake of my head.
“Headache? Vision disturbance?” Yes. I try to say but my mouth won’t work. “She’s seizing.” He’s talking to somebody else. “Blood pressure 195/116.” Maybe he’s talking into a radio.
I feel like I’m caught in an underwater tornado. Am I breathing? I must be. What did I do? Did I do something wrong?
Squirt?
Colt?
I think I might be crying. I drift in and out, and the next time I’m somewhat lucid I’m being rolled through sliding glass doors. At work? No. Not at work. Why would they be rolling me into work?
The guy who was with me before pats my arm. Is he leaving me too? “You’re leaving me?” It’s what they do. They leave.
I’m in a hospital. People in white coats surround me. Suddenly I catch sight of Mara. She looks worried. I can’t lose Squirt too. He hasn’t turned yet. Is that why I’m here?
“Cesarean.” They’re talking to one another. I hear voices fading in and out. “Toxemia.”
I close my eyes. Keeping them open is impossible right now.
My mom is here. She looks so young, smiling up at my dad. Dad’s hugging her affectionately. We’re a family. I feel warm. They’ll watch out for me. They’ll make sure everything’s all right.
But then my dad takes off his wedding ring. Mom is broken. Dad embraces another woman.
Except he’s not my dad. He’s Colt. “I love you, babe.” He’s not kissing somebody else. He’s kissing my forehead. “I’m so sorry. Just come back to me. Come back and see your beautiful little girl. Did you know Squirt was a girl? She’s so fucking beautiful, babe.” He seems to choke on his words. “Come back to me, babe.”
Someone is holding my hand.
