“Oh, my gosh!” I practically yelled. Kevin looked at me confused, as he held the door open to the cab. I rushed toward him. “I’m coming home,” I said frantically.
“No, no. Gabriella and I are making our way down to the town car now,” she said. “Meet us at the hospital.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, breathing a small sigh of relief that her friend was with her. They had gone to brunch earlier and had plans to take it easy the rest of the day, watching chick flicks on the couch. I had put my driver on standby the past few weeks, to be at Sadie’s disposal if she ever needed him.
“Yes. She has my hospital bag and we’re taking the elevator down now.” She assured me.
“Okay. I’ll meet you there,” I said, gesturing for Kevin to hurry up and get in the cab. He looked at me worriedly, but slid in the seat.
I ended the call and followed in after him.
“What’s going on?” he asked urgently.
“Sadie is in labor,” I said wide-eyed.
“Holy shit!” He leaned forward and told the driver to take us to the hospital quickly.
Fifteen minutes later, he peeled up to the curb and I hopped out of the cab in a hurry. Kevin rolled down the window and called after me. “Good luck, man!” I gave him a wave and ran through the hospital doors.
I impatiently tapped my foot as the elevator took me up to the seventh floor where the labor and delivery floor was. When the doors opened, I spotted Sadie getting in a wheelchair by a nursewhile Gabriella stood next to them. When her friend saw me, she frantically waved me over. I quickly greeted her and knelt down to Sadie’s level and took her hand.
“Are you okay?” I asked worriedly.
“I’m fine,” she said with a smile, that quickly turned to a grimace.
“What? What is it?” I cried out.
She shut her eyes tight.
“It’s just a contraction,” said the nurse soothingly. “I take it you’re the father?”
I stood up, still holding Sadie’s hand, who was now squeezing my fingers together tightly. I winced slightly before answering the nurse.
“Yes. Jeremiah Mason. I’m the father,” I said through gritted teeth as Sadie squeezed harder.
The nurse looked amused, as if she’d seen this hundreds of times.
“It will pass soon,” she said, more to me than Sadie, who was already loosening her grip. “Let’s get her back to a room, shall we?”
I nodded eagerly.
Gabriella leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Sadie’s damp forehead. “You’ve got this, girl. I can’t wait to meet baby. I love you!”
Sadie looked up at her gratefully as the nurse wheeled her away toward a long hallway lined with rooms. I followed next to her, feeling like I was in some sort of dream. I knew this day was coming, but now that it was here, it felt so surreal. Despite the contractions, Sadie seemed calm. Ready. I was in awe of her.
The nurse and I helped Sadie into a mint green hospital gown and into the bed. I stepped back and gave the nurse room to get Sadie hooked up to the monitors. My heart was pounding out of my chest, and my brain was full of questions. Despite the baby books I had read, I wondered about every single thing. What the lines on the monitor meant. What the beeping sounds meant. What the nurse was doing as she said random numbers out loud to herself. Nothing could really prepare me for this.
“Baby is coming fast,” said the nurse, turning to me. “I’m going to go get the doctor.”
I nodded, my nerves in my throat. I watched the nurse go worriedly.
“Jeremiah,” said Sadie softly.
I looked at her lying on the bed, her beautiful red hair cascading past her shoulders and her green eyes tired from the consistentcontractions that ripped through her. She looked so beautiful. I rushed to her side and took her hand, stroking it gently with my thumb.
“You okay?” I asked, looking her over.
“Mhmm,” she nodded, wincing slightly. “Stay by my side.”
