A small smile flashed across Jim’s face. He opened the door. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.” Daniel stepped across the threshold into the house. He ignored the assault to his senses that always dragged him back in time.
“Who is it, Jim?” Sheila’s voice carried from the kitchen.
Daniel raised his eyebrows at Jim. Jim shrugged. Daniel was on his own. “It’s me, Sheila.” Daniel kept his shoes on and walked toward the kitchen. This wouldn’t take long. He was met halfway by a very pregnant Sheila. She was just about due.
She narrowed her eyes and folded her arms across her chest. “Humph.”
“Yeah.” Daniel fidgeted with his helmet. “Listen, Sheila. I’m sorry. I was out of line when you asked me to be your baby’s godfather. I said things...that were cruel, and I’m sorry. If I could take it back, I would. You don’t deserve that from me. You didn’t when we were married, and you most certainly don’t now.”
Sheila stared at him, but her face had softened. “Well, you’re right about that. And somehow, Daniel, you leave me speechless, no matter what the situation.” She allowed herself a small smile and leaned on a chair. “You want to be—?”
Daniel cut her off. “I can’t. You know I can’t.”
Sheila tried again. “It would be good for you.”
Daniel shook his head. “Don’t, Sheila. Please.”
She nodded her surrender. Silence filled the space for a moment.
“Well, I won’t take up any more of your time. Take care, Sheila.” Daniel turned to leave. “Jim.”
The other man stepped aside and walked him to the door in silence. The great thing about Jim was that he didn’t feel the need to fill empty space with nonsense words. He extended a hand to Daniel. “Thanks for coming by. It really does mean the world to her. And to me.”
Daniel shook Jim’s hand and left the cloud of the past as he quickly headed off toward his bike. The sun finally made a showing, and Daniel raised his face to its warmth, his heart oddly light. He donned his helmet and was just getting ready to start his bike when he caught sight of Jim running toward him, arms flailing wildly. Daniel took off his helmet and dismounted his bike. He already knew what was happening.
“Her water broke, didn’t it?”
A rather pale Jim nodded, his head bobbing up and down faster than necessary. Daniel put a hand on his shoulder and let out a small chuckle. Nervous first-time dads came through the ER all the time. “It’s okay, Jim. Breathe.”
Jim stilled his head and inhaled deeply, finding his voice again. “Daniel, the baby—”
“Yes, the baby is coming. Shall we go get Sheila?” Daniel asked as he started walking back into the house.
Jim didn’t move.
“Babies are born in the ER all the time,” Daniel said. “Come on. We’ll get Sheila, her bag and your car keys.”
Jim swallowed hard. “I’m going to be a dad.”
Daniel grinned. “Yes. You are.” Somehow, his reply held none of the angst it usually did when he watched men become fathers in his ER.
They walked back in to find Sheila grabbing her belly and moaning in pain.
“Jim,” Daniel said, “go get her bag.”
Jim tried to kiss his wife’s cheek, but the glare she threw at him could have made laser holes in his head, so he bolted upstairs to get the bag.
“Sheila, breathe.” Daniel moved toward her.
She took a deep breath and turned to Daniel with fear in her eyes.
“You’ll be fine,” Daniel reassured her.
She shook her head and tried to speak but was overcome with a contraction, and moaned aloud.
“Those are coming pretty fast and hard. Where are the keys?”
