“Sir, I need you to calm down. This is hospital protocol.”
“What do you think about the Chinese restaurant around the corner? Ling’s?” asked the man, stepping up beside me.
“Are you serious right now?” I asked him, my face turning red.
“I’m hungry. I’ve been waiting here awhile.” He shrugged.
“I’ll pay you $100 to get the hell away from me,” I said, pulling out my wallet.
“Okay. Sure,” he said with a smirk, holding out his hand. I slapped a hundred-dollar bill in his hand and waved him away before turning to the nurse who looked unimpressed.
“I’ll pay you. Anything. Just let me back there,” I said, holding up my wallet.
“That’s not how this works, sir,” she said, shaking her head.
“Then I’ll sue you. I’ll sue the entire hospital!” I yelled, throwing my hand up in the air exasperatedly.
“I’m going to have to call security,” she said, reaching for the phone.
“That won’t be necessary,” said a blonde woman who had appeared beside me. “Please, ma’am. He’s clearly distressed. I can confirm this is the father, and technically heisfamily to that unborn baby,” she said firmly, crossing her arms.
The nurse looked thoughtful for a moment, pursing her lips. She picked up the phone and to my relief didn’t call security. “Let me check with my supervisor,” she said, shooting me a look.
I turned to the woman beside me. “You must be Juliet?” I asked.
“And you must be Chandler.” The way she said it and the iciness in her blue eyes made me think she wasn’t a big fan of mine.
I nodded and rubbed the back of my head sheepishly over the scene I had just caused.
“Thanks for that,” I said, nodding to the nurse who was still on the phone.
“They’re really strict. I’m not allowed back there either.” I could see the worry etched on her face.
“What happened?” I asked. “Is she okay?”
“We were on a walk talking about…things…” The way she paused before she said it, I could only assume it was about me. I winced slightly. “And then she got lightheaded and had to sit down. She couldn’t even stand up. I hailed a cab and brought her here.”
“What did the doctor say? Have there been any updates?” I asked, worriedly looking toward the double doors that stood between me and Gabriella, along with the nurses who were intent on not letting anyone through.
“I don’t know,” she said. “They haven’t told me anything yet.”
“Sir,” called the nurse, hanging up the phone. “You may go back now.”
She hit a button and the double doors opened.
“Thank you,” I said, breathing a sigh of relief. “I’ll let you know what I find out,” I told Juliet, who looked only slightly relieved.
“Room 412,” the nurse called after me as I strode through the doors.
I hurried down the hallway, reading the room numbers as I went, desperate to get to Gabriella and see if she was okay. See if the baby was okay.
I stopped at room 412 and took a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever was on the other side, before opening the door. I stepped inside the dimly lit room and saw Gabriella lying in the hospital bed. She was on her side, her eyes closed with an IV in her arm. She looked exhausted and drained of color. She looked so small and weak. My heart lurched for her.
“Gabriella,” I whispered to see if she was awake.
Her eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the light. As soon as they realized it was me who stood in the doorway, she started sobbing. I rushed to her side and knelt beside the bed, wrapping my arms around her.
“I’m here. I’m right here,” I whispered into her long brown hair, kissing her head over and over again.
