“I’ve been trying to get ahold you forhours,” he says through clenched teeth. I reach into my pocket and grab my phone swallowing thickly when I see all the missed calls. From Aidan … from Piper … from Lucy.
Shit.
I’ve had my volume off since this morning when I drove around aimlessly trying to work up the nerve for this confrontation. Now that I’ve had it, I don’t even know why I got so worked up or why I avoided this for so long. These people can’t hurt me anymore, they mean nothing to me now.
My voice is tight, clipped, when I ask, “Is she alright?”
“She’s in labor.”
Fear.
Excitement.
Nerves.
A rollercoaster of emotions overwhelm me and my knees nearly give out, but I suck in a deep steadying breath and straighten my spine.
“Fuck. Alright let’s go,” I say to Aidan turning my back on my parents and ushering him back through the door and into the hallway. I pause on the threshold though, and turn to my parents one last time.
“I’m sad for you two. You’ve missed out on so much. You don’t even know your own son. And you’re going to miss out on so much more. Enjoy the rest of your lonely superficial lives. I hope it’s all been worth it.”
Then I turn back to Aidan whose waiting for me a few paces away, out of view of my parents. He takes me in with sad eyes but gives me an approving nod before I say, “Take me to see my girl, Aidan. Take me to meet my baby.”
And with that I stride out of the room, head high, shoulders back, and spirit lighter than it’s ever been.
???
“Well that looked intense,” Aidan says as we jog down the porch steps and across the interlock drive.
“I pretty much just spewed thirty years of pent-up anger, frustration, and pain, so … yeah, you could say that.”
“Good to get it out finally, I’ll bet.”
I nod as he rounds his truck, keys in hand. “Leave your car, I’ll drive,” he says, and I just nod again, opening the passenger door and sliding in. I’m in no condition to drive anyway.
Aidan peels out around the fountain and back through the gates. I have to brace myself against the door when he takes the left onto the road a little too sharply. He reaches up and flicks the switch on the ceiling for the emergency lights.
“Don’t give me any grief about the lights,” he says as the silhouettes of the trees flying by are illuminated in flashing reds and blues against the darkening sky. I’m shocked to realize dusk has fallen.
“Not a chance,” I reply. “Just get me there quick.”
“Yep.”
“Piper’s with her?”
A nod. “Yep.”
I let out a long breath, relieved that she’s not alone, but anxiety is a ball in my gut.
Fuck.Hours.She’s been trying to reach me forhours.
This is not a great start to my ‘Get Lucy Back’ campaign. And if I miss the birth …
Fuck. I’ll never forgive myself.
I go to dig my phone from my pocket before I realize it’s still clutched tightly in my left hand. I want to call her, or at the very least text her, to let her know that I’m coming. To reassure her that everything will be okay. But I doubt she’s in a position to answer.
My stomach twists at the thought of her suffering, at the thought of her going throughanyof this without me.
