“Isabella, look at me,” I demand, staring her right in the eye. “You’ve got this. All this baby needs is you, their loving and wonderful mum. That’s it. They need you. So, you can do this because you have to. Yes?”
Her lip quivering, she nods slowly. “Yes. You’re right.”
“I am right. I’m always right. Feel free to mention that in front of Ryan when he comes back.”
She laughs, wiping her face with the back of her hand. “Thanks, Harper.”
“You don’t need to thank me. You already knew all that before I said it.”
“I mean it,” she croaks, grabbing my hands in hers. “Thank you.”
I smile at her.
She sighs. “Where the fuck is Ryan?”
“He’ll be here any minute, I’m sure.” I bite my lip and check my phone. “Let me just give him a call.”
“Tell him if he’s not here in two minutes with a taxi, I’m going to break all his other fingers,” she grumbles.
“I’ll pass that right on,” I say, taking a few paces away from her with the phone up to my ear. As soon as he picks up, I hiss, “Where are you?”
“I’m trying to flag down a taxi,” he snaps.
“Any luck?”
“If I’d had any luck, I’d be with you, wouldn’t I?”
“For god’s sake, Ryan, there must beonetaxi somewhere!”
“Hang on,” he gasps. “Is that… I think I see… a yellow light. Ayellow light!”
“Oh good! Get it quick!”
“I’m running out into the middle of the road to make sure it stops.”
“You’re what?”
“I’m in the road!” he cries.
“Oh my god, hail it down with your hand like a normal person!”
“I will take no such risk! He can’t miss me.” His voice grows faint as he yells, “Taxi, taxi!” and I assume he’s waving his arms around. “Harper, he’s stopped!”
“Yes!”
“I’ll be with you in one second! Stay where you are!”
“Trust me,” I say, glancing over my shoulder at Isabella, who is now almost bent double leaning against the wall of the hotel. “We’re not moving.”
As I hang up, Isabella raises her head. “Harper, I think… I think this baby is coming soon!” she says, looking much sweatier than before.
“It’s okay. Ryan’s got the taxi.” I gulp. “Although maybe we really should call an ambulance?”
“No. No, just get me to the hospital.”
“I promise we will.”
She experiences a long, painful contraction. I rub her back and then hear the beep of the taxi pull up next to us, Ryan swinging open the door and jumping out.
