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“Can’t you drive any faster?” I asked, feeling impatient.
“Rose, it’s pouring. I can barely see the road. Just sit there and relax, we will get there as quickly as we can. There is nothing we can do for Charlotte anyway.”
After twenty minutes, we pulled up in front of a large set of gates and a high concrete fence. Nathan stuck his hand out the car window and pressed a button by the gate. A voice asked what our visit was regarding and Nathan stated who we were and why we were there. The gates opened with a smooth, but slow movement.
Liam was waiting at the door for us when we pulled up. He quickly got in the car and Nathan took off back down the driveway.
“It’s too early, Rosie, isn’t it?” Liam asked, panic heavy in his voice. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“I’m sure Charlotte and the baby will be fine,” I assured him as calmly as I could manage. Boy, I hoped they were fine.
We were all silent on the way to the hospital. I knew Liam was beside himself with worry, but I also knew that the whole situation with Nathan was playing on his mind. There was an utter awkwardness in the car.
When we arrived at the hospital, Nathan parked and Liam got out and ran though the rain to inside the hospital. I went to follow him, but Nathan grabbed me firmly on the arm.
“Nathan, what are you doing?” I asked angrily.
“Stay with me,” he replied, his voice calm.
“No! Nathan, let me go.” I tried to pull my arm free. Nathan looked at me for a moment and must have decided that he couldn’t stop me from being a part of this. He sighed and let me go. I ran inside the hospital and the receptionist told me where Charlotte was. I walked to the room as quickly as I could.
“Rose, you’re here,” Charlotte cried. “How are you?”
“Me? Don’t worry about me, Char, how are you? How’s the baby?”
“Fine, we’re both fine. Just a little early. The doctors say bubs is a good weight and there shouldn’t be any problems. The baby’s heart is strong and healthy.” A contraction started and Charlotte grabbed Liam’s hand in pain.
“Alright, this baby isn’t far off,” a midwife said.
Liam stood to one side of Charlotte and held her hand, while I dropped a kiss on her forehead. I walked out of the room and went and sat in the waiting room. They needed to do this on their own.
Nathan was sitting in one of the armchairs, his eyes closed, his arms crossed over his chest. I sat down beside him and he opened his eyes and glanced my way.
“How is Charlotte and the baby doing?” he asked softly.
“She seems good. The doctors say the baby should be alright as well.” I sighed and Nathan wrapped a comforting arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer to him.
“Are you tired?” I asked, glancing up at Nathan. I noticed he had his eyes closed again.
“I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Maybe it had something to do with the person you were sleeping with,” I bit out. I tried to pull out of his arms but he held me tight.
Nathan smiled sheepishly with no guilt whatsoever. “Maybe it did.”
“Who was she?” I hoped my voice sounded casual. It had been playing in the back of my mind all day.
“No one you know.” He closed his eyes again, indicating that the conversation was over.
An hour later Liam came out of the delivery room with a huge smile on his face. I stood up and walked over to him, excitement zinging through my body.
“Well?” I asked.
“A girl, Rosie. I have a little girl!” Liam gushed. I squealed in delight and gave my brother a big hug.
“A girl? I have a niece!”
“She’s healthy and strong and Charlotte is fine, tired, but fine,” Liam rattled off. “I have to go back in. Come on, come and meet her.”
