She hangs up, her hand shaking.
“Her water broke,” she says, her eyes wide. “We have to go. Now.”
“Let’s go.” I stand up, grabbing my keys from the table. “I’ll drive.”
She’s already moving toward the bedroom to get dressed, but I notice Eli isn’t just standing there. He’s efficient, calm amidst the storm.
“Go get dressed, Amber,” Eli says gently, steering her toward the hallway. “I’ll pack a bag with a change of clothes. We don’t know how long we’ll be there.”
She nods, looking at him with wide, grateful eyes, and runs off.
The commotion wakes Knox, who stumbles out of his room looking disheveled but instantly alert.
“What’s going on?” Knox asks, rubbing a hand over his face.
“Norah’s headed to hospital. Her water broke,” Eli says, already unzipping an overnight bag near the sofa.
“Merde,” Knox mutters. “Is Jude with her?”
“Yes. We need to move,” I say.
And then we’re all running.
We screech to a halt in front of Fox Hollow Medical Center. I throw my truck into park, not bothering with a proper spot, and we all pile out. The automatic doors slide open and we rush into reception.
Jude is at the desk, barking out Norah’s name. The receptionist points us down the hall toward Maternity.
We take over a small waiting lounge. It’s cramped with all of us, but nobody cares.
Jude paces. He wears a track in the linoleum. Maisie sits on a small plastic chair, a stuffed rabbit on her lap, her legs swinging. Eli sits next to her, whispering a story, keeping her calm.
Wren and Simon are already there, Wren clutching Simon’s arm so hard her knuckles are white.
Amber sits on the other side of Maisie, bouncing her leg nervously.
I stand near the window with Knox and Ryker, looking out at the snow swirling in the parking lot lights.
The mood is a mix of celebration and apprehension. We’re waiting for a baby, but the shadow of Luke is still hovering over us.
Knox scans the parking lot, his eyes narrowed. “It’s too open,” he murmurs. “Trop exposé.”
“He’s not going to try anything here,” I say, though I keep my voice low. “It’s a hospital, Knox. Security is everywhere.”
“He’s a coward,” Knox says, his jaw tight. “Cowards strike when you’re not looking. I don’t like that she’s exposed.”
“She’s not alone,” I remind him, nodding toward where Eli, Jude, and Ryker form a protective circle around the women and children. “We’re here. Jude’s pack is here. He’d have to be suicidal to walk through those doors.”
Knox nods, but he doesn’t relax his vigilance. “Si jamais il vient...”
“He won’t,” I say firmly.
Hours bleed together. The clock on the wall mocks us. Two hours. Three.
Ryker goes to get coffee for everyone, returning with cardboard cups that taste like burnt beans but keep us moving.
We all sit up straighter, waiting.
And waiting.
