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She’s all I had growing up and I’ll always be grateful for everything she’s done for me and the decisions she made so that I would have the life that I do today. No way is her life going to end while she’s giving birth to a child that she wants so badly with Diego. No way could God be so cruel.
Turning into the hospital parking lot, I spot a man with his head down and shoulder’s stooped in the shadows of one of the lights at the main entrance to the hospital. I watch and I can’t move my gaze away and then his face is caught in the light and I realize that it’s Diego. I’ve never seen him so distraught before.
My fear rises.
“Kasey, let me out,” I beg, unsnapping my seatbelt. “Kasey, please. It’s Diego.” I point in the direction of the entrance and Kasey brakes.
“I’ll park,” he shouts as I slam the door and race to where Diego is.
“Diego!”
He stills and slowly turns, just in time to catch me as I fly into his arms. “What is it? Please tell me she’s okay?” I plead as I search his tearful eyes.
He nods. “She’s going to be okay, Andie.” He inhales and slowly exhales. “It was touch and go,” he composes himself, “but she’s strong. She needs lots of rest and looking after, but she’s going to be alright.” His tears flow as do mine, so I do the most natural thing and hold him. He cries into my shoulder just like I do him.
I think Diego’s tears are a mixture of relief and exhaustion, because the poor guy looks haggard—older than his years.
“Is everything okay?” Kasey asks, unable to hide the fear in his voice.
Nodding, I reply, “She’s okay.” I smile.
Diego moves away slightly and drops his ass to one of the benches. “You go in and see your mom.” He beams a smile at me. “She’s excited for you to meet your brother.”
“What?” I ask in shock and slowly my smile spreads across my face. “I have a brother?” I whisper as my tears come back and slowly slip down my face.
“Emile Luca was born a couple of hours ago.” Tears hover as he continues, “The doctors delivered him while doing a hysterectomy. She started bleeding during the birth and they rushed her to surgery...he’s premature so they’re keeping him in an incubator, but he’s a tough little guy, just like his momma.”
“Oh,” I place my hand over my mouth, “I should have been here.”
“You’re here now, Andie, and that’s all that matters.”
I nod and slightly smile. “He’s named after your parents. What a beautiful name.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it, Diego.” I throw my arms around his neck and give him a quick hug, whispering, “Congratulations,” as I pull away. “I’m going in.”
Once Diego directs me, I head inside thanking God that the emergency is over and that my mom and brother are doing fine.
I’ve never been so worried about her before and it’s made me realize that she’s all I have. Well, not exactly because I have Diego and Kasey, and the others, I guess. But she’s my mom. She’s the one person who has always been there for me no matter what—the one person who always will. That thought of course has Sawyer jumping back into my mind although he hasn’t been far from it.
Still no word from him. Nothing.
He gets shoved out of my thoughts when I walk into my mom’s room and see her lying back in the bed, flat out asleep. She looks pale and tired and her red hair is limp around her, but she still looks beautiful.
“How about a hug?” she whisper, her voice sleepy. “Just careful around the middle.”
“Oh Mom!” I drop my purse and jacket onto the chair beside the bed, and leaning over, I wrap my arms around her while I fight not to blubber all over her shoulder. “Are you really okay?”
“Rest the doctor said, and I’ll be good as new.”
“What happened? Kasey called me, but no one has said what was wrong.”
“Sit.” She points to the chair and takes my hand after I’ve dropped into it. “I went into early labor and the shock of it gave me high blood pressure. Really high. The doctor was worried for a time, but they managed to get it down and then everything went to shit when I started bleeding out and they couldn’t stop it.” She shrugs. “I’ve never been so scared, and the thought of leaving you and Diego . . .” she can’t continue and shakes her head. “Everything worked out in the end though.”
“Oh! I bet that wasn’t half of what happened to you, but I’m so glad there was good news when I got here.” I grin. “Where’s my brother?”
“You spoke to Diego?” She smiles softly. “I asked him to keep Emile’s arrival to himself until we’d told you.”
