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“We need to go to the hospital. You have your bag packed, right?”
Her bottom lip is quivering. “It’s by the door.”
“Need anything else?” I ask.
“You’re not wearing a shirt,” she says. “Or shoes.”
“Fuck.” I look down – I’m just wearing the pajama pants I pulled on to come over here. “I’ll be right back.”
I rush back into my apartment, slip on some shoes and throw on a shirt. She’s waiting at her door when I skid out into the hallway, clutching onto the doorframe like she can’t even support her own weight.
“Let’s go,” I say, picking her up. I’m expecting a fight over this, but she just leans her head against me and says, “I’m scared.”
––––––––
Istep out into thehallway. James and Elizabeth are walking toward me, faces stern, Secret Service detail surrounding them. As soon as James gets to me, he wraps his arms around me. I collapse into him. Will, Olivia, and Celeste follow behind. I feel Will’s hand on my back. Tears run down my face. I can’t remember the last time I cried – not since I was a kid, I’m sure. No one says a word until I lean back and wipe my eyes.
“How is she?” Elizabeth asks, her face full of worry.
“She’s super sick,” I answer as I run my hands through my hair. “She tested positive for the flu.”
Elizabeth and James exchange nervous glances and Will mutters, “Shit.”
“She’s still running a fever off and on. She was really dehydrated when I brought her in. She’s been sick since Tuesday and didn’t fucking tell anyone.”
I want to put my hand through the wall right now. It’s my fault. If we hadn’t been fighting...
I tilt my head up to the ceiling. “We had a fight. I normally see her every day, but we had a fight and...”
Tears roll down my face again.
Will rests his hands on my shoulder and gives it a little squeeze. “This isn’t your fault.”
“I should have checked up on her.”
Olivia steps closer and puts her hand on my back. “There’s no way you could have known.”
I run my hands over my face. What time is it? What day is it? I’ve lost all sense of time.
“What about the contractions?” James asks.
“She’s still having them, but they were able to slow it down. They’re hopeful that they can delay it, but...” I take a deep breath in through my nose. “...the odds aren’t in our favor.”
I take a shaky breath and say, “She’s too weak for labor right now. They’ll have to do an emergency c-section if it comes to that, but it’s early. It’s way too early.”
No one says a word until I continue.
“Even if they think she’s well enough to go home, she’ll be on bedrest until her due date.”
Elizabeth blows a big rush of air out between her lips, and Olivia curses softly.
“That’s months away,” Olivia says, shaking her head.
My shoulders sag. “I know. The doctors are saying every week makes a huge difference at this point. Hell, every day helps right now. If we can just get her closer to her due date...”
They all exchange troubled glances. I run my hands over my face again and groan. “I know. I know. Nothing about this is good.”
Will pulls me in for a hug this time. “We’ll take it one day at a time.”
