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“Because the baby decided to arrive early, and she wanted all the drugs that your credit card could buy. They’re fine, but I am sure she’d like it if you showed up.”
“I suppose I have to.” He sighs, and I bite my tongue.
“Suppose so, Uncle—” I’m not even done when he hangs up, and I take the same short route back to the hospital. Parking legally this time, I grab her bags and go inside.
FIVE
SPENCER
This is not what we had planned. My sister wasn’t supposed to be off for another three weeks. I’m not prepared for hospitals, babies, or anything yet. It’s after five, the traffic is going to be hellish, and I call for my driver, knowing it’ll be quicker. Am I supposed to have a gift? Shit, I haven’t got anything to take with me, I thought I had weeks to do things.
“Can you take me to the maternity hospital?” I ask him to get into the Mercedes as he pulls up.
I slam the door harder than normal, and he looks in the rearview mirror and speaks, “Is it time for Audrey’s little one to arrive?”
“The eager little bugger is already here, I missed it, apparently.” I can’t lie, I am slightly disappointed that I missed it. She could have called me. We pull up at the entrance and I get out of the car.
My driver says, “I will park and wait for you.”
“Thank you.” I walk in through the automated glass doors. They swish closed behind me and I look around the large reception area. There are couples waiting to be helped, red-faced stressed dads, and heavy-breathing moms. Wheelchairs whizz past, and the strong sterile smell of disinfectant burns my sinuses. I can almost agree with Luna that it’s not a welcoming place to have brought a child into the world—I will never openly agree with her, though. It’s as if I am programmed to disagree with her for no other reason other than that she is Luna.
I don’t see her. I must have got here quicker than she did.
“Spencer.” Think of the devil and it will appear. Luna comes up behind me, her arms laden with bags and baby paraphernalia. “Come, I’ll show you where she is. I think the baby is in the nursery, but you can see Audrey.” I take one of the bags out of her hand and follow her as she walks quickly down the hallway, her short legs taking surprisingly quick steps. We round a corner, and she barges into the first room without knocking or any other sort of etiquette.
“I’m back,” Luna says loudly despite the signs all over the building asking for silence. “Found this bag of trash in reception too.” She points at me, and I walk over to where my sister is in bed. Her eyes are puffy, and she looks exhausted.
“Hi.” I give her a hug, not sure why. We don’t do hugs. “How are you? Where’s the little one?” I expected to see her holding the baby, glowing, and smiling like in a movie.
“They took her to the nursery so I can get some rest. Luna can take you to see her if you want.” As much as I can’t wait to meet my niece, I am happy to see my sister. The anger fades away and I am proud of her for doing this alone. She’s braver than I am. “I’m okay, just tired and my nether region is sore.”
“I didn’t need to know that.” I mentally block any associated thoughts. “Why didn’t you call me?” I ask her.
“We managed to leave all the phones at the house. It was kind of a rush to get here, then once we were here, it took forever,” Audrey says, yawning. “Sorry, having a kid takes it out of you.” She shifts around so she’s sitting up in bed.
“I’m sorry I missed it,” I am jealous that Luna was here. I knew she chose her to be her birth-partner, but it would have been nice if she’d included me. “I would have come if you called me.”
“I know that,” Audrey says. “But you’re here now. Go and see Charlotte.” My heart flutters that she gave the baby our mother's name. Audrey never spoke about names because everyone has an opinion, and she didn’t care what they were. She also didn’t know the sex until the baby arrived. Charlotte is just perfect. “You like her name?” Audrey says with a blush and a smile.
“I think it is very special.” I was much closer to our mother than my sister, and I have a feeling the name is more for me than for mom. “She’s a lucky little one.” I look over to where Luna is itching to go play real life dolls and dress the baby in the clothes she brought.
“Go with her…” my sister says, “…I will be here when you two get back.” I am torn already between my sister and the baby. “Go, dammit.” She closes her eyes and waves us off like flies.
Luna is off like a flash of lightning, and I hurry after her, excited to meet Charlotte. At the end of a long hall lit with fluorescent lights, she pushes open a heavy door. I take a breath, and as I stride in the door, I am stopped.
A plump nurse in pink scrubs with a stern face and a harsh voice says to me, “Only moms and dads, moms and moms and dads and dads,” I pause. I am the uncle, but there is no dad or mom-number-two, yet Luna breezed in with no problem.
“But she’s none of those things,” I point at Luna.
“She is on the list and cleared to come and bathe and dress the baby. You sir are not on my list. You can go and see the babies from the window around the corner.” I want to yell at her, ask if she knows who I am. Instead, I push my anger down, stare at Luna with jealous rage and exit the nursery without another word. How could my sister exclude me like this? I should be allowed in there!
I stride down the passage and around the corner to where the entire wall is one giant picture window filled with tiny, squishy little babies. I can see them crying, but the sound is blocked out. Luna appears dressed in scrubs waving at me through the glass—she points to my niece.
Charlotte Penny Heath.
Penny was the nickname Audrey and Luna gave me when they were annoying little brats that would mock me in front of my friends. She gave the baby part of my name. I should love it, but I don’t. The guys picked up on it, and it became a locker room taunt. Luna picks her up and comes right up to the glass so I can see her.
She’s frowning, like me. Maybe she is related after all. Her tiny hands and perfect little mouth remind me of when my mother brought Audrey home. I was so angry about having a sister then because I had asked for a brother. Now I wouldn’t swap her for anything. She’s all I have—her and that tiny pink squish in there.
