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“She already delivered the baby,” the scared woman behind the desk informed me in a small voice.
“What?”
“Sir,” the nurse touched my arm to get my attention, “I can get you to talk to the doctor.”
“What happened?!” I screeched, already following the woman down the corridor and behind a door.
In a calm, professional voice, which only infuriated me more, the nurse explained, “There’s been an accident. She went into labor and delivered the baby on-site. They were both rushed here after the police got to them.”
“How the fuck did she go into labor on the road?Who...”
“There were a man and woman with her.”
At the mention of Danny and Mia, I looked up and saw her seated on one of the chairs in the waiting room. She was hunched over, her head between her bouncing legs and hands thrust into her hair. Aaron leaned against the wall beside her, talking hushedly on the phone, while Danny paced the room.
Aaron was the first one to spot me, watching me with intent while whoever was on the line kept yapping, but I was too focused on Mia and Danny. His lower half was covered in blood and fluids. She looked up, and I saw dry blood on the side of her pale face. She stood up quickly and had to grab the back of her seat to steady herself before she limped my way.
It felt all too real. Like a deja vu. But this time, it wasn’t my life on the line; it was that of my girl and baby. It was that of my sister. My temper got the best of me, and I wanted to punch someone.
Marching in their direction, I pointed an accusatory finger at her. “You had one job,” I snapped.
Shame overtook her features, and she opened her mouth. I didn’t wait to hear her apologies. I was on a roll. Rage and fear were catching up to me, and I lashed out. Once again, against the wrong person.
“Your only job was to be safe and to keep them safe. Not play the gino. You had one job, and you failed.”
“There was no time, we couldn’t wait. We had to do something—"
“Yes! You had to keep her out of danger, not run right into it.”
Danny intervened, “There was nothing else to be done, man. It was either deliver your baby or—”
“It shouldn’t even have come to that!”
“Sir!” The damn nurse again. “Want to see them?”
I cast one last glance at them. Danny seemed dumbfounded. Aaron was reproachful, ignoring whoever was still babbling on the call. But Mia’s regretful eyes tugged at my heart. Instead of making amends, I followed the nurse until we reached one of the rooms.
“A doctor will come find you in a bit. Until then, there’re a couple of people for you to see.”
She opened the door, and my heart nearly stopped. Leaning back on the bed was my woman, holding a bundled blanket. I walked inside tentatively when Izzie peered up at me. She looked pale and worn out, yet her smile had never been brighter.
“Wanna meet our Little Bean?”
Her whisper summoned me to them. I stepped around her bed, almost afraid to get too close. When I reached her side, I saw him. My baby. My boy. The one I vowed to love and protect.
My heart was full of wonder. Brimming with love. I felt the sting in my nose as I stared at him. His peaceful features as he napped in his momma’s arms. His puckered lips. His little hands tucked under his chin. The wisp of dark copper hair. His chubby cheeks. That little living being had stolen my heart in one glance.
I was officially a father.
She shifted to the side, giving me space beside her. I eased myself onto the hospital bed, draped one arm over Izzie’s, and dropped a lingering kiss to the side of her head.
“I was so scared,” I admitted quietly. With my free hand, I touched my boy’s cheek, feeling a sharp tug in my heart. “I was so close to losing you both, and I wasn’t even there to stop it.”
At my broken voice, Izzie rubbed her forehead to my face. “Don’t suffer for things that never happened. We’re here now. We made it. We all made it.” It was hard to see her with unshed tears brimming my eyes. “Why don’t you hold our baby?” she suggested softly, a sweet smile forming on her lips.
With her help, I enveloped my kid in my arms. He seemed so small, so fragile. I’ve heard people say how strong a pull you feel when you first hold your baby. But nothing could’ve prepared me for that moment. A surge of love coursed through me. It was as powerful as it was frightening.
“Hey, kiddo. I’m your daddy,” I said as softly as I could, so as not to disturb him, but we needed to be properly introduced. “I’m sorry I’m late. I came here as fast as I could.” Izzie rested her head on my shoulder, both of us admiring the little boy we created. “I’m new at this, so I need you to be patient with me. But I love you.” I choked. “You have no idea how much I already love you.”
