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Ted pulled back into the lot and began looking for an available space. He couldn’t believe what was happening, though he’d faced some very hard things in his life. He’d sat through a trial at the defendant’s table. He’d listened to a guilty verdict. He’d gone to a low-security federal prison, where he’d stayed for years.
He’d lost his career and his friends from his previous life.
In the past couple of years, Ted had learned that all he’d lost had been inconsequential compared to what he’d gained.
His friendships with Nate, Dallas, Slate, and Luke meant more to him than any of his lawyer friends had. His marriage and relationship with Emma was worth more to him than anything, and his little girl had captured his whole heart the moment he’d met her.
Emma had told him three days ago that she was pregnant again and due in mid-July. The same thrill he’d experienced then ran through him now, and he couldn’t wait to have another little human in his life. He even loved that silly teacup piglet he’d bought for Emma a few years ago.
He loved everything about his life now, and he couldn’t imagine it without Hannah in it. She’d always been kind to him, and she made coming to dinner at the West Wing fun and inviting. She genuinely cared about people—Ted included—and he simply couldn’t imagine not seeing her every day and asking her how she was doing.
“Luke,” he murmured, spotting a parking space and swinging his truck wide to be able to fit into it. “Lord, please bless Luke. He’s already been through so much, and he loves Hannah with his whole heart. He can’t lose her.”
Ted parked and jumped from the truck, barely remembering to grab the keys. He jogged away from the vehicle, locking it with the fob over his shoulder as he went. “Bless that baby, too,” he said right out loud.
Inside, he found everyone grouped together in a huddle in the corner, and he looked around for Nate. The man stood at the desk, talking to a woman, and Ted gestured to Emma that he was going to go find out what was happening too.
He approached Nate as the woman said, “…anything. She’s here, and they’re working on her.”
“But where’s her husband?” Nate asked. “Is he allowed back there? If so, one of us needs to be with him.”
“Sir,” the nurse said firmly. “We don’t allow visitors in the ER.”
“We’re not visitors,” Ted said. “We’re family.”
She looked from Ted to Nate, and they didn’t look anything alike. She cocked an eyebrow and folded her arms.
“Gina,” Nate said in a different kind of voice. “You know who I am. You know how much my men mean to me, especially this one. This is his wife, and she was bleeding heavily.”
“Dallas said something about a ruptured placenta,” Ted added. “They can fix that, right?”
Nate glanced at Ted, and they both knew the answer to that. Dallas had been pale and in complete shock—and he was a doctor. He’d dealt with people in pain all the time. Lots of blood. He knew how to act in an emergency, and he’d completely frozen.
It had been Slate who’d acted, and Luke, as Ted hadn’t come upon them until they were almost back to the truck, Hannah hanging limply in her husband’s arms. Ted closed his eyes, and all he could see was Luke’s stricken face and Slate’s panicked eyes.
He hadn’t known what to do either, that was for sure.
“Let me see what I can find out,” Gina said. “But Nate, I really don’t think any of you are going to be able to come back. If she has a placenta abruption, she’ll go immediately into surgery.”
“What about the baby?” Ted asked.
“The surgery is to save the baby,” Gina said. “And the mother. We have very good doctors here, Ted. In fact, Doctor Midgarf is here today, and he studied for a year in obstetrics. He’s going to take good care of her.”
“Midgarf?” Nate asked, frowning. “I don’t trust that name.”
“Would you like me to go check on her?” Gina asked. “Or stand here and argue with you about a name?”
“Go,” Ted said, stepping in front of Nate, who’s fingers had started to curl into a fist. “Come on, Nate. Back up a little.”
Nate did, exhaling slowly out of his nose. Gina turned and went through the door that led back into the ER, and Ted could tell Nate wanted to follow her, rules or not.
“She’s going to find out for us,” Ted said. “We have to be the strong ones. Look at your wife.” Ted glanced over Nate’s shoulder to where Ginger stood with Emma and Jill. “She was scared to death of dying during childbirth. She has got to be freaked out.”
Nate’s eyes softened, and he nodded. “You’re right.”
“They’re going to send Luke out, and he’s going to need us.” Ted turned Nate around. “Let’s go sit down and not act like monsters.”
Thankfully, the waiting room was mostly empty, and Ted got Nate back over to the group, where he took Ginger into his arms and held her tightly for several long seconds. Ted did the same with Emma, letting her cry against his chest.
