AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I can’t help him,” Nate said, new misery filling him. “I’ve always been able to help them. All of them.” He looked up, hoping to see sky but only seeing the roof above the overhang on the emergency room entrance. “How do I help Luke in this situation? Or Hannah?”
All he could do was pray, and he did that again and then again, as if prayer should be done as often as breathing.
He had to go back in, because if he didn’t, Ted would come find him. Ted would worry, the way Ted did. Slate would too, and Nate appreciated his friends more and more.
He took a deep breath and went back inside. He hadn’t quite reached the group yet when Dallas and Slate stood up. They looked beyond him, and Nate turned to find Luke coming toward them, a blue-wrapped bundle in his arms. A nurse accompanied him, as did a glowing halo around his whole countenance.
Luke had often called Hannah his angel, and he certainly seemed to have them standing watch over him right now.
“Here’s Robert,” he said in a whisper as he arrived. “They’re giving me five minutes for you guys to see him, and then they have to take him again.”
“How is he?” Emma asked, stepping right over to the baby and running her fingers along his hairless scalp.
“They want to do a lot of tests,” Luke said, his eyes flitting away from Nate and landing on Slate. “Hannah’s placenta tore away from the uterine wall, but only partially. But that’s how the nutrients and oxygen get to the baby, and Robbie was compromised for over half an hour.” He looked up, his eyes brighter than Nate had ever seen them. He looked simultaneously terrified and hopeful.
“So they’re going to be running a lot of tests to see what, if any, impact that slower feed of oxygen had.”
“He’s so beautiful, Luke,” Jill said, and that was the perfect thing to say.
“How’s Hannah?” Dallas asked.
Luke looked up from his son again. “They were finishing up the removal of the placenta when I left to go with Robert. She hasn’t woken up yet, but the doctors say as soon as they have the bleeding contained, she will.”
His chin shook, and Nate wanted to take him into a tight, tight hug. Ted beat him to it, and he was bigger anyway, so his arms fit around Luke and the baby easily.
“Sir,” the nurse said as the baby started to fuss, and Ted stepped back. Luke passed the baby to Ginger, and Nate grabbed onto him next.
“You’re strong,” he said. “You can do this.” Nate took Luke’s face in both of his hands and looked straight at him. “She has you for a reason, Luke. You’re strong enough to be there for her through this.”
Luke’s tears streamed down his face, but he nodded. He hugged everyone, and actually thanked them for coming, before he took his baby and followed the nurse back into the emergency room.
People started to sit down, but Nate stayed on his feet, watching the door. Ginger stepped to his side and slid her fingers between his. He calmed, the way he always did with his wife’s touch. She brought comfort to his soul, and he turned to place a kiss to her cheek.
“She’s going to be okay,” Ginger said. “I can just feel it.”
Nate usually could too, but his emotions were so knotted right now, that he could barely think past the next moment. For now, he’d have to accept his wife’s assurances, and he let her lead him over to his chair, where they sat down together.
