Angel's Rest(102)
Celeste clucked her tongue. “Oh, Gabe.”
“We didn’t know if I was in labor or not. If the babies were in danger or not. He left me to face it alone.”
“I can’t believe he’d do that,” Sage murmured, gazing at her with what Nic could only interpret to be pity. That made it even worse.
“That’s exactly what he did. At first I thought it was taking an exceptionally long time to fill out paperwork. Eventually I asked the nurse to go find him. When she returned from the parking lot with the news that the Jeep was nowhere in sight …” Nic closed her eyes. “I realized he’d run out on me. I swear it hurt worse than walking in on Greg and his lover in our bed.”
Sarah folded her arms and tapped her toes. “That’s unforgivable, Nic. Totally unforgivable.”
Celeste sighed heavily and shook her head. “I do believe that men can be the dumbest of God’s creatures.”
Sage took hold of Nic’s hand. “But you’re okay? The three of you are all right?”
Again Nic nodded, swallowing against the lump of emotion in her throat. “She’s going to keep us here and monitor us until noon just as a precaution, and after that …”
“Bed rest?” Sarah asked.
“Maybe. We discussed it. I guess the newest studies show it’s often unnecessary. That said, I’d rather be safe than sorry. That’s why …” Nic paused and licked her lips.
“I’m not going back to Eternity Springs. I’ve decided to go to Denver for the duration of the pregnancy, or at least until we’ve passed the magic twenty-eight-week mark. Dr. Marshall is setting me up with a perinatologist there, and she says they have a great newborn intensive care facility in Aurora.”
Sage nodded. “The Children’s Hospital has a state-of-the-art NICU.”
“You shouldn’t let that sorry dog run you out of town,” Sarah snapped. “Eternity Springs is your home.”
Nic lifted her chin. “I’m not running anywhere. I’m protecting my babies. After this, I’m a little gun-shy about trusting their lives to CareFlight.” Smiling at Celeste, she added, “I’m going to hate missing the grand opening.”
“Well, there is a good chance you won’t.” Celeste smiled at the ER nurse who brought her a chair, then said, “Zach Turner called while we were on our way here. There’s been a mud and rock slide on the mountain behind Angel’s Rest. It’s done a substantial amount of damage to the new buildings in back. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but our ahead-of-schedule status just took a knockout punch, I’m afraid. I’m going to reschedule the grand opening for around Labor Day.”
“Labor Day.” Nic gave a bittersweet smile. “Dr. Marshall said I should shoot for that as my red-letter day. If I can carry the babies that long, they won’t be considered premature.”
“Cool.” Sarah gave her a thumbs-up. “We’ll plan a ribbon cutting and a cord cutting on the same day.”
Celeste patted Nic’s leg and said, “What can we do to help, dear? Do you want me to talk to Gabe?”
Nic shook her head. “No. Thanks, Celeste, but the things Gabe Callahan needs to hear, I need to say.”
She’d started a list of them between six and seven o’clock this morning. She was already on page four.
Her friends kept her company until activity in the ER picked up and the nurse declared that two of her three visitors must leave. “I’ll go,” Sarah said. “I’d like to run a couple of errands before we head back.”
Sage spoke to Celeste. “You mentioned you needed to pick up something at the motorcycle shop. Why don’t I stay with Nic while you guys do your errands, then we can stop by Julio’s for lunch before we hit the road.” To Nic she added, “You are going home before you leave for Denver, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I need to pack up some necessities, and I’m going to call Ali Timberlake and see if she can help me figure out a place to stay. She knows Denver better than I do.”
Sarah leaned over the hospital bed and gave Nic a hug. “I’m so glad this was a false alarm. I think Gabe Callahan needs a swift kick in the butt.”
“I won’t argue with either point.”
When Sarah moved aside, Celeste leaned over the bed and kissed Nic’s forehead. “All will be well, Nic, dear. Have faith.”
“I’m sorry about Angel’s Rest.”