Bait: The Wake Series, Book One(94)

We ran back out to the curbside, where the cabby was counting out loud with Micah.

“Four. Three. Two. One. Oooo,” they said in unison. It might have actually been funny, if I weren’t close to having a f*cking heart attack.

“Hello, there. Looks like we'll be having a baby today,” said the nurse. “I'm Nancy, now let’s get you inside.” She had Micah put her hands around her neck and she pivoted her around so that she could sit in the chair.

As we walked inside she shouted, “Marie! Call OB and tell them I'm bringing them one.” She kept talking to Micah as she pushed her down the hall. “Honey, what's your name and who is your doctor?”

“I'm Micah Cruuuuuuuse. Ahhh. Oooo. And my OB/GYN is Dr. Wolfe. Oooo...,” Micah said through gritted teeth. She was sweating and her short hair was all over the place. I felt so bad, yet I didn't know what the hell I should do.

“And this is your boyfriend's brother, right?” she asked. I didn't think that was so much for her to aid in her check-in process as much as it was to take her mind off what was happening.

“Mm-hmm,” Micah answered.

“Well, brother, where is this baby’s daddy?” Nancy asked me.

“He'll be here shortly,” I said, taking my phone out of my pocket to see if I had missed something in all the commotion.

The nurse wheeled her on and on, but as we turned down the last hall and went through the last set of doors, I could tell we're were in the right place. I heard screaming from both women and infants. We walked down the pink hallway and another nurse thanked Nancy and they switched off.

“Good luck, honey. And congratulations,” the sweet ER nurse told her as she walked away from her and back toward me and the way out.

She grabbed my arm and whisper-yelled in my ear, “You better find that dad. Fast.”

“Yes, ma'am,” I said and smiled at her.

By the time I was walking to the room they'd wheeled a miserable Micah into, my phone went off.

It was Troy.

“Hey, you find him?” I asked, before I knocked on the door.

“Yeah, he's on Angel Island riding with Joey. I got a hold of him. They're going to try to see if they can get a ride back somehow. Cory is freaking out. They’re going to take the 12:25 ferry.” But even if they could catch the ferry back, to the city from Angel Island, it would still be some time before he would get there.

“Does Joey have a phone on him?” I asked.

“Yeah, I just talked to them.”

“Okay, I'll talk to you later.”

I dialed Joey's phone and Cory answered it on the first ring, “Hey, are you with her?”

My brother was frantic, I could tell by how loud he was. Cory wasn't a guy who yelled a lot, but neither was I normally.

Only when it came to her.

“Yeah, I'm with her. We're at Seton. She's okay. They've got her in a room.”

“Okay, good. God. I'm freaking out. How's she doing?” His panic turned into concern.

“She’s fine. She's breathing funny, just like she's supposed to. Do you want to talk to her?” I asked as I gently rapped on the door. I heard the nurse tell me I could come in and so I let myself inside.

The room was nicer than I'd ever expected. It sure as f*ck was nicer than any I'd been in. Micah was changed into a gown already and they were getting her information and setting her up in their system.

I walked over to the bed, where she looked pretty much the same. Sweaty. In a lot of pain. And terrified.

“Cory is on the phone do you want to talk to him?” I asked.

“Oooo... Yes! Oooo...,” she panted.

I gave her the phone and relief washed over her face. I don't know what he was telling her but she closed her eyes. Tears falling down her flushed cheeks.

“Just get here as fast as you can. Please. I need you,” she told him. “I will. I love you, too,” she added before she handed the phone back to me.

“Hello?” I said into it not knowing if he'd hung up on not.

“Hey, you take care of her until I get there. Whatever she wants. You got me? You take care of her. We're getting the 12:25 ferry. I'll be there in an hour,” he instructed.

“I've got this. She'll be fine. I swear.”

After I ended the call with Cory I made sure that she didn't need anything. She didn't need anything except Cory.