“It sure isn’t.” Jenna smiled at me, then at Nicole and Kate.
“Let’s make a toast,” I suggested, lifting up my glass of water. “Not the kind you would eat.” We all laughed, recalling Matthew’s words. I laughed lightly and said, “Sorry. I had to say it. Anyway, here’s to Nicole being pregnant, having safe deliveries, and our lifetime friendship.”
With a clink, we toasted. After Jenna placed her glass down, she got up. I immediately knew what she was up to. Not wanting her to pay for the bill, I followed after her. “Jenna. What are you doing? I told you I got this.”
Jenna turned to me and looked surprised. “How do...Becky. No. I’ll get it.”
“It’s too late, Jenna. I already gave the waitress my credit card the second I walked in the door.”
“No you didn’t,” she argued, opening her purse.
“Want to find out?” I challenged with a smirk. “I didn’t bring my purse up here, did I?” My expression faded into a scared one when the room started to spin. Everything around me seemed to move in slow motion. Hot and cold feelings alternated quickly, flashing through my body. The sudden change of temperature hit me fast and hard. My heart was pumping in overdrive, and it got worse when I felt like I was losing my breath.
“Jenna.” I tried to get her attention, but I didn’t know if she heard my desperate call for help. All I could think of at that moment was my baby and Matthew. Oh God. Please don’t let anything bad happen. When I felt myself losing control of my muscles and the day started to turn to night, I knew I was in big trouble.
Jenna
I got worried when Becky’s smile disappeared so quickly. Did I say something to offend her? But I knew that wasn’t it. “Becky, are you okay?”
When she didn’t answer, I thought maybe she was in deep thought at first, but she was showing signs of stress. Her eyes were staring into space and her face suddenly lost color. Becky mouthed a word, but no sound escaped her.
“Becky!” I reached for her just in time and stopped her from collapsing to the floor. My tone caused a lot of attention. Nicole and Kate must have heard me, too. They were on the floor next to us.
“Call the ambulance,” I shouted at the waitress standing over us. I didn’t give her a chance to ask questions. I was so scared. I didn’t know what else to do or how to help Becca. With my trembling hands, I made sure her head that was resting on my leg was supported. Please don’t let anything happen to the both of them, I prayed to myself. “Hang in there, Becky,” I pleaded, moving the strands of hair away from her face, then holding onto her hand. Feeling her hand so cold, I started to massage it. I had no idea what I was doing, but I had to do something. I was going out of my mind.
The store manager dashed to us. “We’ve called the ambulance. Is she breathing?”
“Yes.” It was the first thing I’d checked for, to see her chest rise and fall. “How long will it take them?”
“They said five minutes or less.”
“Okay.” I could feel my eyes dampened with tears as I reached into my purse. “Call Matthew and Max.” I handed the phone to Nicole or Kate. I didn’t know whom exactly. I didn’t want to take my eyes off Becky. I was too afraid that her condition would worsen if I did. “Everything is going to be fine.” I had to let her know that, hoping that she could hear me. I also wanted her to know that I was right there. Realizing I had a cardigan on, I took it off and placed it on her.
“Matthew is on his way,” Nicole said.
“No,” I snapped. I didn’t mean to. “Tell him to meet us at the hospital. By the time he gets here, we’ll be gone. Did you get ahold of Max?”
“No. He’s in a meeting, but the secretary said she’ll let him know.”
Five minutes weren’t that long, but it felt like forever, especially because we were desperate. I released a long breath when the sound of the siren rang loudly. Thank God! When the sound stopped, I knew they were just outside. The rush of cool air brushed my face when the door opened. Fall had kicked in. Though it wasn’t that cold, my senses were heightened from being in panic mode.
“Ma’am, you need to move over so we can help your friend.” The gentleman helped me up. “Was she injured?”
“No. I caught her just in time.”
“Good. How many months is she?”
“She’s due in a little over a month. We’re due around the same time.”
I saw the other two men placing Becky on the stretcher. It ripped my heart to see her with a breathing mask on and so still.