“That isn’t possible - I need to know who you are first?”
“And I need to know where she is - she’s my best friend!” I can hear the angst in my voice.
“I’m afraid Ms. Myers is in theatre at present.”
My grieved expression must have weakened her resolve and the nurse offers up a more soothing approach. “Look - she’s in good hands. I’ll take you to the family, they are waiting in the room on the left. I’m afraid that’s all I can do.”
I cover my face with both hands and blow heavily into them, composing myself before following her.
Nina envelopes me in a warm perfumed embrace the second I enter. “Oh, Seb, you came. Thank God.”
“How is she? They haven’t told me anything.”
“We don’t know much either, love. She’s under general anaesthetic, as we speak - so we are all just waiting to hear now.”
“What happened? Last I heard she’d texted me, saying her water broke at lunchtime? She’s not due for another few weeks is she? I should have been here. I was in bloody Newcastle on a job.”
“She began labour pains yesterday apparently - never told a soul, little love - couldn’t get hold of Niall as he worked late - they say she’d been in the early stages for at least 24 hours before we even got here! Then she rang me as Niall…” Nina flicks her head with a condescending look in the of the corner of the room, where Niall sits in a crumpled heap, “… hadn’t arrived to pick her up and bring her on to the birthing suite. I brought her straight here and we’ve spent the best part of the day not progressing at all. They finally managed to break her waters at 12 pm’ish, which helped somewhat but she just never dilated.”
I nod in encouragement - jeez this was barbaric - all those hours in agony!
“She was in an awful amount of pain, and nothing was happening - then the baby's heart rate dropped and Lu passed out - it was awful. All systems go and time for an emergency C-section.”
“Shit!” I look up at her worried face and cringe at my language. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Sebastian - shit is fine. I’m tougher than I look and I’ve said a whole lot worse than shit today.” Her lime green eyes, so similar to Lu’s, drift back in the direction of Niall.
“Are Suzie & Gino here?” I glance behind her to assess the room for myself.
“No, but they are on their way back up from the airport. They’ve only just come back from Majorca today. Suzie was devastated she wasn’t here for it all - no one thought the baby would come nearly four weeks early.”
“Of course. And Abby - should I call her?”
“Abby has been and gone - she’s been a superstar but I sent her home for some rest, the minute Lu was taken into theatre - she was dead on her feet and to be honest I was just glad to separate her and Niall.” I understand that completely. I’m not sure that Nina would be much happier with my arrival, however.
“I’ll call her in a bit with an update - don’t worry, Mrs. M. - we’ll get through this.”
“You’re a good boy - right - I’m going to help Mac get some warm drinks for everyone, see if he’s got some good stuff in his hip flask to splash into the men’s and I’ll be back soon.” With a gentle shoulder rub she leaves the room.
I head over to the only person left in the depressing cream box of a waiting room - Niall - and take a seat on the plastic wipeable sofa bed next to him; it creaks under our combined weight. God he looks like crap!
“You Ok, mate?”
“Thanks for coming, Seb. I fucked up big time.” I sigh, feeling almost sorry for the guy. He didn’t help himself at all.
“You’re here now - she’ll be fine, I promise.” I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince more - me, or the sad sack of a father-to-be next to me.
“I’d turned my phone off - didn’t want to be disturbed - too busy fu…”
“Look - don’t beat yourself up about it…”
“…No, you’re missing the point - I was shacked up at The Queen's Hotel with some lass from work - balls deep in blonde pussy - having too much fun and I thought Lucia was just being melodramatic - thought I’d have time to - you know… finish up, shower and work a few more hours.”
I feel and hear the crunch as my teeth bite down and through my lip - then taste the warm metallic blood oozing there. Fucking arsehole - what had he been bloody thinking! All my earlier fears had been confirmed - he was cheating on my friend - and for how long?
“Melodramatic! She is having a baby you prick - your baby!”