Happy day, she reminded herself. Hannah’s day. Just three weeks away from the day. She stood to adjust the new veil. This one hung wider, covering more of Hannah’s hair. They were just getting into the pros and cons of each when Abby froze where she stood at the flower-girl dresses, her face twisted in pain.
“Abby?”
Abby sucked in a breath. “I… I’m okay, I’m—” She sucked in air, her hands holding her belly, which was already big because of the twins. But not big enough. She wasn’t far enough.
Mia eased Abby to the carpet, not missing the spot of blood seeping through her pale pink pants. The shop owner was already calling 9-1-1.
“Call Matt.” Abby’s teeth were clenched, her face a grimace of pain and fear.
Lizzie already had her phone out.
Abby’s lips were pulled thin and strained, but her eyes were filling with tears.
“Just breathe, Abby. Nice and easy.”
Abby’s hand was clammy, her grip strong. The ambulance wailed in the background for what seemed like forever.
Just when Mia thought it was almost there, it sounded far away again. “Breathe,” she said. “You’re going to be okay.”
“I can’t lose the babies.”
“You’re not.” Mia squeezed Abby’s hand.
Hannah was pale and wide eyed. All the white serenity of a wedding dress shop was gone in an instant.
Shit.
“Oh God.” Sarah, repeated the phrase in shock or prayer or both.
“It’s okay. Hold on to my hand.” Mia checked Abby’s pulse.
Lizzie had Matt on the phone. She could hear his deep voice and Lizzie losing her cool. “I don’t know. I don’t know!” She was crying now. “The ambulance is here. They’re here. What hospital?”
“Saint Charles,” the female EMT answered, kneeling at Abby’s side.
Lizzie relayed this info to Matt, and Mia caught Lizzie’s eyes.
“Tell him to hurry.”
MATT BURST INTO THE ER waiting area like an animal. Wild-eyed and dangerous, he demanded to speak to somebody, everybody. Luckily, the oldest McKinney brother, Tony, intercepted him, saving a young nurse from the wrath of a man gripped by fear. Matt was taken back, and things settled.
Mia wondered what it felt like to be loved like that. No—she didn’t have to wonder. She knew. If she quieted her mind, slipped back in time, she remembered, because Nick had loved her like that.
Other family arrived quickly, and the waiting room filled. An hour passed with no news. So much family, she thought, glad for Hannah’s widening circle of love. If she and Nick couldn’t handle each other, it might affect her relationship with Hannah, but she wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize Hannah’s relationship with her brother. Wouldn’t do anything that would make Hannah’s life harder.
Another pocket of commotion went up across the room. She turned to see Stephen enter, with Nick right behind him. Her heart jumped. Hannah jumped from her seat and went straight into Stephen’s consoling arms, but her eyes were locked with Nick’s.
After ten years, a couple of months shouldn’t have felt like forever. A shiver streaked down her spine at the sight of him striding toward her. Confident. Commanding. She fought the urge to run to him. He stopped in front of her, spearing her with those eyes, heating her with his powerful, protective stance.
She stood on shaky legs. “Hi.”
“Hey. I was with Stephen when Hannah called. Stephen needed a ride,” he added, as Hannah and Stephen joined them.
Hannah hugged her brother then went back to Stephen’s arms. “Wait. Why did you need a ride?”
“I’ll tell you about it later.” Stephen pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
Nick gave a short laugh. “He’ll tell you he was a dipshit and parked illegally and got his tire locked.”
Before Stephen could fire back, Matt came into the waiting room, and a hush fell over the twenty-five plus.
“They’ve given her something to stop the contractions and she’s resting,” he said, fighting for control with each word. He pressed his lips together. “It’s way too early.”
She heard the word kids and parents, and at the mention of his other children, Matt’s face broke. That was enough to break everyone. Was he thinking his other children might never see their mother again? But then he shored himself up, took all the quick hugs and promised prayers, and went back to his wife.
Stephen and Hannah walked over to join his brothers, and Nick stepped away to answer a call. Mia looked around, unsure what to do. She wasn’t family. Abby was her friend, and she was worried, but it didn’t seem like her place. And here was Nick, standing close enough to make it hard to breathe. So strange, they were seeing each other in a hospital again.