Chapter 27 – Celine
Something was wrong.
I could feel it.
Artur wasn’t answering his phone, and panic had set in already. It was unlike him to see my call not pick up. After a few attempts to reach him, the call stopped connecting altogether. It was as though he turned off his phone. But I knew better. He’d never do that.
“Konstantin!” I called out to him, forcing myself down the hallway. “Konstantin!”
My hands were on my waist, my swollen stomach protruding in front of me.
“Celine, what is it?” Hilda rushed over to me, her voice laced with concern.
“It’s Artur, he’s not taking my calls,” I answered. “I think he’s in trouble.”
“Maybe, he’s just caught up in traffic.” She held my hand, attempting to comfort me.
“No, you don’t understand.” I shook my head. “He’s in trouble, I can feel it.”
Konstantin rounded a corner and joined us. “What’s going on?”
“When’s the last time you heard from Artur?” I asked him.
“About two hours ago.”
“Well, he should’ve been home by now,” I said, fighting back the tears that welled in my eyes. “Please, check on him.”
“He’s probably stuck in traffic.”
“Goddamnit!” I snapped, losing my temper. “Why isn’t anyone listening to me?! My husband’s in trouble, I’m telling you!”
“Okay, I’ll make some calls.” He withdrew his phone and stormed off, treating the issue as urgent.
“Celine, you need to relax,” Hilda said, guiding me toward the living room.
“I can’t. Not until I know he’s fine.”
“You’re not supposed to be stressing yourself right now.”
“I can’t help it, Hilda!” I yelled at her, and then that sound turned to an agonizing groan. “Ahhhhh!” My legs trembled as my water broke, the liquid trickling down my inner thighs.
“The baby’s coming,” Hilda announced, her tone dripping with urgency. “Konstantin!”
My screams drew the attention of the maids around, and they came running.
“Find Konstantin or Ilya!” Hilda barked at the girls. “Tell them to get the cars ready. The baby’s coming!”
The pain coursing through me was like none I’d ever felt before. My heart was pounding in my heaving chest, and my breathing was coming in ragged gasps.
“You!” she called another maid who’d just arrived at the scene. “Come! Help me!
A few other guards showed up on time, and together they worked toward getting me to the hospital. Konstantin was at the wheel, Ilya was riding shotgun, while Hilda was with me in the backseat.
“Artur!” I cried out. “Where’s Artur?!”
“Celine, calm down.” Hilda stroked my back, trying to make me feel better.
I had a feeling Konstantin had information about my husband’s whereabouts but was keeping it to himself. Maybe he couldn’t tell me anything that he knew would upset me even more.
In no time, they got me to the hospital, and that was where the real work began.
I lay on my back, surrounded by doctors and nurses as I fought to give birth. Hilda was by my side the whole time, encouraging me to push harder. My skin was covered in sweat, the veins on my forehead almost popping out as I groaned deeply.
“I can see its head!” the doctor announced. “You’re doing great, Celine. Keep pushing!”
My body was weak, and I was barely holding on to life. I felt so sleepy, but Hilda’s constant taps on my face wouldn’t let me fall asleep.
“Open your eyes, Celine!”
“Push!” the doctor urged me.
“I’m tired,” I whispered, breathing heavily.
“I know you are,” she said. “But there’s a life inside you that needs your help to be born. So, please…push.”
I held her gaze, my fist tightening around her fingers as I let out a loud scream. I pushed with all my might, my face twisted in severe agony.
“That’s it, almost there. Almost there!”
My groans grew deeper by the second, my eyes slowly rolling backward.
Then I heard it.
The cry of a baby.
“You did it, Celine!” Hilda announced, smiling at me.
My head fell back onto the pillow, tired and exhausted. I was covered in profuse sweat, my chest rising and falling with labored breaths.
“It’s a boy,” the doctor announced, meeting my gaze.
The moment I set my eyes on that baby, that tiny human being in the nurse’s arms, something came alive inside me.
Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks, and I began sobbing, wishing his father were here. I sat up on the bed with my back against the wall, hands stretched out, ready to receive him.
The nurse stepped forward and gently placed my adorable little boy in my arms. I looked down at his face, smiling as he gradually stopped crying. He was the spitting image of his father, a reminder that I still had no idea whether I’d been widowed or not.
“Hey, handsome,” I whispered, staring at the baby against my chest. “Welcome to Earth.” My tears wouldn’t stop flowing like a river.
My bundle of joy had arrived. But his father was nowhere to be found. I was happy and sad at the same time, and the only thing I could do was cry.
“He’s beautiful,” Hilda whispered, towering over me.
I glanced up at her with a faint smile and eyes filled with tears.
“Don’t worry about Artur, my child,” she said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “That man has cheated death so many times, and I’ve come to the conclusion that he just can’t die.”
I chuckled amidst sobs.
“So wipe your tears.” She reached out and wiped them with her thumb. “I’m sure he’s fine, and he’ll find his way back to you.”
I took a deep breath, hoping she was right, even though deep down, I was afraid of hearing bad news about him.