Chapter Nineteen
Ruby
I rush through the doors of the private hospital with Garett at my heels.
A man holds his bleeding head at the desk while his friend tells a slurring story to the receptionist. I can’t keep still. My feet are trying to recreate a Dick Van Dyke tap dance as the stranger gets to the part of the story about a stripper and a cheese and pickle sandwich.
I avoid confrontation except with sexy chefs, but as my pulse spikes, I sense that ball of pressure sitting at the back of my throat.
Suddenly, Garett’s warm, coarse hand slips into mine. His eyes are wide as he locks my gaze. I take a breath.
“Let’s move this along. No one wants to hear about a pickle in a lady’s frou-frou,” Garett grunts.
I hold in a bubble of laughter at the words frou-frou as the two guys turn and stare.
“But the pickle is important. His head wouldn’t be bleeding if there wasn’t a pickle.”
Luckily, my brother-in-law paid for private care for this pregnancy. At least we only have one drunk to deal with tonight and not a queue of carnage.
“My friend’s sister was brought in. She’s pregnant with twins. We want to see her and make sure she’s okay,” Garett explains as I attempt to regulate my breathing.
The receptionist catches the eye of a nurse who waits to direct us down a corridor while we sign in.
Abstract artwork reminiscent of an art gallery, not a hospital, adorns the cream walls. A water fountain bubbles as we pass it. Our footsteps tap across the linoleum floor, or whatever is beneath our feet, and although they’ve tried to create an atmosphere of a safe space, it’s impossible to miss the clinical scent that’s in every hospital. Garett holds my hand, and it’s all that’s keeping me grounded. I breathe in his cinnamon scent, and my pulse slows a little. I don’t know how I would have managed tonight without him. I was buzzed after watching Neil get upset at seeing me with Garett. All that time, he thought I wasn’t enough, and I’m starting to feel like I was and am. There was also the flirting and near kiss with Garett, but I refuse to linger on that, although it’s burrowed in the back of my mind for later. Amber is all that matters.
A door opens, and suddenly, there’s my beaming sister. At her smile, I well up. Garett hangs back in the doorway as I rush and hug her, careful not to squeeze her too tight. “You’re okay,” I pant, my panic exploding in a rush of breath.
“Of course I am. I told you I was. I’ve got snacks, my own super comfortable bed, and old episodes of Columbo .”
“You’re so weird,” I reply as Garett moves a chair. It scrapes on the floor as he slides it behind me. “Only you’d be watching Columbo at a time like this.”
I grab her hand, and it trembles a little. I tip my head as she forces a fake smile.
“What’s really going on?”
That’s when the tears flow.
“I’ll leave you two be. Sister time,” Garett murmurs. Maybe crying women freak him out. I appreciate his care. If not for him, I would have crashed my car or had a meltdown in the reception area. “I’ll be in the waiting room.”
“Sorry,” Amber blubs.
“Don’t apologise. It’s more than okay to cry. But this is a moment for family,” Garett says before slipping out the door. He doesn’t want to embarrass her, and that realisation makes my heart flutter, even as cracks appear when I see my sister weep.
The vast width of the private bed means I have space to clamber up. I sneak under her blanket to hold her close. We used to do this as children when something scared us. Usually, it was one of the many crime drama shows we were too young to watch. She tucks her head against my chest, and I stroke her hair as she weeps.
“I miss Kalen so much,” she says between sobs. “I thought he’d be home by now.”
“Have you heard anything?”
“No. I’m sure he is safe, but when things like this happen, I get this terror that he’ll die while on operations. That our babies will never meet him. I can’t bear a life without him.” She hiccups as she sobs. How long has she kept these fears to herself? “I can’t do this alone.”
I squeeze her tightly as sickness rises in my throat. “You’re not alone. You’re never alone. You’ve got Mum and Dad, who will do everything to ensure you’re safe and cared for. I’m so sorry I’ve been selfish for years, but I’m home for as long as you’ll have me. I got in my head that Neil was the only one that mattered, and I can’t change that, but—”
She lifts her head and grabs mine between her hands, shutting me up instantly. Her sobs have slowed, and she glares at me with a fire that reminds me how amazing she will be as a mum. She’s all love but can bring the force of a thousand dragons when she needs to.
“You weren’t selfish. You had stuff to do. You’re my baby sister and are allowed your own life.” I brush tears from her eyes. “But I’m happy you’re home and so glad I’ve got you. These kids will be lucky to have a caring auntie who will adore them and make them fantastic cakes, filling them with sugar so they can drive me mad.”
I chuckle as her head flops back down. “So the tears aren’t anything medical? Once the gynaecologist signs you off, I can take you home?”
“Yeah, she should be here in a couple of hours. The tears were all about Kalen.”
“I bet he’s doing everything he can to get to you. He adores you, and I’m sure he’s hurting.”
“I don’t want him hurting. I wish he’d hurry up and get home.”
“Me too, Ambs, me too.”
She relaxes in my arms. Amber is my world, and I can’t push away the guilt crawling over my body. If something happened to her and I wasn’t close, I’d hate myself forever. I’m back and need to win that competition so I can stay and make sure she has extra money for the babies and be here for my family and future nieces or nephews. Nothing matters more than the competition and my family.
“Speaking of you and your life,” she whispers.
“You’re meant to be asleep.”
“It’s not far off,” she replies with a long yawn that I can’t help but copy. “So… what’s my cookery school’s grumpy chef doing with you at this late hour?”
“I needed a lift.” I shrug.
“And he happened to be around to give you one.” She giggles.
“Are you laughing at the words ‘give you one’?”
“Yeah.”
I roll my eyes. “He’s helping me with my baking techniques, nothing more.”
“Well, if anyone can stop you from getting a soggy bottom, it’s him.” She giggles.
I smile broadly despite her teasing. “You need to stop watching The Great British Bake Off for the innuendos.”
She sighs and slips farther down the bed. It’s my cue to go and let her rest.
“I’ll be right outside, okay? And you don’t want me to mention this to Mum and Dad?”
“Definitely not. They’ve got enough on their plate dealing with something related to our baby brother and what he’s up to at university. They haven’t told me more, but one of us needs to have a word.”
“He’s twenty and old enough to stop stressing them out.”
“Says you,” she replies cheekily as her eyelids flutter.
“Touché.”
“Now get out of here and ask Garett to help you with your buns.”
I shake my head as I climb out of bed.
“No more Bake Off for you,” I say as I pause at the door, but she doesn’t hear. She’s already snoozing, and I swear she’s got a cheeky smile on her sleeping face.