Chapter 62 Nora
NORA
After showering and dressing in the fresh clothes that Nate brought me last night, I sit back on the hospital bed on top of the covers. The midwives have been checking baby’s heartbeat regularly just to reassure me, I think, more than anything.
I hold my stomach with both hands and blow out a lungful of air.
I need to be strong for my baby. Whatever happens with Ev, I can’t let it upset me.
He’s his own person, and he’s given us a gift.
I need to remember that. Nate’s right. If Evan doesn’t want to be with us, we can’t control that or make him stay.
Whatever happens, this baby is my main focus.
Yesterday scared me more than I’ve ever been.
I can’t lose this baby. I won’t lose this baby.
“There you are.” Poppy’s voice carries down the ward.
“I’ve been all over this hospital looking for the maternity ward.
It’s like a rabbit warren here.” She leans over the bed and gives me a one-armed hug, her hand holding a cardboard tray of Costa paper cups and cookies.
“How are you?” She places the cardboard tray on the trolley and lifts the cups from the holder.
“I brought snacks. Wasn’t sure what breakfast was like here. ”
“Thank you so much. It wasn’t too bad. I had toast and a banana.” I take the tea and inhale, the aroma soothing me already, like a warm blanket. “Everything is good. I listened to the heartbeat again this morning and everything is fine.”
She sits on the bed and squeezes my hand, her tea in the other. “I was so worried about you last night when you texted me.”
“I didn’t want to worry you. I just needed someone to talk to who wasn’t Nate or Evan.”
“So, how are the boys? Are they talking now, at least?”
“I think so. Evan said that they worked out some stuff last night, and he seemed lighter when he was on the phone.”
“Good,” she says. “Because I already told Dom I refuse to attend a baby shower and a funeral in the same month. That’s just poor planning.”
“Whose funeral?”
“I hadn’t decided. Either Evan or Nate.” She smiles behind her tea, her cheeks glowing as if she’s just done a workout. “Maybe both if they didn’t sort themselves out.”
A laugh bursts out of me before I can stop it. “Poppy.”
“What?” she shrugs. “I have my contacts. I was on Crimewatch TV, you know.”
“I knew it.” I lean forward and whisper, “Is Dom a gangster?”
She laughs behind her paper cup.
“Criminal?”
She can’t speak for laughing, and waves a hand at me.
“Mafia?”
She laughs again. “Speaking of mafia, I brought you the second book in that series. The one with the bodyguard and her three lovers.” She rummages in her tote bag, avoiding my question. “Here. Thought you needed more reading material while you’re on strict bed rest.”
“Thank you. I haven’t finished the first book yet.”
“Well, you have plenty of time now. I’m sure your men will wait on you like a queen.”
“I care what happens with Nate and Ev, obviously, but this baby comes first now.”
“Good. They’re grown men. They can sort out their own emotional disasters.” She sips her tea, her other hand rubbing her stomach.
“Poppy, are you—” My mouth parts as she freezes.
Her eyes sparkle, filling up with happy tears, then she nods.
“It’s early days. I just found out like two days ago and nobody knows, only Dom.
” Her smile pushes her cheeks up. “And his brother and his wife. And I think his two best mates, Kane and Shane.” She snorts.
“Probably the whole of the Black Crow pub by now. He was so happy.”
I put my tea down on the trolley and lean forward, wrapping my arms around her. “I’m so happy for you.” Her red curls tickle my face.
She swipes the happy tears from her rosy cheeks. “I didn’t want to say anything with what’s going on right now. But I told you we’d end up pregnant together, right? We can go to all those playgroups together. We’ll be those mums who spoil our kids rotten and let them get away with murder.”
We both laugh and neither of us can stop smiling as if we’re high on gas and air.
“You deserve it.”
She squeezes my hand again. “We both do.”
“I’m gonna find out the gender.” I lift one of the cookies from the trolley and unwrap it. “After yesterday, I need to know everything I can about my baby. If anything were to happen—”
She silences my mouth with her finger. “Nothing is going to happen. But a gender reveal party sounds fun. I could organise it for you.”
“I was just gonna find out at the scan—”
“No, you’re not. You’ve waited too long for this baby and it might be the only one you ever have.
We’re going all out.” She rummages in her bag for her phone.
“Do you have any venues in mind? What about the Lakehouse Grill? They could accommodate a party. They even had a stage for a band.” She taps on her phone.
“I could recommend the Black Crow pub near me, but I don’t think you’d thank me for that.
” Her red painted nail taps against her phone screen a hundred miles a minute.
“We need a cake. As soon as you have the envelope with the gender, I’ll pick it up and sort out the cake. ”
“I’m having a follow-up scan next week, so I can ask then.”
“Great. I’ll get this party booked for the weekend after. You leave it all to me.”
“You really don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
“But you need to look after yourself now, too.” I nod to her stomach.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll get the girls to help me. Lilly’s had two kids now. She’s practically a pro at gender reveal parties.”
I nod, excitement bubbling in my stomach, unless that’s just gas, but a gender reveal party makes the pregnancy seem very real.
“And in the meantime,” she says, scrolling on her phone again. “You and I are going to focus on the important stuff.” She grins. “Baby names.”
I groan. “None of us can decide on one we all like.”
She taps her phone again. “I have a list.”
I rest my hand over my stomach again, the steady memory of Pip’s heartbeat echoing in my ears.
Yesterday everything was falling apart.
Today, life is just beginning.