Chapter 63 Nora
NORA
Poppy sits beside me, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed while scrolling through her phone, occasionally glancing up to make sure I’m still breathing. “What about Sapphire?”
“That’s nice, but for you, Ruby is good. Especially if she has your hair.”
The curtain rustles, and a doctor steps in. “Morning, Nora.”
Poppy straightens, phone disappearing into her bag like she’s been caught doing something illegal. Then she scurries off the bed and folds into the chair, clearing the way for the doctor.
The doctor checks my chart and listens to Pip’s heartbeat again with the Doppler.
Poppy’s eyes sparkle again, her hand pressed against her own belly.
“Everything still sounds good,” the doctor says with a reassuring smile. “No more bleeding?”
“Not since last night.”
She nods. “Good. Baby’s heartbeat is strong. I’m happy for you to go home today.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. Relief floods me from head to toe.
“You have a scan booked next week so we can monitor the haematoma. Do you have someone to pick you up? No heavy lifting or strenuous exercise. Rest as much as possible. Okay.” Then she leaves, the curtain swishing closed behind her.
Poppy lifts the Doppler from the trolley. “Do you think they’d miss one of these?”
A moment later the curtain moves again, and Nate steps through. “You good, dimples?” He nods at Poppy. “Ayup, Poppy.”
“I can go home.”
His shoulders drop with relief, as if someone just took fifty kilos off them.
“Is Ev here?”
“He just dropped me off. Now he’s heading into work for an hour.” Nate pulls his phone from his pocket and calls Ev. “She can go home now. Can you swing back round and pick us up?”
Poppy stands, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Right, my work here is done. Emotional support cookie provider signing off.” She leans over and kisses my cheek. “Text me later.”
“I will.”
She pats Nate’s arm. “Look after her.”
“Always,” he says without hesitation.
Satisfied, she heads down the ward, her red curls bouncing behind her.
“Right. Let’s get you packed up.” Nate unzips my bag and puts my phone charger and toiletries inside.
“How is Ev? I mean, things between you?”
He pauses. “Better.” He lifts his gaze to mine, his brown eyes tired. “He wants to be around for the baby.”
“But not us?” I nod in understanding. “It’s better than nothing, I guess.”
“It won’t be awkward anymore. I promise.” Nate shoves the last of my things into the bag. “Shall I get a wheelchair?”
“No need. I can walk.” I carefully swing my legs off the bed and stand. A midwife sees us out of the ward, and we stroll down the corridor in silence, Nate carrying my bag.
Cool air hits my face as we step outside.
Evan leans against his car across the small car park, hands shoved into his pockets, glasses sliding down his nose.
My chest tightens and swells all at the same time.
He straightens when he spots us, pushing himself off the car, his knuckles covered in lemon paint. The same colour I picked for the nursery. “Hey, Nora.” He opens the back door as we reach the car.
“You been decorating?”
He smiles with tired eyes. “Yeah. Don’t you go changing your mind on colour schemes when we find out the gender.”
I slide into the back seat. “You decorated the nursery?”
Nate climbs into the front. “It was meant to be a surprise.” He glares at Evan. “Couldn’t you have washed your hands?”
Ev laughs. “Water didn’t get it all off.”
“Try soap,” Nate mutters, buckling his seatbelt.
Evan starts the engine and pulls out of the hospital car park. “You okay back there?”
“I’m fine.”
His brow furrows. “You sure?”
Nate says, “Relax, Ev. Doc said she’s good. But she’ll be on bed rest for the foreseeable.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “I can move around. Just no heavy lifting she said.”
Ev huffs. “You nearly passed out yesterday.”
“Technically, I had a panic attack.”
Evan glances at me in the mirror, his voice softer. “You scared the shit out of us.”
“I know. I scared myself. Poor Cal was white as a sheet.”
Nate laughs. “Lou said she’d never seen Evan move so fast. He practically flew over the desks to get to you.”
“I thought she was gonna faint like she did before.” Ev indicates onto our estate. “You know, when she wasn’t eating.”
“I was eating,” I protest from the back seat.
“Three strawberries and five nuts aren’t eating,” Nate says.
“They were big nuts.” I smirk, catching Ev’s eyes in the rearview mirror.
Evan gives me a smug grin back. “You can wipe that smirk off your face, doodles. Nate’s gonna have you chained to the bed when you get home.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I look forward to it.”
Nate peers over his shoulder. “Doctor said rest.”
“She said no heavy lifting.”
“Breathing counts as heavy lifting for you,” Nate says, his eyes dropping to my large breasts.
Evan laughs under his breath and it’s like old times with them.
Our home comes into view, my whole body relaxing at the thought of curling up on the sofa with a mug of warm tea and a blanket.
Gravel crunches beneath the tyres as Evan pulls to a stop in our driveway.
Nate grabs my bag and opens the front door. The house smells faintly like paint when I step inside, excitement fluttering low in my stomach, my pulse quickening as I take the stairs.
I push open the nursery door. The lemon walls glow in the late morning light.
I run a finger along the rail of the cot in the centre of the room. My breath stuttering. “You built it.”
Nate leans against the doorframe. “Barely.”
Evan rubs the back of his neck. “The instructions were wrong.”
“That’s because you missed the first two pages,” Nate says.
A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. I glide my hand along the smooth wooden rail, soaking in the serenity of the room, imagining Pip curled beside me on the sofa while I read stories.
“It looks lovely. Thank you.”
“I was going into work to print out your design for the wardrobe doors,” Ev says, waving a hand over the sliding doors. Then he checks his watch. “I should probably get going.”
“Yeah,” Nate says, guiding me out of the room.
My chest deflates, not knowing when I'll see him again.
Evan heads back down the stairs, and I follow, my chest aching, but surprisingly calm.
“Want to come for dinner tonight?” I blurt, then hold my breath.
Both men look at me like I’ve suggested running a marathon.
“You’re not cooking,” Evan says. “You’re on medical orders.”
Nate folds his arms. “I’ll cook.”
Evan raises an eyebrow. “Since when?”
“Since right now.”
“She needs to eat more than cheese on toast.”
“I know.” Nate playfully pushes against Ev’s chest.
I grin. “This I have to see.”
Evan looks like he might say yes. He glances at Nate, then his lips form a thin line as an understanding passes between them. “Another time, doodles.”
I let out a sigh and nod. “All right.”
He opens the door, stepping outside. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he says, then he’s gone. No forehead kisses or hugs. Just the emptiness he leaves behind, but I promised myself I’d stay strong and I am.
He seems fine. I’m all right. Nate’s good. And most importantly, Pip’s still here, and right now, that’s all I can wish for as I take one day at a time.
The house grows quiet behind him. Evan’s car roars to life, then pulls away from the drive.
This might be how things are for a while.
Maybe forever. And strangely, I’m not falling apart about it.
No matter what happens next, one thing’s for certain: I’m a mother.
Pip is relying solely on me, and I’m gonna do everything I can to get this baby to term.
Nate bumps my shoulder lightly. “Come on. You’re supposed to be resting.”
“And you’re supposed to be cooking.”
He groans. “I regret saying that already.”
I laugh, following him into the kitchen with my hand resting over the curve of my stomach. Whatever happens with Evan, we’re going to be all right.