Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
The quiet of the afternoon is disrupted only by the soft tapping of my fingers on the laptop keyboard.
I’m home alone and back to researching options for Saylor.
I wanted to do it yesterday, but we ended up spending Sunday over at Tim and Tally’s, finishing up all the remaining work.
We left them with a beautiful and ready house, even helping to move and sort out all their stuff.
Hunter and Nash are at work right now, and North and Lio are off to Calais in Hunter’s truck, gathering wood and supplies to revamp the garden shed into a haven for my herbs.
North mentioned they’ve wanted to bring that shed back to life for a long time, but I suspect he also wants to move those herbs out of the house.
They asked me to come along, but I needed to do some more digging for Saylor. I want to be able to look him in the eyes and tell him I did my best when he’s back. My phone chimes, jolting me out of my thoughts. It’s Tally, and she sounds hysterical. She doesn’t even let me finish my greeting.
“Sloan, I need you. The baby is coming, but Tim’s out on the boat and not picking up his damn phone!”
Holy shit.
I rush to the door and put on my sneakers, clumsily wedging the phone between my shoulder and ear. My heart races as I try to calm her while fighting off my panic. “Okay, Tally, stay calm. Everything will be all right. I’m on my way. Just hang in there and keep trying to call him.”
I end the call and grab my jacket, heading out. My eyes land on the keys to North’s BMW next to my van’s keys. “Sorry, North,” I mumble to myself, deciding that the BMW will bring us to the hospital faster and much smoother than the old lady.
Jumping into the car, I can’t even appreciate how nice it is because I need to focus to stop my hands from trembling on the steering wheel. Two minutes later, I arrive at Tally’s house, anxiety pulsing through my veins as I jump out of the car.
Tally is already at the door, bag over her shoulder, holding her belly and wincing in pain. I take the bag from her and support her elbow, guiding her to the passenger seat, but she stops me. “I can’t sit up straight. Please help me into the back.”
“Sure.” I nod, opening the back door for her and carefully placing the bag next to her. Once she’s settled, I gently close the door and rush back to the driver’s seat.
A chill runs down my spine, and I sense Shannon’s presence in the passenger seat beside me. “It’s time. You need to hurry. That baby is coming now.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Tally is panting in the back as I step on the gas, speeding out of Lubec with urgency. “Try calling Tim again?” I suggest, attempting to maintain a calm facade, though inside, panic is bubbling, and I have to take deep breaths.
I have no idea what I’m doing.
Shannon chuckles. “Talking to ghosts doesn’t faze you, but a baby does?”
I shoot a glare her way, causing her to chuckle again. My hands are clenched tight on the steering wheel as I drive faster than I should, speeding through traffic and making other cars honk at us.
Tally, now leaving a trail of angry voicemails for Tim, threatens, “If you’re not at the hospital before this baby comes, I swear I won’t let you put your name on the birth certificate!”
Despite the tension, I let out a nervous chuckle. “He’ll be there, Tally. He won’t miss this.”
“It’ll be a miracle if we get her to the hospital before the baby comes,” Shannon remarks, her tone laced with concern.
The thought of Tally having her baby in North’s car with just me and her mother’s ghost sends another jolt of panic through me. “Not in the BMW, please, not in the BMW,” I murmur, and it’s a good thing we’re already headed to a hospital because North is going to break my ass for this.
I’m a whirlwind of worry. The roads seem endless, and every red light feels like an eternity. I sneak glances at Tally through the rearview mirror. Her pain is etched in every grimace as she tries to breathe through it.
I dial Nash’s number, hastily putting it on speaker as the light turns green. It rings a few times before he picks up. “Hey, pretty girl, how—”
“Grab Tim and get to the hospital. I’m driving Tally. The baby’s coming.”
“Holy shit,” he exclaims, then yells, “Tim! You’re about to be a dad, man. Move it!”
There’s a cacophony of rustling, panting, and car doors slamming. Meanwhile, I’m weaving through traffic.
Good thing this car is fucking fast.
Finally, Tim’s voice comes through. “Tally? You okay, baby?”
Wrong thing to ask, little Timmy.
“I’m having my baby in the back of a car while my husband is who knows where and not able to pick up his phone when he knows his baby could come any minute!” she yells, her voice a mix of fear and anger.
She’s right, idiot.
“I’m so sorry, I forgot it in the car. I’ve no idea how—” he starts to explain, but Tally cuts him off.
“Get there now, or you can fill out divorce papers instead of a birth certificate!”
I bite my lips, trying to keep from laughing, knowing damn well she doesn’t mean it.
“Don’t worry, Tally, we’re breaking every traffic law there is for you,” Nash chimes in, somewhere near Tim.
“Drive safely,” I tell them, ending the call. I don’t want to agitate Tally further, who is now sobbing in the back. Shannon has settled beside her, offering silent support as I push the BMW to its limits, racing against time to rush Tally to the hospital.
“We’re almost there, Tally. You can do this. Your mom is right beside you, and I’m here. You’re not alone,” I assure her, my voice steady despite my racing heart.
“Come on, baby, faster,” I whisper to the car, urging it to defy its limits.
From the back seat, Tally’s cries pierce the tense air. “Mom, it hurts so much.” She sobs, and I glance in the rearview mirror to see Shannon stroke her head.
“I know, but you’re strong, Tallulah. You can do this. And all this pain will be forgotten when you hold the little shrimp in your arms,” Shannon encourages.
I recite what Shannon said, happy when Tally seems to calm down a bit because I don’t in the slightest.
Finally, the hospital comes into view. I’ve never been so relieved to see a building in my life. I park haphazardly and rush to help Tally out while calling to a nurse who is standing at the entry. When I finally have her out of the car, nurses are already on their way with a wheelchair.
As we rush into the hospital, Tally seems to calm even more, happy to be around people who know what they’re doing. And I am too.
I was so not ready to play midwife.
But fuck, can Tim get here already?
Inside, the hospital staff takes over, but Tally holds my hand in a vice grip, so I follow her into the room they set up for her, helping out as much as I can while they settle her in. While they’re occupied, I send a quick text to North.
Borrowed your car. Baby’s coming. Sorry for any speeding tickets!
“You’re doing amazing, Tallulah,” Shannon tells her, stroking her head. I look over to the nurse, who is getting a needle in Tally’s hand before looking back at Tally.
“Your mom would be so proud. I bet she would think that you’re doing amazing and be stroking your head.” Tally nods, understanding what I’m trying to say.
“I’m so glad she’s here,” Tally whispers, and Shannon smiles softly.
Then my phone buzzes with a message from North, and I cringe before I’ve even read it.
Fuck, he’s gonna be mad.
North
You guys okay? Do you need anything?
Huh.
Happy that he’s at least not spanking my ass over my text, I quickly type back.
All good so far. Waiting for Tim to show up. Tally’s a trooper.
The nurse is talking to Tally about pain meds, and I sigh, leaning back against the cold hospital wall and closing my eyes. Hospitals have always made me uneasy. It’s a place where people die.
And I can feel them dying.
It’s the same as if a ghost appears, a chill running down my neck.
Their spirits appear when their souls leave their bodies.
But now, after the mental institution, after being locked away, the clinical scents in here are too familiar, too triggering, and being inside here for long is going to suck.
I take a deep breath.
But I can do this…
… for Tally.
The minutes drag on, feeling like hours. Tally is breathing heavily, still holding my hand while Shannon reassures her, and I relay every word to Tally. Nurses bustle by, their faces a blend of professionalism and empathy. If any of them find our conversation odd, they don’t react.
Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Tim bursts through the doors, his face a mask of worry and guilt.
“Baby—” Tally lets go of me while a sob breaks out of her, reaching for him, and I step aside to make room.
Tim leans in to kiss her head, stroking her softly while she cries.
“I’m so fucking sorry, but I’m here now, I’m here. Let’s have this baby.”
Shannon smiles at me and nods, and I quietly leave the room, heading toward Nash, who stands in the door, smiling at me.
“Come here.” He pulls me into his chest, and I let the tears I was holding in from all the stress, panic, and my frayed nerves fall.
Nash is here, and everything will be all right.
“I’ve got you. You did amazing, pretty girl.” Nash pulls me in a side hug and guides me toward a waiting area, but I stop him, looking around.
“Can we wait in his room?” I ask, and he doesn’t even have to ask who I mean. He just steers me directly in the right direction.
After a short walk, I find myself in Saylor’s room, watching the man who is a stranger but, at the same time, part of my soul. He’s twitching, his heart rate a steady beep, and it’s evident he’s in there right now and not with me.
Time to be with him then.