37 Cate
Cate
I’m pregnant.
As soon as we arrived at the hospital, I was sent one way, and Shane was rushed off in the other direction.
If he had his shoulder taken care of years ago, I wouldn’t be standing in this unfamiliar city in a hospital I’ve never been in before all by myself dealing with this life-altering information. Damn.
I’m not leaving the hospital until he does, but worst-case scenario, how long could that be? Hours? Days? I press my hand gently over my stomach and walk down the hall toward the waiting room. Shane is in surgery. Luna’s in New York at a premiere. I’m stuck in Albuquerque. Alone.
Sort of . . . I shift my crossbody bag around to my back so I can wrap my arms around my belly. I know it’s too early, but I steal one moment to feel the blooming of love for the new little life in my tummy.
Shane’s not here to share the news. I wish I could tell my grandmother. She’d be thrilled. She once told me I would break my parents’ pattern and be a wonderful mother one day. It was like she could see what I’m struggling to process.
I’m going to be a mother.
I can’t wait to tell Shane.
Being single for so long, I didn’t dare let my heart hope for something this amazing. Kittens were easier to imagine than me meeting the man of my dreams and having a baby. But somehow that dream found me anyway, just like Shane.
Spying the nurses’ station ahead, I make my way over. “Hi, I’d like to check the status of a patient.”
Without looking up from the monitor, she asks, “Patient’s name?”
“Shane Faris. We arrived together, and he was taken into surgery.”
Her eyes slide to me. “Are you related? I can only release that information to relatives.” She’s not unkind and only following the rules, but the rules suck when it comes to wanting details about the man I love, and he’s being gatekept from me. And then it occurs to me . . .
I don’t have the energy or time to make up an elaborate story to trick her into looking the other way while I sneak into his room to wait. The truth should be enough in this case. “I’m his wife.”
Her eyes narrow in the slightest, but she turns to the computer and starts typing. “Name?”
“Cate, although he calls me Cat, which is cute and only something he does, but my real name is Catalina Far—”
“It’s right here on the approved list, Mrs. Faris.” She smiles at me like I’ve broken through her tough exterior. “Your husband listed you on the form before he went in. I see there’s a typo, though. Someone entered Farin instead of Faris. I’ll get it corrected.”
“One letter apart.” It’s funny how little things like the letters of our last name brought us together in homeroom junior year. All these years later, I’m having his baby while he’s getting his rotator cuff fixed.
“What?” she asks, looking at me again.
“Nothing. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. The status shows prep. Your husband is still being prepped for surgery.
The doctor doing the surgery hasn’t yet arrived.
It will be a while before you’ll get the first update.
” She uses her hand to guide me. “The waiting room is ahead, and although the cafeteria is closed, vending machines in the public lounge on the second floor have coffee and snacks. It’s just one elevator ride up. ”
“Thank you again.”
I start down the hall under sterile light that’s not flattering on anyone while searching for any recognizable faces. I don’t find anyone else waiting on him after a quick sweep of the room we’ve all been relegated to, which feels sad to me. Alone again.
I sit down, my mind still reeling with concern for Shane. Though I know this isn’t a life-threatening surgery, it’s still going to take time to recover. If I had to guess, he’s not the best patient, though I’ll be happy to take care of him.
Having the best news of my life and no one to share it with has tears welling in my eyes.
I’m pregnant.
I’m going to have a baby.
With Shane.
“Cate?”
I look up, and the quick action causes a tear to fall down my cheek.
Tommy is standing in front of me. “Are you okay?” he asks.
The concern wrenching his eyes down on the outside corners seems like it would be reserved for his family, the bands he works with, or his friends.
Not for me—a woman Tommy met a few hours ago and the person responsible for Shane getting injured.
But there it is, comforting and earnest.
A nod is managed, but I’m too choked up and afraid I’ll start sobbing if I speak. He’s kind enough not to force me. “Would you like to wait with me and the others?”
“Yes.” I stand, and he waits until I’m ready to walk. He starts down a different hall than the one I came down.
“They put us in a private room to lessen any disturbances the band would cause.”
“With fans?”
“Yes. Can you imagine Nikki hanging around, worrying about her cousin while being mobbed by fans? Not a good scenario.” He knocks and then opens the door. “It’s me.”
Laird stands when he sees me. Nikki’s on her phone beside her brother but quick to hang up. Tommy shuts the door behind us and then takes a seat on the rolling stool in the corner, leaving the couch for me and Nikki.
Nikki comes toward me first with her hands out.
Taking mine in hers, she asks, “How are you doing? Are you okay? Hurt?” Pulling me into her arms, she’s warm and welcoming, hugging me like I’m an old friend and not a high school acquaintance she barely knew.
Leaning back, she looks me over. “I heard you were hurt.”
“I’m fine. There’s a little bruising on my hip but no swelling. I’m a bit sore, but nothing is broken.”
Laird remains standing by her side, and I’ve never seen such a big guy look shy. “Am I that intimidating?” I tease, hoping to break the ice.
He smiles, and I can see so much of Shane in it that I feel close to him simply because of the resemblance. I also know he’s someone I can joke with. He chuckles, light and not from the heart, but we’re all in the same circumstance—waiting to hear an update about Shane.
Rubbing a hand over his head, he replies, “Kind of.” As a group, we laugh. It feels good and like I’m a part of their club. “It’s going to be a long night. Do you want to take the couch?”
“Please sit,” I say to Nikki and move to sit on the other end from her.
Laird stands at the window, but with no view and it being too dark to see anything, he makes his way to a chair at a table in the corner. Tommy’s sitting in the other chair.
There’s silence for a moment, and then Laird starts talking about Mack sitting up on his own. The superstar lead singer of one of the biggest bands in the world melts. “Ah, my little Mackie. That’s good.”
They talk about a lot of everything to nothing and then sitting peacefully in silence and playing on their phones. I join in here and there, but so much is on my mind that I struggle to focus.
Nikki shows me a photo of her daughter, and Laird shares pics of his twins.
My heart swells in happiness thinking about the secret I’m literally carrying.
When the guys leave for coffee, Nikki says, “I heard the medic ask you about being pregnant.” She allows space for a response, but my throat is tightening as tears spring to my eyes again.
“You don’t have to tell me anything, but if you need a friend .
. .” She knows. Reaching across the couch, she gives my hand a little squeeze, and it’s enough for me to know she’d listen and be there for me.
I swallow the lump in my throat but don’t speak. The effort will be raw, and I’m too close to the edge of breaking down—happiness over a baby and worry why this surgery is taking so long. I turn my hand and squeeze her hand back.
The door opens and we step apart. A nurse comes in and I’m on my feet and then Nikki follows. The nurse says, “Surgery is going well. They’ll be wrapping up soon, and then the doctor will come speak to you, Mrs. Faris.”
Nikki steps forward as if she were answering roll call. “It’s Crow actually.”
Laird and Tommy approach her from behind, carrying steaming cups of coffee.
Smiling awkwardly between us, I realize what is about to happen too late to stop it. The nurse says, “I was referring to Mrs. Faris, the patient’s wife.”
Pins dropping come to mind when everyone turns to stare at me. “Thank you,” I say, my tone trembling.
The awkward tension couldn’t be thicker. She slips out of the room like she’s escaping. As soon as the door closes, nothing changes. We stand there in silence.
Laird comes to stand behind Nikki, fortifying their twin powers together.
Although I want to laugh at my inside joke, I can’t.
They aren’t doing a them-against-me thing.
They also couldn’t be nicer, more supportive, or more welcoming.
But standing here, I understand how Shane could feel like a third wheel.
Tommy sets his coffee down on the table and pulls his phone out like he’s ready to call the police. “Are you and Shane married?”
The question doesn’t throw me into a panic, and I’m not made to feel intimidated in any way. I also know this probably wasn’t how Shane wanted them to find out either. I won’t lie, and I can’t avoid a direct question. “We are married.”
The words feel strange, not in a bad way, but in a getting-to-know-you way. I’m sure one day they’ll roll off my tongue without a second thought.
I’m smiling to myself when I look up to find their mouths open. Nikki asks, “Do his parents know? Do yours?”
The question doesn’t sting as much as it would have not too long ago. Because of Shane, I’m healing. “No. No one does, except the people in this room.”
“And you shared the news with us first?”
“Shane loves you, but he also trusts you.”
I’m not sure what tips her over, but red blotches cover her chest and throat when tears fill her eyes. “Cate, oh my God.” She throws her arms around, hugging me so tight. “Welcome to the family.”