Page 40 of Somewhere Between Falling

I wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet, either.

He turned the volume down to just background noise and input the address of the hospital into his GPS. When he rested his arm on the middle console, I slipped my hand into his. He squeezed it tightly and smiled.

“Thank you.”

“Anytime,” he responded.

“I still can’t believe after today I won’t be an only child anymore,” I said, more to myself than to him. “They’re naming him Henry.”

“I like that”

“Me too. Reminds me of Henry James.” I blushed, remembering the first conversation we had.

“Strong name with literary ties; can’t go wrong with that.”

We pulled into the parking lot of the hospital then, and I found myself more excited than I thought I would be. A little nervous too, but there was a note of excitement starting to worm its way front and center that hadn’t been previously present.

“Ready?” Tobias asked as he turned his car off.

“I suppose.”

The blonde at the front desk was obnoxiously smacking her pink bubblegum, and I couldn’t help but question how sanitary that was.

“Can I help you?” she asked in between smacks.

“Yes, I’m looking for Blair Seger’s room. She’s, uh, having a baby.”

“Are you family?”

“Um, well, I mean, kinda? She’s my stepmom, so yeah. I mean through marriage, and—yes. Yes, I am.” I finally managed to get the words out.

“How hard was that?” Tobias whispered teasingly into my ear, and it sent shivers down my spine. I elbowed him in return.

“Down the hall, take the elevator to the third floor. The waiting room is the first door on your right.”

It didn’t take us long to find the waiting room. I sent Dad a quick text letting him know I was there, and he appeared around the corner within a few minutes.

“Are you ready to meet your brother?” Dad asked, unable to contain his excitement. He looked younger than he had in years.

“That’s why I’m here.”

“Everything happened so quickly! Seven pounds four ounces, and he has red hair.”

“Aw, um—wait,” I said turning back toward Tobias. “You don’t have to wait for me. Dad can drive me back to campus later.”

“I don’t mind. Besides, I’m well equipped to handle the wait,” he said, holding up one of the old books he must have grabbed from his backseat. “I have plenty to keep myself occupied.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive, now go on,” he said, sitting down in one of the orange waiting room chairs. “Go meet your baby brother.”

“Okay,” I said before turning to my dad. “Lead the way.”

Dad glanced uncertainly at Tobias, and I wondered if he recognized him from Parkhurst. Before he could ask me about him, I asked, “How’s, um, Blair?”

“Blair did wonderfully.” Dad beamed as he led me down the hall toward her room. “He’s perfect.”

Blair was cuddling her new baby when we entered her room. She smiled sleepily when we walked in. “Hi, Tamsin.”

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