Page 162 of Penalty to the Heart

“Right. Right.” I mumble, feeling completely out of my depth.

Fuck.

What would Jack do?

What the fuck would he do?

Well, one thing is for sure—he wouldn’t want Erin on her feet right now.

“Just sit here, E. I’ll go get some help.”

After ensuring she’s sitting down, I spring into action and scan the lobby for a wheelchair and a nurse. Once I find both, I hurry back to Erin’s side.

“So, we’re having a baby. How exciting,” the nurse says as I help Erin onto the wheelchair. “When did your water break?”

“This morning,” Erin replies, gasping for breath.

“And your contractions? How far apart are they?”

“When I left the house, they were four minutes apart, but now I feel like they’re coming more frequently. Maybe two minutes,” she confesses.

“Wow, then this baby is coming out now,” the nurse giggles while snapping her fingers over to an orderly to push Erin’s wheelchair.

“Jesus, Erin. Were you trying for a home birth or something?”

“I couldn’t leave the girls all alone. I had to wait for your mom to arrive before I could call an Uber.”

“Again, I could have helped,” I grumble, hating to see Erin in pain.

“You are helping just by being here, okay?”

I give her a nod, knowing that I wouldn’t be her first choice.

“Okay, let me show you to your room. First, these are all the forms you need to fill out regarding your insurance. Maybe daddy can do this part while mommy concentrates on her breathing.”

“I’m not the father. I’m the uncle, but yeah, I can fill these out,” I reply.

“Good. Now, let’s be on our way. It’s going to be one hell of an exciting day,” the nurse says, skipping down the hall. “Do you know the baby’s gender?”

“No. I wanted it to be a surprise,” Erin grumbles, white-knuckling the handlebars of the wheelchair.

“How exciting!”

Erin throws the nurse her meanest glower and pulls me by the lapel so she can whisper in my ear, “I swear to God, if she says the word exciting one more time, I’m going to bite her.”

I can’t help but laugh, imagining sweet-like-apple-pie Erin taking a big chunk out of the nurse for being too chipper.

When we finally reach her room and wheel Erin in, I pick her up from the wheelchair and settle her on the bed.

“Okay, now that you’re settled, I’ll get a doctor,” the nurse says before skipping out of the room with the orderly.

“Out of all the nurses you could have found…” Erin says after the nurse is out of earshot.

“Don’t worry about her. Just try to control your breathing, okay? Do you need me to bring you some ice chips or something?”

She shakes her head and replies, “No. Just stay here with me, okay?”

“Of course,” I respond, holding her hand and pressing a kiss on her knuckles. “You got this, E. You hear me?”

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