Page 16 of This is Where I Leave You

Luke visibly paled.

“Oh fucking hell, I came on my push bike! Have you got a car, where are your keys?”

He pulled her to her feet, letting her put her full weight against him.

“Ow, ow, ow…there in the door with the house ones.”

“Fine, fine,” Luke said, pulling her coat around her as they headed for the door. “I only had two sips of wine, I’ll drive, ok?”

Cady nodded and gripped his arm. “Liam, I’m scared, I don’t want to lose my baby.”

Luke cradled her head to his shoulder.

“It will be fine I promise, let’s just get you there and get checked out.”

Walking her out into the cool starlit night as though she were fine china, he lowered her into the passenger seat and raced round to the driver side. Belting himself and her up, he edged the Astra out and drove as fast as he could to the hospital, jaw set the whole way. At every red light, he placed his hand on hers, as she rested hers on the bump. Neither of them spoke till they reached the reception desk at the hospital, where Luke rather masterfully demanded a wheelchair and a doctor, his deep voice booming across the corridors, sending the hospital staff running. Cady, in shock and grateful for a fast drive, grabbed Luke’s hand again and held it as they wheeled her off. Little did they know, above them Richard had turned every light from red to green, using his energy to try and help his unborn child. Gerty watched him commanding the traffic, passion in his urgent actions, concentration on his face. He was starting to get why he was here.

Having been checked over by the nurse and her blood pressure taken, Cady was settled onto a bed and advised to wait for the doctor. She had a feeling it wouldn’t be long, given the fuss that Luke had kicked up in reception. Even through her pain she wanted to laugh at him screaming at the staff, telling them to get their arses in gear and threatening legal action. It was really cute actually, in a non arrogant way, Richard had always been an arrogant man to be out with, he normally only kicked off when his car was not valeted properly or his fillet mignon was not prepared to his exact tastes.

Now laid on the hospital bed, she was so glad she had showered and changed out of her sweats. The pains had subsided now, and she felt a little less panicked than before. She was not bleeding so that was a blessing too. She rubbed her tiny bump and looked across at Luke who was sitting in the chair next to her. His expression was pure panic.

“Liam, thank you, I feel a little better now. The nurse said she doesn’t think it’s serious, and I-”

Luke jumped in, pulling his chair right up to the bed. “How does she know? They haven’t even examined you yet, it’s ridiculous, shall I go complain again?”

Cady laughed. “Liam, it’s fine, I promise.”

“Cady,” he said, frowning. “My name is Luke, not Liam.”

She groaned. “Oh god, I am so sorry! I keep doing that don’t I!”

Luke batted her apologies away. “It’s fine, don’t worry. Now please, can I call someone, your husband, is he working away?”

Cady grabbed his hand and placed it against her bump. “Luke, it’s kicking, can you feel it?”

Luke gasped as her belly bounced against his palm. He could feel something wiggling around under his palm, it was so weird!

“Oh wow! See, little one’s a fighter,” he said, beaming at her.

Looking at Cady, he suddenly felt more than the baby. Forcing himself to push the thought away, he tried again.

“Have you got a number for your husband? I can call him, or your mother?”

Cady’s grin slid from her face. “I don’t have anyone really. My parents and I are not close, I can’t stand them to be honest, and my husband, well he died, two months ago.”

She looked at him sadly, and he thought his pumping heart would betray him against the silence of the ward. He had an urge to protect her, it was so strong he had to stop himself from kissing her there and then. Instead he settled for stroking her fingers as they both lay entwined on her bump.

“That’s why I wanted you to come and do the house. I need a new home, for me and the little wotsit here, we need a new life.”

Luke squeezed her hand. “Well you came to the right place, little wotsit,” he said to the bump, “because making plans are my speciality.”

***

Richard flopped onto the pure white floor, exhausted from the energy outburst. Gerty sat and watched him as always. When he turned to her, she smiled at him.

“Do you see now, my child?”

Richard sighed. “I see that I am dead, and that my wife is having my child, but how am I to help? Flick a few traffic lights, is that it? Or am I being punished, by being made to watch?”

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