Page 57 of Prognosis Temporary

Like a beam of light from on high. A sign from something not quite earthly that this was his path.

Fatherhood.

A chance to give life. To love unconditionally. To prove that the legacy of his own childhood ended with him. And to share it with Callie, a woman who had burst into his life and turned it completely upside down in a way he’d never thought possible.

A mobile of fuzzy, candyfloss sheep attached to the headboard hung over the cot and he spun them idly as the enormity of what was ahead loomed large. But he wasn’t scared – he was excited. He truly believed they could become a family.

He just had to make Callie believe it, too.

‘Sebastian?’

He turned to find Callie in the doorway. She looked lost and he wanted to go to her and pull her into his arms, tell her he loved her and it’d be alright. But there was also something else he felt when he looked at her, something very primal.

She was his woman and that was his baby and he’d fight for both of them.

‘Let’s do this, Callie.’

‘Just do it?” Her voice was a little high as she stared at him disbelievingly. “Just like that?’

‘Yeah.’ He nodded. ‘Just like that.’

‘God...Sebastian...’ She shook her head. ‘Come on. It’s time to go.’

Ginny had wrapped up some lamingtons in plastic film when they arrived back in the kitchen and handed them over. ‘For morning tea tomorrow at Jambalyn.’

‘What makes you think they’re going to make it that far?’ Sebastian joked as he accepted them.

‘I’ll tell Geraldine to expect them,’ Ginny said with a laugh as she led them to the front door but, as she reached for the handle, she stopped abruptly and clutched her abdomen.

Sebastian frowned as Callie said, ‘Ginny?’ and placed her hand in the small of her client’s back. ‘What’s wrong?’

Ginny looked at a puddle of liquid at her feet. ‘I think my waters just broke.’

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Callie looked downtoo at the rapidly growing puddle on the polished floorboards. Holy crap. ‘I think you may be right,’ she agreed careful to sound unworried.

Ginny looked at Callie with wild eyes that quickly turned glassy. ‘But...it’s too early. Too early,’ she repeated clutching at her belly with one hand and tugging at Callie’s sleeve with another.

‘Nonsense,’ Sebastian dismissed. ‘You’re nearly thirty-nine weeks. That’s not early. Your little girl just can’t wait to see her pink room.’

‘What are we going to do?’ Ginny wailed as tears spilled down her cheeks.

‘We’re going to take you to the hospital,’ Callie stated matter-of-factly. The last thing they needed was for Ginny to become hysterical. ‘Are you having contractions?’

Ginny thought about it for a second. ‘No,’ she sniffled, wiping at the tears. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘Good. So we’ve got plenty of time. What did those books tell you about first labours?’

‘That they go on for ages.’

Callie smiled. ‘Right, okay, then. No need to panic. Let’s get you organised. Have you got some things packed?’

Pointing to a small overnight bag standing near the door Ginny said, ‘Right there.’

‘Good. Perfect.’

Perversely, Callie felt on a much more even keel now there was a crisis not involving her to get sorted. A crisis she could deal with. She was a methodical thinker who excelled at problem solving. Most importantly, Callie knew that what was required most here was calm. If she stayed calm so would Ginny.

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