Page 92 of Mending Scars

“I’m sorry, we have to go now.” The doctor stated impatiently as he went through the doors.

Meredith gave me a sympathetic look as she and Jake began to push Kaiya behind the doctor. “We’ll take good care of her. Don’t worry.”

I nodded as tears fell down my face. I stared at Kaiya until the doors closed, taking her out of sight. I ran my hands over my face, then through my hair.

Fuck! This can’t be happening.

I slammed my fist into the metal and pressed my forehead against the doors.

Calm down, everything is going to be fine. Think positive.

I let out a breath in an attempt to calm myself down. And then, for the first time since God knows when, I prayed.

I know I’m not one of your favorites, but please take care of them. I can’t lose them.

I stayed there for a few seconds before I pushed off the doors and headed back to the lobby, unable to stop the anxiety that was overtaking me.

Ethan was talking to Kamden when I entered the waiting room. When he caught sight of me, he ran over, stopping right in front of me and meeting my gaze. “What happened? Are Kaiya and the baby okay?”

My vision blurred as tears stung my eyes. I took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. I hadn’t explained the details over the phone when I called him; I just told him to get his ass to the hospital as fast as he could. “Kaiya was… attacked. The trauma sent the baby into distress, and as they were monitoring her, she passed out. They had to do an emergency C-section.”

Ethan stared at me, apparently stunned by my words. He raked his hands over his face. “Oh my God, Ryker, I’m sorry.”

I sat down next to Kamden. I held my head in my hands and bounced my leg anxiously. I was not prepared for this.

Please let them be okay. Don’t take them from me.

Kamden placed a hand on my back. “They’ll be okay. My sister’s a fighter—always has been.”

I couldn’t speak because of the emotion threatening to choke me, so I nodded. I knew Kaiya was a fighter, but I still had a knot of worry balled deep in my gut that grew with each passing second they were in there.

Ethan sat on my other side and sighed. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

Me neither.

About twenty minutes passed before the surgeon came into the waiting area. He looked at the screen of an iPad. “Ryker Campbell?”

I stood up immediately and went toward him. “That’s me—is Kaiya okay?”

Kamden and Ethan came up next to me as the doctor replied, “She’s in recovery right now. The surgery went well—no complications.”

I let out a heavy breath. “And the baby?”

The doctor smiled. “A healthy seven pound, three ounce boy. He’s doing very well. You should be able see him soon.”

Thank God.

I couldn’t stop the smile that slowly spread over my face.

They’re okay.

Ethan patted me on the back. “Congratulations, bro.”

I looked at him, still in shock that both Kaiya and Hayden were okay after everything they’d been through in the last few hours. “Thanks.”

Kamden started asking the doctor questions about Kaiya’s surgery and recovery, but all I could think about was seeing her and Hayden. Images of what he looked like ran through my head.

“Are you ready to meet your son?” The doctor asked, breaking through my thoughts.

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