Page 38 of Love Unexpected

My phone rings, piercing through the silence and through my daze. I frown at the caller ID: St. Grace's Memorial Hospital. The permanent knot in my stomach tightens as I answer.

Chapter 35

Noah

"Noah Lawson," I answer, trying so hard to remain calm.

"Mr. Lawson, this is Dr. Lydia Chen from St. Grace's Memorial Hospital," the doctor begins. My heart picks up speed, and my palms begin to sweat. "I have some good news. Ms. Sterling is awake.”

Stunned, I try to speak several times but fail to get the words out. "Em... Emma.. she's awake?" The words felt surreal leaving my lips.

"Yes," the doctor continues, "but she is.. well, understandably confused and upset. She's asking for her baby."

My breath hitches. "We're on our way now, tell her not to worry."

"Actually, Mr. Lawson," she sighs. My heart feels like it might jump out of my chest with anxiety.

"What is it?" I demand.

"She was pretty hysterical when we told her the baby was checked out of the hospital with her father. She claims he passed away several months ago. Do you know anything about this?"

Shit. "She's just confused. Let me talk to her, and everything will be okay. I'm on my way." I don't wait for a response before I hang up.

I can't believe she's awake. I've been waiting for this moment every second of every day. My excitement and relief quickly turns to worry and doubt as I start imagining how the conversation will go. Not sure how to explain to her how I kidnapped her baby from the hospital, but I pray to God she will understand.

———

I arrive at the hospital that I’ve become all too familiar with and let the valet take my car, not wanting to waste even an extra second trying to find a parking space. Carrying the car seat in the crook of my arm, I press the elevator button for the second floor. The elevator is painfully slow, and the doors seem like they're never going to open.

My heart pounds in rhythm with my hurried footsteps until I reach her room. Stepping into the room, I'm not sure what to expect, but the moment our eyes meet I feel an unbelievable amount of relief.

"Noah?" she whispers, her voice raspy and cute.

"Emma," I breathe out. Setting the car seat carefully on the floor, I rush towards her. Tucking her hair behind her ear, I kiss her forehead and feel myself relax for the first time in days. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here when you woke up. I'm so sorry," I say over and over.

"Where's my baby?" Panic laces her words, her eyes wide as she searches my face for answers. "Is she okay?"

"Yes, she's okay. She is perfect, actually." Leaving the bed, I bend down and unbuckle the sleeping beauty. As I carefully hand her over to Emma, her eyes begin flooding with tears.

"They said her father checked her out of the hospital. I thought someone stole her!" she cries, careful not to jostle the baby in her arms.

"Shhhhh,” I murmur, perching back on the side of the bed, pulling her closer. “No one stole her, she has been perfectly safe this entire time. I promise you." Wrapping my arms around both of them, I savor the feeling of their warm bodies next to mine.

"I don't understand," she sniffles, wiping her tears with her free hand.

"Things got complicated while you were asleep...” I hesitate. Her eyes bore into mine, waiting for me to explain. "I visited her in the nursery constantly, I knew you wouldn't want her to be alone. I held her, fed her, and…” I take a breath. “I even fell in love with her."

"What?" she whispers, the tears returning back to her eyes.

"When they told me it was time for her to go home, I panicked. I was afraid she would go into CPS's custody, or Lucas's parents would get her and take her back to their home state. I couldn't let that happen to her. I couldn't risk her being taken so far away from you." I grab her hand, squeezing gently. My eyes watering as I confess the crazy sins I've committed in the past two days. "So, I lied… They already assumed I was her father, and I just went along with it. I signed the birth certificate and took her home—to your house."

"Noah," she whispers, tilting her head in disbelief. She looks at me with pure love in her eyes. "You've been taking care of her this whole time?"

I nod, my heart filled with pride and sorrow. "With a little help from Marcus. It has been extremely difficult without you, but we managed." I smile down at the little girl I've come to love. "I took her to the pediatrician this morning for her first check up. She’s doing great. Healthy and perfect."

"I can't believe you did that for us..." she continues, staring intently at my profile. I focus on the baby in her arms, struggling to keep my emotions at bay and maintain my composure.

"I would do anything for you two. I know that now. I fell in love with her while you were unconscious, but I also fell in love with you, too," I finally admit out loud. "It took almost losing you for me to finally realize how I feel. I love you," Iconfess. My heart races as I stare into those dark eyes of hers and wait for her to respond.

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