Page 71 of Rhys: and the girl who was always his

Ally sits up, still in a daze, rubbing her eyes. “What’s going on?” she asks, her voice laced with concern.

“Millie’s in labour,” I reply, glancing at Ally and then back to the phone in my hand. “Hayden’s freaking out.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ally throws off the covers and hops out of bed. “Let’s go.”

The drive to the hospital feels like a blur, every red light and turn a reminder of the urgency pulsing through the night. When we finally enter the hospital birthing floor, I immediately spot Hayden pacing in the waiting area.

His hair is in disarray, and he’s running a desperate hand through it with every step. Nearby, Yasmin and Mumma Nat sit quietly, their eyes filled with worry—but there’s an added tension in Yasmin’s posture that hints at something more personal. Millie isn’t just any friend; she’s Yasmin’s sister, and that bond makes tonight even more raw.

As I close the distance to Hayden, his panic deepens. “This is happening. Like, right now,” he stammers. “They just took her back.” His voice trembles under the weight of responsibility and fear.

I grab his shoulder, forcing him to slow down. “Breathe,” I instruct gently.

He shakes his head, eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. “I can’t, man. I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to be a dad.”

I nod towards a row of plastic chairs. “Sit,” I say, my tone even and calm, hoping to anchor him amidst the turbulence.

Hayden hesitates but eventually sinks into one of the stiff seats. I crouch in front of him, my voice soft yet insistent. “You don’t have to have all the answers right now. Just be there—for Millie, for yourself, and for your baby.”

He lets out a sharp exhale, his eyes clouded with doubt. “What if I screw this up?”

“You won’t,” I state, my confidence steady even when his voice falters. My heart breaks for Hayden. Becoming a father is scary, but when you knock up a girl you aren’t really dating and are about to become a teenage dad, that is a lot.

“You don’t know that,” he replies, his tone a mix of defiance and fear.

Meeting his gaze squarely, I add, “You’re scared. I get it. But running from what’s happening won’t change things, Hayden.”

He turns his eyes away, jaw set tight with suppressed emotion. “I don’t want to be like our dad.”

“You won’t be,” I insist firmly. “Because you care. And that—that already makes you different.”

He just stares at his trembling hands. I think I see something new beneath his tough exterior—a glint of hope, a vulnerability that resonates. Before I can say more, a nurse appears in the doorway.

“Hayden?” she calls.

He stiffens immediately. “Yeah?”

“She’s asking for you,” the nurse informs him, gentle but urgent.

At that, Hayden rises on legs that seem too shaky to support him. His eyes meet mine for a brief, pleading moment—a silent question of whether I believe he can do this. I squeeze his shoulder in encouragement. “Go. You got this.”

He nods, mustering a semblance of confidence, and follows the nurse down a corridor. As the door clicks shut behind him, the tension in the room shifts subtly. Ally lets out a slow, uncertain breath beside me, her eyes wide. “He’s going to be okay, right?”

I watch the corridor, listening for any sign of him, then turn to her. “Yeah. He is.”

Just then, another figure pushes through the waiting room’s entrance—a familiar face that steadies the room’s collective heartbeat.

Our mum, whose presence always seemed to bring a calm clarity in moments of crisis, steps in. Her eyes, warm yet burdened with concern, scan the anxious faces until they settle on mine. “What’s all the commotion about?” she asks softly, her voice carrying the gentle authority of someone who’s weathered many storms.

She makes her way over to me, offering a hug, which I return and allow her presence to calm me. “He’ll be okay,” she says before breaking the hug and stepping back. Ally steps beside me, and I instinctually pull her closer.

Mum takes us in and smiles. “It’s about damn time,” she says before pulling Ally from my arms and embracing her.

I smile at the scene in front of me. I hadn’t had the chance to call mum to tell her. But I know she’s always liked Ally, and deep down, I know she’s always known that we had feelings for each other. “So you approve?” I ask.

“You fuck this up, and I’m picking her over you,” Mum responds, and Ally steps back to my side with a chuckle.

“Ouch, Mum,” I joke. But I know she’s being serious.

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