I can’t concentrate on driving this fast, getting to Seraphine, and explaining all of this over the phone at the same time.
“Sweetheart, can you put Tori on the phone, and I will tell her to explain everything to you. I want to talk to you about all of it, and I promise that we will—just you and me. But right now, I am driving, and I want to be safe on the road, okay?”
Instantly, I hear the phone being handed over.
“Chad?” Tori says through the speaker. “What’s going on? Did you find Seraphine? Tom called the office and told me what happened.”
“I can’t talk right now Tori; I’m breaking every speed law to reach her. Can you please explain everything that is going on to Lilly so that she isn’t in the dark?”
“Sure. But by everything do you meaneverything? Like which parts should I leave out?”
“Just use your best judgment, I trust you. Tell her that there aretwobabies though, and I’ll be in touch as soon as I find Seraphine and make sure that she and the babies are out of danger.”
“You got it. Be safe.”
As soon as the call disconnects, I take a deep breath and focus on the road. I’m lucky to have Tori. I trust her completely to handle things well in any aspect of my life. I should probably start listening to her more,andto my daughter too. Maybe then I wouldn’t be racing down the highway at mock ten with adrenaline coursing through my veins.
For a second, I think about what I will do when I reach the van. I haven’t even spoken or seen Seraphine inweeks. Not that it matters anymore—I love her, and I love those babies. But I have absolutely no medical knowledge at all. The most that I have ever done in terms of medical help was patching up Lilly’s skinned elbow when she was eight and fell at the skate park.
When Lilly was born, it was in one of the best hospitals in DC with a team of doctors that I paid handsomely for, and a doula and several nurses, along with an aromatherapy coach. I sat to the side of Bella, holding her hand when she wanted me to and snapping non-invasive pictures with pretty filters that made the whole process look Zen instead of terrifying.
Now, I am heading to an unknown scene, possibly life-threatening, with no medical professionals to help. That ambulance better be right behind me. Damn. Maybe I should have made sure that cop followed me. He would have had some sort of medical training, right? First aid? Something?
Just as I am running through all of the potential worst-case scenarios in my head to make sure that I am as prepared for all of them as I can be—I see the van up ahead.
Thankfully, it’s so distinct that I couldn’t miss it even flying down the road as fast as I am. I veer off to the shoulder of the highway, too fast and nearly popping a tire, and pull up next to the van. I jump out of the car with it still running and not caring if someone comes by and steals it. The only thing that I care about is Seraphine.
I run up to the van, feeling a dread of panic to see what is happening inside and hoping to God that she is okay.
I can’t deal with another tragic scene on the side of the road. I just can’t. It would kill me.
As soon as I push open the door, the driver seat is empty and I race to the inside of the van to find Seraphine there, lying on the converted bed in the back.
I can hear her panting, see the sweat matting her hair to her brow, and drop down on my knees beside the bed as she clenches her hands over her giant stomach. Her breathing is sporadic, and the look of straight fear is evident in her eyes.
“Seraphine, I’m here,” I say, hoping that it will help to reassure her that she’s going to be okay. “You’re not alone anymore, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. Help is on the way and you’re going to be fine.”
She looks at me for a moment as if she is shocked to see me, then bursts into tears. I can only imagine the many reasons that she would be sobbing right now, and I’m sure that several of them are probably my fault.
I lean over and kiss the top of her forehead and take her hand. I have absolutelynoidea what to do, but common sense tells me that I need to keep her calm or things are going to get rapidly worse. I haven’t the first clue about childbirth, but even I can tell that the babies are coming—fast.
Chapter Seventeen
Seraphine
I am on the verge of an actual panic attack when Chad shows up. I amterrifiedand the babies are coming. As much as I am grateful, albeit shocked, that he is here and that I am not all alone anymore, I am scared about giving birth in the van without any medical support at all.
“It’s okay,” he says as he holds one hand and sweeps my hair out of my eyes with the other. “Everything is going to be okay.”
I start to cry because I don’t know what else to do. The pain isimmense,and the fear is even greater. I feel like a blubbering idiot, but all of my emotions are bubbling over.
“I’m sorry Seraphine,” he says as he leans forward to kiss my forehead. “I am so sorry that I acted like such a jerk. I wasafraid. I never should have let you leave, and I am sorry for what an ass I have been. I don’t want you to leave Asheville and I don’t want you to go anywhere that isn’t with me. I want to be with you, and our babies, and Lilly, and I want all of us to be a family. She knows too now and she’s so excited to become a big sister.”
My heart is melting, and I want to answer him, but I can’t. If I open my mouth now, the only thing that will come out is going to be a scream. I had no idea that childbirth was going to hurtthis much.
“You have nothing to worry about anymore, Seraphine. We will figure all of this out together. Somehow, we’ll work it out.”
In between sobs and contractions, I want to ask him what he even means by that. And I almost muster up enough breath to do it, but then the door on the van pushes open again. This time, it’s the emergency medics with the ambulance.