Zach looked at her. The pain was clear in his eyes.
“I’m not saying I never want to have your baby,” Amelia explained. “I’m just saying with everything going on, it’s too stressful to even imagine trying to get pregnant.”
Zach nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry for rushing it.”
He walked out of the room and down the stairs. Amelia hated the fact she had hurt him. She got off the bed and followed him down the stairs. “What’re you doing?”
“I’m going for a drive,” he informed her. “I need to clear my thoughts.”
“I love you,” she called out to him as he walked out the front door.
She thought she had heard him say he loved her, too, but she wasn’t sure. Her heart sank from the thought of hurting him.
* * *
The ringing of the phone echoed throughout the house. Amelia jogged down the stairs. She hoped it was her mother. It was always nice to have talks with her mother when things were not going the way she had planned them to. Plus, it had been a few days since she had last spoken to her. She had so much to tell her.
Amelia reached over the counter and grabbed the phone. “Hello?”
“I need Zach to come to the hospital,” said a woman’s voice.
“Who is this?” Amelia asked. She had an idea who it was, but prayed it wasn’t who she had thought.
“This is Courtney,” she hissed. “Have you forgotten already that I’m having a baby?”
Amelia hesitated and debated on what to say next. “No, I haven’t forgotten. How could I forget?”
“Where’s Zach? I need him here,” she demanded. “Now.”
“I’ll let him know,” Amelia said before she hung up the phone.
“Let me talk—”
Amelia hung up. She debated on whether or not to inform Zach. She decided it was only mature to call him and tell him. She dialed the furniture store’s number and waited for Zach to answer. He answered on the fifth ring.
“Gallagher’s Furniture. This is—”
She interrupted him. She wished they had caller id so he would know it was her calling. “Zach, it’s me.”
“Me?”
“Amelia.” She wondered why he hadn’t recognized her voice. She shrugged it off.
“What’s up?”
“I just got another phone call.”
Before she could explain who she received the call from, he interrupted her, “Oh, no, not again.”
“It’s different this time, Zach,” she said.
He hesitated. “What’s different about it this time?”
“She’s in the hospital,” Amelia stated. “She told me she needs you there.”
The words barely left her mouth when he shouted into the phone, “I’m not going to the damn hospital for a woman who’s nothing to me and for a baby that isn’t mine!”
Amelia held the phone away from her ear. When Zach finished, she placed the phone up to her ear. “Zach, what’re you going to do then?”
He sighed into the phone. “I have no idea.”
Chapter Sixteen
Amelia grabbed her car keys from the hook by the door. She slipped her shoes on and jogged to her Taurus. Bailey waited by the car as Amelia ran down the stairs.
“Are you ready?” Amelia asked Bailey as she opened the driver side door.
“Of course!” Bailey said as she hopped into the passenger seat.
Amelia started the car and backed out of the driveway.
“Any idea what hospital she’s at?” Bailey asked.
“I can imagine she’s at Fairshore Memorial,” Amelia said. “I can’t imagine she’d be too far away from Zach.”
Amelia rolled her eyes. Bailey followed suit and said, “Of course not.”
As Amelia drove, she thought how fast her world was about to change. She said a quick prayer aloud. “I pray the baby isn’t Zach’s. I pray Courtney leaves us alone.”
“Amen,” Bailey said.
“I can only imagine what Zach’s doing right now,” Amelia said. She looked at Bailey and raised her eyebrows.
“We’re about to find out.”
“Can you imagine if the baby is Zach’s?”
“I don’t want to imagine it,” Bailey stated. “The thought of it makes me sick to my stomach.”
Amelia nodded. “Not just your stomach, but mine too. My stomach’s in knots.”
“Everything will be okay,” Bailey confirmed.
“I hope so,” Amelia said as she guided the car into the hospital parking lot.
Fairshore Memorial Hospital was an older building, built in the early 1900s. With five floors, its size dominated the town. The door revolved as they walked in.
Amelia looked around. The fluorescent lights were dim, and barely lit the hallway. Amelia glanced at Bailey and asked, “Do you have any idea where we’re going, because I don’t.”
Bailey found a framed map on the wall next to the receptionist desk. She pointed at it and said, “We’re here.” She pointed to an x on the map and then pointed to the nursery floor. “We need to go there.”
“You lead the way,” Amelia said as she smiled. “I’ll get us lost.”
Bailey chuckled. They walked down the hallways and found an elevator at the end of the second hallway. A ding was heard and the door slid open. They walked into the elevator and the door slid closed. Bailey tapped the fourth floor button and the elevator dinged. It bounced on its way up to the fourth floor.
“This elevator is so old. Can we trust it?” Amelia asked sarcastically.
Bailey shrugged her shoulders. “We’re going to find out.”
Amelia looked at the floor. Red and green striped carpet outlined the elevator. “Definitely an old building.”
The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. The nursery was straight down the hallway from the elevator. Amelia could see the big bay window for the nursery. As they walked toward the nursery, they heard a baby cry. Amelia and Bailey exchanged looks.
They approached the receptionist desk. Zach sat on a bench along the wall. When he saw them, he stood up and walked toward them.
His face was twisted with stress and anger. Amelia reached for him. Amelia waited for Zach to inform her on what had happened. He looked down at her and shook his head. “This is too much.”
She nodded. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
“I don’t even know why I’m here,” Zach stated. “It’s not like they can tell me if I’m the father or not today.”
“She had the baby today?” Amelia asked.
Zach nodded. “Yes, around 4:13.”
Amelia stared blankly at Zach. She was in shock. She could not believe Courtney had the baby two weeks early. “Has she talked to you?”
Zach shook his head. “She doesn’t know I’m here.”
Amelia thought it was probably a good thing she didn’t know he was there. It might make the whole situation worse. “Have you seen the baby?”
“No, the nurse said she’d come get me when they bring him into the nursery.”
“Did you tell the nurse you don’t want Courtney to know you’re here?” Bailey asked.
“Yes, I made that perfectly clear when I got here,” Zach confirmed.
A heavy set nurse walked out of a room and approached Zach. “Are you ready to see the baby?”
Zach hesitated and asked, “Is the baby in the nursery or with the mother?”
The nurse smiled and said, “He’s in the nursery.”
Zach wrapped his arm around Amelia and asked the nurse, “Can she come with me?”
The nurse smiled and said, “Of course, I don’t see why not.”
The baby was wrapped in a blue blanket in a crib. The name tag for information on the baby and the baby’s mother was blank, except for the mother’s name. Amelia covered her mouth with her hand as she realized Courtney had yet to name her son.
Amelia glanced into the crib and looked at the baby. He had black hair and dark eyes, unlike his mo
ther and Zach. Amelia’s lips curled into a slight smile. She thought this was a good sign. If the baby had been Zach’s, he wouldn’t have dark hair or dark eyes. Bailey must have noticed too, because she placed a hand on Amelia’s shoulder and squeezed it. Amelia smiled.
She wondered if their prayers had been answered.
* * *
The minute they walked out of the hospital, Amelia told Zach her suspicions. “I don’t think the baby is yours.”
He looked at her and smiled. “You thought that too, huh?”
Amelia nodded and Bailey said, “I think it’s safe to say neither of us believe the baby’s yours.”
Zach wrapped an arm around Amelia and said, “I hope that’s a good sign.”
“I hope so, too,” Amelia admitted. She didn’t feel guilty for saying it, either.
“Did the nurse say anything about a DNA test?” Bailey asked.
They stood around Amelia’s car and discussed how the process of elimination would work.
“She said it’s up to the state to offer the test,” Zach said.
“So, do they randomly do a DNA test for single mothers?” Amelia asked as she bit her tongue to refrain herself from using the other words for Courtney when they came to her mind.
“I’m not sure about that,” Bailey said. “I’m sure you can contact someone who knows more about DNA testing and they can help.”
“I’d think the hospital would be able to set up a DNA test, wouldn’t they?” Amelia stated.
Zach shrugged. “I should go back up there and ask the nurse.”
Amelia nodded. “Yes, let’s go ask.”
The heavy-set nurse smiled when she saw Zach, Amelia, and Bailey approach the desk. “Can I help you?”
Zach asked, “Can we get information about DNA testing?”
The nurse nodded. “Is this for Courtney’s baby?”
Zach nodded.
“Courtney said you’re the father,” the nurse, wearing a name tag that read Nancy, said.
Zach shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. Anger flashed across his face. “I’m not the father,” Zach stated firmly. “Well, I’m not sure if I am or not.”
The nurse nodded. “Okay.”
Zach furrowed his brows. “So, did she put my name on the birth certificate?”
The nurse’s eyes grew wide and said, “Oh, no, we don’t allow mothers to do that.”
Zach sighed in relief. “That’s good to hear.”
The nurse smiled and nodded. “Yes, we’ve been burnt on that before. A lot of single mothers think they know who the father of their babies are and low and behold, they turn out not to be the father.”
Bailey chuckled. “That’d be a long, tough process of trying to get your name off of a birth certificate.”
The nurse nodded and pointed at Bailey. “Exactly, that’s why we no longer allow mothers to write in the father’s name without the father’s approval first.”
“When will we be able to test to find out if the baby is Zach’s or not?” Amelia asked impatiently.
The nurse grabbed a packet off of her desk and handed it to Zach. “I’ll need you to fill in the information needed for this packet. Once this is filled out, we’ll be able to request a DNA test through the state.”
“Sounds good,” Zach said as he grabbed the packet of papers and a pen. He looked at Amelia and Bailey and asked, “Is it alright if I fill it out right now?”
Bailey and Amelia nodded. They sat next to Zach in the waiting area of the nursery.
When Zach finished with the paperwork, he handed the packet to the nurse.
“They’ll get back to you as soon as they process this information,” the nurse said.
“Okay, thanks so much,” Zach thanked the nurse.
They left the hospital after they peeked one last time at the baby boy with no name.
* * *
“It’s hard to believe she hasn’t named him yet,” Amelia mentioned to Bailey on their way back to Amelia’s house.
“It does seem a bit odd, doesn’t it?” Bailey said.
“I couldn’t imagine having a baby and not naming him or her right away,” Amelia stated as she drove the car down the road.
“Speaking of babies…” Bailey spoke in a low tone. “When are you and Zach going to have some babies?”
Amelia blushed. She debated whether to tell Bailey about her and Zach’s heated discussion. She shrugged her shoulders. “We actually had a heated discussion about it last night.”
Bailey’s eyes widened. “A heated discussion?”
Amelia nodded. “Zach mentioned wanting kids with me. I told him it’s too much right now,” Amelia said. Bailey raised an eyebrow. “Don’t look at me like that. With everything going on, it’s too much stress to worry about getting pregnant or…”
“Or what?”
Amelia shook her head. “Nothing.”
“Tell me,” Bailey insisted.
“I’m just nervous about getting pregnant and losing a baby again,” Amelia bit her lip. She choked back emotion that had swelled up and threatened to escape.
“I can’t say I understand, because I’ve never been in that situation before. But I do know you and Zach will get through this and everything will be okay.”
Amelia nodded. “Everyone keeps saying that, but the more I hear it, the more I have doubts.”
Bailey raised her eyebrow. “Why are you having doubts?”
Amelia shrugged. “I’m thinking it’s mainly because of the stress. Zach’s attitude has changed a little and we’ve been arguing nonstop for the last few days.”
Amelia pulled the car into her driveway. She realized she had circled the neighborhood a few times while they talked. She shifted the car into park and turned toward Bailey. “I’m worried our relationship won’t make it through all of this.”
Bailey grabbed Amelia’s hand and said, “I’m sure it will. You and Zach are good for each other. I don’t think stress and a floozy will come between the two of you.”
Amelia smiled. “What would I do without you?”
Bailey shrugged. “I’m not really sure. You might be lost. I’d be the same if I was without you.”
Chapter Seventeen
The thought had hit Amelia while she had shifted the car into park in her driveway. She turned to look at Bailey. Bailey chuckled at the expression on Amelia’s face.
“What’re you thinking about now?” Bailey asked. “Or do I even want to know?”
Amelia nodded slowly and smirked. “I think you do, or at least you should want to,” Amelia stated. “Do you have any plans in the next hour or so?”
Bailey shook her head. “No, why do you ask?”
Amelia did not explain. She opened the car door and said, “I’ll be right back, don’t go anywhere. I have to leave a note for Zach.”
Amelia jogged up the steps to her front door as Bailey sat in the car and watched her. She unlocked the door as quick as she could. She wanted to be gone before Zach came home.
When she walked into the kitchen, she grabbed the notepad on the counter and quickly scribbled a note to Zach.
Zach, I’m going with Bailey to do some shopping. I’ll be home after a while. Love, Amelia.
She carried the note to the table and placed it under the napkin holder. She needed to make sure he would be able to find it. She dropped the pen on top of the note and hurried to the door. As she turned the key to lock the door, Bailey hollered out the window to her, “What’re we doing?”
Amelia waved a hand at Bailey to dismiss her question and hollered back, “You’ll see!”
Amelia jogged to the car and hopped in. She shifted the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway.
“Where are we going?” Bailey asked as Amelia drove downtown.
Amelia smirked. “You’ll see.”
“If we’re going where I think we’re going, I think I should know before we get there,” Bailey insisted.
Amelia chuckled. “I guess you’re r
ight. We need a plan.”
Bailey placed her palm on her forehead. “I should’ve known.”
Amelia let out a cackle and threw her head back against the head rest.
“Why did I not figure this out earlier?”
Amelia shrugged and continued to drive toward the hospital.
“Do you have a plan?” Bailey asked, desperate for answers.
Amelia laughed and shook her head. “Nope, can’t say that I do.”
They sat quietly as they pondered over their own thoughts and ideas. When they arrived at the hospital, neither one of them had come up with a decent plan.
Amelia shrugged as she pulled the keys from the ignition. “We don’t need a plan. We’ll let it take its own course.”
Bailey nodded as she opened the car door. “Do you think they’ll let us in to see her?”
Amelia tilted her head side to side and said, “Maybe, maybe not.”
Bailey got out of the car at the same time as Amelia and said, “We’re about to find out.”
* * *
The walk to the elevator went quicker than it had earlier in the day. They both knew exactly where they were headed. Amelia’s heart raced. She dried her hands on her pants.
“Are you nervous?” Bailey asked her.
“Not at all,” Amelia lied. She wanted to remain calm, but the whole idea of confronting Courtney had her close to a panic attack.
“You don’t look so good, Amelia,” Bailey stated as she reached for Amelia’s arm. “Let’s stop quick and rethink this.”
Amelia squirmed out of Bailey’s reach and said, “No, I’m fine. Let’s do this.”
She was on a mission. She was going to make this craziness stop today, no matter what she had to do.
The nurse’s station appeared as they walked down the narrow hallway from the elevator. Amelia’s nerves ran untamed as she approached the nurse who sat behind the desk.
“May I help you?”
Amelia swallowed hard in an attempt to calm herself before she spoke. “We’re here to see Courtney.”
The nurse looked at Bailey and back to Amelia. “Does she know you’re coming to visit?”
Unexpected Chances (Fairshore Series Book 2) Page 7
