Random Meeting

by Maggie Mundy

  Someone caught her. They lifted her back up and supported her as if she weighed nothing. Her breathing eased but her legs still shook. The pain was going but would soon be back … of that she had no doubt. Strong arms held her, strong arms with a tattoo of barbed wire with the word “pain” on it. This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t be here. Coincidences like that don’t just happen.

  “It’s okay, Beth, I’ve got you.”

  Tears came unbidden to her eyes at the sound of Greg’s voice. He was here––he was really here? Couldn’t be. She must be hallucinating from the pain. It was the only reasonable answer she could come up with.

  “Oh my God, are you all right, Beth?” Sara ran down the path with Pete behind her. They both glared at Greg as he held her. That convinced her enough it wasn’t a hallucination.

  “I was walking out to my car and saw she was going to faint. She’s still a bit shaky,” Greg offered.

  “It’s Greg, from over the road, isn’t it?” Peter asked. “Are you okay, Beth?”

  “She will be if you just get them to move their damn cars, now!” Sara yelled.

  Beth loved Sara, but she needed calm at the moment, not a state of panic. Peter turned to go back inside.

  “I can take them. I haven’t even had a whole beer yet. My pick-up is over there.”

  Pete stopped in his tracks and scowled at Greg. Beth didn’t have time for this, with pain starting to rear its ugly head again. She also didn’t want those arms holding her to let go.

  “Pete, I don’t care how I get there, as long as I get there. Sara will come with me, and if junior here is anything like my other two, then it’ll be hours. I just got a bit hot, and the pain made me dizzy.”

  Pete wasn’t convinced. She picked that up from the wide-legged stance, folded arms and scowl. She couldn’t blame him. His wife and pregnant friend were driving off in a car with someone he didn’t know. Beth knew both he and Sara were already over the limit. Plus, she knew she would be safe with Greg, even if they didn’t. It might have been only one night, but she believed he was honorable.

  “That would be so helpful. Pete, don’t you dare drink any more. I need you sober. Come on, Beth, do you think you can make it?” Sara said, pursing her lips as she glanced back at her husband with a steely-eyed glare.

  “It’s not too bad at the moment.” Beth took Sara’s arm. For a second, she thought Greg didn’t want to relinquish his hold on her. It was probably the imaginings of a disorientated woman in labor, and wouldn’t help her situation. He wasn’t Jeff, he wasn’t a loving husband, but a stranger. He walked in front of them across the road and opened the passenger side door of his truck. He turned to look at her and for a split-second their eyes made contact and made her forget the contractions. His face was blank, no shock, no anger, and no happiness. What did she expect? Everlasting love and adoration... It didn’t matter anyway, as the pain came back with a vengeance.

  “If you just drop us off, you can go back to your friends and the match,” Sara offered as they pulled off.

  Beth stared out the window. She had fooled herself when she said she couldn’t remember what he’d looked like. He still looked as handsome as the night in the motel, and when their eyes met her stomach had done a flip. Eight months pregnant, and she had been turned on. She couldn’t look at him. She wanted someone strong and supportive, and he was a stranger.

  “Ah!” she screamed as the contractions came back when they pulled up outside the hospital. He could go and never see her again. She expected nothing from him. In fact, all she wanted was someone to deal with this pain for her. A doctor, instead of a guy from her past, would be great.

  “I’ll go and get a wheelchair. I won’t be long.” Sara jumped out and headed through the doors of the hospital.

  Beth panted slowly as the pain eased again. With her head down and her hair covering her face, she risked a look across at him. Greg stared out the front window. She felt guilty for putting him in this situation. How ridiculous was that? He had carried on, oblivious for the last eight months, as she had grown in size––with everyone from customers, to family and friends, wondering who the father was.

  “Is it mine?”

  He didn’t even look at her as he asked the question. Well, fuck him. Hadn’t he seen the YouTube clip about not pissing off a woman in labor?

  “Yes, but I never thought to see you again.” Beth knew it was a reasonable question considering the situation, but she balled her fists and wanted to hit him. It must be the hormones having an effect on her, because she couldn’t even kill spiders.

  “Same here.” Greg drummed his fingers on his steering wheel and then ran one of his hands through his hair.

  Beth shivered as she watched him. She had found the simple move so sensuous back then, and it still had the same effect. She was officially an idiot. Shaking her head, she pushed the thought away. “You can go. I don’t expect you to stay. I don’t expect anything. All I can cope with right now is dealing with this.”

  “I left you my number. I thought if there was anything to say, you would have called.” He glanced across.

  She reckoned there was tension in every muscle in his face.

  “I threw your number away. It’s your choice if you stay. Right now, I’m in too much pain to care what you think.”

  Whether he liked it or not, she grabbed his hand as the next contraction hit. He was the only one there, so tough luck if he didn’t like it. If she broke his bones, so be it. It was his kid too, so he could share in the pain. He could either be helpful, or get lost. He placed his other hand over hers on her swollen abdomen as her uterus clenched and tried to force their child into the world. Beth glanced toward him as he leaned forward so his forehead touched hers. Beth tried to match her breathing to his as the pain eased. He moved away as soon as he heard Sara returning, her hand on the car door.

  Greg had helped her through the pain and nothing more. She would be a fool to think it was anything other than that. He followed them inside, but stayed in the reception area. She glanced back as Sara wheeled her down the corridor to the delivery rooms. Her life was crazy enough … she didn’t need this. He might be the father of this child, but she didn’t know him at all. Not even his surname, and yet if he decided to go she knew she would understand, but if he decided to stay then all hell would be let loose. She was a fool, but she wanted the latter.

  ****

  Greg sat in the reception area. His body was still, but his mind was going crazy. She was pregnant with his kid. His kid. Fuck, he was going to be a father. He tried to think back. Her body was what he had wanted, but it was her heart that had drawn him in. She had been through so much, and the way she let him hold her while she let her heart out made him believe he might be a halfway decent human being after all. That maybe someday someone similar to her could want a person such as him.

  That was crap. He was bad news, and she’d been through enough shit. He had even left her pregnant. What kind of asshole was he? He knew he hadn’t used the condom the second time, but he had wanted her so much that night he couldn’t wait, and she’d paid for it. He should have said something in the morning.

  He should get out of here. She had said he could go, so why was he still here? He didn’t want to mean anything to anyone, wasn’t that what he kept telling himself? It was easier that way. He stood to leave as the receptionist came over with a clipboard. She stopped abruptly and he reckoned it had to do with the look he gave her. He had perfected “back off” to an art form. She wasn’t put off as she folded her hands across her ample breast. He obviously wasn’t the first hesitant father to be here.

  “I was just wondering if you could fill out these details for your partner.”

  Greg stared at the clipboard thrust in front of his face. Then he glanced at the front door. Neither made him feel all that good about himself and what he might do. He said the only thing that came to mind. “She’s not my partner.”

  “Oh, sorry. I thought you were the f
ather,” the woman said, as she raised an eyebrow and peered at him. As far as she was concerned, a woman was in pain because of his dick … he wanted to run away.

  “It appears I am, but I still can’t help you with Beth’s details.” That hurt to say. He was embarrassing Beth, and she didn’t deserve it.

  The receptionist mumbled something he couldn’t make out as she walked back to her desk. Greg looked at the entrance then back to the reception desk. His hands were clammy again, and he brought his hand up and bit his thumbnail. He didn’t bite his nails but he remembered Beth had, that night in the restaurant. He could remember so much about her from that night.

  A nurse walked up to the reception desk, and whatever the receptionist said caused her to glance his way. He should go back to the party, he should go to Melbourne, if he had any sense he should be anywhere but here … but then again, he had never shown any sense. Violence, booze, and a proclivity for craziness, yes––but no sense. He’d spent twelve years behind bars for not having any sense. The nurse picked up the clipboard and walked back down to the delivery suite. Greg fidgeted and his left knee bounced. Fuck, he couldn’t deal with this. He felt like every visitor was staring at him. He loosened the collar on his shirt, but it didn’t make breathing any easier.

  He stood, he sat, he paced. Damn it, he was curious to see his kid. His kid. What the fuck? He wouldn’t have chosen to have one now, or ever, but if it was here then he would like to see it. Perhaps he could offer Beth some money. It was about all he could offer, apart from a bad attitude. Part of him wanted this, part of him didn’t. He sat down, he stood up, and he walked again. An hour went by. He should go.

  Heading toward the entrance, he heard someone call his name. He made the mistake of looking back. Sara strode toward him, the look on her face sending him walking. If she was going to make a scene, he wanted it outside. Happy families didn’t need someone like him spoiling their night.

  “Greg, stop!” she yelled.

  His key was in the door of the truck when she caught up with him and grabbed his arm. He stared at her hand willing her to remove it. She did, which was good because he didn’t hit women. He also didn’t let people touch him, but she didn’t know that. Beth was in labor and probably hadn’t had time to bring her friend up to speed on his idiosyncrasies.

  “What do you want?” he snapped out, and saw her flinch at the aggression in his tone. Give her credit, though, she stood there defiant and kept going.

  “That’s your question. What are you playing at, Greg, if that is your name? Is this some kind of sick joke? The nurse in there just told me you’re saying you’re the father of Beth’s baby.”

  Greg took a deep breath. “Listen, if this is a joke, it’s on me.”

  “You don’t even know Beth,” Sara yelled, as she stood with arms crossed. She wasn’t going anywhere until she got some answers.

  “Did she say that?” Greg tried to stop a smile coming to his face as he remembered that night. He didn’t know Beth’s surname, but he knew that body well enough. He might have doubts about now, but that night, he knew she’d been willing.

  “No. I haven’t asked her. She’s going through enough pain in there without some idiot like you upsetting her. Does this get your rocks off, to mess with people at a time like this? You gave us a lift to the hospital, that’s all. I won’t see Beth hurt by anyone. That lady has been through enough already.”

  Visitors making their way into the hospital were giving them sideways glances. Greg didn’t like scenes. He didn’t like people noticing him. “Whatever. I’m out of here.” He turned to go, feeling about as small as an ant.

  “So, you lie, then you push off when someone sees through your stupid prank? Was this yours, or your idiot mate’s idea for some fun? I heard one of them saying she looked huge, and who’d want to screw that. Charming lot, they are.”

  This wasn’t going well. He and Beth had just been two adults having a good time and it wasn’t supposed to end like this.

  “Okay, let’s take a deep breath and step back. Sara, you don’t know me, but I know Beth. I was in the yard and heard Pete say Beth’s name. I went out the front to see if it was the same Beth I knew. After that, you know what happened. Look, I met her in Gawler eight months ago, and I didn’t expect to see her today, and I didn’t expect she’d be pregnant with my kid. It was two adults and comfort for the night, and we both knew it.” Greg fidgeted with his keys.

  “I don’t believe it! You can’t be the father. This is so not right.” Sara shook her head at him.

  “You’re telling me. A few hours ago, I was going to a piss-up for the Grand Final, but now I’m going to be a dad.” Greg ran his hand through his hair. “Look, do us both a favor and go ask Beth. I only had one night with her, but I agree with you, she’s a lovely lady who deserves better. If she wants me out of here, I’m gone, no questions.”

  Greg felt his guts clench as he said it. He might be a fool, but he didn’t want her to tell him to go.

  Sara said nothing, but her body was tense and she looked like a kettle about to blow … and he couldn’t blame her. Greg wanted to dislike her, but he couldn’t. He didn’t like people telling him what to do anymore, but Sara had that look in her eye that made you think she could see something else in you. She almost freaked him out as much as Beth did. It didn’t make any difference. Logic said he didn’t belong here. These people needed normal lives, and normalcy never followed him.

  Greg got in his truck and started up the engine, but he didn’t pull away. Turning the engine off, he got out of the car and made his way back inside to the reception area. What the hell was he doing? He wanted to see his kid. For some unknown reason, he wanted it more than anything in his life. Was he starting to feel again?

  If Sara had anything to do with it, she would probably get the cops to escort him from the building. It was a fair call. He just hoped his past stayed hidden long enough for him to see the kid. He sat down and heard footsteps as Sara came up the corridor toward him. From the click-clack, he reckoned she had a thing for heels. Some heels sounded sexy. These sounded annoyed.

  “Beth said you’re telling the truth. She also said if you want, you can be with her for the birth. I told her I thought you’d shoved off. To be honest, I’m surprised you’re still here.” Sara stood above him with arms folded again as she peered down at him as if smelling something bad.

  “You don’t have to worry, I just want to see my kid and then I’ll be gone. If she needs money, I’ll help with that too.” Greg stood up so they were on equal footing. It didn’t work.

  “What she needed was someone decent in her life after all the crap she’s been through, not some jerk that leaves a trail of babies behind him. You say one thing to upset her, and I’ll get them to have you thrown out.”

  “Okay by me.” Greg followed Sara down the corridor. Her anger was like a wall telling him not to get close, and he was obeying. He was glad Beth had people like this backing her up.

  He hated the smell of the place. The delivery room had white-tiled walls and smelled of antiseptic. There was a trolley with a tray of equipment on one side of the room, and looking at the implements made his stomach churn. The monitors beside the bed kept beeping. Beth looked pale. Was it meant to be like this? Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

  Her eyes opened and as her hand gripped his, she screamed. He sat down and that was how it went on. She would drift off as the pain eased, only to wake violently as the contractions came back. He sat there holding her hand, hoping his fingers wouldn’t break as the hours went by. She was having his kid and going through this because of him. He couldn’t do much, but he could be there. She gave him a weak smile.

  “You won’t go, will you?” She said the words as he placed another damp cloth on her forehead. Damn it, he had a lump in his throat. She wanted him there.

  “No, Beth. I won’t go.”

  Sara wiped Beth’s face, then the nurse came back again like she had done every fifteen minute
s. He didn’t understand any of this stuff, but he could tell something was wrong this time as the nurse bustled about checking monitors and readouts. He squeezed Beth’s hand as she listened to talk about the baby’s heartbeat. The midwife said she would give the doctor a call just to be on the safe side.

  “It’s going to be okay.” He said the words, but what did he know?

  The doctor came in and Greg decided to leave. Sara stayed. He might be the kid’s dad, but he had no right to be there if she was getting examined. He shuffled from one foot to another in the corridor. His whole body tensed. The doctor walked out.

  “I’m Doctor Roberts, Beth’s obstetrician. You’re the father? She said your name is Greg. Is that right?”

  Greg nodded.

  “I have to say, I’m pleased to see you’re here. I delivered Beth’s two other children and was worried about her going through this alone, after what happened with Jeff.”

  “We’re not together. I’m only here for the delivery.” Greg wasn’t going to lie. He didn’t want these people to get ideas about anything else. The doctor’s face took on a businesslike expression. Greg figured he probably wasn’t the first father to disappoint him.

  “Well, I’m letting you know the baby is in a breech position and obstructed, so a normal delivery won’t be possible. The baby’s pulse rate is increasing, and I believe the best option would be to do an emergency Caesarian. Beth has signed the consent form and is being prepared for surgery.” With that, the doctor walked off back to the nursing station.

  Greg had thought he didn’t care, but now they might lose their baby, his gut clenched. He walked back in the room as saw the midwife from before place a cap on Beth’s hair and put her in a surgical gown.

  He watched, helpless, as they wheeled the trolley from the delivery suite down the corridor to the operating theatre. Beth was shaking so badly the rails of the trolley were rattling. He wanted to take her in his arms and say it would all be fine, but he couldn’t. He took her hand and found himself squeezing back and moving her fringe back from her face. He wanted to kiss her cheek. This beautiful woman was going through all this pain to give him a kid. He didn’t deserve it.