by April Lust
“Where is she?!”
When I heard Jack’s loud voice from the hallway, I cried out in fear and pulled the blanket over my chest.
“Where the hell is my wife?”
“Excuse me, sir?” The calm voice of Dr. Collins filled my ears and I could have cried with relief. “Who are you looking for?”
“Nicolette McDonald,” Jack replied. I shivered – he sounded calmer than he had in years. “She’s my wife, and I think she’s gone into early labor. We were in a car accident, and she’s not in the intensive care unit.”
“Oh, Nicolette, yes. She’s right in here,” Dr. Collins replied. “We can go see her together.”
“No!” I cried out as Jack crossed the threshold of my room. Instantly, the feeling of safety and comfort that I’d built up in that little room vanished, leaving me with nothing but fear and dread. “No, keep him away from me!”
Dr. Collins frowned as he and Jack approached my bedside. “She’s a little delirious, we think,” Dr. Collins said. “Don’t mind her, she’s been saying strange things ever since she was brought in.”
Jack looked at me and I shuddered as his eyes looked up and down my body. His mouth was smiling, slightly, but his eyes were hard and cold.
“My poor wife,” Jack said mechanically. He stepped forward and picked up my hand. I tried to pull away and kick but he tightened his grip on my fingers and squeezed. It hurt and I cried out.
“You’re hurting me!” I screamed. “Dr. Collins, help! This man isn’t my husband! He’s abusive! He’s hurt me before!”
Dr. Collins shook his head. He gave Jack an embarrassed smile. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “She’s been difficult since she was brought in. I’m sure it’s just the delirium. We think she might have a very light concussion.”
“I’m sure she’ll come around,” Jack said. He patted me on the belly and a feeling of hatred so strong that it made me nauseated swept over my body. “How’s the baby? You know I was worried about that, dear.”
“It’s not your baby!” I cried, kicking and thrashing in the bed. The epidural made it hard to move, like all of my motions were underwater. “Help! Someone! Get him away from me!”
“Nicolette, please,” Jack growled. “Don’t make a scene.” He turned towards Dr. Collins. “Could I have a moment alone with my wife, please?”
Chapter 25
Charlie
When I opened my eyes for the first time since the crash, I thought I was dead. I was in a bright white room. Everything was white. The walls, the ceiling, the floor. All brilliant, the brightest shade of white that I’d ever seen. I was lying in a bed, and even the bed was white. White sheets, white mattress. Bright white bedframe.
“How are you feeling?” A woman walked into the room. She was wearing pink scrubs and had blonde hair piled on top of her head. She was pretty, but in older, tired sort of way. I could tell she’d been working for hours just by the circles under her eyes.
“Where’s Nicolette?” I asked warily. “Where is she? Where am I?”
The nurse pursed her lips. “I’m sorry,” she said, bringing her hands together in front of her. “I don’t know who you’re asking about.”
Panic raced through my body and I sat up. Everything in my body hurt— my skin, my head, my limbs. Even my hair hurt.
“Nicolette,” I said sharply. “The girl I was brought in with. We were in a car accident – I was in a truck that crashed…” I trailed off. Somehow, I thought I remembered Nicolette lifting me from the wreckage of the old truck and carrying me, but I knew that couldn’t be right. She was a full head shorter than I was, not to mention over seven months pregnant. I wasn’t sure what had happened, but I realized that I’d probably just imagined Nicolette helping me. My angel, I thought, before I could stop the words from forming in my brain. She saved me.
“You were brought in through the emergency ward,” the nurse said. She licked her dry lips and sat down in a plastic chair by the side of the bed. “You were in a big semi-truck, a big rig.” She smiled. “Are you a truck driver?” I glanced at her nametag – ‘Carrie.’
“I need to know where Nicolette is,” I said urgently. “This is important; she’s my wife, and she’s pregnant. I’m the father of the baby, and I think she might have gone into early labor.”
Carrie blinked. “I’ll check on that,” she said uncertainly. “Does your wife have the same last name, Charlie?”
“McDonald,” I replied. I lowered my head into my hands and started rubbing my temples. “Her last name is McDonald.”
Carrie nodded. “I’ll be right back,” she promised. “Stay right here,” she added. “Just a joke,” she said breathlessly when she saw my angry expression. She mumbled something unintelligible under her breath as she left the room.
I sighed and lied back into my bed, letting my eyes close. Even with my lids shut, I still saw bright white everywhere. I wondered how long I’d been out. My head ached so badly that even closing my eyes was painful. Red hot pain thumped between my eyes, at the back of my neck, and in my wrist. There was some kind of soft cast wrapped around my right wrist and my leg was in a brace.
Slowly, the details of the fight began to return. But I couldn’t remember how I’d gotten in the truck. My memory was full of gaps and holes.
When Carrie came back through the door, she wasn’t smiling. Immediately, I sat up in bed and stared at her.
“What? What’s going on? Where’s Nicolette?” I groaned as I tried to climb out of bed – pain shot up my leg and I froze in place.
Carrie shook her head and gently pushed me back down. “You’re not going anywhere,” she said firmly. “Nicolette is here, but there’s another man with her right now.” She cleared her throat and a pink flush came over her cheeks. “He’s also saying he’s the father.”
“No, no, that’s not right,” I said. I shook my head. “That guy – he’s real bad. She’s been trying to get away from him for months. He’s abusive. Used to beat the shit out of her every day.”
Carrie clucked her tongue. I could tell what she was thinking –Great, what the hell do these white trash kids think of themselves? – but she didn’t say anything for a moment. Then she shrugged. “I’m sorry,” she said. This time, her voice had a note of chill to it. “But there’s really nothing I can do. If that man is the father, he has rights.”
“She’s my wife,” I snapped back. “And I’m going to settle this now!” Carrie’s face contorted into a mask of horror as I grabbed the side of the bed and tried to lift myself up. She immediately rushed forward and pushed my chest back down to the mattress, but I grunted and shoved her to the side. There was a pain in the back of my left hand and I looked down to see an IV taped into the skin. Gritting my teeth, I ripped out the needle and tube with my right hand and tossed it to the ground.
Standing up made me feel dizzy. Carrie rushed over to the door and peeked out, screaming for help as I made my way towards her.
“Help! Somebody, we need backup! Orderlies! Help!”
“I’m fine,” I said loudly. I stumbled and almost fell, the brace on my leg sliding on the chill linoleum hospital floor. “I just need to see Nicolette. Come on, Carrie,” I said, begging her with my eyes. “Please. You have to let me go.”
She pursed her lips and shook her head tightly. “You’re not going anywhere,” Carrie said primly. “Go on, back to bed!”
I sighed. “I ain’t telling you twice,” I grumbled, pushing past her and limping quickly out of the room. “I’m going to see Nicolette!”
In the hallway, I almost panicked at the sight of two orderlies rushing towards me. I broke into a painful run, limping down the hall and using the motion from my brace to propel myself forward. I could hear the soles of the orderlies’ shoes slapping against the floor but I didn’t look back – I knew that would just delay me. When I got to the end of the hall, I quickly glanced up at the sign. Shit. The maternity ward wasn’t labeled.
I knew I didn’t have any time to was
te. As fast as I could, I took off to the right and hurled myself into an elevator with closing doors. Thankfully, it was empty. And the maternity ward was labeled inside the car – the third floor, two floors below where I was now. Jamming my finger against the button, I grinned as the doors finally closed with the orderlies right behind in hot pursuit.
A sharp pain hit me in the side and I cried out, gripping the side of the elevator car as I descended. I gritted my teeth and fought off the pain, breathing hard. I’m gonna make it, I realized. I’m in bad shape, but I ain’t dead. Jack, you haven’t won yet. But then I remembered he was with Nicolette, and that I hadn’t won yet either.
The elevator doors pinged open and I took off down the hall, glancing at the tags outside of each room. Fuck! Where the fuck is she?
I heard her voice before I saw the nametag outside of her room. Nicolette’s voice, and Jack’s voice, screaming at the top of their lungs.
“Keep him away from me!” Nicolette begged in a way that shot rage through my heart.
Those bastards, they’re not protecting her! This is a fucking hospital! Doctors are supposed to protect people who can’t protect themselves! The anger that had sprouted inside of me only grew faster and darker as I sprinted down the hall and through the door of Nicolette’s hospital room.
“Nicolette!” I yelled. “Nicolette, I’m coming!”
“Charlie!” Her shriek sent another stab of pain through my body. “Charlie, help me!”
As I skidded into the room, I looked up to see Jack standing by Nicolette’s bed. He was wearing an odd expression – tranquil, but cold, like he’d been drugged. As soon as he saw me, the blank look slid off his face, replaced by a scowl.
Nicolette was in bed, wearing a hospital gown, hooked up to monitors and an IV bag. Her belly looked bigger than ever under the sheets, and there was a huge gash across her forehead. She looked small and pale and her brown hair was tangled and matted down her back.
“Nicolette,” I said breathlessly. “Nicolette, I’m here.”
A doctor turned to look at me. He had a smug expression and a white coat with his hands propped on his hips. “And you are?” He raised his eyebrows. “Don’t tell me we have another paternity claim.”
“I’m the father,” I panted. “I’m with Nicolette. This guy,” I added, jabbing my finger towards Jack. “He needs to be dragged out of here in cuffs. He’s a rapist and a monster, and he beat the shit out of me.” I gestured towards the brace on my leg and my wrapped wrist. “He assaulted me, that’s the whole goddamned reason I’m here in the first place!”
The doctor cleared his throat. “Sir,” he said. “I advise you get back to your bed.” He stepped towards the door and pushed a button before leaning close to a speaker. “Orderlies, I need assistance in room three-oh-four,” he said. “Quickly!”
“No!” I snapped. “No! You can’t fuckin’ drag me out of here.” It was painful, but I dragged myself over to Nicolette’s bedside and reached out for her hand. “This is my wife, and I need to make sure she’s okay. I’m not leaving her until that asshole is arrested.”
Jack turned towards me. Pure vitriol spread across his ugly face and he stepped forward, rubbing his forearms. “I didn’t beat the shit out of you as well as I could’ve,” he grumbled, swinging his arm back.
“Hey!” The doctor reached forward and grabbed Jack by the arm. “What is going on?”
“I told you,” I snarled. “This guy’s bad fuckin’ news. He’s the reason why I’m all dressed up like this. And he used to do worse to her,” I added, pointing towards Nicolette. “She was his girlfriend, but she left him because he wouldn’t stop beating her up. She was afraid for her life,” I said. “She thought he was going to kill her. And he threatened to kill her earlier today – to her face and after she’d left, when he was in the process of kicking my ass.”
Two orderlies rushed into the room and crowded in front of the doctor. I winced as he lifted his arm. I was sure he was going to point at me.
“This man needs to be taken out of here,” the doctor said. He wasn’t pointing at me. He was pointing towards Jack. “And we need to call the police.”
“Help me,” Nicolette moaned from the bed. I glanced over and felt a wave of sharp anxiety pass over my body as our eyes met. Her face was scrunched up in pain and she looked even paler than she had before. “It’s happening,” she moaned loudly. “Help!”
The orderlies grabbed Jack and slowly dragged him out of the room. He put up a fight – kicking and punching and trying to bite the men who were holding him. But they were stronger, and after a well-placed hand on the back of his neck, Jack went out of the room, looking as sullen as a convict.
Chapter 26
Nicolette
There was something wet and sticky between my legs. When I looked down and saw the blood pooling between my thighs, I let out a cry of horror.
“Help me! I’m bleeding!” I shrieked. “Help!”
Charlie rushed over to my side and grabbed my hand. He looked horrible – one of his eyes was swollen shut and he had a massive purple bruise just starting to form on his cheek. His left leg was covered in a plastic brace and his right wrist was in a soft cast.
He twisted his fingers with mine. “You’re gonna be okay,” he said confidently. He brought my hand to his mouth and kissed my fingers. “Nicolette, everything’s gonna be fine, I promise.”
“Sir, you need to get back to your room,” Hannah said. She stepped between Charlie and myself but I saw she was smiling. “And we need to get you into the delivery room.”
“It hurts,” I moaned softly. Hannah pulled my bed away from the wall. She and Dr. Collins pushed me out of the dull room, into the bright hallway. I tried to crane my head and look for Charlie, but he was nowhere in sight.
“How much longer?” Dr. Collins pulled the bed to a stop and checked between my legs. “She’s almost there. Eight centimeters. We should be able to get her there without interference.”
“What?” I raised my head and tried to look at him. “What’s going on? Am I having my baby now?”
Hannah patted my shoulder as she rushed me down the hallway. “Stay strong,” she said. “Just breathe and save your strength. You’re almost done. Then you can rest.”
I wanted to fight her off. I wanted to climb out of the bed and run back to my hospital room, to pull Charlie close and let him hold me. But the pain was too much, and I closed my eyes. The sensation of being pushed through time and space was making me nauseated, and I turned my head to the side as a gush of sour vomit exploded from my mouth.
Hannah wiped my face with a cool towel as she and Dr. Collins pushed me through a set of double doors and into a bright room with lights overhead. I tried to take a deep breath but the pain was back and suddenly more difficult to deal with than ever before.
“Nicolette, you need to concentrate,” Dr. Collins said. “I’m going to give you another dose of painkillers. I know you’re in agony right now. Hannah is going to help you sit up, and I’ll make sure you’re feeling better soon.”
Hannah gripped my shoulder and helped me up. I vomited again as soon as I was sitting – the foul-tasting strands clung to my teeth and tongue even after I’d wiped my mouth. Hannah held a kidney-shaped pan underneath my jaw and wiped my brown hair out of my face.
“I’m going to inject the painkillers now,” Dr. Collins said in his soothing voice. I closed my eyes. After a few seconds, a wave of numbness began to fall over me.
“Thank you,” I said dreamily. Hannah helped me lie back down. “Am I going to have a baby now?”
Dr. Collins shook his head. “Right now, it’s important for you to relax,” he said. “Nicolette, I want you to rest. I know you’ve been through a lot. It’s been a long day for you. But you’re going to need your strength. Can you try to sleep for me?”
“Do you promise Charlie is okay?”
Dr. Collins nodded. “I promise,” he said. “Now sleep, Nicolette. And when you wake up, you sho
uld be all ready to have a baby.”
Dr. Collins and Hannah left the room, dimming the lights and closing the door as they left. It was a different room than before, with a small table and a screen. I smiled – I couldn’t help it, imagining my baby on the table, waiting for me to hold it. It’s going to be over soon, I realized. And everything’s going to be okay.
I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep, but my lids felt as heavy as iron doors. I’ll just close my eyes for a minute and try to relax, I thought. I’m so tired.
