1
Day Before Jack’s 25th Birthday
Nadia had been awake all night pacing the hospital waiting room floor and waiting on news of Dan’s condition. Just as she was finally about to sit down, her father walked into the room in his white lab coat and clipboard in hand. “How is he?” Nadia asked, walking up to him.
“He has a broken arm and a concussion, but he’ll be fine,” Martin replied.
Nadia sighed in relief. “Can I see him?”
“Yeah, just down the hall, room 205.”
Nadia walked down the hall and into Dan’s room. She quietly sat down beside his bed and smiled as she ran her fingers down his cheek. His arm was in a cast from his shoulder to his wrist and his head was wrapped in gauze. She gazed at his peaceful face and gently leaned over to place a soft kiss on his forehead.
“I love you,” Nadia whispered as she felt her pent up tears finally escape. She stood up and immediately began to feel pain in her abdomen. Walking out of the room, she yelled, “Dad!”
Martin rushed to his daughter to see what was wrong. “Are you okay? Is everything alright?” he asked in a rush.
“No, I think this baby is coming out right now. It can’t wait any longer,” she screamed.
~~~~~~~~~~
Dan woke up a few hours later, his head throbbing and his left arm locked into place. He opened his eyes and looked around the brightened room to see the pale white walls and medical equipment. He raised his right hand and gently touched his gauzed head. It still hurt from the night before. Looked down at his left arm, he discovered the white plaster cast around it. “Fuck,” he mumbled.
“What?” came a startled voice from his right.
“Who are you?” Dan asked when he turned to see a woman in her late forties sitting in a chair beside his bed. She looked so much like Nadia with her golden brown hair and chocolate brown eyes.
“I’m Nadia’s mother, Andrea. I’m pleased to finally meet you.”
“Daniel Jones,” he introduced himself.
“I know who you are.”
“Where’s Nadia?”
“She’s in the maternity ward having the baby.”
“Shit!” Dan began to sit up and look around the room to see if he could find his clothes.
“Calm down,” Andrea said. “I know you wanna see Nadia, but wait until my husband comes back to sign your release forms.”
“How long is that gonna take?” Dan questioned.
“About an hour or so,” she answered.
“Too long,” he replied, swinging his legs over the bed and standing up. Andrea rolled her eyes and decided it was no use talking to Dan. She went over to the closet and pulled out his clothes then threw them over to him.
“Get dressed. I’ll be outside waiting to sneak you out. Just make it quick,” Andrea whispered before leaving the room.
Dan had a hard time putting on his clothes. With one arm, he managed to jump into his pants, but getting into his shirt was completely different dilemma. Trying several different tactics, he finally gave up and walked over to the door. “Andrea,” he loudly whispered. “I need your help.”
“What is it?” she asked, entering the room again.
“I… I can’t put on my shirt,” Dan said, a little embarrassed.
Andrea smiled as she helped him into it. “Come on,” she replied. “Nadia’s waiting.” Just as they were about to leave the room, she remembered something. Andrea pulled a woven winter cap out of her pocket and put it on Dan’s head over the bandages.
“Okay…” Dan said.
“Nadia told me that you hated attention, so I knew a hat would help,” she replied as she took his hand and led him out of the room. Like in “Mission: Impossible,” Andrea cautiously looked around corners and made sure that no one had seen them. They managed to leave the ward without getting caught and headed straight for maternity.
“How much further?” Dan asked after they passed a set of elevators.
“Down this hall,” Andrea answered, pulling him through another set of double doors and past another nurses station. She stopped at room 22 and opened the door. “Nadia,” she softly called to her daughter.
“Mom, I can’t take it anymore,” Nadia yelped from her bed.
“Maybe he’ll make it a little more bearable,” Andrea replied as she stepped away to reveal Dan.
“Danny,” Nadia happily sighed. Dan sat down beside her and took her hand. “I’m so sorry. I should have listened to you. I should have let you speak.”
He placed his finger over her lips and whispered, “Shh…” Dan bent over and kissed Nadia’s waiting lips. She held him in for several minutes until she felt another contraction.
“Ow! Ow! OW!” she screamed as she closed her eyes, the pain becoming unbearable. “I will never have another baby after this one if it’s alright with you.”
“Don’t worry, everything is going to be okay,” Dan told her as he stroked the top of her head with his good hand.
“You have to call Jack and tell her,” Nadia suddenly said. “I completely forgot about her.”
“Yeah, and I should tell her about what happened last night,” he replied as he pulled out his cell phone.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Jack yelled from the other end when she answered. “You’ve been gone fore three days and you haven’t even bothered to call and tell me you’re okay. What’s the matter with you? Do you really want to worry me?”
“Hi, Jack. I’m fine. I just called to tell you that I fell from a tree last night and broke my arm and that Nadia is having the baby as we speak,” Dan calmly said.
“You… What? Nadia’s having the baby!” her tone changed from anger to excitement. “Ah! Oh, my God! Congratulations!”
Dan laughed. “Thank you, but I have to cut this conversation short. Nadia is still in labor, so I’ll give you a call when the baby arrives, okay?” he asked.
“Oh, yeah! That would be great!” Jack replied. “Bye!”
“Bye,” Dan hung up and looked over at Nadia. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to figure her out.”
Nadia burst out laughing. “Welcome to the club!”
~~~~~~~~~~
Jack had just hung up with Dan when Darren walked into the room and asked, “What’s going on? Who was that?”
“That was Dan. I’ve got some awesome news. Come with me so I can tell everyone at once,” she replied, taking his hand and leading him into the living room where everyone had gathered to celebrate Jack’s birthday. It was only Leonie, Angi, Elisa, Jen, Ben, Karl, and Lee, but with the loud blaring music and drinks all around, it felt like a real party.
“Turn down the music!” Darren hollered. Lee reached over and pressed the pause button on the CD player.
“What is it?” Ben asked as he sat down beside Angi on the couch.
“I have a wonderful announcement to make,” Jack squealed.
“Are Nadia and Dan back together?” Leonie asked.
“Better than that,” Jack replied, hardly able to contain her excitement. “Nadia is having the baby!”
“Ah! Oh, my God!” Angi screamed.
“That’s so great!” Elisa joined in.
“Dan’s gonna be a father!” Jen added. “This is such a great day. Too bad we all can’t be there.”
“So, I’m assuming we’re all staying the night until Dan calls us to tell us what it is,” Ben said.
“Guess so,” Karl replied as the five girls discussed ideas for baby gifts.
Darren sat down next to him and added, “From the looks of it, I think this is going to be a long night.”