Page 41 of Three Minutes
Raina clears her throat. “Um, I got your message.” I tilt my head in confusion. She falls silent, allowing me to piece it together myself.Oh no, the voicemail. She searches my eyes, her expression hopeful. “Did you say those things only because you thought you were going to die? Or did you mean it?” Her voice pleads for answers. I bite my lip, feeling the tenderness where I cut my lip days ago.This is it, Ezra, don’t fuck it up.I breathe through my nose and nod my head.
“I did,” I admit.
She smiles. “When did you count my freckles?” she asks.
I chuckle, but it’s cut short as I wince from discomfort all over my body. “The morning after you stayed over, you were asleep.” She laughs softly, glancing down at our intertwined hands.
Her expression wavers, and I sense there’s more on her mind. I decide to wait it out. “I didn’t get the end of your message,” she says. “You were saying something when it cut off. What were you going to say?” I look away, struggling to piece together the fragments of that moment and the message itself. I remember how crucial it was to me, how I never had the chance to say the words.
I draw my gaze back to hers, locking onto her eyes. “That I love you.”
Her mouth drops open. “Do you really?” she whispers.
“I do,” I manage to breathe out. As she covers her face, she pulls her hand away, tears spilling quietly into her palms. Concern etches itself across my face as I grip her thigh. A wave of negative thoughts washes over me. Deep down, I knew no one could truly love someone as broken as I am. I take a moment to collect myself before asking, “What’s wrong? It’s okay if you don’t—”
She stands abruptly, cutting me off. “I need to tell you something, Ezra.” Her voice trembles with nerves. I glance at the monitor, watching my heart rate spike unnaturally. Is she going to end things with us? Not that we were ever truly together, butis this it for good? I shift uncomfortably in the hospital bed.
“Raina, please tell me.” She paces for a moment before stopping in front of me, her hands tightly clenched at her sides. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and then looks at me.
“I’m pregnant.”
Chapter Thirty-One
7 months later
“Good! That’s it! Keep pushing!” the doctor encourages from the bottom of the hospital bed. I grip her hand tightly, nerves running high. I glance down at her; she looks so uncomfortable and in pain.
“Is she okay? Can someone check on her again?” I ask, my voice tinged with urgency.
“She’s fine. She’s doing great,” the nurse assures me, trying to calm my anxiety. I tug at my hair with my other hand, feeling helpless as she endures so much.
“Raina, is there anything I can do for you? Please, just tell me—”
She suddenly yells, clenching her teeth. “Just shut up and squeeze my damn hand, Ezra!” she commands. I shoot a quick look at the nurse, who struggles to suppress a grin. For once, I obey her.My little feisty rainstorm.
“Alright, here we go, just one big push—” A small cry interrupts the doctor mid-sentence. I quickly turn my gaze to him, and a wide smile spreads across his face as he lifts his arms. My eyes widen as I take in the sight of the tiny human cradled in his hands. He looks at us both and announces, “Congratulations, it’s a girl!” Raina gasps in joy, her eyes sparkling with fresh tearsas she meets my gaze. I squeeze her hand, gently rubbing my thumb along her palm. We had agreed to keep the gender a surprise, and I would have been over the moon either way. I just wanted Raina and our baby to be healthy.
I watch intently as the doctor carefully places our baby on Raina’s stomach. A rush of pride floods over me when I catch a glimpse of her tiny face. “Oh, she has your dark hair, Ezra!” Raina cries, tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks as she gazes at our daughter. I can’t believe it—I’m a father. A warmth spreads through me, an emotion I’ve never experienced before. The nurse holds out a tool toward me with a reassuring smile.
“Would you like to cut the umbilical cord?” I swallow hard, my nerves kicking in as I worry about messing it up, but I reach for the tool with my trembling hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll guide you,” the nurse says, sensing my apprehension. I take a deep breath and nod at her. She points out the spot where I need to cut, and for a moment, I hesitate, glancing at Raina. She offers a reassuring smile, encouraging me to continue. Holding my breath, I press down on the tool, my heart racing as I watch it slice through the umbilical cord.
“There! All finished,” the nurse says with a cheerful tone as she picks up the baby and starts to walk away.
“Wait! Where are you taking her?” I call out, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over me.
Raina gently grips my arm. “Ezra, they’re just going to weigh her and check her out. It’s okay, just breathe,” she reassures me, offering a tired smile and giving my arm a soothing rub. I glance back at the nurse, unable to shake my worries. When another nurse enters, my nerves spike even higher. I never anticipated this situation would be so intense, and I’ve only been standing here supporting Raina.
“She’s six pounds and one ounce, and nineteen inches long,”one of the nurses announces.
“Is that good? Is she healthy?” I shoot back nervously.
The nurse nods quickly, her attention focused on the task at hand. “Yes, for being a bit early, that’s a great weight and length.” A sigh of relief escapes me. Despite the overwhelming stress of the moment, it’s comforting to know that everything has gone smoothly and the baby is healthy.
Finally, the nurse who assisted during the delivery returns, cradling our little girl in a soft, light pink blanket. She gently hands the baby to Raina, placing her against her chest. “Alright, here’s the big question…have we chosen a name yet?” the nurse asks. I glance at Raina, who is completely entranced by the baby. She smiles.
“We have. It’s Esther Adele.” My heart skips a beat, sending a rush of excitement through me, along with something else I can’t quite grasp.
“Really?” I murmur, barely able to contain my surprise. Raina looks up at me, tears welling in her eyes. She presses her lips together and nods.
