Page 104 of Backup Plan

I wish I could talk to Penny about all of this.

I text Dolores next, and I just copy the same text for a third time.

Me: Hey, Izzy is in labor. I just landed in Chicago. Are you around?

Dolores: I’m always around for my favorite football player.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

It suddenly feels like everything’s going to be okay…even though this hole in my heart doesn’t seem to be closing up at all.

I race to the hospital and realize I don’t even know Izzy’s last name when the security guard at the front asks me for it.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “I just…she’s having my kid.” The security guard looks at me like I’m the one who might need to be admitted.

I text her.

Me: I’m here at the hospital. I need your last name and room number.

The text doesn’t come through immediately, but it’s quick enough.

Izzy: Isabella Johnston. Labor room 314.

I show the details to security, and they pass me through.

My heart pounds as I race to the room where she’s in labor, and when I arrive…

Well, it’s not quite what I was expecting.

Izzy is lying on her side, and she has an oxygen monitor on her finger and a band around her stomach.

“Sorry I’m late,” I say. I’m totally breathless and panting from running to get here.

“You’re not late. She hasn’t started pushing yet. We’re getting close. Just waiting on things to progress,” the nurse says. “The doctor wants her up walking, and if her contractions don’t get stronger soon, we’ll likely start her on Pitocin to help move her along.”

I have no idea what any of that means, but I walk the halls with Izzy.

“Have you thought about a name?” she asks.

Penelope.

I’m not naming the baby Penelope, but it is my favorite name. Penny. My little lucky Penny.

“I want to see her before I decide.”

“Do you need help deciding?” she asks.

I don’t.

I already know what it’s going to be.

I blow out a breath. She’s carried her this long. I guess I can tell her. “I wanted to incorporate your name and the name of a woman who has been a guardian angel to me, but I wasn’t sure how to combine Isabella and Dolores. Dolorabella just didn’t work for me. Neither did Isabores. And then I got to thinking, my name starts with an L, and it would be cool if the baby’s name also started with an L.”

Izzy snort laughs, and it’s a reminder of the fun we had the few times we hooked up. “So what did you decide on?”

“Liora Isabella.”

She gasps. “Oh, Liam. That’s beautiful. Li like Liam.”