Page 2 of Under the Same Sky

“Stay calm, I’ll grab my keys and we’ll head straight to the hospital, okay?”

She bends over again, and visibly starts crying. It’s enough to send my own panic skyrocketing, but I stay calm, grab my keys and get Melissa to my truck.

“It’s going to be okay,” I tell her. “Just hang in there.”

I’m driving through town a few minutes later, trying to reach Ryan. It just keeps ringing, and by the time I get to the hospital, all my focus zeroes in on Melissa. I call a nurse, and before I can blink, they’re wheeling her in. I run beside her bed while they page her OB/GYN, and she squeezes my hand. “Have you called Ryan?”

As if he knew we were talking about him, my phone rings and I release an audible sigh of relief when I see it’s him. “Hey, Reese, sorry I missed your call—”

I cut him off with, “You need to get to the hospital, Ryan. Mel’s bleeding, and the OB/GYN is on her way.”

“I’m leaving now.” I hear some shuffling in the background, a few mumbles. “Do they know what’s wrong?”

“No, but I need you to get here, Ry.”

“I’ll be there in a few. Look after my girl until I get there.”

The line goes dead, and I pocket my phone as we race down the hallway.

“He’s on his way,” I tell Melissa, squeezing her sweaty hand.

“Please don’t leave me until he gets here,” she pleads.

I squeeze her hand tighter. “I’m not going anywhere, okay? I’m going to be by your side the entire time.”

“And if anything happens to me, promise me you’ll help Ryan. Please, Reese.” I don’t like thinking about what could happen but I nod anyway, if only to appease some of her distress. The next few minutes are a blur of activity. We’re ushered into an operating room, doctors and nurses rush around, I hear talk about an emergency c-section, and then I’m being put in scrubs, and Melissa is being prepped. It’s not standard procedure for me to be in here with her, but since Ryan isn’t here yet, I refuse to leave. Her hand reaches for mine the moment they slip an oxygen mask over her face, her face wet with tears, and I try my damndest to put on a brave face. I want to tell her everything’s okay, but I’ve never lied to her before and I won’t start now, regardless of the circumstances. And she’s not oblivious to the chaos around her, either. Her OB/GYN rushes in, dressed and rearing to go. Melissa’s hand tightens, her eyes frantic, and then we hear it. The cry of a baby. That sweet wail has me crying. Until I feel Melissa’s hand loosen from around mind and drop to the side, her eyes closed. The machines go crazy, nurses rush between her and the baby, and then I’m being shoved out the door without any indication as to what just happened. I pace the hallway, try calling Ryan—he should have been here by now—and it goes straight to voicemail. A second later, my phone is ringing, and I frown down at the unknown number. I almost don’t answer, and when I do, I wish I hadn’t.

“Hello, this is Reese.”

“Miss. Hayes, my name is David, I’m an EMT. There’s been an accident.”

My blood goes cold. “Okay…”

“You’re listed as an emergency contact. It’s about a Ryan Decker. We tried calling his wife first—”

“She’s in the hospital,” I tell him, trying to listen to him above the sound of my heart beating in my ears. “Is Ryan okay?”

Instead of answering my question, he asks, “Are you at the hospital already?”

“Yes.” My hand trembles, along with my voice.

“I’m afraid to inform you Mr. Decker was in an accident…” The following seconds fuse together.

Hit by a drunk driver.

Died on impact.

Can you come down to the morgue?

“Miss. Hayes? Are you still there?”

“Yes.” I don’t recognize my own voice, it’s foreign to my own ears. “I’ll be there now.” I end the call, but don’t move, not until a nurse comes out of the operating theatre, her scrubs covered in blood. So much damn blood.

“Is she okay? What about the baby?” I try to shove past her, but she stops me.

“The baby’s fine, healthy little boy, but we’ve put him in an incubator because he’s premature.” She’s saying he’s healthy, but why isn’t she smiling?

“And Melissa? Can I see her?”