Page 31 of Someone Exactly Like Me (Wounded Hearts 1)
We enter the hospital and I walk us quickly to the maternity ward. As we approach room two, I stop far enough away to not be noticed, but close enough to see into the room.
Nicco
“What are we doing here?” I keep my voice hushed, respecting the quiet of the ward.
Keeping her voice quiet also, she answers, only briefly looking up at me, then returning her gaze to the open door of room two. “This couple has been trying to have a baby for three years. She’s had two miscarriages. And today, she finally gave birth to their first child…” She stops abruptly, her right hand clutches her chest and her left hand reaches down, grabbing my hand. Though I don’t think she did it purposefully, it felt so natural, intimate, and drew me into the moment with her. I like the way her soft hand feels in mine. The smallest gasp releases from her.
My gaze is lured to the open door. A man dressed in army fatigues removes his cap and turns into the room.
Destiny squeezes my hand, causing me to look at her. Tears sit in her beautiful eyes and her lips are closed tightly together.
I hear a very surprised female voice come from the room, “Patrick!”
Looking back into the room, I see the man bent over his wife who’s lying in the hospital bed. She rubs his shaven head. A nurse walks in, carrying a baby, and the man turns toward her. The nurse gently places the baby in his arms and tears stream down his reddened face. I’m not sure what’s happening, but I know this is a special moment for Destiny to witness based on her reaction so I don’t speak and let her experience it. The tears spill out and slide down her face as she squeezes my hand once more.
The nurse exits the room and walks toward us, taking her glasses off her face and tucking them on top of her head into her gray and white curly hair. When she reaches us, Destiny lets go of my hand and the nurse embraces her. The two hug and cry. When they release each other, the nurse cradles Destiny’s face in her hands.
“You did a beautiful thing,” she says, smiling and shaking her head.
“I couldn’t have done it without your help. Thank you, Karen.”
One more quick hug and Karen smiles at me.
“Hello there,” she says politely.
“Oh, Karen this is my,” Destiny hesitates, “friend, Nicco. Nicco, this is my friend, Karen, she’s a nurse here.”
Karen reaches out her hand to shake mine. “It’s nice to meet you,” she says, then steps back as her eyes open wide. “Oh,ooohhh.” Her eyes move quickly back and forth between me and Destiny. Still with my hand in hers, she shakes more vigorously. “It’sverynice to meet you.” Given the flush in her cheeks and her broad smile, I think she may have just figured out who I am. She looks back to Destiny, releasing my hand. “Where are you two off to?” she asks.
“I’m taking him to the observatory and then we’re going to hike to the sign, after Trails, of course.”
Karen’s eyes light up. “Ooo, have a piece of that apple pie for me, will you?”
“I just might.” She smiles at Karen.
“Okay, you go have a fun day.” Karen winks at Destiny.
“We will. Thank you again.”
“Thankyou, honey.” She looks up at me with a spunky smile on her face. “Goodbye Nicco.” Giving us a wave, she turns and goes back to work.
We turn and walk back down the hallway.
“What just happened there?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t get to finish telling you before he arrived. Patrick’s been deployed. When Karen told me their story and that he couldn’t even be here with his wife after her second miscarriage, I wanted to do something to help them. I was able to pull some strings and get him here for the birth of their first baby.” She pulls her shoulders up to her ears and clasps together her hands with a smile of pure joy spreading across her face.
I stop dead.
She stops, turning toward me, her eyebrows squeezing together.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
“Yes, I’m okay,” I say, processing what she said. “You meanyouarranged for him to be able to come home for this?”
“Yes,” she says, like it’s no big deal.
I rock my head forward and down, getting close to her face. “Destiny, you just gave that couple a gift they’ll remember forever.” I force a strained swallow down my throat.
