Only One (Ward Sisters Book 2) (35 page)

Chapter 32

The next day, they were swept into the preparations, and after a while, Liam noticed that Jenna looked tired. At one point, he saw her talking to Rob, alone, holding her belly.

“I'm fine, hon. It's just Braxton Hicks. False labor pains. They happen at this stage.”

“Honey, I don't want you to take chances with the baby. If you need to go to the hospital, we can put off the ceremony.”

“And have your wife hate me for the rest of my life? I don't think so. I'll be fine. It's nothing.”

“Anything changes, at any point, you tell me.”

“I'm not your responsibility anymore.”

Rob touched her cheek. “You'll always be my responsibility.”

Jenna leaned into his hand. “Stop worrying.”

“I can't. You know that.”

They stood there for a moment and Liam felt uneasy, as though his gut was telling him something. He decided he should make himself known.

“Hey, baby. Everything okay?”

Rob's hand dropped. “She says she's fine, but I don't believe her.” He looked at Jenna. “Why don't you tell your fiancé what I just saw.”

“It's nothing,” Jenna looked at Liam. “Rob is overreacting.”

“You clutching your belly isn't nothing.” Rob looked at Liam. “Don't let her overdo it. And make sure she gets some rest.”

“Yes, Daddy,” Jenna said with a scowl. “I need a babysitter.”

“Not like you're listening to me on your own. Someone has to keep track of you. I need to go upstairs before Christopher kicks my ass.” He kissed Jenna on the cheek. “I mean it. Get some rest.”

They watched Rob leave the room and Liam turned to Jenna. “What was that all about?”

“I told you, he's making a big deal out of nothing. It's just false labor pains.”

“You're in labor?”

Panic shot through him. It was too early for that. She couldn't be in labor yet.

“No. Braxton Hicks mimics labor pains, but they don't make things happen. I'm not having the baby today. I'm six weeks away.”

“Still, I think he's right. Go to our room and rest. I'll let you know when it's time to get ready. Okay? Do it for me? Please?”

Jenna grumbled, but she listened, waddling toward the stairs.

Feeling uneasy, knowing that something wasn't right in his gut, Liam went to the beach to collect himself. Rob and Em didn't need him panicking about Jenna and the baby right now, but he couldn't shake the sense that something was off. Whether it was the weird vibe he'd gotten from Jenna and Rob or the fact that his fiancé was having labor pains – false or not – he couldn't say.

He and Nina had successfully avoided each other most of the day, but he was skipping stones on the beach, when he heard someone approaching. He turned, and there she was. A little ache formed in his chest. Just a day or so ago, he'd have grinned ear to ear at the sight of her, the flames of her hair whipping in the breeze. He hated what he'd done to her, hated it even more when she gave him a small smile.

Nina slowly made her way toward him. She stopped about five feet away, as though she didn't want to be too close to him.

“I hear you're getting married on Monday.”

Liam nodded. “Doesn't seem like much point in waiting. We know what we want and everyone is here, so...”

“Right,” she said, seeming hurt. She turned to go.

“Nina...” She looked back at him, a question in her eyes. “I didn't...”

“Didn't what? Mean to hurt me? Actually love me? Know about the baby? Know she still loved you? You said it all before. I heard you. Loud and clear.”

She started to walk away again.

“I could have.”

She whipped around and looked at him, her expression full of confusion. He swallowed hard.

“If things had been different, I could have loved you. If I wasn't in love with her, I wouldn't have left you.”

She nodded. “It's a small consolation to know that I might have been good enough if you hadn't already been in love with someone else. Good luck. I'm sure you'll be happy. Maybe I will, too, someday.”

With that, she strode away, not bothering to look back.

**********

Jenna stood in her new bedroom, looking out the window as Liam walked across the lawn and down to the beach. She wondered how long he had been standing there, watching her with Rob. If he'd been there more than a few seconds, he would have seen them in an intimate moment. It didn't happen often, less so now that Emily was in the picture, but they'd always been careful to be less physical with their affection when Liam was around. That display had been a slip.

A couple minutes later, Nina wandered down to the beach, where Liam had just gone. Watching her caused an ache to expand in Jenna's heart. Why couldn't that girl get a hint? Just then, a sharp pain ripped through her abdomen and radiated to her back. It lasted for about a minute and she panted through it, clutching the window sill. When it passed, she let her shoulders slump.

She rubbed her belly. “Cam, now is not the time to switch up your kicking routine, buddy. Uncle Rob needs to get married with as little drama as possible. Mommy can't have his new wife thinking she's trying to steal the show. That won't go over well.”

When her heart rate had calmed again, Jenna turned toward the bed and caught a glimpse of Nina's red hair. The woman was walking up the steps to the beach and looked like she had been crying. She was walking quickly, jogging, really. She looked at the bench, like she wanted to sit. As if she thought better of it, she shook her head and ran toward the house in the direction of the driveway.

Whatever had transpired between Nina and Liam on that beach, it had been upsetting. Jenna could only hope that Liam had rejected her advances. Because it was blatantly clear that the woman was in love with him. And Jenna wasn't stupid enough to think that he had no feelings for her in return.

**********

The ceremony was beautiful, short and sweet, with the two of them obviously in love. Lucky for his best friend, Liam was in the
desperately in love
camp today and found them adorable. He sat next to Jenna during the ceremony, rubbing her back and holding her hand. He'd promised Em that they would sit out of Nina's line of vision so that she could perform the ceremony without seeing the two of them.

Lunch wasn't quite ready, yet, because they were ahead of schedule, so Liam grabbed some crackers for Jenna. Occasionally, he'd see her grimace and he wondered if she was still having those false labor pains. As soon as they had a moment alone, he'd tell her that he wanted to take her to the hospital, just to make sure everything was okay.

They finally sat down to lunch and despite the fact that the food was delicious – Anja, as always, had outdone herself – Liam could hardly taste anything. The more time passed, the frequency of discomfort on Jenna's face increased and he became worried.

Lunch was done and Jenna rose to use the bathroom. When she took a step, she collapsed at the waist. Liam jumped up and ran to her side.

“Baby, what's wrong?”

She couldn't speak and her face was turning red. He could only assume she was experiencing serious pain. It passed and she panted, trying to catch her breath.

Jenna looked suddenly pale, like she might pass out.

“Liam, Liam, she's bleeding,” Emily said, panic in her voice.

Jenna looked at him and whispered, “The baby,” as she let out an agonized cry. He helped her to sit in a chair.

Rob grabbed for the land line. “What are you doing?” Liam asked, “If you call 9-1-1, the photographers are going to show up here soon after. I'll take her to the hospital in Brunswick.”

“I don't give a shit about the paparazzi! I'm calling 9-1-1! She could die, Liam!” Rob shouted. He got the first responders on the phone and relayed the information to them. “She's about 7 months. Yes, thirty-four weeks.”

Holy shit
. The weight of what Rob had said hit him. She could die. The baby could die. He started to panic, and then he remembered that it wouldn't help Jenna if he did.

“You're gonna be okay. Rob called for an ambulance. They'll be here any minute.”

“You're coming with me?” Jenna asked, panicked herself.

“Of course I'm coming. I promise I won't leave you.”

She nodded and let out another cry of pain. “It hurts, Liam,” she grunted.

“I know, baby. I'm here. Listen, there's the ambulance. We're going to the hospital, okay? If they'll let me, I'll ride there with you. If not, I'll be right behind, okay?”

“Okay,” she replied, shaky.

The EMTs rushed into the house and took charge. They asked questions like how far along she was, if she'd had complications, if she was carrying multiples. They lifted her onto the stretcher, hooked her up to oxygen, took her vital signs, attached a fetal monitor to her belly, asked her when the last time was that she felt the baby move.

It was all so much, it made Liam's head swim.

“Is the father here?” a female EMT asked.

“I'm the father.” Liam said.

“Okay, Mr. Ackerman...”

“It's Neely.”

“Okay, Mr. Neely, we're taking her to Mid Coast Hospital. You can ride in the truck or you can follow us there. We'll need you to sign the paperwork when we get to the hospital.”

Holy shit, this was worse than he thought.

“He can't,” Rob interjected.

“What do you mean, I can't?” Liam asked.

“You don't have medical Power of Attorney,” Rob replied.

“We'll have to treat her without it, then,” the EMT said.

“No,” Rob said. “I have Power of Attorney.”

Liam looked at Rob like he had two heads. “What?”

The EMT replied, “Well, then, you better hop in the truck. We'll meet you at the hospital, Mr. Neely.”

Rob looked at Liam, something in his eyes saying he was torn.
Em.
“Em and I will be right behind you,” Liam said.

“Yeah, of course.” Rob hugged Liam. “It's going to be okay.”

“Right.” Liam was trying not to cry. Rob nodded and kissed his wife quickly, then ran and jumped into the ambulance. He held Jenna's hand as soon as he sat down. “I'm here, honey,” he said before the doors closed.

“Let's go,” Rick said from the driver's door of the Escalade. Liam and Emily sat in the back and clicked seat belts as Rick raced after the ambulance.

Emily squeezed Liam's hand. “Breathe,” she said.

Liam nodded. “How the hell does he have Power of Attorney for Jenna?” he asked to no one in particular. Rick met his eyes briefly in the mirror and looked away quickly, saying nothing. He knew something. “What are you not saying?” Liam asked.

“Not my place,” Rick replied.

“Bullshit.”

“Liam, it doesn't matter right now, does it?” Em asked.

He shook his head.

She crushed his hand, as if to say,
Later
. “Let's just get to the hospital and make sure she's all right. Okay?”

Liam nodded. “Okay.” He tried not to panic too much, but the heavy feeling in his gut wouldn't go away.

His phone rang and before it could play the first two notes of The Beatles'
In My Life
, he answered it.

“Mary Cate,” he whispered.

“What the hell happened?”

“How did you...never mind. I know. Jenna...” A tear slipped.

He couldn't say it. Emily took the phone from his hand and said, “Mary Cate?”

“Who the hell is this?” Liam heard his sister shout.

“This is Emily. Rob's...wife. Jenna just went to the hospital in an ambulance. She...she was bleeding.”

“Holy mother of God,” she cried. Liam couldn't hear the rest on her end.

“We're on our way to Mid Coast Hospital. You can meet us there. Yes. Brunswick. Right. Um, I'm not sure. We're headed to the ER. Okay. Yes. Call Liam when you get there and we'll let you know. Right.” Emily looked at him. “You okay to talk to her?”

He nodded. “Mary Cate.”

“I'm coming. She's going to be okay, Liam. I'll be there as soon as I can, all right? I'm going through the York toll right now. I'll be there in a little over an hour. I'll call her mom, okay? And she'll call Jenna's dad. Hold on little brother.”

“Thanks. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

It seemed like it took eons, but they were at the hospital in just over 20 minutes. It was a good thing Rob had called 9-1-1. By the time they arrived at the ER, Rob was standing there, hands in his hair and tears in his eyes and Jenna was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is she?” Liam asked, frantic.

“They took her in for emergency surgery. They...they can't find the baby's heartbeat. They need to deliver. Now.”

Liam probably would have collapsed if Rick hadn't grabbed his waist and kept him from crumbling to the floor. Emily hugged Rob, who was in a state of shock himself.