Chapter 96
Nona and Laura finish preparing the food and start setting the table for lunch.
Everyone sits down at the table. Nick, who had been in the bedroom, walks into the living room and, as he heads to the veranda, says, "I’m following the smell of this wonderful food that only Mrs. Nona makes."
Nona smiles at the compliment and replies, "I’m glad you like it, Nick. I made it with a lot of care." Laura, already with the dishes ready, starts serving the food while everyone settles at the table, ready to enjoy the meal together. Conversation flows naturally as they enjoy lunch, sharing stories and laughter.
Laura feels a sharp pain in her belly and adjusts her position in the chair. Nick notices and asks if she is okay. Laura, trying to hide the pain, replies that she is, but the sharp pains intensify. Suddenly, she grips the arms of the chair tightly, and her water breaks, spilling a little water and creating a moment of surprise at the table. Everyone becomes concerned and begins to move quickly to help.
“He’s coming!” Fabian shouts excitedly.
“My nephew, how exciting!” Owen jumps with joy.
“Let’s go to the hospital,” Nona says nervously.
The sharp and desperate sound of Laura’s cries echoed through the room, marking each contraction with an intensity that seemed almost unbearable. Her face was contorted in pain, and the panic in her eyes was evident. Nick, with a racing heart and fierce determination, immediately wrapped her in his arms, lifting her with desperate care.
Nick’s strength and urgency were palpable as he tried to comfort Laura amidst the chaos. He held her firmly, attempting to minimize the impact of each painful spasm. His hands were steady on her body, and his gaze was fixed on Laura, trying to convey as much calm as possible amidst the emotional storm.
Meanwhile, Daniel moved quickly, his agile hands grabbing the car keys from the nearby table. Each movement was marked by focused precision, as if every second counted. Without wasting time, he headed for the door, the sound of the keys jingling in his hands.
Fabian, without hesitation, ran to open the door, his determination evident in the speed with which he moved. Each step seemed driven by the urgency of the situation, and he made sure there were no obstacles in the way. With a quick push, the door opened, revealing the outside space and the relief of an imminent exit.
With Laura still in Nick’s arms, the pain and effort were evident, but the path was clear. Daniel was ready with the keys, and Fabian had opened the door to freedom. The team was united in a frantic race against time, and the hope of reaching the car and getting help seemed the only thing giving meaning to the surrounding chaos.
With the palpable urgency in the air, the group quickly moved towards the car. Nick, still holding Laura in his arms, carefully placed her in the back seat, his hands trembling slightly as he tried to make her as comfortable as possible. Laura’s pain was clear in her cries and contorted expression, and Nick did his best to comfort her, holding her hands firmly and with concern.
Meanwhile, Daniel took the wheel with silent determination, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. He turned the ignition key, and the car roared with urgent power, ready for the drive. Fabian, without losing a moment, sat in the front passenger seat next to Daniel, ready to provide any necessary assistance and keep communication clear.
Nick, still in the back seat, held Laura’s hands, offering words of encouragement and trying to convey the calm he knew was so needed. The physical and emotional connection between them was a comfort amidst the desperation, a reminder that, despite the pain and hurry, they were not alone.
The car slid out of the garage, and Daniel accelerated with controlled urgency, navigating the streets with precision. The tense silence inside the car was punctuated by Laura’s groans of pain and Fabian’s quick instructions to ensure they followed the best route to the hospital.
The road stretched ahead, and the hope of arriving in time for help was the safety line everyone held onto. The image of the hospital, with its lights and emergency signs, seemed like a distant vision, but the determination to get there safely guided every movement and every maneuver of the car.
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Owen and Nona were on the sidewalk, waiting for the taxi that would take them to the hospital. Anxiety was evident on their faces, and the urgency in their movements was palpable. When the taxi finally arrived, Owen was about to get in when Nick’s phone rang, echoing the urgency of the moment.
Owen quickly answered the phone, still feeling the rush. "Hello?" he said, trying to stay calm.
On the other end of the line, Nate’s voice sounded worried. "Is Nick there?"
Owen paused briefly before responding. "He’s on his way to the hospital. He left his phone at home."
Nate’s anxiety increased. "You said hospital? Is he okay?"
"Yes," Owen confirmed, "his baby is coming."
Nate breathed a sigh of relief, but his concern didn’t completely disappear. "I see. Please let him know I called. He needs to sign some papers at the company."
"I’ll let him know," Owen replied before hanging up.
He and Nona then got into the taxi, and the car began moving towards the hospital. As the vehicle made its way through the city, Owen tried to process the new information and think about how to inform Nick once they arrived at the hospital.
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Morgan tried to catch what Nate was saying on the phone about Nick, and when the call ended, he asked, “What happened to Nick?”
“Nona’s brother answered and said their baby is being born,” Nate said, feeling awkward.
“There’s no need to be anxious, telling me; I hope the baby is born healthy. It’s not the child’s fault for the parents’ mistakes,” Morgan said, clenching his jaw.
“Since he’s not coming, I’ll go inspect the port, and tomorrow I need to collect that signature. See you later,” Nate said.
“Let me know if anything comes up,” Morgan replied.
Morgan was visibly shaken by the news that Laura was going to the hospital to have the baby. The impact of the information seemed to weigh on him, and the sense of helplessness and frustration was palpable. Feeling the need to escape from the emotional turmoil, he went to a drawer and pulled out a bottle of gin.
With trembling hands, he opened the bottle and poured a generous gulp of the strong liquid into a glass. The smell of the gin seemed to intensify the emptiness he felt, and the alcohol went down burning, bringing brief relief to his distressed state. Morgan then settled near the window, the drink beside him.
As he looked outside, his mind was flooded with haunting memories. Images of past moments, choices, and events that led him to this point began to unfold before him. Each recollection seemed to be a painful reminder of what he had lost or of things he couldn’t change.
The world outside seemed distant, a blur of colors and sounds that barely touched his inner state. The silence in the room was only interrupted by the occasional sip of gin as Morgan tried to find some solace in the memories and the drink, unable to truly escape the pain that enveloped him.