“Hey, Heath. Glad to see you here. I know I asked if you could help with the chaperoning tonight. Well, Rosie called me, and she may be in labor. I’ve got to head home. Can you do me a favor and hang out here tonight and keep an eye on the guys? Seriously, there are enough people here, so it’s not a big deal. But if anyone asks, let them know where I went. Prayers are appreciated.”
The poor guy checked his phone twice while he was explaining the situation. “You got it, man.” Heath reached out and shook Carl’s hand. “I’ll be praying. Congratulations.”
“Thanks!” Carl grinned before jogging to the parking lot.
Well, that was likely why he hadn’t heard from Raven. He was about to head inside with the assumption that Raven had gone to the hospital as well when he saw her crossing the street. The airy purple dress she wore flowed past her knees, the fabric wrapping around her perfectly. She spotted him and waved.
“Hey, I was wondering if you were going to make it.” He took her hand in his and placed a kiss to her cheek. “I just saw Carl. He’s headed to the hospital.”
Raven nodded. “I would go, but with Mom and Dad hovering and Carl on his way, Rosie told me to stick to my plans for tonight. I know with Mandy, it took nearly a full twenty-four hours of labor before Barry finally made his appearance.”
Heath flinched at the thought of watching someone he loved go through pain for hours on end. Without warning, he pictured Raven holding their child in her arms as she brushed wisps of black hair out of the baby’s face. Whoa, where had that come from? Even before, when they were engaged, he’d never pictured them having kids. Sure, it was something for the distant future. At the time, they talked about going to classes together and getting a couple years of college under their belt before getting married. This was different.
With Raven’s hand tucked in his arm, he escorted her inside and observed the ’80’s décor. In fact, it was like stepping right into a school scene straight from Back to the Future. He chuckled. Fitting seeing as how he was here with the girl he’d gone to his own homecoming with. Talk about déjà vu.
There were several teachers and faculty members wandering around. Carl was right, they were set for chaperones. Good. He could focus more of his attention on the beautiful woman at his side who smelled as amazing as she looked.
They made their way around the edge of the room to the refreshment table. “Would you like some punch?”
Raven nodded, and he handed her a cup. He got one for himself and took a drink. He couldn’t identify the unique combination of ingredients. “I think there may be pineapple in there. Maybe some Sprite.” He took another sip, deciding that it wasn’t bad, but he wouldn’t get a second cup.
They watched the crowds of people laughing, talking, and dancing out on the floor. Several teens clowned around with dance moves no one had seen in years. Heath chuckled and glanced at Raven. She hadn’t touched her drink.
“Not a fan of the punch?” She shook her head. Heath collected her cup and deposited it, along with his own, in the trash. When he returned, he put an arm around her and leaned close. “Would you like to dance?”
“Sure.” She took his offered hand and held tight as they weaved through people to the middle of the dance floor.
The music changed to something slower, and Heath welcomed the excuse to hold her close. “I’m glad you came. If you need to go early to check on Rosie, I’ll understand.”
She only shook her head and put both arms around the back of his neck, resting her cheek against his shoulder. They danced like that for the duration of the song. When it ended, he reluctantly stepped back so he could see her face. The tears of sadness in her eyes weren’t what he expected. “Raven? What’s wrong?”
She nibbled on her bottom lip as though she were trying to decide whether to speak. The music started again, and they moved with it, but Heath sensed something was wrong, and it had nothing to do with Rosie. “Talk to me, Raven.”
Just when he thought she wasn’t going to respond, she raised her chin, those watery brown eyes locking on his. “Why didn’t you say you were going back to Cleveland on Monday?” There was no missing the hurt in her voice. “Were you even going to tell me?”
How’d she find out? The only local people he’d told were his parents… Suddenly, Heath knew exactly what happened. He resisted the urge to clench his fist. “I found out late yesterday afternoon. I wanted us to have today—to enjoy it together—before everything else came crashing in.”
Raven had her arm around his, her hand on his shoulder. She let her forehead rest against his chest for a moment before she straightened. “So what your father said was true. You’re leaving.”
“I have to, Raven. Coach wants me there Monday, so I don’t have a choice. Sweetheart, it’s complicated.” He used a finger to sweep hair away from her face and deposited it behind her ear. Oh, he hated that look of defeat in her eyes. This wasn’t the place to talk; he could hardly hear himself think in here. “Come on.” He held her hand and led her through the crowd and back outside. The cool breeze hit them as they exited the building, and it whipped the fabric of her skirt about her legs. How could he make Raven understand how much she meant to him? How hard it would be to leave her again?
“I should’ve known better.” Raven shook her head as she massaged her forehead with one hand. She withdrew her other from his.
“What are you talking about?”
“This. Us. Here we are again, the burning plane crash that is Heath and Raven, take two.”
“No.” Heath put his hands on her shoulders. “This is different. We’re different. We’re going to figure out a way to make this work.”
“How?” The word was barely above a whisper. “You’re going to Cleveland indefinitely, and I’m here. I don’t see any middle ground.” She swallowed hard and sniffed. The tears in her eyes remained, as though she were keeping herself from crying by sheer will alone.
Heath’s heart twisted painfully in his chest. He wanted to promise her the world. Promise her that he’d be back soon. But the truth was, he didn’t know what the future held right now.
Raven’s phone rang, and she took it out of the small bag she held and swiped to answer it. “Hey, Mom. Is everything—oh, no! Yes, I’ll get there as soon as I can.” She hung up and tossed the phone back in her bag. “Rosie’s at the hospital. Her water broke and the baby’s in distress. They’re taking her in for an emergency C-section.” She raked the fingers of both hands through her hair before she stilled and looked at Heath. “I need to go.”
“I’ll let someone know and come with you.”
“No.” The finality in her voice meant more than the word itself. “You belong here, Heath. You should stay.” She turned and raced across the street, back to the parking lot.
Heath wanted to jog after her and insist on going along. Except he knew better. She needed space, and if he crowded her now, it wouldn’t help his case. So he watched her walk away, feeling more helpless than he had in a long, long time.
~*~
“Honey, sit down. Your pacing is stressing me out.”
Raven hardly registered Mom’s words as she walked back to the window in the waiting room. It was dark outside, and all she could see were a few streetlights and the white and red lights of cars as they picked their way through the parking lot. Clouds had rolled in again, blocking her view of the stars or moon.
She turned and collapsed in the chair next to Mom with a glance at the clock on the wall. It’d been nearly an hour since she’d arrived at the hospital. Weren’t emergency C-sections supposed to be fast? What if this was a bad sign? A ball of nerves shifted in the pit of her stomach. Please, God. Guide the hands of the doctors. Protect Rosie and the baby.
Dad reached over and patted Raven’s knee. “You sure look pretty tonight. Sorry you didn’t get to stay for the dance.”
“It’s okay, Dad. This is more important.” She replayed the conversation with Heath in her mind for a tenth time, looking for any sign he might have w
anted to stay in Clearwater. But as always, she kept coming up empty. It didn’t matter how they felt about each other. He was leaving. The kicker? She’d known he would all along. That’s what made this whole thing so ridiculous. This time, she had no one to blame but herself.
“Is everything okay?” Mom’s question came at the same time Carl entered the waiting room. Everyone jumped to their feet expectantly.
Carl wore a pair of blue scrubs that included slippers over his shoes. “Tilly’s fine. The cord had a knot in it and was wrapped around her neck twice. Once they delivered her and cut the cord, her vitals stabilized.”
“Oh, praise God.” Mom put a hand to her chest. “Is Rosie okay?”
“They’re closing her up now. The surgery was more complicated than they expected, so there wasn’t time to give her a spinal and they went with general anesthesia. She’ll hate that she missed Tilly’s birth.”
Raven shook her head. “She may wish she’d been able to witness it, but she’ll be so relieved to know Tilly’s okay, that’s all that’ll matter. Wow, I’m so glad you guys got to the hospital as fast as you did.”
“Me, too. I can’t even…” Carl shivered. “I need to get back. Rosie made me promise to stay with Tilly as much as possible, but I knew you were all waiting and worried. I’ll try to keep you updated, but they said it may be another hour or two before Rosie’s in recovery.”
Dad shook Carl’s hand. “Congratulations, son. Go take care of my grandbaby and don’t worry about us.”
Carl grinned for the first time, as though the fact he was finally a father broke through the rush and worry of the night. “Thanks! I’ll be back when I can.” He waved and disappeared through the double doors on the other side of the room.
Mom looked at Dad, a hand over her mouth. “We have a granddaughter, Roy. Can you believe it?”
Raven smiled as the two of them embraced, joy on their faces. She couldn’t wait to meet her new niece and see for herself that Rosie was okay. Carl was right. Rosie liked to be in control and had a whole birth plan typed up for Tilly’s arrival. This emergency C-section wasn’t even on the contingency list. Raven could imagine the ranting Rosie would do—but only after she oohed and aahed over her new baby girl.
Her phone pinged with a message from Heath. She swiped at the screen.
“I’m praying for Rosie and the baby. Let me know how they’re doing, okay?”
That he was worried about her sister and niece pulled at Raven’s heartstrings. She typed out a response.
“We heard from Carl. Tilly’s okay, though it was close. Rosie’s in surgery. She should be fine, but it will be a while before we know more.”
She silenced the phone and tossed it into her bag, hoping to hide it, along with her storm of feelings about Heath, for the time being.
Chapter Eighteen
As soon as the homecoming dance was over and guests began to clear out, Heath excused himself and headed for his truck. It’d been two hours since he’d received the text from Raven letting him know the baby was okay. He’d texted back but wasn’t surprised that his phone’s notifications remained empty. Whether it was poor hospital reception, that Raven was finally getting to see her sister and new niece, or that she was avoiding him, there were many reasons for her to not keep in touch.
He considered going home and waiting until tomorrow to talk to her. But as he pulled out of the school parking lot, he had another idea. Thirty minutes later, his arms full of a drink carrier and a fifth coffee in his free hand, Heath rode the elevator to the third floor of the hospital. Directions from the front desk led him to the maternity ward waiting room where he spotted Raven and her parents.
Raven was sitting in a chair, still wearing the dress she’d had on at the dance, her head resting in the crook of her arm against the back. She sat up straight when she saw him, fatigue evident in her face. Her parents noticed him then, and Mr. Weber stood and met him halfway across the room.
“Heath. It’s real nice of you to come.”
Heath held up the carrier. “I thought you could all use a little coffee.” He lifted the extra one in his hand. “I brought one for Carl, just in case.” He handed one cup to Mr. Weber and another to Mrs. Weber. “Any news about Rosie or the baby?”
Heath turned to Raven and gave her a smile along with a cup of coffee. She nodded her thanks.
“Carl hasn’t been back out yet,” Mrs. Weber responded. “I’ll feel better when I hear Rosie is in recovery and doing okay.”
Mr. Weber put an arm around his wife. “She’s fine. We’ll be seeing her before we know it.” He took another drink of his coffee.
Mrs. Weber looked thoughtful as she nodded. “I feel so bad she had to have a C-section. I remember what it was like recovering from mine.”
Raven stood. “As long as Rosie and the baby are healthy, that’s the most important thing. She’ll have us all here to help until she’s back on her feet.” She smoothed the skirt of her dress before picking up her coffee and cupping it with both hands. Her dark hair swished around her shoulders, a little disheveled since he saw her at the dance, but just as beautiful. She seemed to look everywhere but at him.
What he wanted to do was pull her away from her parents and talk about earlier. This wasn’t the time or the place. However, given the fact he was leaving by lunch tomorrow, he couldn’t shake a sense of urgency. She was right. He should’ve called her Friday evening and told her about it then. He needed Raven to understand that he didn’t want to leave the same way he did last time. Yet, how was he supposed to explain how he felt when he wasn’t sure himself?
He stayed for a while and listened as Mrs. Weber told the story of Rosie and Raven’s birth. According to her, Rosie came out practically smiling while Raven arrived screaming at the top of her lungs.
Raven rolled her eyes and objected. Heath could totally see it, though, not that he’d tell her that. She’d always been the more outgoing and vocal of the twins.
Mrs. Weber was listing which of them had been walking, talking, and running first when Carl came back out.
He had a smile on his face and gratefully took the cup of cooled coffee from Heath with a handshake. “Rosie is in recovery, and Tilly’s doing great. Six pounds, four ounces and eighteen inches long,” he announced. “I want Rosie to spend a little time with Tilly first, but as soon as she gives the word, I’ll come get you all so you can meet her.”
There was no missing the pride in his voice as he spoke of his family.
Heath wondered if his own father had ever spoken with such pride about him. Surely he had. Heath had faded memories of going fishing with his father or hiking outdoors. But it’d been a long time ago. Long enough that Heath sometimes wondered if he’d fabricated the events in his mind after years of wishing they’d do something together growing up. He pushed the thoughts away and turned his attention to Raven. She had a relieved smile on her face and looked more relaxed than she had since he first arrived. He didn’t know Rosie or Carl all that well and certainly didn’t want to intrude on the family’s first chance to see the new baby.
“I think I’ll head out. If I can, I’ll stop by tomorrow to pay my respects to Rosie and the baby.” He shook Carl’s hand again. “Congratulations.”
Everyone else thanked him for bringing in the coffees, including Raven. He hoped she’d walk out with him so they’d have a moment to talk. Instead, she gave him a wave, her eyes brimming with emotion.
He knew exactly how she felt.
~*~
Little Tilly was less than a day old, and Raven still couldn’t get over how tiny the baby’s perfect fingers and toes were. Oh, and the way those lips kept pursing together while she suckled the air as she slept. Seriously, Raven could go on holding her niece forever.
Rosie was propped up in her hospital bed as she munched on crackers and ate a little soup. Carl, on the other hand, had no problem putting his burger and fries away. He swallowed. “Thanks again for bringing lunch by, Raven. So much better than the h
ospital food.”
“You’re welcome. Sorry it was so late.” Raven ran a finger over Tilly’s tiny hand. “I’d bring dinner by, too, if it meant a chance to hold this little girl more. But Mom has that one covered.” She flashed Rosie a smile. Raven and Mom had planned out meals for the next few days so they could help the new family of three as much as possible. Right now, Mom and Dad were home resting after the late night. “She said to let you know they’ll be by with food around six-thirty.”
“You are all awesome.” Rosie took another sip of her soup and sighed. “I’ll be glad to get home again. It’s impossible to rest here. Though I’m glad to have the extra help with breastfeeding.” Her gaze softened as she looked at her sleeping daughter. “I still can’t believe she’s here, and she’s all ours.”
Raven studied her new niece. Tiny wisps of light blonde hair peeked out from under her hat. She’d opened her eyes earlier, and they were a dark blue, but who knew what color they would be later. It would be fun watching this little one grow and change.
“Oh!” Rosie leaned toward the small table to her left and groaned. “Carl, can you give that envelope to Raven, please?”
“Yep.” He gave his wife a firm look. Apparently they’d talked earlier about Rosie taking it easy.
Raven took the long envelope, her name across the front in Heath’s handwriting. Her breath caught as she stared at it, wondering what he’d written inside. He’d texted her this morning asking her to call him back. She’d gotten up late, rushed to church, then grabbed lunch and headed for the hospital. Sure, she could’ve called him while driving. Instead, she’d used the busy morning as an excuse to put their conversation off. Knowing he’d been by here and she’d missed him hit her with way more disappointment than she expected. “When did he come by?”
“It was around nine this morning.” Rosie studied Raven as if hoping for a clue to what was going on. “He’s driving down to San Antonio and then catching a flight from there.”
Marrying Raven (Brides of Clearwater Book 2) Page 14