Follow You (Second Chances Series Book 3)

Tough decisions...

Once we're settled into our room at the hospital the doctor checks on Abigail's progress. She's not crying at the moment and seems to be a little more alert but she's still not talking.

"Abigail, you're five centimeters dilated. We need to administer your epidural before you progress any farther. We still have a few hours at least until you'll be ready to start pushing." The doctor turns to look at me because Abby still won't make eye contact. "Have you two discussed what you would like to happen after the baby is delivered? Do you want time alone with the baby? Do you want a priest to come in? Have you given any thought to whether or not you want to have a service for your child and what funeral home you want to use?"

I fight back tears and shake my head no.

"We'll discuss it and let you know."

"Okay. I can have a social worker come in go over all your options with you if you would like."

I look at Abigail but she's once again silently crying and not looking at either of us.

"Yes, please."

"Okay. Someone will be in to give you your epidural very soon, Abigail."

No response.

"Thank you, doctor."

He turns to leave the room but before he makes it to the door Abby asks.

"Is the baby a boy or a girl?"

I look at her in suprise. She turns her head and looks at me.

"I want to know."

I crouch down and brush the hair from her face. And shake me head.

"Okay." I don't take my eyes off of her. "Doctor?"

"It's a girl."

I feel a new sense of sadness at the fact that I won't get to see me baby girl grow into a beautiful, kind, talented woman like her mother. I won't get to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day and watch her have babies of her own.

I see the pain on Abby's face too and I have to close my eyes as the tears start to fall from them.

She reaches up and places her hand on my cheek.

"Our little Olive. I think she would of been a daddy's girl."

I break then and just lay my head on Abigal's chest as I let it all out. She runs her fingers through my hair and murmurs quiet words to try and sooth me.

A short while later they come in to give her the epidural. I pull myself together enough to be strong for her while they do it.

The social worker comes in and we have to make some very tough decisions, but thankfully Abby is present enough to help me. We decide that we want time with our daughter afterwards to hold her, bathe her and takes pictures. We aslo would like a priest to bless her. We want to have a small service just for close family and friends and we'd like to have her buried.

The hospital has a priest that they will contact and we will deal with the funeral home. After the social worker leaves Abby turns to me.

"We didn't bring any clothes for her. And I would like my camera."

I take her hand in mine.

"I'll call Noah and have him go to the house to get whatever you want. Or I can just ask Leo, I'm sure he's around here somewhere."

She squeezes my fingers.

"Call Noah. It will be good for you if he's here. He's your family just like Leo's mine."

I give her a small smile because only she would be worried about me right now when's she's about to do the hardest thing she'll ever have to do in her life.

"Okay. Make a list of what exactly you want. While you're doing that I'll go find Leo and he can sit with you while I call Noah."

I pull out my phone and open my notes section for her to type it all out.

I lean down and kiss her softly.

"I'll be right back."

I go out and find Leo pacing around the waiting room.

"Hey, Andrew." He pulls me in for a hug. "How is she?"

"She's better than she was but still not good. You know?"

"Yeah, I do know. Is there anything I do for you guys?"

"She's making a list of things she wants from the house. I'm going to call Noah and have him get the stuff. While I call him will you sit with her? I don't want her alone. And if I'm being honest I may lose my shit when I talk to Noah and I don't want her to see that."

"You got it, man. Whatever you need."

"Thanks. I'm going to grab her some ice chips and then I'll be back in to get the list from her. She's in room 914."

Once I've given Abby her ice chips and get the list from her I go outside for some fresh air and privacy while I call Noah. Nobody but Leo knows what's going on yet. He said he told Emma that we just needed some help with something when he left. He said he wasn't sure who all we wanted to tell just yet.

We told him that after I talk to Noah he can call her and tell her everything. Noah's like my brother and I want him to hear it from me personally.

Noah answers on the third ring.

"Hey Andrew, what's up?"

"Noah-" I don't get any farther than that before I break down.

"Andrew, what's going on? Are you okay?"

I take a deep breath.

"The baby, our daughter, she didn't make it."

"Fuck. Jesus christ, man. I'm so sorry. What happened? Is Abigail okay?"

"She's not hurt, the baby just stopped moving and she got scared so we went to the hospital yesterday. They said the baby was gone. They gave her some medicine to induce labor. We're at the hospital now. They said it will be a few hours."

"Andrew, what can I do?"

"I have a list of things that Abigail wants from the house for the baby. If I send it to you can you go get the stuff and bring it here?"

"Of course. I'll leave as soon as we hang up. Anything else?"

I sob again at what I'm about to say.

"We need to contact a funeral home to make arrangements. I can't even begin to think clearly right now to look into that."

"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it."

"One more thing. Can you let everyone else know. Leo's here because Abigail was really bad and I thought he could maybe get through to her so I called him. But nobody else knows. Leo will call Emma but can you call Hunter and Oliver. And your parents."

"Of course." He pauses for a minute. "What about your dad and Maggie?"

"I really don't think I can talk to anyone else right now."

"No problem. Just send me their numbers along with the list and I'll take care of it."

"Thank you, Noah."

"Anything for you. You know that. I'll be there as quickly as I can."

"Okay."

"Andrew?"

"Yeah?"

"Your daughter?"

"Yeah-" I choke the words out around the lump in my throat. "Our daughter, Olive."

Noah clears his throat but I can still hear the emotion in his voice.

"Olive. She would of been one lucky little girl to have you for her dad. I love you."

The tears come faster now.

"I love you, too."