Spring [Completed]

FORTY-NINE

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HIM

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"When you truly care for someone, their mistakes never change your feelings."

—Unknown

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My shoes squeak on the shiny linoleum floors as I walk briskly to Imani's hospital room. Time feels impossibly slow as I revel in the importance of this moment. Our baby is alive. Now, the only thing I can think about is her. How much I need her to be okay, how desperately I need to hold her in my arms.

The faint smile dancing across my features fades the moment we turn the corner and I see him. I slow my pace at the same moment Cara's hand tightens around mine.

I glance down at her expression of apprehension and give her a reassuring smile. Swallowing my disdain, I give her arm a tug and lead her toward the door that Josh sits in front of.

It's almost comical, how terrible he looks. Head hung low, hands knitted together. His expensive loafers crease with every restless bounce of his knee. His usually polished suit is stained and rumpled, tie and jacket draped neatly over the spare chair beside him. His sandy red hair is wildly unkempt as he runs a hand through it and glances up at Cara and I approaching.

I narrow my eyes out of instinct, but hesitate when his light eyes meet mine. Cara and I stand before him and he glances up at the two of us, opening his mouth to speak. I wait with baited breath for a snide remark, but it never comes. He simply sighs, gathering his things from the spare seat, an unspoken gesture of good faith.

My hand is cold once Cara lets it go. Replaced is a clamminess that sets me on edge, so I wipe my hands along the front of my sweatpants.

I'm surprised when Cara gives Josh a hug. It's brief, followed by a light peck on the cheek, and I can tell it leaves Josh feeling the same by his wide-eyed expression.

Cara glances between the both of us. "Dads, I'm going to check on Mom. Please, don't kill each other." She leans against the hospital door and places her hand on the knob. I give her a slight nod and she smiles a half smile, before taking a deep breath and creaking open the heavy door.

I don't take my eyes off of it until it clicks closed, the sound echoing in the awkward silence filling the spacious corridor. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I lick my lips and have a seat next to Josh.

"Any news?" Josh's tone is softer than I expected.

I blink away my surprise as I glance over at him. "The baby's okay." It feels good to say the words aloud.

Josh lets out a small breath as he scrunches his face and covers his mouth. "Thank God," he mumbles, closing his eyes as he leans his head against the wall. A tear slips from his eye and I glance away.

I glance down the empty hall as unshed tears fill my own eyes and my chest tightens as the weight of the situation finally hits me. I sniff twice and pinch the bridge of my nose.

Neither of us say a word for a long time. We share this moment of silence and healing, for once not at each other's throats, and for a moment I feel like Josh may not be that bad after all.

Just for a moment.

But Josh's inability to keep his mouth shut inevitably ruins that moment.

"When will we get the paternity results?"