Too Far

Chapter Seven

Two hours later

Eddie woke up with a stiff neck. He groaned, taking in his surroundings. The bright lights of the hospital room temporarily blinded him. The strong smell of disinfectant wafted up his nose, making him cough a little.

The events of the day suddenly returned to his memory. He looked down, immediately searching for Rachel. His eyes found her immediately. She was still tucked into his side, sleeping soundly. Her face was relaxed into a soft, comfortable smile. She hadn't a trouble in the world.

If only that were true.

He felt his phone ring in his pocket. He pulled it out, answering the call without checking the caller ID first.

"Hello?" He whispered into the phone so not to wake Rachel

"Eddie? It's Kim. Look, I know you're angry with me, you have every right. But I just wanted to know how Rachel was doing?"

Eddie rolled his eyes

"She's fine Kim, no thanks to you and Max" he snapped

"Has she had the baby?" Kim asked, brushing passed the snide comment

"Yes, a girl" Eddie confirmed vaguely

"Oh Eddie, that's great!" Kim exclaimed

Eddie didn't respond.

"She's ok, isn't she?" Kim added

"I don't know. Thanks to your lunatic boyfriend, she was born a month early and was rushed to the NICU before Rachel could hold her or look at her!" He snapped angrily

"Eddie, look, I'm sorry for what Max did, I really am! You're right, I should have been there to stop him, but I wasn't"

"It's not you I want an apology from, Kim" he huffed

"I know. You want one from Max. And I'll make sure you get one" she reassured

Eddie rolled his eyes. He didn't want an apology from Max Tyler. It wouldn't fix or change anything. What he wanted was for him to have never crossed paths with Rachel.

"Can I come and see her?" Kim asked, pulling Eddie from his thoughts

Eddie scoffed

"Eddie, please? I want to make it up to Rachel" Kim pleaded

Eddie sighed

"Fine, but if Rachel doesn't want you here, I'll send you away. Do you understand?" Eddie bargained

"Of course. I'll be there in a few hours" Kim confirmed

Eddie ended the call, putting his phone back in his pocket.

There was a soft knock on the door. Eddie watched as the door opened. His breath caught in his throat when he laid eyes on the midwife. She was pushing an incubator in front of her. Inside was a tiny bundle of blankets. His eyes welled up with tears.

"This little one has been let out of the NICU and wanted to see her Mummy and Daddy" she smiled, wheeling her over to him

Eddie peered through the glass. There she was, his little girl. She was tiny, but so, so perfect. He watched as she twitched, flailing her tiny arms.

"Is she ok?" Eddie asked, not taking his eyes off his daughter

"She's absolutely fine. She's a tough little thing" the midwife nodded

"Just like her Mum", Eddie thought

He looked over at Rachel, who was still fast asleep. She was missing this first moment, but he didn't want to wake her. She'd been through a massive ordeal and needed the rest.