The Bad Boy And His Baby

Chapter 39

I have no idea how much time has passed and I've resorted to watching the aerobics program that's playing softly on the small TV screen in the waiting room. Tobias finally appears and he looks quite exhausted. That makes me a bit concerned about Bronwyn.

"How is she?" Sasha asks, perking up at the sight of him. He doesn't say anything for a few seconds but his eyes land on me. "She wants to see you." I get up immediately and pick up the takeaway bag as well before Sasha's hand shoots out to grab my arm, preventing me from moving forward. "What about me? Does she want to see me?" Tobias shakes his head. "Just Quinn." Sasha reluctantly lets go of my arm and I follow Tobias into the elevator. "Is she okay?"

"Mm, she's okay. The birth went well but... there are some complications." My heart races and I can see why he looks so exhausted. "With that baby?"

"Yeah."

The elevator comes to a stop and the Maternity Ward sign is the first thing I see when we step out. We walk down  a corridor and he opens opens a door. Bronwyn is sitting on the hospital bed in a hospital gown looking equally exhausted. Her face looks a bit dull and clear of makeup but she still looks stunning.

Her braids are loose and all over the pillow, but her eyes and half open and red. She was definitely crying, I can tell. "Bronwyn, hey." I make my way toward her, putting the takeaway bag down on a table beside the bed. She looks at me with a small smile on her face. "Hey."

I immediately wrap her in a tight hug, my head resting on hers as I rub her back. "I'm so proud of you, Bronwyn. You managed to give birth to a tiny human." I feel extremely joyous and ecstatic at the fact that my best friend who I've known for years who just so happens to be my half sister too, has just had a baby. It feels surreal because I never thought she'd be the one to have a baby.

But my thoughts are soon interrupted by a quiet sob and my stomach drops. Bronwyn doesn't cry. Well, I've never seen her cry before and Tobias walks out the room to probably gives us privacy.

"Bronwyn?" I keep her head against my chest and let her cry it out. I'm not going to push her for any details just yet but I think it must be because the baby is premature. I definitely don't want to think the absolute worst but the thought is there.

"She's not dead."

Bronwyn answers my thought and we pull away. I dig into my handbag for a tissue which she uses to wipe her eyes and nose. She makes room on the bed and I sit next to her. "It's okay to feel sad." I tell her softly. Bronwyn has always been the strongest and fiercest out of the two of us and seeing her cry is something I'm not used to.

"She has foetal alcohol syndrome and it's my fault." Before I can say something, she cuts me off.

"When I found out I was pregnant, I wasn't exactly devastated but with the way we were living, I knew I wouldn't be able to provide for her. Tobias argued with the gynaecologist for an abortion but I was just too far along. Because we didn't want the baby and sometimes I just... forgot she was there, I still went to parties and drank. You remember that first party we went to at Ji's house? How drunk I was?"

I nod slowly as the memory resurfaces. She definitely had a drink in her hand multiple times. "Tobias was fine with it too because we didn't really want a baby, you know? And then we saw Lumi and everything fucking changed." Her eyes well with tears once more and I reach over to hold her hand and she lightly squeezes mine in return.

"I started thinking of names, planning a nursery, discussing things with Tobias and searching up tips. I'd forgotten that my drinking could impact her." She uses the tissue to wipe at her eyes once more. "Did the gynaecologist not pick it up in the scans?" She shakes her head.