CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 6:00 PM
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Jeanie's POV:
I sat in the chair beside Taylor's hospital bed, staring at her peaceful face as she slept. The exhaustion was clear—her cheeks were pale, her hair was all over the place. She had been through so much, but at least she was resting now. My heart ached as I thought about the baby. Born too soon at just 25 weeks, she was so small, so fragile. The doctors had rushed her to the NICU right after she was delivered. I hadn't even been able to hold her.
I closed my eyes, pressing my palms together in my lap, trying to stay calm. I had to believe she would be okay. The doctors said they were doing everything they could, but the waiting was unbearable. Every tick of the clock on the wall felt like a lifetime.
The sound of Taylor's steady breathing gave me a small sense of comfort. She had fought so hard through the labor, and now she was finally getting the rest she needed. But the worry gnawed at me. What if something happened to the baby? What if she didn't make it?
I shook my head, forcing the thought away. "No," I whispered. "She's going to be okay."
I glanced at my phone, hesitating before picking it up. I knew I need to make a call. Bronny needed to know what had happened. He had to be here—for Taylor, for the baby. But I couldn't call him directly. He was in San Antonio with his dad and the rest of the Lakers team, and I knew LeBron would know how to handle this.
Taking a deep breath, I dialed LeBron's number. It rang twice before he picked up.
"Jeanie?" His voice sounded a bit surprised. "Is everything okay?"
I swallowed hard, my voice trembling as I spoke. "LeBron, it's Taylor. She... she gave birth early."
There was a silence on the other end for a moment. "What?" he finally said, his tone sharp with concern.
"She went into labor this morning. The doctors couldn't stop it. The baby's here—a little girl," I said, my voice cracking. "She's in the NICU. She's so small, LeBron. They're doing tests and monitoring her."
"Jeanie, I..." LeBron paused, and I could hear him exhale deeply. "How's Taylor?"
"She's resting now. She was in so much pain, but she's okay for now," I said, glancing at Taylor as she shifted slightly in her sleep. "But, LeBron, Bronny needs to know. He needs to be here. Taylor's been through so much, and she needs him."
"Of course," he said quickly. "I'll let him know right away. We'll figure out a way to get him back to LA as soon as possible."
