Nora Vanderbilt's life takes a mysterious turn when a near-death experience grants her extraordinary abilities, catching the attention of the enigmatic Dr. Hunter Aloysius Percy. Invited to join an exclusive research study on NDE survivors, Nora is...
Hap woke suddenly in the middle of the night, the sound of his phone ringing cutting through the quiet of the room. The light of the phone's screen illuminated the dark space, and for a moment, he just stared at it, groggy, disoriented. But then the realization hit him—he was Dr. Percy, the obstetrician, and his work never stopped. With a heavy sigh, he reached over to pick up the phone, squinting at the screen to see the hospital's number flashing.
"Yes," he answered, his voice hoarse from sleep but immediately professional.
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"Dr. Percy, Miss Thompson came in, and she's in active labor. Her water already broken." the nurse asked urgently on the other end of the line.
Hap's mind clicked into gear immediately. He rubbed his face with his free hand as he sat up in bed, glancing over at Nora, who was still asleep beside him, the soft rise and fall of her breathing soothing in the stillness. He could feel the weight of his responsibility settling on his shoulders, the call of duty pulling him away from her, even in the middle of the night.
"How far apart are the contractions?" he repeated into the phone, his voice steady now, despite the tiredness pulling at him. The nurse quickly gave him the details, and Hap nodded to himself as he took it all in.
"Okay, I'll be there in about twenty minutes," he said, his voice calm and authoritative as he swung his legs off the bed, feeling the cool floor beneath his feet. He glanced at Nora one more time, the soft glow from the streetlight outside casting gentle shadows on her face.
He placed his phone on the bedside table and leaned over, brushing a soft kiss onto her head. His lips lingered for just a moment, a small, fleeting connection before he pulled away. The warmth of her skin, the comfort of being near her, made it that much harder to leave, but he knew he had to go. It was his job. It was what he did.
"I'll see you later, baby," he whispered quietly, careful not to wake her, though part of him wished he could stay. The quiet sound of her breathing filled the room, a reminder of the home he was building with her. He stepped into his clothes, his movements automatic but slow, as he reluctantly prepared to leave the warmth of their bed.
Nora stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open as she sensed him getting up. She reached out instinctively, her hand brushing against the sheets where he had just been, feeling the warmth. "Where are you going?" she murmured, her voice thick with sleep but tinged with concern.
He paused at the door, looking back at her. The dim light from the hallway cast a soft glow over her face, and he felt a pang in his chest. "I've got a call from the hospital," he explained, his voice soft. "A baby's coming."
Nora nodded, blinking sleep from her eyes as she sat up a little in bed. "Okay," she said quietly, her voice still a bit foggy. "I'll take them to school. You'll be back later?"
He smiled, the affection in his eyes deepening. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he promised, but the truth was, he hated leaving her—hated that he had to pull away from their time together, even if just for a few hours. But this was the reality of his life.
