A Love To Last A Lifetime

Chapter One

"Steve!" Michelle yells as we both walk, hand in hand down the corridor of the hospital.

"Steve, what's going on?" I ask him as we both watch, petrified of the answer.

"Carla, Michelle you both might need to sit down for this." He says, looking between us both as we sit down.

"Is Liam okay?" Michelle asks him anxiously.

"He's having an operation at the moment, I'm not sure of the details. It's something to do with his heart, I think. They're doing everything they can." He tells us.

"But, he's going to be okay, right?" I ask him, as tears run down my cheeks.

"They can't make any promises. I know it's not what you want to hear but we just need to wait."

Before we even get time to think it through, we're both distracted by the door to the waiting room swinging open as Maria rushes in.

"Please tell me he's okay?" She says, desperately as Michelle gets up and takes her over to a seat and starts to explain and comfort her as I just sit, staring aimlessly forwards.

"Hey, come here." I look up to see Tony having entered the room with Tom as he places his arms around me, allowing me to lean in towards him.

It's the most comforted I've felt since Michelle told me Liam has been in an accident but it wasn't enough.

I don't feel safe. Not completely. Only Liam can make me feel safe.

"Look everyone it's late and it'll probably be a while here." Maria says, sniffling while she does as she tries to hold herself together. "I'm staying here and I can call you if there's any news but you should all just go home"

"Maria, don't be stupid. I'm not leaving you alone. And besides, if anyone's going to go home, it should be you in your condition." Michelle tells her as everyone looks up, stunned and confused by what they just heard.

"What do you mean, her condition?" Tom asks, curiously.

"I'm pregnant." Maria announces as Tom walks over to congratulate her. The thought of her baby seems to have brought comfort to all of them but I can't bring myself to get up and smile and congratulate a woman on being pregnant with the man I loves baby.

Looking to my right, I see Tony's completely stunned face as he looks slightly panicked.

"Are you okay?" I ask him quietly, hoping no one else in the room would hear.

"What? Yeah, it's just a shock. That's all." He says as I nod but I can't shake the feeling he's hiding something from me.

"Liam Connor's family?" We all stand up as a female doctor in around her 30's walks over and I can't stop the feeling of dread overcoming me.

I can see it's overcome all of us and we're all just standing, waiting for the news even though none of us are sure whether we are going to want to here what she has to say.

"That's us, is he... is he going to be okay?" Tom eventually asks as the five of us stand, awaiting the answer.

Dreading the answer.

Knowing the next few words that come out of her mouth are going to change our lives, forever.