The Eighteen Year Fallout

Chapter 15

As Carson hurried down the long hospital corridor towards Alexa's room, a million thoughts niggled in his brain. He was feeling extremely confused about everything that had happened yesterday and combined with the nerves of what was about to happen, he was a mess. If that wasn't enough, he'd slept in too and it was almost ten thirty.

As he reached Alexa's room - a room he was highly familiar with now - he could hear multiples voices coming from inside. The door of the room was ajar and as he came to a stop outside it, he saw three middle-aged doctors crowded around Alexa's bed along with Lissa and Taylor.

Taylor.

She must have sensed his presence somehow as she turned around to glance at him. Her auburn hair was loose today, flowing over her broad shoulders and she was wearing makeup for the first time in a while. She smiled awkwardly at him as he stepped into the room towards them. She turned away to face Alexa again and he saw her place her slender hand on Lissa's arm, nodding her head in his direction. Lissa turned to face him, a smile on her perfectly made-up face.

"Hi darling" she greeted, pulling him into a hug. Carson responded wrapping his arms around her abdomen. Her sweet-smelling perfume lingered and it reminded him of Alexa.

It surprised him just how friendly and loving Lissa was towards him now. After all, he was the guy that knocked up her daughter and then abandoned her when he found out. He didn't deserve her kind treatment at all.

"How's Lex?" he asked pulling away slowly and directing his gaze to Alexa who was still lying in the bed as she had been for the last few weeks.

"They're optimistic." she replied slowly, "they hope she should wake within the next hour or two, if all goes well."

Carson nodded to indicate he'd heard what she'd said but he made no attempt to speak. His thoughts were on the aftermath of Alexa’s awakening. Lissa squeezed his hand and he returned the gesture gratefully.

The three doctors surrounding Alexa's bed were talking in hushed voices as they checked her vitals. After a few moments they turned around to face them and from the looks on their faces everything was going as planned. None of them spoke though; instead they just smiled politely before hastily leaving the room.

It wasn't until Carson glanced around the brightly lit room that he noticed something was missing. Something important that he should have noticed straight away.

"Where's the baby?" he demanded and he felt my stomach churn as he spun around to look at Taylor and Lissa.

It felt strange and unnatural referring to her as “the baby” but he didn't want to name her without Alexa so for now that was her makeshift name.

"She's in the premature baby nursery, don't worry" Lissa cooed, her hand on his shoulder attempting to calm him down, "they didn't want to overwhelm Alexa when she woke. The baby is still very unwell."

He nodded. He guessed that made sense, even though it felt unusual not having her close by.

"Can I see her?" he asked and silently cursed himself for asking. She was his baby, his flesh and blood. Of course he could see her; he was her daddy.

Lissa nodded and Carson started out of the room quickly, eager to see his little girl. He came to a halt outside the door as he realised something. He popped his head around the door again, a sheepish look on his face.

"Um..I don't know where it is" he chuckled awkwardly, blood rising to his face.

Lissa laughed before replying, "Taylor will show you the way. Won't you?"

Taylor bit her lip awkwardly at Lissa's request but nodded half-heartedly following him back out the door.

They walked down the corridor alongside each other but neither of them made any attempt to speak. The silence was awkward but every time Carson opened his mouth to speak, he'd retreat. He wasn't the best in awkward situations and neither was she it appeared. A couple of minutes had passed when he decided to man up and speak but before he could say a word he was interrupted by her melodic voice.