Shift

Necromancy and the Harder Choice

I woke up the next morning with a lingering dream of Chris on my mind. 

I sighed, rolling over to look at the alarm clock. 

It was ten. 

I grabbed my phone and texted Erik, feeling guilty about the dream. I couldn't remember what it was about, only that it focused on Chris. 

I threw my hair up in a bun and changed into a Death Cab For Cutie shirt and shorts before heading downstairs for coffee. 

"How was it?" Amanda demanded. 

She was sitting at the table, baby book in front of her and a mug of herbal tea in hand. 

"It was so great, Amanda. We went to Joe's and saw a movie and got ice cream and walked in the park for two hours." 

She grinned. "Did he kiss you?" 

I nodded, sipping the coffee. 

"I'm so excited!" she exclaimed. 

I laughed. "I am, too." 

She patted my hand and suddenly sat straight up with a gasp. 

"What's wrong?" I demanded. 

She looked down, and I saw the puddle of water on the floor. 

My first thought was that she'd actually just peed herself. Then the rational part of my brain screamed at me that she was going into labor. 

"Oh, my God!" I exclaimed. "Oh, my-" 

"Stacey, please go upstairs and grab my overnight bag," she instructed calmly. 

"Okay, yeah, I'll go do that." 

I ran upstairs and opened the closet, spotting the bag she'd packed a few weeks ago for when this moment happened. I grabbed it and ran back to her side. She was breathing heavily, a hand to her stomach. 

"Good girl. Now, will you please get the keys and drive me to the hospital?" 

I nodded, putting an arm around her shoulders and helping her into my Jeep. I turned the key in the ignition with shaking hands, and we were at the hospital within ten minutes. 

We rushed inside, Amanda having contractions now and myself a huge mess. 

Thankfully, a nurse grabbed a wheelchair and escorted us to the maternity ward. 

"Dad is out of town," I moaned. "He's in a meeting-" 

Amanda's pained groan cut me off. I was sweating now, unbelievably mad at my dad for not being here and not sure what to do. Amanda's parents weren't around anymore, and she really didn't have anyone else who could come right now. 

I squared my shoulders and told the nurse that I would go in the delivery room with her. 

Amanda looked up, face completely shocked. 

"What's your relation to her?" the nurse asked as we hurried to an available room.  

Another nurse came in with a clipboard and handed it to me. I looked at all of the paperwork and rubbed my eyes tiredly. 

"I'm her daughter." 

***

Four hours later, Amanda held my baby brother in her arms. I smiled tiredly at her and studied him vigorously, taking in all ten fingers and toes, his precious little face, his tiny body. 

"He's amazing." 

She smiled. "You're going to be the best big sister in the world." 

She passed him to me as my dad burst through the doors, tie askew and jacket slung over one arm. He had obviously left the meeting and rushed here.