The Older Man Part II

Chapter 29

My Worst Nightmare

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VINCENT'S POINT OF VIEW

I let out a sigh as I hung up the phone.

Since I was reduced to sitting in a waiting room while Cheyenne and Camilla were in a hospital room going through who knows what, I decided to tell her parents and Thalia about what was happening.

I knew they would want to know; not to mention, they deserved to know.

First, I called Cheyenne's mom because I knew her dad wouldn't even answer a call from me. I could hear the horror in her voice when I told her everything that happened prior to the current situation. She tried to maintain her composure but I could tell how worried she was. She was justified. Her daughter was laying in a hospital with life draining out of her by the minute, plus she was in early labor and there was no telling what would happen.

When I hung up with her mom, I called Thalia to tell her. I could tell by her short responses that it took everything in her to keep from crying over the phone. She told me she would be on her way to the hospital immediately, just like Cheyenne's mom said.

I sat in the waiting room with my head in my hands and my legs shaking nervously as I waited for Cheyenne's parents and Thalia to arrive.

Maybe 10 or 15 minutes passed before the sound of determined footsteps approaching me stole my attention. I looked up to see Thalia walking towards me followed by Cheyenne's mom and dad.

"Vincent," Thalia greeted me. She set her purse and phone down on the empty chair next to where I sat before opening her arms for a hug.

Despite the rockiness of my relationship with Thalia, I was grateful for her empathy. She and I may not have always gotten along, but we always agreed when it came to Cheyenne.

I wrapped my arms around her to welcome her hug. It was nice to know that I had her full support, even though we had our fair share of problems.

"Thank you for coming," I said sincerely, "It means a lot to me," I confessed after pulling away from the hug. "I know it would mean a lot to... Cheyenne too," I told her with a voice that began to break at the mention of Cheyenne.

She nodded and pressed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I know we haven't always gotten along, but we both love Cheyenne and want her to be okay and right now, that's all that matters." Thalia told me with a mature tone in her voice.

I weakly smiled and nodded in agreement.

She stepped aside and let Cheyenne's mom greet me. She enveloped in her arms like only a mom could. It reminded me of how my own mother would comfort me whenever I was down or depressed.

Her arms squeezed me tightly as if to transfer her optimism to me through a simple hug.

She pulled away and grabbed my face in her hands. "Now I want you to listen to me," she said with firmness in her voice, "I know things are really tough right now and I know it seems like everything is going wrong, but you need to be strong, okay?" She looked me in the eyes. I nodded at her words.

"There's not a doubt in my mind. Cheyenne is going to be just fine, and so is your beautiful little girl, but when they get out of this hospital, they're both going to need you. And you're gonna have to be strong. I know it's gonna be hard and that's understandable, but you need to stand tall for my little girl and for yours," she said sternly yet comfortingly, "do you understand me?" She asked.

I nodded in response. "Yes," I said simply. "I'll do my best." I added. She smiled at me before pulling me into another hug

"Henry," Cheyenne's mom said after separating herself from the hug. "Aren't you going to say something?" She asked rhetorically.