Hurried footsteps padded across the squeaky clean floor, the noise echoing and bouncing off the walls of the hospital’s hallway as Emerald ran down the long and broad space with Jordan in tow, their flip flops slapping against the shiny white tiled floors.
They paid no heed to one of the rules held with utmost importance in the hospital; no running in the halls.
Unruly strands of Emerald’s hair wisped into her eyes from her loosely tied up messy bun as she raced down the hallways in nothing but her silk pajamas with a thick trench coat thrown over and towards the pacing figure of her stepfather, who was being calmed and assured by her stepsister-an action that didn’t seem to be helping much as Luca continued to pace, even going further to chew on his fingernails.
Finally approaching the duo, Emerald came to a sliding halt, only distractedly giving Jordan a grateful yet absentminded pat on his arm, which he had swiftly laced around her waist to prevent her from falling.
“Dad, is everything alright?” she asked, successfully managing to gain his attention. Luca looked up, finally slowing his worried pacing before freeing his fingernails from within the confinements of his teeth. He approached her, pulling her into a firm hug.
“Piccola,” he addressed her, squeezing Emerald further into his embrace whilst she ran her hands up and down his back, giving him occasional pats here and there and whispering soothing words to him.
“Mom is going to be fine, Dad. You know how strong and tough she is. She’s a fighter, Dad. Your fighter. You have nothing to worry about,” she soothed, her gaze colliding with Armani’s.
Her stepsister gave her a little smile, one which Emerald returned before outstretching one of her busy hands for Armani to hold on to. She pulled her closer and also engulfed her in the family embrace.
She could see the storm of worry brewing behind her sister’s eyes and although, she was also dying of anxiety, Emerald would have to stay strong for her family. For Luca. For Armani. For her mother. And most importantly, for her approaching baby brother.
“They wouldn’t allow me in there with her, Piccola. Your mother and I had agreed that I would be right beside her when she brings our little bundle of Smoochies into this world, but the nurses wouldn’t let me in.
The doctor was also spitting applesauce about my health and me being unable to take in the sight of my wife in labour. I mean how old does he think I am? Some seventy-year old primogenitor? I was responsible for fertilizing our little seed in her in the first place.
If I hadn’t ejaculated in the first place, she wouldn’t even be here. In labour. Suffering. All because of me,” his voice grew smaller and smaller with each word and Emerald, despite her urge to laugh and cringe at the same time, could vividly hear the blame he was about to issue himself when she decided to put a stop to his mindless rant.
“Dad, stop it. Having a baby involves an agreement between both parties. You and Mom had decided to bring a new life to this world and if Mom hadn’t objected to it, then it shows how much she truly loves you.
She loves you enough to have kids with you; that means she was willing to endure all of this pain, so you shouldn’t blame yourself, else I’ll tell Mom when she gets out and you know she’s not going to like it.”
Emerald teased. “Or do you want me to tell her?” Luca hurriedly shook his head, earning little chuckles from Emerald, Armani and Jordan.
For some moments, the family continued to hold each other and Emerald felt a hand rub up and down her back, his familiar touch sending a peculiar wave of comfort through her system. She craned her neck slightly to meet Jordan’s gaze.
She mirrored his smile just as he leaned down to kiss her temple, lingering to whisper soothing words into her ear before pulling away, but still standing closely behind her.
Few more minutes passed and they were all now seated with Luca sporting a cup of coffee Armani had gotten him from the vending machine down the hallway with Armani seated to his left, rubbing his back whilst Emerald sat to his right with Jordan by her side, caressing her hands in his.
Shifting her gaze from the silver metallic doors of the room occupied by her mother and the medical personnel tending to her, Emerald turned to look at her stepfather, whose lips were turned up in a grimace as he eyed his cup of coffee-one he had earlier complained tasted like dirt water-before turning to face Jordan.
Her eyebrows knitted on her forehead as she watched him. He appeared to be deep in thoughts since his gaze was trained on the spotless floors of the hospital hallway. Emerald followed his gaze to see what he seemed to find incredibly fascinating, but she was only met with the view of his naked feet, his beautiful toes wiggling in his flip flops.
A jolt of pain coursing through her slender fingers was enough to cause Emerald’s gaze to rivet back to Jordan, whose face was now as hard as steel, his grip on her hands unconsciously tightening even further and Emerald had to sink her teeth into her bottom lip to keep her whimper of pain from slipping out.
She subtly nudged his leg with hers, finally managing to pull him out of his trance of rage. Jordan stiffened noticeably, snapping out of his daze before turning to look at Emerald. She gestured to their hands and as soon as he realized what he had done, he immediately loosened his grip, choosing to keep her hands in a hold as gentle and delicate as if holding an egg.
He looked into her inquisitive eyes, remorse and apology shining through his chocolate orbs as he caressed her hands in an attempt to soothe the slight throb echoing through her fingers.
Emerald opened her mouth to voice her concern, but her words dried up in her throat when the silver doors finally slid open, revealing a grinning doctor who, despite her sweaty frame and the obvious fatigue on her countenance, was wearing a huge grin on her face.
“Congratulations, everyone.” Luca was already on his feet even before the doctor could utter a word. “Your new baby is here. You’re free to go in and see the mother and son pair,” Luca had made a mad dash through the door as soon as ‘free’ had escaped her lips.
Emerald stood up, thanking the doctor but not missing the sigh of relief that escaped from Jordan. Choosing to drill him later, she walked into the room, certain that he would be hot on her trail.
She moved around the stepfather and stepsister pair, smiling faintly when her mother came into view. She looked utterly drained with her messy hair and the beads of sweat that had collected on her forehead, the bridge of her nose and above her upper lip, were glinting prominently underneath the room’s lighting.
Despite how she looked like she was ready to pass out, she had a smile on her face and her eyes were sparkling and vibrant, portraying nothing but sheer happiness and when her gaze collided with Emerald’s, her smile widened even more, spreading across her face.
Tears welled up Emerald’s eyes as she finally reached her mother. “Mom,” she carefully placed her hand over her mother’s, caressing her skin. “How are you doing? Are you okay? How do you feel?” she blabbered.
Maggie smiled, rolling her eyes at the uncanny similarity her daughters and husband shared. “You’re not also about to treat me like I’m some breakable porcelain chinaware now, are you?” she joked.
“I’m genuinely concerned, Mom. How do you feel? Tired? Pains anywhere? I could get the doc-”
“Hush now, baby. You haven’t even taken a look at your baby brother yet,” Maggie muttered, calling Emerald’s attention to the family’s new addition.