silence.
“Too far. This is happening now.”
He stared at her, obviously too agitated to move. The three nurses who had arrived with Chloe put down their plates and stepped toward Haley with purpose. One cleaned the floor and the other two took Haley’s elbows, following her directions to the bedroom and practically carrying her there. “We’ve got this,” one said to Damon. “You should call her OB-GYN.”
“But the hospital...”
“Too late. This one’s coming right here.”
“She’s already at eight centimeters,” said the other, then pointed at Damon. “Doctor. Now. She’ll be annoyed if she misses it.”
Damon looked relieved to have something to do and pulled out his phone.
“Got your bag?” one of the paramedics called and the one nurse beckoned to him.
“No. If you have yours, I’ll take it.”
He put down his glass and went out the front door, back to his car. The medical people sprang into action, doing what they did best as everyone else stayed out of their way. The minutes seemed to pass by slowly and Chloe knew she wasn’t the only one listening to Haley’s cries or the low sound of the nurses’ encouragement.
Damon took Haley’s doctor into the bedroom when she arrived, and she shut the door firmly behind them. The party continued, lots of speculative chatter, until one nurse peeked out the bedroom door. “Everything is on track,” she said. “The baby will be here soon.”
There was a ripple of relief that passed through the guests and the conversation gained in volume. Reid went to the bar set up at one end of the kitchen. “Who needs a refill to toast the new arrival?” he asked, shaking a cocktail mixer.
“The baby’s not here yet,” Cassie protested but he grinned.
“I don’t think it’s going to be long.”
“Me neither,” agreed a paramedic. “Haley doesn’t mess around when she’s got something to do.” Haley’s co-workers laughed together.
“We might as well line up the champagne glasses,” said one of the interns and they began to put them in rows on the counter.
“Put another tray of spring rolls in the oven, Jax,” Reid said and she moved to do as he instructed. He was pouring martinis. “And Chloe, please ask if they need anything at all in there. Tell Damon we’ve got it all covered.”
Chloe went to the bedroom door and tapped. Someone called out and she opened the door in time to hear Haley roar. The doctor was gently encouraging her, Damon looked like he could be knocked over with a feather, and the nurses bent closer in anticipation.
“Aha!” said the doctor, then there was a baby’s cry.
“Awwwwww,” the nurses said in unison.
“What a cutie,” said one. “Hello, gorgeous.”
“Great color,” said the other with approval. “You pushed out a good one, Haley.”
Chloe could hear Haley’s laughter. “As long as she’s healthy.”
The baby cried again, a little louder, and one nurse pushed Damon toward a chair. “Take a breath or three, Dad. You can hold her in a minute. Maybe put your head between your knees in the meantime.”
“It’s okay,” Haley said from within the cluster of busy women. “It’s all good, Damon. We’re both fine.”
He sat down hard, then reached out and captured Haley’s hand, blinking back his tears of relief. Chloe saw him press a kiss to her knuckles and smiled. She moved closer as the baby was washed, curious but not wanting to be in the way. Soon the new arrival was bundled up, then placed in Damon’s arms. His throat worked as he looked down at the infant in wonder.
“She’s beautiful,” he whispered. She had a thatch of thick dark hair and her dark eyes were thickly lashed.
“She is,” Chloe agreed.
“Her name’s Natalie,” Haley said and Damon’s head snapped up. Her hair was damp on her brow, but she smiled at him. “For your mom and for Christmas. It’s the only choice.”
Damon looked to be overwhelmed. He moved to sit beside Haley, holding their daughter as if she might break in two. Haley smiled and kissed Natalie’s forehead, then Damon bent down to kiss her.
One nurse went back to the party to share the news. “Natalie has arrived and the doc says she’s perfect.” There was a cheer from the guests.
“We don’t have to do this again,” Damon said quietly but Haley laughed.
“Oh, I think we do,” she said, her eyes dancing. “You get to choose the next one’s name. It’s only fair.”
Chloe almost laughed out loud at Damon’s expression, then she turned at the sound of champagne corks popping in the kitchen.
She congratulated Haley then