“Hey, I’m glad you’re still here.”
Nick stood just outside Raina’s hospital room. He looked like a zombie. Matt cursed inwardly. Why had he spent so much time talking to Raina? He should have just picked her up and put her in the car. He could have gotten her here sooner. If she had complications due to this, he would never forgive himself.
“What can I do to help you? Do you need me to pick up clothes so you can stay here with Raina?”
“No. I won’t be coming back here,” Nick said softly, almost like he was talking to himself. They’d been friends a long time and he’d watched his friend grow from a party animal into a husband and soon-to-be-father. It was starting to feel like all his friends were moving on with their lives.
Leaving him behind.
Matt shook his head and refocused on Nick. His friend was dealing with a lot right now and he needed to be there for him, not feel sorry for himself.
“Why wouldn’t you be coming back here? Raina is going to have to stay overnight, right?”
Nick started walking. Matt dropped the magazine he’d been reading and ran to catch up. “Nick, what’s going on?”
“You drove your truck here, right?” Nick turned left at the nurse’s station. Matt nodded to the nurse behind the desk as they passed.
“Yeah. It’s parked out in the visitor’s lot.”
“Good. I need your help moving some stuff.”
“Anything. Just let me know what you want me to do.” Matt hit the button for the elevator when Nick didn’t move.
“I need help moving out of Raina’s house.”
Matt glanced behind them. The hall leading back to the OB wing was empty. “Please tell me you just mean moving some old shit you don’t want anymore.”
Nick shook his head. Matt cut off the question he’d been about to ask. He’d never seen his friend look so dejected. So exhausted. Now probably wasn’t the time to ask him if he was crazy. He looked like he needed a friend to support him right now.
“Whatever you need, Nick. I’ll help you out. You’ve always helped me when I needed it.”
Nick looked up at him, then crossed his arms. “Have I?”
“Of course you have,” Matt answered. “Whenever I need financial advice, you’ve helped me. You’ve been helping me look for a place to live for like six months. I doubt anyone else would have hung in there that long. I’m getting tired of looking and it’s my place.”
Nick looked away. “I did those things because they were easy for me to do. Finances are my business. Real estate is sort of an extension of that. Have I ever helped you when it took true effort on my part? When it inconvenienced me or pushed me out of my comfort zone?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“She’s right. I’m selfish. I’ve always done things my way and damn the consequences. I’ve treated the world like it was my playground and I never looked behind to see what collateral damage was left in my wake.”
The elevator arrived and they stepped in. Matt could only be glad it was empty so no one else had to witness this strange conversation.
“Nick, you’re one of the best guys I know. I’m not saying you haven’t ever screwed up, but who hasn’t? She could just be upset because she’s hormonal right now.” Women were unpredictable creatures. He barely understood half the things Mara did and they were twins.
“Either way, I have to do what’s best for Raina and the baby. Having me around is just too stressful for her. She needs to stay calm. It’s not about what I want anymore.”
With that, the elevator doors opened into the lobby of the hospital. Matt led them to his truck and they pulled out of the lot.
“Let’s just take a suitcase, okay? She’s upset right now but you don’t know how she’ll feel tomorrow. Or tonight for that matter. A fight doesn’t mean your marriage is over.”
At least he hoped it didn’t.
* * * * *
RAINA WOKE UP to a soft beeping sound. She opened her eyes to a blur of color, the room slowly coming into focus. She was in the hospital, that much she knew, but she was temporarily disoriented. The room had been bright before and now it looked like it was nighttime. There was no light shining around the edges of the heavy drapes drawn across the window.
She sat up slightly and looked to her left. The beep beep beep sound turned out to be her heart monitor. There were several numbers displayed along the top of the screen. The angular digital line jumped along with her pulse. According to the machinery, her heart was fine.
Funny it didn’t feel that way.
She hadn’t been asleep that long. At least she didn’t think so. There was a large bouquet of lilies in the corner. They were gorgeous, but not the typical arrangement, so she could only assume they’d come from Ridley. Nick usually got her roses.
Speaking of Nick, she looked around the room. Where was he? Tears sprang to her eyes when she thought about their fight. Of all the things Steven had told her, Nick being in financial trouble was the last thing she’d thought would turn out to be true.
Ridley’s head poked out of the bathroom. “You’re awake!”
She tried to clear her throat to answer but her mouth felt like sandpaper. Ridley rushed to her side and held out a small Styrofoam cup with a straw in it.
“Here, have some water. You’re still dehydrated.”