“Thirty-two weeks.”
“Are you having contractions?”
“I don’t know.”
I couldn’t tell whether the pain came from the fall or whether I was going into labor.
My thoughts kept returning to one question.
“Is my baby okay?”
The nurse smiled reassuringly.
“We’re checking everything now.”
That answer wasn’t enough for me.
“Please.”
“Mrs. Gallagher, we’re doing everything we can.”
I gripped the sheet.
“Her name is Lily.”
The nurse paused.
“You’ve already chosen her name?”
I nodded.
“Lily Rose.”
Lucas had chosen Lily.
I had chosen Rose.
We had spent three days arguing over it.
Now I couldn’t remember what the argument had even been about.
I only remembered his voice.
“She’s going to be stubborn.”
I had laughed.
“How do you know?”
“Because she’s ours.”
The memory broke through me.
I turned toward the wall and cried quietly.
A few minutes later, a doctor entered.
“Victoria?”
“Yes?”
“Your baby is stable.”
I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
“But you’re showing signs of premature labor.”
I closed my eyes.
“Will she be okay?”
“We’re going to try to stop the labor.”
“And if you can’t?”
The doctor paused.
“Then we’ll deliver her safely.”
I nodded.
There was nothing else I could do.
My phone vibrated.
It was Samantha.
I answered immediately.
“Was my father arrested?”
