CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Nathan paced the length of the hospital corridor. Both Tia and Kerry were in the operating suite. He paused at the door of the operating suite and clenched his fists.
His claws stabbed into his palms as he emitted a low growl. His family was in there. His mate, his sister-in-law, and his baby.
“What's taking them so long?” he snarled, stepping up to the door.
Simone rushed to his side and stopped him from charging heedlessly ahead and creating a Nathan-shaped hole in the door.
“Nathan, calm down,” Simone said soothingly. “They'll be fine. The doctors know what they are doing.”
Nathan snarled and glared at the door. But Simone saw the flash of real fear in his deep blue eyes. Nathan was worried and scared. He didn't know what was happening in that operating suite and he wasn't used to feeling so helpless.
He would do anything, anything at all, to make sure his family was safe. But right now, he could do nothing. There was nothing to do but wait.
He let Simone lead him to the row of chairs along the wall and sat down heavily.
“The operation will be a success,” Simone said bravely, but there was the slightest tremor in her voice. “The baby, Kerry and Tia will all be okay.” She patted Nathan's big hand and smiled. “Your girls are strong. Have faith in them.”
Nathan nodded and released a slow breath. Kerry had gone into labor early. The baby simply refused to wait. It was as if their little girl knew what was at stake and was determined to arrive early so she could save her Aunt Tia. Her Aunt Tia was depending on her. She was here to save her aunt's life.
Despite his worry and fear, Nathan couldn't help the surge of pride in his chest. His daughter was a fierce little wolf all right. The little girl wasn't even born and she already knew to protect her family. Staying in her mother's womb was much safer, but his daughter wasn't one to choose the safe route. She was a fighter, and she would rather risk it all and face the big bad world before her time just so that her aunt could use the stem cells in her umbilical cord and have the chance to live.
His little daughter had the courage and loyalty of an alpha wolf. He was so proud of her, and he couldn't wait to hold her in his arms.
Tia's condition had worsened throughout the months. Despite all their efforts, she was losing the battle. Her cancer spread at a terrifying rate, and those dastardly cancer cells just kept ravaging her body, eating away the young woman's life.
Kerry had wept and pleaded with the doctors to save her sister's life. Nathan had flown in the best specialists from all over the world, but the doctors all said the same thing. There was nothing else they could do. When Kerry heard that, she had picked up a chair and hurled it against the wall. The chair had splintered on impact, but Kerry's rage hadn't subsided. She had screamed and shrieked at everything and everyone. Even in her pregnant state, she was a force to be reckoned with. She would have overturned a heavy table as well if Nathan hadn't pinned her arms to her sides in a fierce bear hug.
Only when the baby nudged at her and rolled from side to side in her swollen belly did Kerry calm down. The baby's movement soothed Kerry and reminded her that she was responsible for a precious little life within her. But the baby was doing much more than just calming her mother down. She was trying to tell her mom something.
Kerry had gasped and her eyes had grown impossibly bigger and rounder as she clutched her belly. “Cord blood,” Kerry had cried suddenly as she grabbed Nathan's arm. “Yes! It could work! We can use the stem cells in our baby's cord blood to save Tia!”
When they spoke to the doctors, almost all the doctors warned them that the chances weren't high. Gravely, they'd cautioned that most matches were only found between a parent and a child. “But—your sister...”
“...is my baby's aunt!” was Kerry's firm response.
When the test results showed that the stem cells in the baby's umbilical cord were a surprisingly good match for Tia, it was Tia who objected vehemently to the operation. She stubbornly refused to give her consent.
“No. It's too risky,” she'd whispered from her bed. “I won't let you take this risk, Kerry.” Tia's eyes looked too large in her pale, gaunt face. She was so thin and her voice was barely more than a whisper, but her spirit remained strong and her mind clear. “If they stick those crazy, large needles into your belly to harvest the cord blood, they might hurt the baby. And there's the risk of miscarriage. I know the dangers, okay? I won't let you endanger your health and your pregnancy!”
Tia had looked at Nathan and begged, “Nathan, don't let her do this. Please!”
In the end, his baby was the one who made the decision for them all.
It was her umbilical cord, her cord blood and she would decide what to do with it.
Their baby decided that the best course of action would be to arrive early. That way her cord blood could be harvested without anyone having to stick anything sharp and scary into her mother's belly.
It would be her birthday present for her Aunt Tia.
Simone shifted in her seat beside Nathan and clasped her shaking hands tightly together.
Nathan realized that she was just as scared and worried, and yet she was doing her best to soothe and comfort him. Simone was a good friend to Kerry and Tia. She had helped Kerry take care of Tia, and she and Kerry were as close as sisters. Simone was family too. Nathan had no regrets killing Trent. He had helped Simone get rid of that menace in her life, and he hoped that she would be able to move forward. She seemed to be doing well. She had gotten a new job and she seemed more open and optimistic. Every time she came over for dinner, she would whip out some adorable tiny clothes from her shopping bag and show them to Kerry excitedly. “I happened to see this, and I couldn't help myself!” she'd squeal.
Not even born and his little girl already had more clothes than him.
“Will you...” Nathan cleared his throat and turned to Simone. “Will you be my daughter's godmother?”
Simone started and blinked at him. “I...oh, oh yes. Of course! Of course, yes! Yes!” she cried, her eyes shining.
Nathan smiled and leaned back in his chair. “Kerry and I have decided to let Tia name the baby,” he said. “She is giving Tia her cord blood, so Tia should give her her name.”
“That's wonderful!” After a pause, Simone added softly, “It's Tia's birthday today, isn't it?”
“Yes,” Nathan answered and jerked upright. His wolf had heard the tiniest, sweetest little cry from the operating suite.
He jumped up with a proud grin. “And it's my daughter's birthday too!”