Chapter 1
There was a skip in his step as Otto made his way to the bus stop. His sister was almost done packing, and then he would be able to get back to Arcadia and Toby. His heart leapt at the mere thought of his three-month-old son.
"Guten Morgen, Lorin," He said, sitting next to the dark haired woman.
"Guten Morgen, Otto," Lorin rubbed her rounded belly, "You're awfully chipper this morning."
"Nono is almost done. I'll be going home soon," He nodded down at her suitcase, "Und, by the looks of it, so are you."
"I'm getting on the plane in a few hours," She followed his eyes.
"VVell, try to get some sleep vonce you're in the air. You look extra tired this morning."
She chuckled, "He kept me up most of the night. At this point, I just want to get home. Then, he can come any time he wants."
"Somevone should tell him to let you sleep now so that you can stay up vviz him later. I know Toby keeps me up most of ze night. Have you decided on a name yet?"
"It's still a toss up between naming him after my mother or naming him after my father," Lorin leaned back, "Hopefully my sister will be able to help me decide when I get back. I still have three weeks."
Otto nodded and checked his watch. They were both very early for the bus and it was rather cold. He glanced around and located a coffee shop.
"I'm going to run across ze street for some breakfast. VVould you care to join me?"
Lorin smiled and moved to stand, "Sure. Besides, I should get out of the cold for a bi-Oh!"
Her grip on the bench tightened and she grimaced with pain.
"Lorin! Are you alright?" Otto dropped to one knee beside her.
"Fine," She took a deep breath, "Braxan Hicks. They're what kept me up all night."
Otto frowned, "Maybe you should see a doctor before you get on ze plane. I'd hate for somezing to happen vvhile you are in ze air."
Lorin smiled down at him, "I'm fine, Otto. Really. Let's just get something warm to eat and drink."
Otto bit his lip and pulled out his wallet, "Do you know vvhat time you started feeling ze pain?"
"Um, 10:30. Maybe 11:00. Why?"
He handed her his paramedics licence, "Lorin, it's just my opinion but I really zink you should see a doctor. I-I zink you may have been in labor for a good...seven or eight hours."
Lorin shook her head, eyes brimming with tears, "I-I can't be. I'm only 33 weeks. I-I was joking when I said he could-Gah! O-Oh God. M-My water just broke…"
Otto nodded and squeezed her hand gently, "I see zat. Take deep breaths. I'm going to get you a cab und vve are going to get you to ze hospital. It's going to be alright. Ok. Deep breaths."
He squeezed her hand once more and did just that. It took a full three minutes for him to hail a cab but he quickly explained the situation and paid in advance. Then he returned to Lorin's side and helped her to her feet.
"But w-what about your sister?" Lorin's voice shook as she spoke.
"Nomura can handle herself for now," Otto gingerly put one hand on the small of her back and picked up her suitcase, "I'll call her in the cab."
He helped her into the cab and sat down beside her before pulling out his cellphone.
"Nomura, somezing's come up. I'm going to be a little late...Maybe...I'll explain later...Halte den Mund! Ja...VVhatever, I'll see you tonight-I mean-Auf Wiedersehen!" He slammed his phone closed and shoved it in his pocket, turning back to Lorin, "Zere. All done."
Lorin chuckled for a moment before looking away. Otto rubbed her shoulder and let her squeeze his hand as much as she wanted.
"Is he going to be ok?" Her voice was little more than a whisper.
Otto felt his heart clench, making a decision to be honest, "I can't answer zat. But ze doctors vvill be able to. Und I promise I vvill do everyzing in my power to help you boz."
Lorin's lips quivered and her shoulders shook. Otto pulled a handkerchief from his breast pocket and slipped it into her empty hand. She hiccuped and used it to cover her mouth and nose as she cried.
Otto undid his seatbelt as soon as the cabbie pulled into the hospital parking lot. He leapt out as soon as the car stopped and grabbed a wheelchair for his friend. He helped Lorin into the chair. The nurse behind the reception desk looked up as they entered.
"Maternity?" She said, smiling despite how exhausted she clearly was.
"Yes," Otto squeezed Lorin's shoulder gently.
The nurse nodded, "You'll want to go down the hall and to the left. The nurse there will give you the paperwork to fill out. And it's been a slow night so I don't think they'll make you wait long."
Otto nodded and turned, "Danke."
They followed the directions down to the next reception desk. Otto took the clipboard and they sat to wait.
"I'll fill zis out und zen I'll be right back. OK?" Otto turned to her, "Do you vvant to call your sister? Let her know vvhat's going on?"
Lorin shook her head, "No. Don't call Maranda. But, the name you need to put down, it's Loraine Pepperjack."
Otto nodded and looked up as a nurse came to take her back, "Alright. I'll be back zere soon."
She nodded and let go of his hand. As soon as they were gone, Otto leaned back in his chair. He balanced the clipboard on his knee and pulled out his phone once more.
"VValt? I know, I know, long distance calls bad. But, I zink I found a situation here…"
Loraine looked up as the door opened, Otto walked in and sat in the chair beside her bed.
"VVhat did I miss?"
"The doctor says there's not much they can do right now, " Lorraine swiped her thumbs over her belly, "They can't stop the labor because my water already broke but the contractions are still two minutes apart right now."
Otto nodded, "Lor-Loraine?"
She licked her lips, "That's why I had to get home."
"You told me not to call your sister. I take it she doesn't know?"
Lorraine shook her head, lips quivering, "I-I couldn't risk him finding out."
Otto squeezed her hand gently and looked her in the eye, "I'm not going anyvvhere. I vvon't let him hurt you."
"We met two days ago," Lorraine gave him a shaky smile, "You barely know me."
"I know you're scared. I know you love your son," Otto carefully sat on the edge of her bed, "Und I know zat you shouldn't be alone."
Lorraine sniffed and whimpered through another contraction before laying her head against his shoulder, "Thank you. And you can tell your sister it's my fault you're late."
"Nein. I chose to stay."
Her grip on his hand tightened unexpectedly. Otto let out an ungentlemanly squeak of surprise and covered his mouth with his other hand. Lorraine chuckled but didn't loosen her grip.
"Es tut mir leid," He chuckled, "You just took me a bit by surprise."
Lorraine nodded and groaned, "Ugh...I think he's ready."
Otto nodded, "Alright. I'm going to step right outside for just a moment and I'll be right back."
He gently pried her fingers off his hand and leaned out the door. He grabbed the attention of a passing nurse.
"Ms. Pepperjack's contractions are nearly constant," He explained, "Could you let ze doctor know?"
She nodded and continued on her way. Otto turned back to the room and returned to Lorraine's side.
"She's getting ze doctor. Zey should be here soon."
Lorraine nodded and groaned again. Otto slipped his hand back into her's. It was only about a minute before the doctor walked in.
"Alright, Ms. Pepperjack. Let's see how you two are doing."
Lorrain whimpered and squeezed his hand tighter.
"You're just about ready. Next time you feel the pain, get ready to push."
Lorraine nodded and groaned. Then she screamed.
"Zat's it," Otto encouraged her gently, "Remember to keep breathing."
Lorraine screamed again and turned to her friend, "I-Is my baby going to die?"
Otto licked his lips and shook his head, "No. He's going to be alright. But you have to keep going for zat to happen."
He wiped her tears and she screamed again. Her grip on his hand tightened even more. Otto kissed the back of her hand.
"There he is," the doctor handed the baby to a nurse and turned back, "Alright, One more push and you're all done."
Lorrain wasn't paying any attention. She was watching the nurse take her son.
"B-But why-"
"She's going to get him cleaned up und set up in a NICU unit," Otto assured her, "You can see him as soon as zey're done. But, right now, vve need to make sure you are alright, OK?"
Lorraine nodded and did as the doctor told her. As soon as they were done, a nurse helped Lorraine get cleaned up. When she got back to the room, Otto was reentering with two drinks and a small thing of mac and cheese. He put a hand on her shoulder.
"Zey are still taking care of your baby," He told her, "I zought, vvhile vve vvait, you could use somezing to eat, drink, und a bit of rest."
Lorraine took the mac and cheese but didn't eat.
Otto smiled softly, "He's going to be fine."
"You said you didn't know if he would be," Lorraine looked at him scrupulously.
"No. I said I couldn't answer zat question. Now I can. I asked ze doctor und she says he's doing good," Otto took a sip from his steaming styrofoam cup.
Lorraine nodded and took a bite. Unbidden, large tears began to roll down her cheeks. Her shoulders shook and soon she was sobbing anew. Otto put his cup to the side and hugged her gently. He didn't say a word. Just rubbed her back and let her cry until she was spent.
He lay her against the pillows and pulled up the blanket. Then he sat back in his chair and sipped his hot cider.
Lorraine was woken by a gentle squeezing of her shoulder.
"Lorraine?" Otto smiled at her, "Are you ready to meet your son?"
She sat up and threw off the blanket. Otto chuckled and took her by the shoulders.
"Sit," He nodded to the wheelchair, "You may feel fine now, but trust me. You'll be tired before you know it."
Lorraine pursed her lips but complied. Otto wheeled her down the hall and through a set of double doors. They washed their hands and approached the only unattend unit in the room. Inside her tiny son slept. Lorraine stood and put one hand against the glass.
"You can touch him," A nurse wandered over, "That's what the ports on the sides are for."
Lorraine looked from her baby, to the nurse and back again. Then, she slipped her hands in and stroked her son's tiny head.
"He's so tiny," She whispered, "So tiny."
"He's three pounds even," The nurse looked at the clipboard on the unit, " And his breathing is good."
"He still needs a name," Otto looked up at her.
"I know," Lorraine turned to him, "But, now I'm even more indecisive."
Otto chuckled and smiled down at the baby, "I need to go soon," He reached into his pocket and handed Lorraine a card, "If you need anyzing at all, no matter how strange, don't hesitate to call."
"Thank you, Otto. For everything. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been here."
Otto shook his head, "Bitte schon. Und remember, don't hesitate to call."
With that, he put one hand on the NICU unit and walked out the door. Lorraine watched him go then turned back to her son. She put one hand in her pocket. Otto's handkerchief was still in there. Lorraine looked down at it. His initials were embroidered in the corner.
"'O.E.S.'?" She smiled and looked down at her son, "Elijah."