‘Um, hello?’ she said, poking her head around. The house was quiet, the children in bed. No sign of Skylar. There wouldn’t be, thought Carmen. She prodded her heart. No. She was cured.
‘Sis? Sofia?’
There came a noise from the kitchen.
‘Oh, youarejoking,’ said Carmen. Sofia was sitting slumped over on the floor in a pool of water.
‘Don’t you start,’ said Sofia. ‘I’ve had Federico on the phone all evening.’
‘Why didn’t you call me?’
‘I thought Skylar would come home, then I could just get a taxi to hospital.’
‘Why didn’t you … ?’
‘Please, Carmen.’
‘Okay,’ said Carmen. ‘I’ll get one.’
Sofia sighed.
‘Good luck in Christmas week.’
‘Well, I’ll drive. I’ve only had one glass.’
Sofia shook her head ‘Are you kidding? You driving sober on icy roads is bad enough. No. You’re home now; get me a cab. I’ll get to hospital. Federico’s at the airport.’
‘Okay. Have you called Mum?’
‘Christ no, I can’t handle the entire panic stations.’
The sisters tentatively smiled at one another.
‘Okay,’ said Carmen. ‘Come on, let’s get you up.’
But before she had finished the sentence and pulled up Uber, Sofia was bending double.
‘Ah, bugger.’
‘It’s okay though?’ said Carmen. ‘Babies take ages to come, right?’
‘The first one does,’ said Sofia. ‘Number four just kind of strolls out.’
‘Shit,’ said Carmen. ‘Are you going to make it?’
Sofia pulled herself up, breathing heavily, to collapse in the big chair.
‘You know you call me a control freak?’
‘I have never called you that,’ said Carmen, inputting the info for the route on her phone. ‘To your face.’
Sofia did several more panting breaths.
‘Well. This is the time when it comes in useful. Get me a cab, then you stay here and babysit.’
‘You can’t be alone,’ said Carmen.
‘I can,’ said Sofia. ‘I promise, it’s not a new experience, and it has poo in it. I’ll get them to call you when I’m done, okay? Don’t worry. I got this.’ They were holding hands then, and Sofia suddenly squeezed Carmen’s tight. ‘Yeah?’
