* * *
Jay grabbed his keys, phone and coat. Too impatient to wait for the lift, he ran down the stairs. He drove on autopilot, thinking of Liz. She must be terrified, going into labour so early and having to undergo surgery without Alex by her side. This was definitely not how she would have imagined her baby coming into the world. Then he thought of Emma, who’d sounded distraught as she hadn’t been able to get hold of Alex.She was sitting in the hospital alone, not knowing how she could help her friend. Jay had been in the kitchen when he’d heard his phone ring. He was shocked when Emma’s name had flashed up on his screen, but as he hesitated the call went to voicemail. He heard the bleep that a message had been left, and listened to it straight away. And he was glad he had, because Liz needed him. There was a little voice in his head telling him that Emma needed him too, but he pushed that to one side. He was doing this for Liz. Emma was with someone else now and the sooner he got used to the idea, the better.
* * *
The minutes ticked by increasingly slowly as Emma waited. Hospital staff walked past her, each intent on their own destination. No one seemed to have anything to say to her. She’d looked up pre-eclampsia on her phone and realised how serious it was. Liz had been complaining of her puffy ankles and backache, which were symptoms of the condition, but they were also things that could be associated with pregnancy anyway. But having a baby so early was terrifying. Would he or she be all right? Who knew what complications lay ahead for the poor little mite.
Emma looked up as she once more heard footsteps, but this time they belonged to someone who was much more familiar to her. As Jay approached, she smiled and instinctively stood up, reaching out to hug him. To her dismay he held himself stiffly away from her and she sat down abruptly, her face flaming in embarrassment.
‘Any news?’ Jay sat down next to her, but kept his distance.
‘No, nothing,’ she said quietly. ‘Any news on Alex?’
‘He’s about half an hour away.’
‘He won’t be here in time, then.’
‘No, but at least he’ll be here when she comes out of surgery.’
‘Thanks for coming. I’m sure Liz will appreciate it.’
‘Well, I couldn’t sit at home just waiting.’
‘No, I don’t suppose you could.’
They lapsed into silence, but, after a while Emma couldn’t stand it any longer. ‘Look, Jay, I know this is really awkward for us both, but I think we’re going to be seeing a lot more of each other over the next few weeks. We need to get to some point where being together doesn’t feel this uncomfortable.’
‘I agree,’ he said. ‘It’s just very difficult. I understand why you left and I’m so sorry for making you feel like that was your only option, and I really wish we could have made things work. I accept that you’re with someone else, but the speed at which you moved on from me hurts, and it’s going to take me a while to get over that.’
‘I haven’t moved on.’
‘I know what I saw.’
‘Liz told me, but it’s not what you think.’
‘Really?’
Emma sighed in exasperation. ‘I know you’ve always thought there was something going on between me and Nick, but I’m not interested in him.’
‘So you say.’
‘I’m telling you the truth. I was lonely and just wanted to make friends with the people I worked with. Nick was just always there.’
‘And he still is.’
‘But I don’t want tobewith him.’ She hissed, not wanting to make too much noise in the hospital corridor. Why couldn’t he just listen and believe that what she was saying was the truth?
‘That’s not what it looked like.’
‘He put his arm around me, but did you see me reciprocate?’
‘No, but you looked pretty cosy and you were having dinner together.’
‘He lives in the same accommodation and he offered to cook for me while I unpacked.’
‘And that’s all it was?’
‘Yes. Nick has been trying it on, but I’ve made it very clear that I’m not interested. That I’m not ready for a relationship. That I’m not over you.’
