Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Two - Camping at the hospital

Left alone, I slumped down on my makeshift bed for the night, exhausted after fighting with my aunt, into allowing me to remain with Jerry. I finally got her to leave after she promises to relieve me at six in the morning.

What I am upset about though, is forgetting to take a charger for my phone, that is now, f***ing dead. I have no way of communicating with Hailey.

Hailey! I can see that the pregnancy has her scared and as usual she's trying to hide her fears from me, but I'm learning to read behind her composed demeanor after having seen her fall apart so many times and recovering in an instant!

Thank God, Jerry doesn't want mom visiting him, so everyone has decided to keep his hospitalization news away from her and I also need to keep our pregnancy news, away from her. Hailey fainted today and now I am going to ensure that she is never alone, which is why I sent Bas with her. I knew she would not support Gerard remaining at the penthouse with her, while his family waits at home for him.

Penthouse! House, right! I make a mental note to remind dad to get the contractors to work on our home, a gift from dad. When he first gifted it to Hailey and I. Assuming it was, him trying to bribe me, I hated it, but now that I know the truth or at least knowing dad is not the villain in my life story, I live with more than ten years of regret.

Just as I can't lose Jerry, my dad is just as important and he should know that he is going to be a grandpa. I need to give him the good news tomorrow and I also need to pull my weight around the office, with Jerry on medical leave.

Lifting my head at the sound of the door opening, to see a nurse slowly walking into the room, with a sly smile, swinging a phone charger in her hand.

Narrowing my eyes, I watch her come closer.

F**k, I don't need this, not now, not ever!

I wait for her to explain why she's here, observing her shy smile, but I'm guessing that she's far from being shy!

"Mr. Knight, is it" she started and I nod, waiting for her to continue. "I was at the front desk earlier and I heard you ask for an iPhone charger" she stretches out the one in her hand towards me. "This is mines" she continues, "you can use it and I'll check you back during my break" she giggles, waving the charger in front of me, when I didn't reach for it.

Without looking at the charger, I kept my eyes on her, as she moves closer.

"I'm good thanks" I wave my hand refusing the changer, without smiling. "My wife should be sending dinner soon along with a charger" I hoped Hailey remembers dinner for me.

The nurse's eyes automatically goes to my hand, eying my wedding band, which she saw clearly as I adjusted my hand for her to get a good look at it.

She lost her smile for a moment, regaining her composure just as suddenly.

Smiling seductively now, she edged closer, "well you could use it in the meantime and it does get boring during the night. We could hang out." She shyly suggested.

Already shaking my head, "like I said, I'm good, thanks and" I looked across to Jerry. "I'm hanging out with my uncle tonight. Like you said, it gets boring during the night" I retorted stiffly, my eyes still on Jerry, who instantly started coughing, softly.

Ignoring the nurse now, I got up and walked across to Jerry's bed,.where he was now trying to sit-up.

Helping him adjust on the bed, "are you okay man?" I asked reaching for the water canasta at his bedside.

Jerry nods, while I fed him the water.

"Let me" I felt a hand touch mines, turning to see the nurse standing close to me reaching for the canasta.

Shrugging her hand of mines, "I'm good!" I responded icily, wishing her gone already, without me being rude to her!

The nurse shifted, but remained at my side watching me feed my uncle.

After a few seconds, Jerry pulled away and chuckles softly.

"I felt my phone vibe and I have a feeling that it's your beautiful wife" Jerry says his eyes twinkling in humor, no doubt having heard my brief conversation with the nurse, who still stood beside me.

Shaking my head, I reached for his phone, "it's about time" I muttered, taking the phone from under his pillow and walking away.

After checking miss calls, it was indeed Hailey, whose number I quickly redialled.

The phone was answered in half a ring.

"I've been calling. I was so worried" Hailey started frantically.

Chuckling, "I'm fine...Hailey.... Hailey" I tried to respond, but she rushed on, without pausing to breathe.

"You weren't answering your phone and Basil refused to bring me back to the hospital to make sure everything is fine." Hailey kept going. "Everything is fine right?" Hailey says, pausing and finally allowing me to speak.

Still chuckling softly, "wow" I told her, "that was a full mouth piece" I laugh, genuinely happy to hear her voice.

In a calmer tone she continued and as she spoke, I could just imagine her blushing. "I'm sorry. I do tend to babble when I'm.... when I'm nervous" Hailey finishes, exhaling.

Smiling, wishing I could see her face right now, "now, everything's fine now." I chuckle softly, my voice lowered with Jerry in the background and I'm sure he's listening to my conversation.

"I miss you" Hailey adds.

Feeling the same, "and I, miss you" I responded so softly, I wondered if she even heard me.

Hailey started again, "Gerald is on his way with dinner and snacks." She was saying, pausing for a moment. "Oh and I sent a thermos filled with your favourite coffee." She chuckles, sounding satisfied that she accomplished something great and she did. She didn't forget to feed her husband.

I remained silent listening to the sound of her voice.

"Adian?"She whispers softly when I didn't answer. "Adian?" Hailey called again. "Are you still there?" She says and I could almost hear the panic in her voice.

Ready to reassure her that I'm fine, "I'm here" I rushed in quickly, not wanting her to be under any additional stress. "I just love listening to you chatter" I added, with a soft chuckle.

Hailey went quite on the other end, that I thought I had lost her.

"Hales?" I called, but she remained quiet. "Hales!" I called again, but louder this time.

Hearing a deep sigh, I wait for her to answer me.

"I remember that" she says softly, confusing me.

Frowning, scratching the back of my neck, "remember what?" I asked curiously.

"Chatterbox" she says and still confused, I remained silent, waiting for her to continue, because I sense it's important to her, to us.

"Mom, called me her little chatterbox" she said softly, so softly, I felt myself straining to hear her. "I was a chatterbox and she was afraid to tell me her secret, because I would tell daddy first" Hailey continued and I wished I was there to hug and comfort her, because I knew she was speaking from an important memory!

"Now you're my chatterbox."