Chapter 1
Augusto followed the hospital car in his own SUV.
He did not call Travis.
He did not call Millicent.
He did not order anyone to punish them.
For a man who had spent most of his adult life making problems disappear before they could reach daylight, doing nothing felt almost physically unnatural.
But his daughter was in the car ahead of him.
That was the only problem that mattered.
Elise was taken directly to obstetric triage.
Augusto was stopped at the doors while nurses moved around her.
He accepted it badly.
A nurse in blue scrubs finally came out.
“Mr. Serrano?”
“Yes.”
“The doctors are evaluating your daughter and the baby.”
“Is the baby alive?”
“The fetal heartbeat is present.”
Augusto closed his eyes for one second.
“Can I see her?”
“Not yet.”
He nodded.
Then stood in the corridor with both hands at his sides because he had nowhere useful to put them.
Forty minutes later, Elise’s obstetrician arrived.
Dr. Julia Warren had treated Elise for most of the pregnancy.
She recognized Augusto immediately.
“You’re her father.”
“Yes.”
“Has Elise had decreased movement before tonight?”
“I don’t know.”
Julia studied him.
That answer clearly surprised her.
Augusto felt the judgment even though she did not voice it.
He deserved some of it.
He knew which restaurants Elise liked.
Which schools she attended.
Which employee at the family company once made her cry when she was nineteen and how quickly that employee found himself transferred to Arizona.
But he did not know whether his eight-months-pregnant daughter had experienced reduced fetal movement before tonight.
He had assumed Travis handled pregnancy matters because Travis was her husband.
That assumption suddenly looked irresponsible.
Another nurse appeared.
“The doctor needs to speak with Mrs. Hale.”
Augusto frowned at the name.
Elise had kept Serrano professionally but used Hale on some medical paperwork.
The nurse continued.
“They’re recommending delivery tonight.”
His chest tightened.
“How early?”
“Several weeks.”
“Why?”
“The fetal monitoring is concerning. Dr. Warren will explain directly to Elise.”
Augusto looked through the closed doors.
“Is my daughter in danger?”
“They’re acting now to keep both of them safe.”
That was all he received.
It had to be enough.
Twenty minutes later, Elise called him from her hospital bed.
Her voice shook.
“Dad?”
“I’m here.”
“They’re doing a C-section.”
“Okay.”
“I’m scared.”
Augusto pressed the phone harder to his ear.
“I know.”
“What if—”
“No.”
He stopped himself.
He had almost told her not to think that way.
A command.
Even now.
He changed the sentence.
“What do you need from me?”
Silence.
Then:
“Stay.”
Augusto sat down in the hallway.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Before the line disconnected, Elise said one more thing.
“I tried to come yesterday.”
Augusto went completely still.
“What?”
“Travis said the doctor canceled my appointment.”
Then the nurses took her phone.
May you like
Augusto remained in the hallway staring at nothing.
Because that was the first moment he understood the kitchen might not have been the beginning of the emergency.
