Lucia was in charge of her the two weeks that passes after and told me how she was doing from then on.
In the meantime, I dedicated my time to the Hilton hotel in Rome, Italy which was one of the largest hotels in the world, working alongside Martin Castro the general manager who was more than happy to have me around. Work went smoothly and for once I was able to take my mind off Taylor.
I returned home that evening and I played the voicemail on the home line and Lucia's voice came up.
"Appena rotte le acque di Taylor, il bambino sta arrivando (Taylor's water just broke, Keenan, the baby is coming,) we are taking her to the St Barbara hospital. I've been trying to reach you, but your phone has been switched off."
I raced out to my car and started it. I turned on my phone which had been switched off all day and pressing my voicemail messages Lucia's voice came again.
"It's already thirty minutes and the baby isn't here yet. I hope you see this soon."
I drove as fast as I could and when I arrived at the hospital I ran in. I walked to the nurse behind the counter. "They brought in a lady in earlier, Taylor Snowfall she's pregnant."
The lady who seems to have understood what I was saying replied. "Come with me." She led and I followed behind and she brought me to the door and looking around, I spot Ferdinand and Lucia on the waiting chair. Ferdinand had his head bowed while Lucia was holding the rosary and mumbling silent prayers and when I got closer she looked up at me.
"I came as soon as I saw your message, what happened?" I asked because I knew Taylor date wasn't today. "She wasn't supposed to be due until next week Wednesday."
"Non so, (I don't know.)" She replied with equal concern. "ha detto che si sentiva il bambino calci in pancia (she said she felt the baby kick in her belly.) And then her water broke."
I sat down with them. "How long now."
"An hour and twenty minutes." She replied, before resuming with her prayer.
I paced restlessly around the next couple of minute that passes and I glanced through the little space uncovered with cotton on the tainted glass window and saw Taylor on the bed, looking all tired and exhausted and crying out. The voices weren't audible, but I saw the doctor mouthing a "Come on one more time, push!"
Taylor screamed out and tears ran down her face and I could see her forehead covered with sweat and her eyes weary. The doctor looked up from between Taylor's legs and shook his head to the others. I knew something was wrong, Taylor didn't have the strength to push the baby out and it was a dangerous situation for both her and her baby.
It ate me up seeing her suffer this way and I felt guilty for ever leaving her.
The door opened and the doctor with the blonde hair walked out to where Lucia and Ferdinand were. "She's experiencing some complications, she weak and does not have enough strength to push the baby out." He explains, his tongue mixed with both British and Italian accent.
"What are you suggesting we do then doctor?" I ask quickly, moving over to him.
He looked at me. "Who are you to her?"
Taking a deep strengthening breath, I replied. "I'm Keenan Hilton, the baby's father."
"We'll need you to sign the papers for immediate operation if we can't get her to give birth naturally, so we can save both her and her baby."
"Yes sure." A nurse brings me a printed paper and a pen and I signed it, not even minding read it.
As he was about to go back into the delivery room I called to him. "I want to see her," I told him bluntly.
He sighed deeply, "You're sure? Many men won't be able to see their wife or lover go through the pain of delivery."
I nodded, I knew how terrifying it was, but I wanted to be there for her. "I know, I just want to be there for her, and hold her hand, and I know what benefit that would be to her."
"Come with me then," he said and I followed him behind into the delivery room.
The nurse helped me put on an overall gown and a protective cap around my head and made me wash my hands before letting me go meet Taylor.
I took Taylor weak hands into mine and I kissed it, making her look over to me. "Keenan." She said out in relief and I smile at her, wiping at her sweaty forehead with my left hand.
"I'm here always like I promised." I wrapped my left hand around her hand. "I believe you can do this honey because you're strong and you're a fighter. You didn't make it this far to give up now."
"Alright, we'll give it one more try and then we'll decide for an operation." The doctor announced and the nurses drew closer to us.
"Come on Taylor, you can do this." I kissed her hand.
"Okay, we are going to give it a last try, Taylor, we need you to give it all your might. Push!"
Taylor's hand around mine tightened and her eyes squeezed shut as she groaned and screamed aloud, her finger dug into my skin until I began to bleed, but I knew I couldn't let her go. She cried out louder and I fear she might pass out because suddenly her scream lowered and her tightly closed eyes loosened, but the doctor's voice drew me away.
"We got it!" The doctor announced and we were soon blessed with the cry of the newly born baby.
"You did it," I told her happily as the doctors cleared the room and the nurse wrapped the baby up in a clean white towel. I turn to her with a wide smile and I stroke her cheek. Damn, she was stronger than I thought and I was proud of her.
"Here's the baby." A female nurse said and I got up from beside Taylor and took the newly born into my hands, staring at how angelic she looked with her eyes closed as I rocked her in my arms.
"She's beautiful," I told her, but she seemed to be so far away and didn't even glance at the baby or me. "Do you want to see her?" I asked, bringing it closer to her, but she violently flinched back.
"Get her away from me! I don't want her." She yelled, glaring at both of us and I stumbled back, shocked and overwhelmed. "Don't ever bring her close to me." She ordered, tears running down her face and the baby who must have sensed she was unwelcome, began to cry out.
"Shh, don't cry baby, don't cry. Everything will be okay baby." I couldn't help staring at Taylor for a while wondering what made her just turn on her newly born innocent baby.
I felt sad for the little angel, she had been brought into a cruel and hard world and rejection was the first thing she experienced. It wasn't fair on her, and it wasn't fair on Taylor either. It wasn't fair on me to be around these people and yet not being able to make them feel happy.
Taylor's happiness didn't depend on me because happiness comes from within, but I felt responsible for hers. She wasn't happy and it broke my heart.
I wouldn't be able to stay away anymore. There was a baby involved.