Page 2 of Bottle Shock
Just one night.
We didn’t even exchange numbers.
“I hate to be the one to tell you this,” she continues, “but unfortunately, Allison passed away two days ago.”
I stumble back a step, the towel slipping from my grasp. “I—what?”
Despite not knowing Allison very well, hearing about her death is shocking. But as quickly as the shock hits me, confusion quickly takes its place.
“I’m sorry to hear about her passing, but why are you letting me know? We were barely more than acquaintances.”
She quiet for a beat. “Are you aware Allison was pregnant?”
My footing slips on a rock, breath stilling in my lungs. I scrub a hand down my face, rubbing my eyes to clear the blur in my vision, but it only worsens.
Pregnant?
“I’m sorry, what did you just say?”
Luka’s gaze cuts to mine, his eyes widening with concern. I turn around, not sure I can handle his stare as a spiral starts to roll over me.
“I understand this is a shock.” Her voice is softer now, less professional than it was before. “Allison died from a hemorrhage after giving birth and she listed you as the father on the birth certificate. Her parents are here, prepared to take full custody if you’d like to relinquish your parental rights, but before that, we’ll need a DNA sample from you to confirm paternity.”
Words begin rotating through my mind—hemorrhage, parental rights, DNA, paternity. It’s too much. Acid works its way up my throat, and suddenly too much of my strength is required to stand upright. I hinge at the waist, resting a palm on my knee, my chest heaving.
“Mr. Ledger, I know this is a lot to take in, but I’m going to need you to make some quick decisions. How soon can you get to Seattle General?”
“I’m in Croatia,” I say with a breath, my voice so distant I hardly recognize it. “How did you get this number? How do you know I’m the right guy?”
Before me, the water crashes onto the shore, waves breaking over one another. Everything is in motion, but I feel frozen—like the epicenter of a raging storm, seconds from being swept away.
“Allison had your name and contact information in her belongings. Time is of the essence. The baby is stable in the NICU for now, but she’s not out of the woods yet.”
She.
The baby is a girl.
I straighten my stance, a surge of panic jolting me. “NICU? What’s wrong with the baby?”
“Allison delivered early. There were complications. I can’tsay much more than that. The sooner you can get here, the better.”
“I’ll be on the next flight out.”
We hang up, and I stand with my phone still clutched in my hand, staring at the horizon, where the sea meets the sky in a line so fine it barely exists.
Luka’s footsteps sound behind me. He claps a hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze.
“Did something bad happen?” he asks, the unease in his tone is heavy.
Without taking my eyes off the water, I nod. “Yes and no.”
He stays silent, but his gaze remains on me.
When I finally turn to face him, the reality of it all lands like a weight to my chest.
“I think I have a daughter.”
It turns out the first flight out of Croatia was a red-eye with five layovers—easily the longest, most disorienting travel experience of my life.
