Mistletoe Motel

17. Mack

Chapter 17

Mack

T he steady hum of tires on asphalt had become a soothing white noise over the past three hours. Mack sat in the back seat of the Petersons’ silver Volvo V90 station wagon, a car that seemed to embody everything she’d imagined about Holly’s parents. The leather seats were pristine, not a crumb or stray hair in sight, and the new-car smell still lingered faintly in the air.

Her leg bounced nervously as she stared out the window, watching the snowy landscape rush by. The highway stretched out before them, a ribbon of gray cutting through the white expanse. Occasional clusters of evergreens, their branches heavy with snow, broke up the monotony of the view.

She glanced at her phone for what felt like the hundredth time, willing it to vibrate with another update from her mother. The last message had come through about twenty minutes ago: Sarah’s doing great. Contractions are getting closer together.

Mack’s stomach churned with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. She was going to be an aunt. The reality of it was finally sinking in, along with the growing fear that she might miss the birth despite their best efforts.

“So, Mack,” Holly’s mother’s voice cut through her thoughts as she turned around in the passenger seat once again. “You mentioned earlier that you work in software engineering. What exactly does that entail?”

Mack blinked, pulling her attention away from the window. “Oh, well, I work on developing AI-driven applications. My current project is a personal assistant app that uses machine learning to anticipate users’ needs.”

“That sounds very…modern,” Mrs. Peterson replied, her tone a mix of politeness and bewilderment. “And do you enjoy your work?”

“I do, very much.” Mack nodded, trying to keep her answers concise yet polite. She was grateful for the Petersons’ kindness in driving her to Minneapolis, but the constant questions were beginning to wear on her already frayed nerves.

“And your family? What do your parents do?” Mrs. Peterson pressed on.

“Mom,” Holly interjected from beside Mack, her voice tinged with exasperation. “Maybe we could give Mack a break from the interrogation? Just for now?”

“It’s okay, really,” Mack said, offering a small smile. “I appreciate your interest, Mrs. Peterson. I’m just grateful you’re all willing to help me get to the hospital. And to answer your question—” She stopped herself when her phone buzzed, and her heart leapt as she read the new message from her mother. “Her cervix is fully dilated,” she read aloud. “I…I don’t even know what that means exactly,” she admitted. “I really should have read up on this stuff.”

Linda’s head whipped around so fast Mack was surprised she didn’t get whiplash. “Oh my! That means we need to hurry!” She turned to her husband, her voice rising. “Peter, we need to go faster!”

Mr. Peterson—Peter Peterson—glanced at his wife, his expression a mix of amusement and concern. “Dear, I’m already going five over the speed limit. We’ll get there.”

“But the baby!” Linda exclaimed, her hands fluttering in the air as if she could somehow will the car to move faster. “Mack’s going to miss it!”

Mack felt a surge of anxiety at Linda’s words, but before she could spiral into panic mode, she felt Holly’s hand slip into hers. The simple gesture grounded her, and she squeezed back gratefully.

“Mom,” Holly said. “Please stay calm. Panicking isn’t going to get us there any faster.”

Linda took a deep breath, visibly trying to compose herself. “You’re right, of course. Peter, don’t drive faster. Drive safely. We don’t want any accidents.”

“That was the plan, dear,” he said and continued to concentrate on the road.

Linda twisted in her seat to face Mack again, offering what was clearly meant to be an encouraging smile but came across more as a nervous grimace. “Don’t worry, Mack. We’ll get you there in time. Even the final stage can take hours, especially for first-time mothers.”

Her gaze dropped to where Mack’s and Holly’s hands were intertwined on the seat between them. Mack hadn’t even realized she was still holding Holly’s hand until she saw Linda’s eyes widen slightly. She felt Holly tense beside her, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, but she didn’t pull her hand away. Instead, she met her mother’s gaze steadily, a silent challenge in her eyes.

The moment stretched, and Mack held her breath, wondering if Linda was about to lose it entirely. But she simply gave her a small nod, so subtle Mack almost missed it, before turning back to face the front.

Outside, the landscape began to change, the vast open fields giving way to more frequent clusters of buildings as they approached the outskirts of Minneapolis. Sprawling suburbia began to replace the open fields, with neat rows of houses and manicured lawns peeking out from under blankets of snow. Strip malls and gas stations dotted the roadside, their parking lots bustling with last-minute Christmas shoppers. As they drew closer to the city center, the skyline came into view, a collection of glass and steel structures rising up against the pale winter sky. The iconic Foshay Tower stood out among the more modern buildings, a testament to the city’s history amidst its growth. Traffic began to thicken, brake lights glowing red as they merged onto the freeway leading into downtown Minneapolis. The Mississippi River snaked alongside them, its waters dark and choppy, partially frozen in places.

Twenty minutes later, Mack’s phone buzzed again. “Mom says Sarah’s pushing,” she announced, her voice a mix of excitement and nervous energy.

Linda let out a small gasp. “Oh my! Peter, how much longer?”

Peter glanced at the GPS on the dashboard. “About twelve minutes to the hospital, traffic permitting.”

“We’ll make it,” Holly said softly, giving Mack’s hand another reassuring squeeze. “And even if we don’t, you’ll be there soon after. That’s what matters.”

Mack nodded, trying to calm her racing heart. “You’re right. I just… I promised Sarah I’d be there.”

“And you will be,” Holly assured her. “Maybe not for the actual birth, but for all the important moments after. The first time she holds the baby, the first feeding, the first diaper change…”

“Oh God,” Mack groaned, a nervous laugh escaping her. “I didn’t even think about diapers. I don’t know the first thing about changing a diaper and I’m staying with her for two weeks to help her out.”

Linda turned around again, her earlier nervousness replaced by a warm smile. “Peter was so nervous about changing Holly’s diaper for the first time that he put it on backward. Well, I can tell you, he learned his lesson because Holly sure liked her food, and she?—”

“Mom!” Holly exclaimed, her cheeks flushing pink.

Peter chuckled from the driver’s seat. “Yes, that’s a mistake you only make once.”

The car filled with laughter, the tension of the moment broken. Despite the unconventional circumstances, Mack felt welcomed by Holly’s family in a way she hadn’t expected. She watched as other familiar landmarks began to appear—the glass skyscrapers of downtown Minneapolis, the distinctive shape of the US Bank Stadium, and finally, the hospital.

As Peter pulled up to the main entrance, Mack felt a sudden reluctance to let go of Holly’s hand. These past two days had been a whirlwind, and Holly had become an unexpected anchor in the chaos. The thought of facing this momentous occasion without her by her side felt daunting.

Holly seemed to sense her hesitation. “Do you want me to come in with you?” she asked softly. “Not into the delivery room, of course, but I can wait outside.”

Mack nodded. “Would you? I mean, if it’s okay with your parents…”

“Of course, dear,” Linda said. “We’ll find parking and wait for Holly.”

“Thank you.” Mack placed a hand on Linda’s shoulder. “For everything. I’ll ask Holly for your details so I can thank you properly.”

As she and Holly climbed out of the car, she smiled when Holly took her hand again, and they headed inside and down the hallway, following the signs to the delivery rooms.

She skidded to a stop in front of the nurses’ station, slightly out of breath.

“I’m looking for Sarah Harper,” she managed to say between pants. “I’m her sister.”

The nurse nodded, quickly checking her computer. “Room 305, just down the hall on your left.”

Mack barely had time to say thank you before she was off again, her eyes scanning the room numbers as she passed—301…303…305. Leaving Holly outside, she burst through the door, her entrance causing everyone in the room to look up. Sarah lay on the bed, her face flushed and hair plastered to her forehead with sweat. Their parents stood on either side of her.

“Mack!” Sarah exclaimed, her voice strained but filled with relief. “You made it!”

Mack rushed to her sister’s side, taking her hand. “Of course I did. I promised, didn’t I?”

The nurse, positioned at the foot of the bed, looked up. “Hello, Mack. Perfect timing.”

The next few minutes were a blur of activity. Mack was counting with the nurse, encouraging her sister, and trying not to wince as Sarah squeezed her hand with surprising strength. “One more big push, Sarah,” the nurse said. “The baby’s almost here!”

Sarah gritted her teeth, bearing down with all her might. Mack held her breath, her eyes fixed on the nurse. She fumbled under the covers and then, suddenly, a cry filled the room—strong and indignant, announcing the arrival of new life.

“It’s a girl!” the nurse announced, holding up the squirming, wailing infant.

Mack felt tears spring to her eyes as she watched the nurse place the baby on Sarah’s chest. Her niece—red-faced, wrinkled, and absolutely perfect.

“Hi there, little one,” Sarah whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

Mack leaned in, marveling at the tiny fingers, the tuft of dark hair, the way the baby’s cries quieted as she nestled against her mother’s skin.

“She’s beautiful, Sarah,” Mack whispered. “You did amazing.”

Sarah looked up at her, eyes shining with tears and exhaustion. “I’m so glad you’re here, Sis. Isn’t she perfect?” Mack watched as Sarah cradled her newborn daughter, marveling at how naturally her sister took to motherhood. Despite the exhaustion evident on her face, Sarah’s eyes shone with love and wonder as she gazed at the tiny bundle in her arms. The baby, still pink and wrinkled, had already stopped crying and was blinking up at her mother with unfocused eyes.

“Sarah, you’re a natural,” Mack said softly, gently stroking her niece’s tiny hand. She only then realized she was crying, and so were her parents, who stood huddled over them in awe.

“I…I need to step out for just a moment. Holly’s waiting in the hallway, and I want to say goodbye and get her parents’ number so I can thank them for getting me here.”

Sarah didn’t seem to hear her, she was solely focused on her baby, but Mack’s mother looked up, a knowing smile on her tired face. “Holly? Is that the woman you shared the motel room with?”

“Yeah…I’ll tell you all about it later. I’ll be right back, okay?”

With a final squeeze of her sister’s hand, Mack slipped out into the hallway. She spotted Holly immediately, pacing nervously near the waiting area. When their eyes met, Holly’s looked up, hopeful. “Everything okay?”

“It’s a girl,” Mack announced, her voice thick with emotion as she approached Holly. “She’s perfect, Holly. Absolutely perfect.”

Without hesitation, Holly pulled her into a tight embrace. “Congratulations, Aunt Mack,” she murmured, her breath warm against Mack’s ear. She pulled away and gave her a beaming smile. “I don’t want to hold you up. Go be with your family.” She held out her phone. “Just give me your number. We’ll catch up later.”