Holding On by Karen Stivali

station? I could come pick you up.”
    “I’d rather you didn’t have to drive with the girls in the car if the roads are so bad. Hopefully I can find a taxi. If not, I’ll call you.”
    “Keep me posted.”
    “I will. Is Ella all right? Is she worried?”
    “Not at all, she and Marienne were baking cookies when it happened. I finished making them while Marienne headed to the hospital. Ella didn’t skip a beat. She’s watching a movie now. Don’t worry.”
    “Thanks.”
    The train made its slow motion crawl into the station and chugged to a halt. Daniel’s hand tapped against the door. Open already.
    The air from outside the train was freezing. It seemed to be blowing from every direction at once. Daniel made his way down the stairs and out onto the street. Snow was piling up in huge drifts along the building and around the base of the steps. There were hardly any cars on the road at all, let alone any taxis. He looked up Easton Avenue and down Route 27. Nothing was moving.
    Bugger.
    He trudged through the snow making his way toward the newsstand. Icicles were already hanging down from the overpass.
    “Excuse me,” he said to the bearded student behind the counter. “Do you have a number for one of the local taxi companies?”
    “Yeah, just a sec.” He leaned over and pulled a card off the bulletin board next to the coffee maker. “Try this one.”
    “Thanks.” Daniel took his cell phone out and dialed the number. His fingers felt numb. The phone rang four times before someone finally answered.
    “A-1 Taxi,” the nasal voice said.
    “Hi, I need a taxi from the New Brunswick train station to St. Peter’s Hospital.”
    “Just a moment,” she said. He could hear her radioing to see who was in the area. “I can have someone there in about forty-five minutes.”
    “Forty-five minutes? You don’t have anyone who can get here faster?”
    “I’m sorry, sir.”
    I can walk there quicker than that . “Never mind.” He hung up and handed the cashier back the card.
    “You visiting someone at the hospital?” he asked.
    “Not exactly. My wife is there having our baby, and I’m trying not to miss it.”
    “Shit. No way. Hey, I can shut down for a little while and drive you.”
    Daniel’s eyebrows rose. “Seriously?”
    “Yeah, we’re real slow, and besides, dude, you’re having a baby.” The guy came around the tiny counter and opened the jingly door. “Let’s go.” He flipped the sign to Be back in ten minutes . And they headed back out into the snow.
    ****
    It was snowing so hard Daniel could barely see the road but they managed to make it to the hospital. “I can’t thank you enough,” Daniel said as the car pulled into the circular drive.
    “No worries, man, good luck.”
    Daniel ran into the hospital, nearly slipping on the watery floors. He went straight to the elevator, clicking the button repeatedly until the doors parted. Come on, come on . He watched the floors pass in slow motion.
    As soon as the doors opened, he strode to the nurses’ station. “My wife, Marienne Gardner, was brought in a few hours ago….”
    “Did you say Gardner?” a nurse walking by asked.
    “Yes.”
    “Oh, you’re just in time—they wheeled her into the surgical area a minute ago. Come on, let’s get you dressed so you can join her.”
    “Is she all right?” Daniel hurried after the nurse.
    “She’s doing fine. She’s been asking for you. I’ll send someone in to tell her you’re here while we get you dressed.” They entered a small room, and she grabbed a pair of blue scrubs off the stack. “Let’s get you out of that coat. Is it still snowing like crazy?”
    “Yes.”
    The nurses helped Daniel into sterile scrubs and stretched a puffy cap over his head. His heart raced at a frightening speed. They ushered him into the operating room. Marienne was already on the table. There was activity all around her. Trays of shiny instruments. Beeping machines. A huge round mirror suspended from a