Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I met the older man’s eyes and knew a fear like I’d never known before—and I’d been in some harrowing situations, both in the Army and on the job. But I tamped it down. “Okay.”
“I’ll google ‘How to deliver a baby!’” shouted Felicity. “Millie, give me your phone!”
“Let’s get her upstairs,” Daphne said. “Into one of the guest rooms.”
“I’ll grab a key!” yelled Frannie, racing toward the reception desk.
Meg’s legs were not working well, and her father and I slowly helped get her up the steps and into the closest guest room. April, Chloe, and Sylvia led the way holding candles, Frannie opened the door, and we laid Meg on the bed. Daphne followed us in, and together we managed to get clean towels beneath her.
“Mom.” Meg’s voice cracked as she reached for Daphne’s hand. “I’m scared.”
“I know, baby.” Daphne’s voice was remarkably steady. “But everything is going to be just fine. Help is on the way.”
Meg only wept and shook her head. “There’s no time for help.”
“On a scale of one to a hundred, where is your pain?” I asked, trying to recall what the doctor had told us about the pain scale and the timing of the labor. Maybe if she was at eighty or something, the EMTs could arrive in time.
“A hundred,” Meg said. “Maybe two hundred. Noah?”
“Yes. I’m here.” But I was lightheaded with panic.
Meg’s eyes were wild and she struggled to focus on me. “I’m having this baby here and now. Do you believe me?”
She was serious.
“Yes. Just—just give me one second.” I switched my phone flashlight on and raced out of the room, taking the stairs down at least four at a time and leaping from the landing to the ground. I spotted my brothers-in-law all standing near the tree and ran toward them.
“You guys, I need help,” I said frantically. “Who knows how to deliver a baby?”
Even in the dark, I could see their terrified expressions.
Oliver took a step back. “Don’t look at me, I’m just a businessman.”
“I’m just a ball player,” said Tyler.
“I’m a winemaker,” said Henry.
Mack was my last hope, but he shook his head. “Sorry, man. I’ve seen it happen, but I’ve never had to supervise.”
“Fuck.” I closed my eyes, my heart jackhammering in my chest. “I think I have to do it.”
“It’s really happening that fast?” Henry asked.
“She says it is. I have to believe her.”
Tyler clamped a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve got this, McCormick.”
“Absolutely,” said Oliver. “You’re a police officer, so you’ve probably had some first emergency medical training, right?”
“I should have paid more attention to it,” I said weakly.
“Listen,” said Mack. “If I had to choose one of us to deliver a child of mine, I’d choose you, Noah. You can do this.”
I met his eyes and swallowed hard. “Thanks.”
From upstairs, we heard loud screams, and I took off running.
Back in the room, Meg was nearly incoherent with pain. Her eyes were full of tears when she saw me. “Noah?”
“I’m here, baby. I’m right here.” I leaned over her, brushing her hair from her forehead.
“Is the ambulance here yet?”
“No. But it’s okay. If the baby comes too fast, I can deliver it.”
“You can?”
“Yes.”
“You never told me—you know how to—deliver a baby,” she panted.
“Well, I do,” I lied. “It was part of my police training.”
The relief on her face was evident and made me feel better about the fib. I rolled up my sleeves. “I’m just going to wash my hands.”
“I’ll give you some light,” said Chloe, following me into the bathroom with a lighted candle.
At the sink, I scrubbed my hands from fingertips to elbows. When I met Chloe’s eyes in the mirror, I could see the question there. “Don’t ask,” I begged.
“I wasn’t going to.”
I dried my hands, taking deep breaths. I could do this, couldn’t I? I looked at my reflection and willed myself to find the confidence and skill somewhere. Then I took a second to close my eyes and talk with God.
Okay, I get it, I shouldn’t have tempted fate by braving this storm. I’m an asshole. But please don’t punish Meg for it. She deserves a real doctor to deliver our baby. Or the EMTs. If you’ll just let the ambulance get here, I promise to be a much better person. I’ll donate to charity. I’ll stop letting Renzo pee on Mrs. Koslowski’s lawn. I’ll even call my mother more often. But please let my son be brought into this world by a qualified professional.
I gave it five seconds, praying to hear someone yell, “EMS is here!”
But it didn’t happen.
I turned to Chloe. “This is fucked up,” I told her.
“I know,” she said nervously. “But you can do it, right?”
Meg cried out again from the bed, and I shouldered around her sister. “Right.”
MEG
This couldn’t be happening.
I wanted the baby out, yes, but not like this!