swallows audibly, and her eyes narrow as if she’s in pain for a second. “There’s a woman here, she didn’t have anywhere else to go. And she’s in labor. I think. She’s been having contractions all day.”
“Why didn’t you take her to the clinic you partnered with?”
She sighs, her hands flexing and curling at her sides. Her lips barely move when she speaks.
“They terminated our agreement after my divorce. Marcel is one of their largest patrons. I haven’t been able to negotiate another arrangement like that yet. I’m working on building my own clinic on sight, but that takes money that I’m still trying to raise. Permits that keep getting “lost” And, as you noted, you are my last resort, because it’s a fucking emergency.” She pauses to take a deep breath. I know we have issues, but if you could put them aside and please come help this woman who has trusted me with her life.” Her voice breaks and her chest heaves, her eyes are pleading and bleak.
But I need to understand what I’m walking into.
“Have you been timing her contractions?”
“Yes, but only since her water broke, and that’s when I called you.”
“How close?”
“Four minutes, max.”
“Do you have a delivery area set up?”
She nods eagerly. “I have everything in place. I found some info in the book about home births…I fitted the room out today.”
I grab her arm, “Today? She’s been here all day. Why’d you wait so long to call me?”
She bites her lip. “The baby’s not due for another month, and until her water broke, I wasn’t sure she was in labor. So, I let her rest and went to get stuff from the medical supply just in case.”
I’m already moving again by the time she’s done talking. I grab my field kit from my car and start walking back to her.
“Take me to her,” I say with a curt nod, and wait for her to take the lead. I open the bag to see if I have everything I need and look up to find her standing in the same spot, watching me. “Is there a problem?” I in a brisk, but civil tone.
“Thank you so much for this. I know you’re angry with me…” She puts a hand out as if she’s going to touch me.
I step back with a sharp shake of my head. “That doesn’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling, but this isn’t the time. Let’s go.”
She nods and drops her eyes to the ground but not before I glimpse some of the sorrow in them.
I’m torn between heartache and hope. The last month of silence and distance has nearly eaten me alive. Tyson has made it sound as if she’s never been happier. But that’s not what I see now. It’s not what I feel.
Her shoulders sag and my heart mimics the motion.
“Okay, let me show you the way.”
“Thanks Rob, appreciate you coming.” I shake hands with my retired pediatrician. He was the only person I could think of to call who would come.
“No problem, Son, we’re lucky the baby’s healthy and mama is, too.”
“I know.” I glance behind him and frown. “Where’s Regan?”
“Oh, she said to thank you and tell you goodnight.” He sets down his bag and heads toward the bed where Lucy and her baby girl are getting to know each other.
She’s very lucky. Less than two hours of pushing brought a beautiful baby girl into this world, and when I caught her, she gifted us with a lusty, robust cry of displeasure. The miracle of life is a humbling sight to behold. And Regan was a great birth coach and my right hand. We work so well as a team.
The goodwill and optimism that started to grow while we were in the thick of delivery evaporates at Rob’s message. She may not want to talk to me, but I damn sure want to talk to her. I leave the patients in the very capable hands of one of the best pediatricians in the state and go in search of trouble.
I walk through the stone-arched walkway that connects the residential facilities with the classrooms and offices. I’m angrier with Regan than I have been with anyone in my entire life, but I can’t help the rush of pride, as I survey what she’s done with this place.
Venus Rising is nothing short of remarkable. It’s everything she said it would be. It’s bittersweet to see her doing it all and not to be part of it. We’ve