Chapter 4 - The Ambulance
At thirty-five weeks, Claire woke to blood.
Rachel drove her to St. Catherine's Medical Center through a thunderstorm.
Within twenty minutes, Claire was surrounded by nurses.
“Placental abruption,” the doctor said.
Claire gripped the hospital bed.
“What does that mean?”
“It means we may need to deliver tonight.”
“She's five weeks early.”
“I know.”
The fetal monitor suddenly changed.
A nurse looked toward the doctor.
The room accelerated.
“We're moving.”
Claire's heart exploded with panic.
“Wait.”
“Claire, we need to get your daughter out.”
Another contraction tore through her.
Claire screamed.
Rachel grabbed her hand.
“You're okay.”
“No.”
Claire looked at her cousin.
“Call him.”
Rachel froze.
“What?”
“Adrian.”
“Claire—”
“If something happens to me, he needs to know.”
“You said—”
“I know what I said!”
The monitor alarm sounded again.
Claire began crying.
“Please.”
Rachel grabbed Claire's phone.
She still had the number.
Adrian answered on the first ring.
“Claire?”
Rachel's face changed.
“It's Rachel.”
Silence.
“Where is she?”
“St. Catherine's Medical Center outside Madison.”
Adrian's voice became frighteningly calm.
“What happened?”
“She's in labor.”
Another pause.
Then:
“How far along?”
Rachel closed her eyes.
“Thirty-five weeks.”
The silence on the other end lasted several seconds.
When Adrian spoke again, his voice was almost unrecognizable.
“Thirty-five?”
Rachel swallowed.
“Yes.”
His breathing stopped.
Then:
“Is the baby mine?”
Rachel looked toward Claire.
Claire nodded.
“Yes.”
The line went silent.
“Adrian?”
May you like
“I'm coming.”
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