Page 73 of Mulberry Hollow (Riverbend 2)

Footsteps sounded behind her as Wes bounded up the steps, then scuffled to a halt. “Holy...”

Fortunately, Nadine was positioned in a way that provided a modicum of privacy. Nadine sagged into the brick wall, out of breath as the contraction passed. Sweat dampened her dark hair.

“You’re doing amazing, Nadine.”

Avery took the towels from Wes. “Thank you. Grab my phone and call 911, then put it on speaker. Then could you run inside and grab a couple pillows and a blanket from the supply closet at the end of the hall? Oh, can you turn on the flashlight and set me up with some light please?”

“Sure thing.”

After Wes left, Nadine started bearing down. “Pant with me, Nadine. Come on, like this.” Avery joined the woman in blowing out short puffs of air.

The dispatcher’s voice came over the line. “911. What’s your emergency?”

Avery began spreading one of the towels beneath Nadine’s legs. “This is Dr.Robinson from the Riverbend Medical Clinic. I need an ambulance here ASAP. I have a twenty-six-year-old woman in stage-two labor, thirty-eight weeks gestation.”

“Thank you, Doctor. I’m sending one out now. What’s your address?”

“946 Mulberry Hollow Lane, Riverbend Gap.”

“Help is on the way. ETA is forty minutes, Doctor.”

“Thank you.”

She suspected the baby’s head would emerge with the next contraction, and the perineum had had sufficient time to thin and stretch a bit.

“On the next contraction I want you to bear down again, all right? We’re going to birth this baby.”

Wes burst through the door, laden with bedding.

“Help me situate her. We need to get her into a reclining position. Let’s be quick. Careful of your back.”

“I’m Wes, by the way,” he told the woman as he squatted down.

“Nadine.”

Wes grasped the woman’s shoulders and whispered, “I didn’t see a thing.”

Nadine breathed a tired laugh. “My dignity’s long gone.”

Wes and Avery shifted the woman, and finally Nadine settled back against the pillows.

Avery slipped on the gloves. “Wes, can you cover her with the blanket? Nadine, your baby will need skin-to-skin contact to warm up. So, while you’re covered up, let Wes help you out of your shirt.”

Nadine started taking it off. “I usually require... at least a nice dinner out first.”

“I promise not to tell.” Wes helped her with the shirt, then tossed it aside.

“Perfect,” Avery said just as Nadine’s face tensed up again. “Wes, prop her shoulders up through this last contraction. That’s it. All right, here we go. Whenever you’re ready, Nadine.”

Frown lines creased Nadine’s forehead as her brows pulled taut. Her eyes were closed, her breaths coming in ragged puffs. The contractions were coming fast and hard now.

“All right, Nadine, when you feel ready, it’s time to push.”

“I can’t... I can’t.”

“You’ve totally got this. Let’s push for ten. Take a breath and go! One... two... three...”

Avery continued the count as Nadine gave it her all. More and more of the baby’s head showed. “Eight... nine...”