Page 75 of Mulberry Hollow (Riverbend 2)

She chuckled as she shut off the water and dried her hands. “Quite a few times as a resident—but that was my first solo flight here.”

He shook his head, wonder gleaming in his eyes. “You were... you were amazing, Avery. So calm and collected. I saw what was happening on that porch and froze.”

“You were a real trooper. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Well, color me impressed.” With one last smile he was gone.

Avery strode back to the exam room to check on Nadine.

The woman was FaceTiming with her husband. Nadine caught Avery’s eye and turned the phone around. “Oh, honey, this is Dr.Robinson. This is my husband, Brendan.”

The handsome young man was inside a car, but it wasn’t moving. “Thank God you were there, Dr.Robinson. I don’t know how to thank you for what you did.”

“Your wife did all the hard work.”

“And everything’s fine? With Nadine and the baby?”

“They’re the picture of health. The ambulance should be here any moment. Do you have the address for Mission Hospital?”

“It’s already in my GPS. I’m about thirty minutes away.”

“You might beat them there. Travel safely. We don’t need any more excitement tonight.”

“I will. Nadine, you want to tell the doctor what we decided?”

Avery lifted her brows at the woman.

Nadine’s eyes sparkled. “We want to name our baby after you, Dr. Robinson: Avery Elizabeth Reynolds. What do you think?”

Avery’s breath caught. She stared at the little one, whose translucent eyelids had closed. They wanted to name their precious first child after her?

“I think she’s speechless,” Nadine teased.

Avery blinked against the sting behind her eyes. “I-I don’t know what to say. I’m so honored.”

“I could not have done this without you.” Nadine winked. “But we’re really glad your name isn’t Helga.”

Avery expelled a wispy laugh.

The couple finished their call and disconnected.

A siren wailed in the distance. “I think that’s your ride, Mama.”

The ambulance arrived, siren pealing, lights whirling, in an organized flurry of motion. “Can you hold the baby, Dr.Robinson?” One of the paramedics lifted the baby from Nadine’s arms and placed her in Avery’s.

She took the sleeping bundle and left the room to give the paramedics space to lift Nadine onto the gurney. Once Avery delivered all the pertinent patient information their demeanors relaxed. All was under control. It was just a matter of transporting the patients now.

In the lobby Wes hung back, ready to assist if needed. Avery strolled over to wait with him.

He peeled back the baby’s blanket, his face softening as he peered at the infant. “How can she sleep through all this ruckus?”

“Ever heard the phrase ‘sleeping like a baby’?”

He touched her little hand. “She’s so tiny. Look at those fingernails.”

Avery stared down at her. “Seven pounds, twelve ounces, and twenty inches long.”

“Amazing, this job you get to do.”