Page 42 of Muskoka Miracle (Muskoka Shores #7)

T he headache pounding behind her eyes was making it hard to hear. Dr. Feldman was talking, but for once wasn’t smiling, which couldn’t be a good thing. Sarah leaned closer, doing her best to focus.

“…and having reviewed this, I have to admit, I’m getting a little concerned about the amount of protein in your urine.” Dr. Feldman frowned. “And when that’s combined with your high blood pressure reading today, it leads me to suspect you’re a likely candidate for pre-eclampsia.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Dr. Feldman’s face wore compassion. “I’m sorry, Sarah, but you’re going to the hospital today.”

“Today?” No. No, no. “I’m not due for four more weeks.”

“I know, but—”

“I’ve read the baby books, and I know if a baby comes this early it can have all kinds of issues.” Oh, look at her arguing with an obstetrician.

“And if you continue to have these symptoms, then your baby may quite possibly end up with even more.”

Her lungs tightened. Oh, if only Dan was here.

“You need to call your husband.”

“But he’s still in New York.”

“And that means he can be here in just a few hours. Sarah, your blood pressure is getting dangerously high and so that baby needs to come out. You’ll be monitored, but I think we’ll need to induce you this afternoon or tomorrow.”

“What?” No way. “But I haven’t got my bags packed.”

“Would you prefer a C-section?”

Be cut open again? “No.”

“Sarah, please call Dan.”

“He’s at training.”

“Have you got someone else you can call?”

Sarah gripped the edge of the desk. Something solid. Something real. For this moment that felt anything but.

“Sarah, you need to calm down. Unless you want me to call an ambulance for you?”

“What? No.” She sucked in a deep breath. Lord, You see this. Help! She tried to smile, but it felt fake. “It’s just I’m not ready. I haven’t even had my baby shower.”

“So have it afterwards. You need to go to the hospital today. This is getting dangerous.”

“But I feel fine.” Maybe a little agitated at times, but she was a redhead. Come on…

“Sarah, listen to me.” Dr. Feldman leaned across the desk. “Your kidneys and liver can be permanently damaged if you do not get this dealt with soon. Do you want to spend the rest of your life having to give yourself needles or having dialysis just because you don’t like the timing of your birth?”

Sarah stared at her. Well, when you put it like that…

“But Dan’s in New York.” Hadn’t she said that already?

The doctor exhaled. “So get someone else to take you. Sarah, I’m concerned, and the longer you leave it, the worse this situation can get.

I know you want to do all you can to give your baby the best chance possible.

Please, if you don’t want a C-section, and I’m already going out on a limb by not insisting on you doing that, then I need to set up the specialist team and ensure they’re available, just in case. ”

Sarah’s eyes filled with tears, and she bit her lip to keep it from trembling.

“Call him now.”

She rang the numbers slowly, only to get his voicemail. She ended the call without leaving a message. “He’s not answering.”

Dr. Feldman looked at her steadily. “Sarah, I’m calling the hospital to book you in. If you’re not there by five p.m. I’ll be sending an ambulance to collect you.”

Sarah drove home slowly, her mind racing through what needed to be done.

She so wasn’t ready to have this baby now.

Her parents were supposed to be coming for the birth.

Now they’d be coming when the baby was weeks old!

The baby room wasn’t even set up properly yet; the baby shower was supposed to be this weekend.

She’d intended to clean the apartment from top to bottom, but had only managed to do the kitchen so far. It was all so wrong…

She pulled in and parked, then slumped against the steering wheel. Lord, give me strength.

She must’ve closed her eyes, for the next moment she was jerking awake to the tap, tap, tap on the window.

Davis, the concierge, looking at her with concern. She shifted upright. “Mrs. Walton? I saw you on the security monitor. Are you okay?”

She shook her head. “I don’t feel good.”

“Do you need a doctor?”

“No, I’ve just been there.” There was something she had to do. What was…?

“Have you called your husband?”

That was it. “I tried. He has a game.”

“Okay. Well, let me help you get upstairs. And I think it might be good to try him again.”

She tried calling once she reached the foyer, but no answer. Tried again when Davis escorted her to her front door. No reply.

“Is there someone else I can call for you?” Davis asked. “Mrs. Cash? Oh, that’s right. She left yesterday to go to Muskoka.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll try again. Thanks, Davis.”

“If you’re sure,” he said, as she shut the door.

She peered at the apartment. So much remained to do. But first she needed to call and leave a message. She sank into the leather lounge—oh, so comfy—and finally made the call.

“Hey Dan, Dr. Feldman told me I need to go to the hospital today to be induced.” Her throat clogged. “If you can come get me, that’d be really good. I love you.”

She hoisted herself out of the lounge’s comfort and slowly trudged to the baby room.

The room was filled with boxes, the cot that needed to be assembled, the pram that still needed adjusting, all crammed next to the spare bed.

Somewhere were some nappies—diapers—and little newborn clothes she needed.

Stepping carefully over the detritus she bent over and grabbed the items, then slowly made her way back to her bedroom.

She was so tired. What would she need anyway?

Somewhere there was a list provided when they’d attended a hospital orientation.

She reached under the bed, pulling out an assortment of suitcases until she finally found what she was looking for.

Grabbing an overnight bag she slowly filled it with an assortment of clothes and toiletries, finally zipping it closed, before lying on the bed.

She was so tired, a little sleep wouldn’t hurt…

* * *

“Princess?” No answer. “Sarah?” Dan raced through the apartment. Was she even here?

No, there was her handbag. He saw a small bag of clothes in the baby room. She’d obviously been here. He raced to their bedroom, discovering her lying on the bed, a variety of suitcases of various shapes and sizes strewn across the room.

“Oh, Princess, I’ve been so worried.”

He stroked her hair, suddenly aware of the sweaty smell coming from his body. He’d not had a chance to change since getting her phone call. It’d been straight to a cab, the team had found him the first flight, and he’d driven directly here.

“Sarah?”

She opened an eye, and he watched her face relax. “Dan, I’m so glad…” She drifted off again.

“Sarah, sweetheart, come on. We need to get to the hospital.”

“I’m so tired.”

Dan bit his lip. This was going to be a challenge. He could still carry his wife’s pregnant form, but the bags might be a challenge as well. “Sarah, I’m going to need your help here. What bags am I supposed to take?”

She pointed at one waiting near the door. “It just needs, just needs…” She closed her eyes again, and he realized she looked a little paler than normal.

“Just needs the baby stuff, okay.”

He hastily grabbed the baby bag, then swung her up in his arms, carefully balancing the bags, collecting her handbag on the way out.

“It’s nice to have you back,” she murmured sleepily.

“So, are you feeling okay?”

She yawned. “I’m just so tired.”

“You relax, Princess. We’ll get you there soon.”

Once he propped her inside the Jeep, he gunned the engine. Fortunately, the traffic was minimal; peak hour was still a little way away and they made it in good time.

He parked, then carrying the bags, escorted his wife through the foyer, swiftly gaining directions to the maternity section.

He followed Sarah to the monitoring room and watched as she was strapped in, and the machines began to whirr and beep.

Her blood pressure was taken, the nurses looked at each other, then exited the room, but Dan could hear them outside.

“This is the one Dr. Feldman told us about. We’ll need to get a rush on.”

They soon returned, and Sarah was wheeled to a room, where a doctor who partnered with Dr. Feldman frowned. “Given the complex nature of things, I think we’d be better off to do a C-section.”

Sarah’s eyes opened wide. “No! No, I’m not being cut open.”

Dan didn’t blame her, having spent months in hospital after her car accident seven years ago. Half the scars on her body were from the injuries sustained from her car accident; the rest were from the surgery.

He held her hand and addressed the doctor. “We have been assured by Dr. Feldman that we can do this without surgery. Call her if you need to check.”

The doctor studied the chart again. “Okay, but she needs to be monitored closely. Let’s start with the gel asap.”

Moved to a new room, Sarah had some gel inserted before she was encouraged to lay back and rest.

Dan didn’t like the pale sheen, and this lethargy was something different. “Sweetheart, tell me how you’re feeling.”

Big anxious green eyes turned to him. “Scared.”

He kissed her on the cheek. “Princess, it’s going to be fine. You heard what the nurses said. You need to rest.”

“But there’s still so much to do.”

“It’ll get done.” He’d planned to sort out the baby’s room this weekend, when Sarah was supposed to be at Jackie’s for the baby shower, but now he’d have to ask for help.

“Sweetheart, the more you worry, the higher your blood pressure, and the more they’ll insist on a Cesarean, so stop panicking.

” He smoothed his hand over her hair. Would his little son or daughter have the same beautiful color?

Oh man, he was going to be a dad in a few more hours. How awesome.

As he prayed with her, he noticed her start to relax, the stress starting to recede, until she finally fell asleep.