Page 36

D an slapped the puck to Toronto’s Matt Reynolds, watching as the star forward neatly scooped it before sending it into the net to score.

The siren blared and he high-fived his teammates and skated back to the bench, glancing up to where Sarah would normally be sitting with the other wives and girlfriends.

But she’d hardly come at all this year, what with their fight following Dr. McKinnon’s virtual banning of her involvement with the tour, then feeling too tired after all the scans.

He was glad their days of fighting were done.

It was easy to see how the strain of these situations caused couples to buckle under the pressure.

He sucked down an energy drink, glad that his shift had ended, that he’d get a break to sit and pretend to watch the play while his thoughts trudged back to his absent wife. Lord, be with her.

“Dan?”

A nudge from Brendan drew his attention behind to an assistant coach beckoning him urgently. He followed him down the passage away from the stadium’s roar. The coach’s grizzled face frowned, his forehead wrinkling. The hairs on Dan’s neck prickled.

“I’m sorry, but there’s been an accident, Dan.”

His chest clenched. “Who? What?” It couldn’t be Sarah. She was at home with Ange. Wasn’t she?

Compassion washed across the coach’s face. “It’s Sarah. She was in a car accident.”

Oh Lord, please help . He rushed to take off his gloves and helmet and handed them to the equipment guy, and followed him to the locker room to remove his skates and gear, and find his street clothes.

“Sarah’s aunt rang. She’s at the hospital, wants you to come in now.”

“What about the…?” Baby . He could barely bring himself to say it. This couldn’t be happening. Not again.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know anything more.”

Dan swallowed, his heart hammering as he finally tugged on his trousers and grabbed his jacket, wallet, and keys.

“Mick will drive you. I’ve given him directions. Dan, we’ll all be thinking of you, and praying for the best.”

Oh Lord.

Trust Me .

The drive was silent. Young Mick, the second equipment guy, was desperate to stay on the slippery road, but the snow from yesterday still lay thickly, making handling difficult.

Dan was grateful for the silence, sending texts asking for prayer to the Bible study guys, to James and Lindy.

He didn’t want to scare Sarah’s parents, but they’d need some warning.

Mick finally pulled into the emergency entryway, Dan thanked him and raced inside like a wild man. Only to be stopped by John McPherson just inside the foyer near the information desk.

“Where is she? What’s happening?”

“Dan, they’re okay. Calm down, they’re going to be okay.”

“What happened? I need to see Sar. Where is she?”

“Walk with me.” John led him to a nearby elevator, pressing the buttons, explaining briefly what had happened. When they finally got to the maternity section it was to find Ange, a big white bandage on her head and with her arm strapped, obviously anxiously awaiting their arrival.

She gave Dan a swift, awkward hug. “Dan, she’s just being monitored. She’s right this way.”

She led him to a private room, the dimness revealing a curtained bed, at the foot of which stood a blonde nurse holding a chart.

She glanced at him, then said softly, “You’re the father?”

He nodded. “What’s going on?”

“Sarah’s going to be fine.”

“And… and the baby?”

“The baby should be fine too. The shock triggered some early contractions, but the doctor has given her something that’s stopped them. We’re just monitoring the heartbeat now.”

Contractions? He moved closer to the bed, dimly aware of the faint beeps coming from the machine next to the bed.

Sarah’s hair was strewn across the pillow, the only bright thing in this pale, too cool room of gray.

She was asleep, and a cut on her forehead had been patched up with white puffy bandage.

He sat down in the chair next to her, holding her too-still hand. At least it was warm.

He caressed her fingers, wishing that he could infuse some of his life and strength into her. “What happened?”

Ange placed a hand on his shoulder. “Sarah was driving me after a meeting with Dr. Feldman.”

“Who?”

“Your new obstetrician.”

“Our what?”

Ange’s brow creased. “She said it was new, but I didn’t realize…”

Neither had he. Wow. Okay.

“I’m sorry, Dan.” Her gaze was troubled. “I thought you knew.”

“She—we,” he corrected, “found the previous one pretty negative.”

She bit her lip. “A second opinion is always worthwhile.”

He nodded. “So, what happened?”

“We’d just come back from the appointment—Dr. Feldman seems lovely, by the way—and Sarah was driving me back to John’s parents’ place. We were slowing down for an intersection when a pick-up slammed into us at the rear.”

His chest squeezed, his grip tightening on Sarah’s hand.

“We got knocked about a bit, but fortunately the airbags deployed, though Sarah hit her head and got knocked unconscious. The paramedics were great, and she got here amazingly quick.”

Well, that was something. But, “She had contractions?”

Her grip on his shoulder firmed. “They were able to stop them, so she’s fine.”

Wetness filled his eyes. He blinked it back. “We should call her parents.”

“I’ll do that now,” Ange said.

“Tell them to book the first flight they can. Bek too, if she wants. I’ll cover it.”

She squeezed his shoulder again, and he vaguely heard John murmur that he’d pray, and that the doctor was here.

“Mr. Walton?”

Dan looked up to see the doctor approach, a light of recognition in his eyes. No, now was not the time to talk hockey.

“Mr. Walton, your wife should be fine. We’ve run scans, and it looks like your baby is okay. The baby is well protected in the big cushion of the uterus, so it’s very unlikely that there’s been any trauma.”

Dan took a deep breath, fighting the tears that begged for release. “I… I can’t lose…”

The doctor looked at him with compassion. “We’ll be taking another ultrasound soon. You can be assured that there has been no bleeding or any other signs of fetal distress.”

“But what about the contractions?”

“That’s something that can happen with a great shock. They’ve stopped now, and we’ll be monitoring her overnight, especially given her history.”

Her history. Their history. Woven with pain, and rawness, and grace, and hope.

God had been there in their past. And God would be there in their future.

And God was here right now, His presence unseen yet as tangible as the love that swelled his soul.

For despite everything, he loved this woman.

He kissed her hand. He couldn’t lose her. Couldn’t.

* * *

White walls. That horrible antiseptic smell. Flowers. No. All of this was wrong. She thought she’d left that bad dream behind years ago. Why was she still here?

Slowly the blur of images sharpened, and she finally caught the tangled dark head of Dan resting against the mattress of her bed, holding her left hand in both of his. What was he doing here?

She licked dry, chapped lips. She was so thirsty. What was that beeping noise? Why was she here? What was that thing around her stomach? As the panicky questions increased, swirling around her brain like a merry-go-round, so did the stupid beeping machine’s pulse and volume.

No. This wasn’t right, she wanted to get out of here.

Dan stirred, sleepily looking up at her. “You’re awake! Thank God.”

A blonde nurse appeared, talking at her like she was a schoolgirl, before murmuring something to Dan who nodded, glancing at her as he rubbed his hand over his face then through his hair.

Didn’t they know she knew all about hospitals?

That they were places where dreams died?

She had to get out of here. Agitation rose.

She shuffled on the bed. “What…?” Her voice was raspy. She could barely talk. Someone get her a drink.

“Shh, Princess, it’s all okay.”

Nope. Nothing was okay if she was lying strapped down in a hospital bed.

“Sarah.” The nurse spoke firmly to her. “You’re in the hospital. There was a car accident yesterday. You’re okay, and so is your baby.”

Baby?

Oh! She shifted, desperate to reposition the strap so she could feel her stomach. But when she felt her stomach there was no reassuring kick. Oh, Lord!

The nurse patted her hand away, rearranging the equipment once more to her satisfaction. “Sarah, the monitor tells us your baby’s heartbeat is fine. Hear the sound like a galloping horse?”

Under the steadying beep of her own heart beat Sarah could hear a faster sound.

“That tells us that the baby’s heart valves are opening and closing as they should.”

Thank You, Lord .

Dan’s face loomed over her. “Here you go, Princess.” He gave her a bottle of water with a straw.

“Thanks,” she managed to croak out, before blessed coolness slipped down her throat.

Dan’s face relaxed in relief. “Oh Sar, you had us so worried.” He pressed a kiss to her hand. “I love you so much. I can’t lose you.”

The emotion in his voice and on his face stirred deep inside her heart, welling moisture in her eyes.

“Hey, Princess, don’t cry. You’re okay, the baby’s okay.”

She placed a hand on her stomach, and he gently laid his over the top. She threaded her fingers through his.

“We’re not okay.”

His brow creased, and she had to make him understand.

“You and me. I’ve been so frustrated about things and taken it out on you. I’m sorry.”

“Hey, it’s alright,” he soothed. “Everything will be alright. We’ll be okay. I know things have been disappointing for you. I understand that.”

Tears trickled onto her pillow. She sniffed them back. “I hate that I’ve been crying so much.”

He thumbed away her tears. “I don’t mind your tears.”

“You’ll be a good dad,” she murmured.

“And you’ll be a good mum.”

She smiled at how he said it, like she did. Then her emotions wobbled. “If we get that far.”

“However far we get, I’m glad I’m doing it with you.”

Oh, why did the man have to be so nice to her? Her tears swelled into sobs, and the monitor started to beep at a higher pitch, which brought the nurse rushing in.

“Mr. Walton? Sarah? Is everything okay in here?”

“It is now.” Sarah sniffled, nodding. “He’s so good to me,” she wailed.

“Okay then.” The nurse shot a smile at Dan then exited, closing the door behind them.

Sarah gripped his hand. “Can you hold me?”

“I don’t know if I can with all those wires.” He gestured to her stomach.

“Get on the bed then.”

“Are you sure?”

“Please?”

He took off his shoes and gingerly climbed on, spooning her, his front to her back, as he laid his arm across her belly. “I love you,” he whispered.

She gripped his hand, needing his strength, needing his warmth. She drew his hand to her chest, right next to her heart. “I love you too.”