“Yeah, yeah. They share everything, except they each have their own cord. I’ll tell you what they share—my sanity. I’m already bigger than Sami, and her due date is before mine. They could have been girls and saved me at least some stretch marks. But no, two boys that are the size of this one.” She pointed to Ghost, who stood beside her still holding and staring at the sonogram snapshot of his sons.
“They won’t come out his size. You know that, right?” Bailey said and earned a glare from Luna.
“Duh. But considering the space they have to go through to get out, they might as well be Brax’s size.”
I patted Luna’s shoulder. “You got this. Everything is progressing normally, and you are gaining accordingly for carrying twins. Besides, the epidural will help with delivery and I imagine you will be just like the other mothers in the end once the babies are born and you hold them in your arms—everything you went through prior won’t matter. If it did, most women would never have any more children.”
“Ha! I can tell you right now, I’m not going through this again,” Luna sneered, and when Ghost bent and kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him. “Don’t think I don’t know what you are doing? Placating me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of doing that, sweetheart. Especially when you are giving me such a gift. Not one child, but two. I love you, baby.”
“Ahh, I love you, too,” Luna said and leaned her forehead against his chest. Ghost kissed the top of her head again, then looked over at Bailey and me with a huge smile, then he winked.
I shook my head and grinned back. After witnessing the interactions between the men of Black Hawk and their women since getting to know them, the men made it pretty hard for their women to refuse them anything. Case in point, the only one not pregnant out of the women was Carly, and per her, it wasn’t from lack of trying.
“Well, I need to get back to work,” I abruptly said and walked away, not waiting for any replies. I didn’t even have to look over my shoulder to know my brisk departure had left them curious.
I walked in my office and closed the door, leaning against it, then swiped at my eyes. Periods of time passed, and not once would I recall the reason for switching my fields of study. Then all of a sudden, the smallest of things would bring tears to my eyes, reminding me that I’d never have the joy of bringing a life into the world. Only sharing in others’ happiness.
There were times I’d tell myself it didn’t matter, and I could have a well-rounded life with a good man and be happy. Other times, it felt out of reach. Emery pursued me now, but if he wanted a family like his friends and brothers, would he change his mind about me?
I walked to my desk, grabbed a tissue, and wiped my face. I needed to put the negative thoughts back in their box and continue my day.
As Bailey and I walked out of the exam room, Amelia was headed in our direction.
“Doctor Minton, the hospital called. Kate Winston arrived by ambulance. She’s in labor and bleeding.”
“Oh, no. Bailey...” I started.
“I got it. Go, I’ll take care of what I can, and Amelia can reschedule the rest.”
“Thanks,” I said as I was already halfway to my office.
After arriving at the hospital and entering the ER, I checked with the desk to see if Kate was there or if they moved her to labor and delivery. As I rode the elevator up, I said a small prayer for Kate and Larry Winston and their unborn daughter.
Kate Winston was a thirty-six-year-old first-time mother-to-be diagnosed with preeclampsia at twenty-one weeks. She also suffered from hypertension. It had been a battle keeping her blood pressure down throughout her pregnancy.
I pushed through the door of the room Kate was in. Mr. Winston stood on the side of the bed holding his wife’s hand as he tried to stay out of the way while Kate was being taken care of. She already was hooked up to the machine to keep track of her vitals, and the nurse was presently attaching the monitor to her stomach for the baby.
“How are you doing, Kate?” I asked as I picked up the chart and read what had been noted before I arrived.
“Been better. I’m worried, Dr. Minton. It’s too early for her,” Kate said, and her voice cracked at the end.
“You’re at twenty-eight and a half weeks. It’s doable. But let’s not worry yet, okay? Your blood pressure is high enough right now. Can you tell me what you experienced today, yesterday? Cramps, discomfort?” I asked as I moved to the bottom of the bed.
“Yesterday was fine. This morning, I woke up, and while Larry was getting ready for work, I went to the kitchen to fix him a cup of coffee and breakfast. I had a little discomfort in my back, but I figured I’d laid wrong or something. After Larry left for work, I straightened the kitchen, then went to take a shower thinking the warm water would help my back. As I washed, that’s when I noticed the blood.”
While she talked, I pulled on gloves and checked her. She was bleeding, and though it looked like a lot right now, it was considered mild.
“Right now, it’s mild. We’ll keep an eye to make sure that doesn’t change. The baby is doing okay for now, too, which is great. I’m more worried about you. We need to get your blood pressure lowered because that isn’t good for you, and if it spikes more, it could put you both at risk.”
“Is that what’s causing her to bleed, Doc?” Larry asked.
“To an extent. But it isn’t solely responsible. The bleeding is more than likely from a placenta abruption. It means the placenta is pulling away from the uterine wall too early. Kate’s problem is she already was diagnosed with hypertension before the pregnancy, it escalated. Preeclampsia is from normal level HBP turning chronic because of the pregnancy. Placenta abruptions are a part of it all.” I walked and looked at the readout on the EFM (electronic fetal monitor). The fetal heartbeat was good, and so were the oxygen levels, but Kate was also having mild uterine contractions.
When I looked back at her, I watched her twinge, then she reached and rubbed above where the monitor was strapped.
“When did the twinging start?”
“It was right before Larry got home. I’d called him after I got out of the showing from seeing the blood.”
“I called an ambulance after I arrived home because I was afraid to drive and have something happen with her while we were in the car,” Larry replied.
“You did the right thing. No reason to take unnecessary chances. I’m going to have the nurse administer some meds for your blood pressure.”
“Will that stop the labor?” Larry asked.
“It’s a possibility, but the high blood pressure is just one factor, Mr. Winston. The placenta abruption is the major issue because it’s how the fetus gets it oxygen. I discussed with both of you before about if this happened, labor would be induced or even a caesarian might be need because it won’t just be the fetus at risk.”
“What’s the likelihood of putting off delivery longer? Giving the baby a better chance,” Kate asked.
I laid my hand on top of hers, then gave it a reassuring squeeze. “We can’t because the risk to you and the baby won’t allow it.”
“If the baby is born today, what are we facing medically with her, Doc?”
I saw the worry in Mr. Winston’s eyes for his child and wife. I would have given anything to take it away, but that was beyond my power. Life’s fragile under perfect circumstances.
“She’ll weigh anywhere from two and a quarter to two and a half pounds. Once delivered, we’ll do nasal intubation to help her breathe until her lungs develop. Babies born this early, in addition to the low weight, almost always have breathing issues. She’ll be moved to NICU. The placenta coming detached early not only affects the oxygen but blood flow, too. That can cause other issues. Let’s worry about issues after the birth and concentrate on lowering Kate’s HBP. The lower we can get it before delivery, the less strain on mother and daughter.”
“How long will the baby have to stay in NICU?” Kate asked and continued to rub her hand over her belly
.
“It can depend on what complications arise. One step at a time, Kate. Let’s get her here first. Okay?”
“Okay. We plan to use Dr. Agassi for the baby’s pediatrician,” Kate said but looked at her husband.
“A few of my friends take their children to Dr. Agassi. They like her. Her office is in the building beside mine, but I’ve only had a chance to talk with her a couple of times in passing since she opened her practice. You’ll have paperwork to fill out, and if you put her name down as the baby’s pediatrician, the neonatal staff will make sure she’s aware of everything, so when the baby is released from NICU, she will do all follow-ups from then on.”
“Thank you, Dr. Minton,” Mr. Winston said, and I smiled.
“You’re welcome. I’m going to step out and check in with my office and make arrangements in case a c-section is needed. I’ll be down the hall if you need me. Try to relax, okay?” The parents nodded, and I left the room.
Far from out of the woods with the baby, but I would do my best to bring her into the world. Once I got her there, hopefully, her stay in the NICU would be short, but first, I had to give her that fighting chance. At almost twenty-nine weeks, the odds were on her side.
Two hours later, Styrofoam cup of coffee in hand, on my way to check in on Kate Winston, I met the nurse coming out of her room.
“Oh good, I was coming to get you. The bleeding has picked up.”
“How’s her HBP?”
“It has lowered, but not much.”
“Go ahead and make sure an OR is availabe. Call the NICU and tell them we are going to need them.”
“You got it.”
I went into the room, and after checking Kate, I read the monitor tape. The oxygen level and blood flow to the baby were starting to drop. Definitely the placenta pulling away.
“Well, are you ready to become parents?” I asked as cheerfully as I could. I learned the more relaxed I was, the parents seemed to stay calmer.
“Do we have a choice?” Kate asked and gave a weak smile.
“I wish I could give one,” I said as the door opened and a nurse walked in with an orderly behind her.
“Everything is ready. Neonatal is on their way,” the nurse said, and then we went into action.
Three hours later, I stood in the hallway looking through the glass at the new parents with their daughter. Bethany Nicole Winston weighed two and a quarter pounds and measured fourteen and a half inches. She’d given a small whimper when I pulled her out. I’d handed her off and turned back to close up Kate. It’d only taken twenty minutes from beginning to end. Now, Bethany’s new life was up to the neonatal unit. I’d stayed and monitored Kate to make sure mother had no complications. Her blood pressure had dropped into a good range not too long after delivery. A good sign. When Kate was ready, she and Larry were taken to NICU to spend time with their daughter.
I watched Larry as he placed a hand on Kate’s shoulder and bent and kissed her head. He whispered something in her ear, and a smile spread across her face.
“You heading out?” the neonatal resident asked as he approached.
“Yeah, I just wanted to have a look before I left. How’s the Winston baby doing?” I asked, then rubbed my hand across my neck.
“Other than her lung development and weight, she is doing remarkably well. You had a long afternoon?”
“Long week.”
“I hear ya. Well, have a good evening, and hopefully, no more of your patients decide to go into labor today.”
“Bite your tongue,” I said, then turned and started toward the elevator.
In the elevator, I leaned against the wall and pulled out my phone. With it being six-thirty, I would head home instead of back to the office. I had no messages from Bailey, but I’d already talked with her earlier, and she’d had everything under control. When the door dinged and started to slide open, I pushed away from the wall. God, I was tired, but the week had ended on a good note and I wouldn’t complain. Not when it could have ended tragically.
I smiled, thinking of the tiny baby with dark little eyelashes. Would there ever come a time that bringing a life into the world got routine? I surely hoped not.
Walking across the lobby to the doors to the hospital exit with my head bent still scrolling my phone, I ran into a body. Automatically I responded with, “Oh, sorry.”
“You look dead on your feet, Doc.”
I jerked my head up. “What are you doing here?”
Chapter Seven
Coast
When I turned on the street Mac’s building was on, I smiled. Devil sat out front in his truck. I watched him look up in the mirror as I rode into the spot behind him.
I took off my helmet and dismounted as he exited the truck and walked up to me with his hand stuck out. I grasped his hand, then pulled, and we both leaned in for the man hug.
“You just get back into town?”
“A couple of hours ago. Stopped by my place and dumped my stuff. Went by my dad’s place, but he wasn’t home, so I texted that I’d catch him tomorrow. Then I stopped by the shop and yelled at the others. Jag was dealing with Poppy. She’d somehow gotten her pants down and pulled her diaper off. It had poop in it and she’d smeared it on herself and around the playpen before he caught her. He, Crusher, Speed and Flirt were going over a design, and he turned around to check on her when she’d gone quiet.”
“Damn, now I’m glad I wasn’t there. I can’t deal with that stuff.”
“Well, you better start finding a way. You got less than what? Seven months.”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s what Bailey says.” Devil snorted. “Did Speed whip out the pic while you were there.”
I chuckled. “Yes, he did. He said Sami threatened to tear it up if he didn’t stop.”
“He’s shown that shit to everyone. Did they tell you that Ghost and Luna’s twins are boys, too? Going to have three boys and three girls running around here.”
“Wonder if the numbers will stay even. I mean, with Bailey and River pregnant.” I cocked a brow and looked at Devil.
“Shit, I didn’t think of that. Well, if the numbers are meant to stay even. I hope Bay and I have the boy. River and Jag can have the girl. After today, I’m not sure I can handle another girl.”
I frowned. “Something happen today?”
“Yeah, it was why I wasn’t at the shop. I was at the school because Neely got in trouble. She’s at Sue’s place now with Sami and Ally. Been in school three whole days. Ally got in trouble, too. Along with Dr. Agassi’s little girl, Sawyer.”
“Why does Dr. Agassi sound familiar?” I asked.
“She’s Ally and Neely’s pediatrician. Her practice is right there.” Devil pointed to the building beside Mac’s.
“Okay, I don’t know Sawyer, but Ally in trouble, I can see. Neely’s always sweet and shy though. What the hell did she get in trouble for?”
“Brother, little girls are vicious, I tell ya. I learned that today. My sister, who comes across as shy and quiet most of the time, punched a first-grader in the stomach, then when the kid bent over, she belted him in the nose.”
I stared at Devil, then burst out laughing. “Neely, who is in preschool, not only kicked a first grader’s ass but a boy?” I laughed harder.
“Oh, you might want to save some laughter ‘cause shit gets worse. Let me tell you the whole thing like I had to hear from the principal. First picture Sami sitting on one side of me, and Brie, that’s Dr. Agassi’s first name, sitting on my other side. All three of us in chairs in front of the principal. Neely, Ally, and Sawyer sat on a couch against the wall. Unaffected by being in the principal’s office or that they were in trouble. Where I thought I was going to break out in hives. That shit brought back a lot of memories.
“So the kids were outside today on the playground since it was nice out. The kids in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade share playground time. Well, Anthony, the first-grade boy, swiped a Pokémon, Star Wars, or some damn card of Benji’s when he
set it down on the bench to take off his hat and put it in his jacket pocket. Benji asked the kid to give it back, and he shoved him down and told Benji he didn’t take it.
“Ally, of course, gets involved since she considers Benji her friend now. Never gonna understand girls, brother. Never. Anyway, Anthony shoves Ally, which brings her new friend, Sawyer, into the picture. She starts interrogating Anthony. Asking him questions, like: why was he standing so close to the bench? Wasn’t he supposed to be on his side of the playground with the other first-graders? Did he see the card and decide to take it?”
“Hold up. Sawyer is in kindergarten?” I interrupted Devil and asked.
“Yeah. Brie admitted to the principal that maybe she shouldn’t watch cop shows while Sawyer is around, and the principal agreed. Anthony didn’t like getting questioned, so he told Sawyer to shut up and called her stupid. That’s when Neely got in the mix. She was supposed to be with her class but had walked over where Ally was. She told Anthony he was the stupid one and punched him twice. Ally then takes the card out of Anthony’s coat pocket while he is holding his face where Neely punched him. Ally gives the card back to Benji and tells Anthony that people who steal always get caught because karma is a bitch.”
“Christ, that sounds like something Carly would say,” I said.
“Yeah, Sami said that, too. Bailey’s going to probably band the watching of UFC fights once I tell her what happened.”
“Come on, admit it. Shit is funny.”
“Hell, my sister is a closet badass.” Devil chuckled, and we bumped fists.
“Hey, we could call her cobra because she strikes,” I said just as Bailey walked out.
“Call who cobra?” she asked as she turned and locked the door.
I ignored Bailey’s question and instead asked one of my own, “Mac go out the back?”
“No, she’s at the hospital.”
Devil snickered, and I looked over at him. “Well, I’ll be. It’s about time, brother. Flirt was right.”
“Flirt?”
“Monday, we had lunch at the diner, and Mac joined us. Flirt told her you were out of town. She tried to play it off as if she wasn’t concerned and didn’t understand why Flirt was telling her. He went along with her charade, then told her she’d know soon enough why you being out of town was her business.”
Coast (Black Hawk MC Book 6) Page 6
