Chapter 4 #2
“Vic,” he said, sounding desperate as he came with a gasp, surging into her.
She couldn’t find the wherewithal to pretend she’d come, too. Instead, she caressed his back and continued to run her fingers through his silky hair.
“What’s wrong?” he asked after a long silence. “If you were too tired, you could’ve said so.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“You’re not going to tell me what’s on your mind?”
“Not now, if that’s okay.”
He withdrew from her and moved to his back, bringing her with him and arranging her head on his chest, usually her favorite place to sleep.
But now she had reason to wonder if the heart that beat so hard and fast belonged to her or if it would forever belong to the woman he’d loved and lost so tragically.
“Whatever it is,” he said softly in the voice that touched her soul, “I hope you know you can talk to me.”
“I know.” Victoria closed her eyes tight against a new flood of tears that wanted out. She felt so raw and exposed, as if her heart were outside her body, unprotected. If she gave in to the tears, she feared they might never stop.
Exhaustion was her savior, dragging her into the oblivion only sleep could provide.
It was still dark when Victoria woke to her ringing cell phone. Groaning, she left the warmth of Shannon’s embrace to grab the phone, taking it with her to the bathroom, where she closed the door so she wouldn’t disturb him.
“This is Victoria.”
“It’s Luke Harris. I think Syd is in labor. It’s come on fast and furious.”
“Can you get her to the clinic?”
“I don’t think so. She says she needs to push right now.”
In the background, Victoria could hear Sydney’s anguished cries. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“Thank you so much.”
Victoria ended the call and found David’s number on her list of contacts.
“Dr. Lawrence,” he muttered.
“David, wake up. Sydney Harris is in labor at home, and it’s happening fast. Can you meet me at their place?” She pictured him sacked out on the sofa in his office.
“Yeah.”
“Are you awake?”
“I am now.”
“Hurry.”
“On my way.”
Victoria got dressed as fast as she could, took a second to brush her hair and teeth, and then grabbed the bag she kept at home, just in case. It contained some of what they’d need, but not everything. She left a note for Shannon and headed out. From the car, she called Katie.
“Sorry to wake you up, but Sydney Harris is in labor at home. I need a few things from the clinic. Can you help me out?”
“Of course,” Katie said, sounding wide awake when she’d been fast asleep one minute ago.
Victoria gave her a list of the supplies she needed.
“Did you call David?”
“He’s on his way. I didn’t want to slow him down by asking for supplies.”
“Understood. I’ll be quick.”
“Thanks, Katie.”
Victoria yawned and glanced at the clock.
Quarter to six. She’d gotten about two hours of sleep.
Nowhere near enough. Three babies arriving in twenty-four hours was an island record.
Fortunately, none of her other expecting moms was close to term, so she should get a break after the Harrises’ baby arrived.
She felt a twinge of anxiety about how Sydney’s much-anticipated child would enter the world at home and not in the clinic.
Like Tiffany and Jenny, Syd had been due to deliver on the mainland in two weeks.
But the baby apparently had other plans.
Nothing could go wrong with this delivery.
There was, Victoria thought, no room for error.
Sydney had lost her first husband and two children in a drunk-driving accident a few years ago.
After she married her first love, Luke Harris, Sydney had undergone a procedure to reverse her tubal ligation and had soon conceived what she called her miracle baby.
If anyone deserved a miracle, Sydney did, and Victoria was determined to make sure she got one.
Victoria pulled into the Harrises’ driveway and parked next to Syd’s Volvo.
She’d been here a few times for one of the frequent girls’ nights out that the island women were so fond of, especially since the guys always crashed.
Grabbing her bag, she ran for the door, where Luke greeted her, looking tense and worried.
“Is it bad that the baby is coming so fast?”
“It’s not uncommon when it’s the mom’s third child. Try not to worry.”
“That’s like telling me not to breathe.”
Sydney let out a cry from a bedroom in the back of the house.
“Vic…”
“I know, Luke. We’re going to do everything we can for her. David and Katie are on their way. We’ve got this, but she needs you, too. Get yourself together and come help her.”
He nodded and gestured for her to head down the hallway to the bedroom on the left.
After being told that Sydney’s first two children had arrived quickly, she’d tried to prepare Sydney—and Luke—for the possibility of that happening again.
“Vic,” Syd said, sounding frantic, “the baby is coming.”
She was propped up on pillows, towels under her, legs splayed.
On first glance, Victoria could see that the baby was crowning. “When you say fast, you mean it.”
“I had a backache all day yesterday. Do you think that was labor?”
“I would say so. Let me wash up, and we’ll get that baby out to meet her mom and dad.”
“Please hurry. I can’t stop it.”
Victoria went into the adjoining bathroom to thoroughly wash her hands. Then she donned gloves and a gown before positioning herself between Syd’s legs.
Luke came into the room, seeming noticeably calmer than he’d been when he greeted her. “Where do you want me?”
“Behind Syd so you can support her when she pushes.”
He got on the bed and took his place behind his wife, gathering her long red hair and smoothing it back from her face.
“On the next contraction, I want you to push,” Victoria said. “As hard as you can.”
Sydney nodded, and though she looked determined, Victoria could also see a hint of panic.