Part of your world, p.18
Part of Your World, page 18
They laughed, and the tension lifted a little.
She pushed with three more contractions before the baby’s head came out.
The cord was wrapped around its neck.
“Hannah, I need you to try not to push and just pant for a few breaths,” I said steadily.
My fingers worked to unloop it, but it was double wound and wrapped too tight. I couldn’t reduce it.
The double loop around the neck had shortened the cord. I couldn’t see what was going on inside or how much slack we had, but if it was short enough, when the baby came out the cord would pull tight like a noose cutting off the oxygen supply to the baby. I might not be able to get it off in time or clamp and cut it safely before delivery, especially without my medical instruments.
I needed to use a somersault maneuver to deliver the baby. I would have to push the baby’s head toward Hannah’s thigh instead of pulling the baby straight down. It would let the shoulders and the rest of the body be born in a somersault and keep the neck near the birth canal so that the cord wouldn’t be stretched and further tightened.
All of this moved through my brain in a split second of calm. Years of experience and training and instinct took over. I had no monitors or nurses. I didn’t even have heel rests. But I knew what to do.
I made confident eye contact with Hannah. “We’re pushing one last time and we’re going to make it a good one.”
I started my countdown. My fingers angled the baby’s shoulders expertly, and then in a rush of fluid and blood, I pivoted the baby into a perfect somersault delivery.
It was a girl. And my instincts had been right. The cord had just enough slack for the somersault. Not enough if I’d let her come straight out—and if I hadn’t been here, that’s how she would have come. Especially if Hannah wouldn’t let Doug help her.
The cord would have pulled taut, and they might not have gotten it off in time. The baby could have had brain damage. Cerebral palsy, epilepsy, intellectual or developmental disabilities. She might have died.
But she didn’t because I was here.
This is why I did what I did.
In moments like this I knew I was doing what I was meant to do. Moments like this made me know that no matter what Dad said, there was honor in my specialty—even if there wasn’t glory.
I quickly unwrapped the cord from the neck and placed the baby on Hannah’s belly and started rubbing the baby’s back. She cried. A good, strong cry.
I smiled. “Meet Lily.”
The ambulance showed up fifteen minutes later. I got the medics up to speed and handed off the patient. When I came out of the room, the whole town was no longer on the lawn—they were in the living room. Daniel stood when he saw me, and everyone looked at me expectantly.
I smiled and put my hands up. “It’s a girl.”
The whole house erupted into cheering. I got hugs from about three dozen people before Daniel saved me.
He hustled me into a corner and slipped his arms around my waist, beaming down at me. “So you don’t know how to peel potatoes, but you can deliver a baby?”
“What, like it’s hard?”
He laughed and kissed me. And I didn’t care that he did it in front of everyone either.
Hannah came out on a stretcher with a beaming Emelia next to her, and as soon as they were gone, the weirdest thing happened. The houseguests didn’t leave. They mobilized. They poured into the bedroom and started stripping the bed, there was someone emptying the dishwasher, someone turned on a vacuum. The smell of Windex and Pine-Sol drifted up around us. The front door was still open, and I could see half a dozen people outside pulling weeds and mowing the lawn. Person after person streamed in with foil-covered casserole dishes, and someone was stationed in the kitchen, receiving them and putting them into the freezer.
“What are they doing?” I asked, looking around at the activity.
“They’re doing what we do,” Daniel said. “We take care of each other.”
Something about it made me feel a little emotional. This was more than just a handful of their closest friends. This was a whole town. The whole town was here.
This wasn’t just a community. This was a family.
Popeye shuffled up to us, holding a toolbox. Even he was helping.
“Hi. How you feeling?” I asked.
He looked at me with one eye squeezed shut. “Nifty coincidence you’re here, wouldn’t ya say?”
He didn’t wait for me to answer. He gave Daniel a knowing nod and then hobbled off toward the garage, mumbling to himself.
“What was that about?” I asked, looking up at Daniel.
“Eh, he’s got this theory about the town.”
“What theory?”
He looked a little amused. “He says the town has a way of protecting itself. That it gets what it needs. He thinks you were here today because Hannah needed you.”
I wrinkled my forehead thinking about it. “Huh. I wasn’t actually planning on being here today.”
“Oh, yeah? What changed your mind?”
My parents were playing golf with my ex?
“The weather was nice,” I said instead. I tilted my head. “Hey, do you know how to make a quiche?”
He peered down at me. “Quiche? Yeah.”
“Will you show me?”
He shrugged. “Sure. We can make one tonight and have it for breakfast.”
I smiled. “I think I’m going to want you to show me a lot of things, Daniel. There’s a lot I need to learn.”
Chapter 23
Daniel
We were lying in my bed, the morning after Hannah’s baby came. It was eleven a.m. I had guests coming, but not until later today. Check-in wasn’t until three o’clock, so I got to hang out with Alexis in my underwear until she left.
We were napping—we’d been up all night.
I snuggled into her, nuzzling my nose into her neck. She made a happy groaning noise and rolled over, and the second I had her lips in reach, I kissed her.
We were exclusive.
I couldn’t stop smiling.
I knew being exclusive wasn’t everything. It wasn’t a title. It wasn’t boyfriend, girlfriend. But it meant I wasn’t competing with anyone else, not for her attention or her time. Maybe it meant she’d come down more—maybe she’d even ask me to visit her.
But most of all I was glad there was nobody else, because the idea of it made me feel fucking unhinged. I didn’t realize how much of a relief it was until it was off the table. I don’t think I allowed myself to think too much on the fact that she may be seeing other people because I didn’t feel like I was in any position to ask her not to.
I had these visions of what kind of guys probably hit on her over there. Older, successful—rich. Driving expensive cars, taking her to places I could never afford in a million years. It felt impossible that I’d managed to get her to agree to this. But I wasn’t gonna look a gift horse in the mouth. I was going to take it, say thank you, and run.
I heard a huffing noise, and we both looked over. Hunter had put his chin on the bed to look at us, his tail wagging. His lip was curled up around a single snaggle tooth, and his bushy eyebrows pivoted as he looked back and forth between us. This dog loved her.
Alexis laughed, smiling up at me. “Did you know that dogs developed eyebrow muscles to better manipulate us?”
I propped myself on my elbow. “Really?”
“Yup. Wolves don’t have them. Dogs that had more expressive faces were more likely to connect with their owners. So they evolved.” She nodded sideways. “To this.”
Hunter backed up and let out a long roooooooo!
I laughed and slid a hand down the back of her thigh to wrap her leg around my waist. She took it one step further and rolled on top of me, straddling me. The shirt I’d loaned her was pushed up around her hips. She put her hands on my bare chest and lowered to kiss me, her hair falling around my face in a curtain.
There were a million other things I should have been doing. Working on the unfinished pieces in the garage, getting the house ready for guests, repairing the loose step by the four-season porch—I didn’t give a shit about any of it. I’d work harder and faster to make up for the lost time, I’d take the hit, because this was worth it. It was more than worth it.
I was so proud for everyone in town to see me with her yesterday. I was proud of what she did with Lily—I was proud to even know her.
I don’t think she realizes how exceptional she is. I got the sense nobody tells her, which is weird.
She rolled her hips against the hard-on she was causing. Our breath picked up and our kiss deepened. In one fluid movement, I rolled her onto her back and slipped a hand into the top of her lace underwear. She was wet, and the thought that she was wet for me made my dick even harder than it already was.
Damn, she turned me on.
I circled two fingers around the knot of nerves between her legs, and her breath shuddered at the caress.
She bit her lip. “How do you do that?” she breathed.
“Do what?” I asked, my voice husky.
“Know how to touch me.”
“I pay attention to you,” I said, kissing her collarbone gently. “How you feel matters to me.”
Something changed in the set of her body. I brought my face up to see what it was. There was something in her expression I couldn’t read—and maybe she didn’t want me to read it, because she pulled me down on top of her and kissed me.
I was glad I was going to have the shirt she was wearing after she went home. Something that had her perfume on it, smelled like her.
When she left, the only proof I ever had that she’d been here, or that she even existed at all, was the ache I was starting to feel when she was gone.
Chapter 24
Alexis
It was early May, a few days after I’d delivered a baby in Wakan, and Mom and I were celebrating Mother’s Day.
She was on call so much when I was growing up that celebrating on the actual day was almost never possible, so we’d started the tradition of doing it before the holiday. Today we went to the Mad Hatter Tea House in Anoka. It was a historic home on the Rum River that reminded me a lot of the Grant House, actually. It was built by a doctor in 1857. Going there was one of my favorite things to do with Mom.
She was better when Dad wasn’t around. More…her.
She had on a white lace dress with a brimmed hat that had white feathers on it. She wore my grandmother’s pearls and elbow-length satin gloves. Her makeup was delicate and natural. She looked like she belonged to a different time.
Mom was elegant, always perfectly put together. She made it seem effortless, though I know it wasn’t.
Mom had been personally responsible for the continued success of Royaume over the last forty years. She and Dad were a power couple. He made the medical journals and posed on the covers of magazines, and Mom brought in the money and the talent. She charmed donors and doctors alike, bringing in gifted physicians from all over the world.
And these were the shoes I had to fill.
I couldn’t be Dad. And I couldn’t imagine ever being Mom either. I didn’t know how.
I was struggling with what I was going to do in my new role.
Derek’s path had been obvious. He was a little of everything. One part both my parents. Charming and charismatic, driven and successful. He would have probably ended up with a reality TV show on TLC or something. Then he would have used his fame to attract donors and continue to elevate the hospital.
I had no idea what my thing was going to be. I hated networking. My field didn’t really allow for notoriety. I couldn’t stand the idea of being on television.
I’d have the hospital’s resources at my fingertips. I could start a clinical trial or get behind some other initiative. The board would approve anything I wanted. But what? What was I passionate about? I didn’t really know.
And it terrified me.
I was afraid I was going to drop this ball so completely it would shatter, and I’d never be able to put it back together again.
The server set down a teapot with the house orange bergamot in it. A few minutes later our three-level tray arrived with tiny sandwiches and petit fours.
I put a sugar cube into my floral teacup. “So, how are you enjoying retirement?” I asked Mom.
She sighed. “I’m not. I miss working. I’m so happy I get to help you prepare for the gala, just to have something to do.”
Mom was going to start training me for the speech I had to give at the event. Public speaking wasn’t my thing either, but I’d have to do it nonetheless.
She put jam on a scone. “So tell me, what have you been up to?”
I stirred my tea. “Nothing.”
I hated that I couldn’t tell her about Daniel. I hated it.
While Mom and I had waited for our table, we’d wandered upstairs to the gift shop, and I’d bought a whole bag of things for him. Scone mixes and homemade lemon curd and six different kinds of loose tea. Mom asked me who it was for, and I had to lie and say it was for Bri.
Mom was squarely Team Neil. And even if she wasn’t, she’d tell Dad anything I shared with her, and then I’d hear it from him. Not that there was anything to tell. Daniel wasn’t going to be anything serious. But I didn’t like that there were entire parts of my life I felt I couldn’t talk to her about.
But wasn’t that true even when I was with Neil?
I never told them what Neil did beyond the cheating. It was weird, but I got the sense they’d blame me for it. Like Neil was so far up on their pedestal, not even emotional abuse could knock him down.
I changed the subject. “So have you talked to Derek?”
She paused. “I haven’t spoken to your brother since he left.” There was something tight about her voice. “How are you?” she asked. “I know this has been a lot of change for you. Derek leaving and Neil.”
And Dad.
He hung there in the silence.
Sometimes I thought Neil and Dad were so much alike. The same drive, the same demanding type-A personality. It’s probably why they got along so well.
“Any updates on the chief position?” she asked.
“Not yet,” I said. “I haven’t seen Gibson yet,” I added.
I know Dad had basically informed me that I’d be taking this job, whether I wanted it or not. But fortunately I actually did want it. I’d always wanted it. If I hadn’t been with Neil, I’d probably be chief already. It had come up a few times over the years, and he always found a way to talk me out of it.
I don’t think he wanted me to advance. Like it made him feel threatened that I might end up his equal in any way. I think he liked the trophy aspect of having a Montgomery for a girlfriend, as long as I stayed beneath him.
It was funny that the very thing Dad was upset about—my lack of ambition—was brought on by the same man he was demanding I reconcile with.
“I think you’d make an excellent chief, Alexis.” Mom put a hand over mine. “I know how overwhelming all this is, but you’ll find your stride. There’s so much you can do at Royaume, especially in a position of leadership. You will never find this same influence anywhere else. You will never be able to change the world the way you can here. I can’t wait to see what you do with it.”
I smiled a little.
That was the difference between Mom and Dad. Dad didn’t want me to embarrass him. He wanted to be able to brag about me and my accomplishments at dinner parties.
Mom wanted me to be effective.
She wanted to help people. And you know what? So did I.
I didn’t want it. I didn’t sign up for it. But Mom was right. I really could do amazing things here.
I just had to figure out what those things were going to be.
Two days later Bri found me in the supply closet by the chief’s office. “What are you doing?” she asked, peering over my shoulder in the doorway.
I surveyed a shelf of baby formula. “Gibson said I could have whatever I want out of the free sample stash. I think I need a trauma kit for my car.”
“For what?”
I picked up a can of Enfamil and started reading the label. “I keep going on medical calls in Wakan. I delivered a baby last week, and I didn’t even have PPE.”
“You delivered a baby,” she deadpanned.
“Yeah. With a double nuchal cord.” I nodded at a machine gathering dust on a shelf. “Do you think Gibson would let me have that portable EKG?”
She shrugged. “I don’t see why not. A rep gave us that two years ago to test in the ambulances. We’re not using it, and they don’t want it back.” She peered at the pile I had started. “What else you got?”
“Gauze, Kerlix wrap, Ace bandages, butterflies, liquid stitch, needles, syringes, lidocaine—you know they’re stitching each other up with a fishhook over there?”
She scoffed. “Probably using Krazy Glue too.”
I paused, holding a C-collar. “I bet they are…”
She started pulling things. “So what are you doing tonight? Want to have dinner?”
“I can’t. I’m having dinner with my parents. They want to talk about the quasquicentennial.”
She grabbed a box of instant ice packs. “How about dinner tomorrow then? Or are you going to that thing at Gabby’s?”
I shook my head. “I’m not really hanging out with them right now.”
“Why? Because of the TripAdvisor thing?”
I shrugged, tossing a few eye shields into the keep pile. “That. And I don’t know. I just don’t think I have as much in common with them as I thought I did. But I can’t go tomorrow either. I think I’m going to Daniel’s.”
I was definitely going to Daniel’s.
I’d stolen a different hoodie on my way out the other day. This one was from Cabela’s. It was gray and it had deer antlers on the front. Daniel had a cherry ChapStick in the pocket that tasted like his mouth. It was like a tiny bonus prize, and I loved it.
I’d turned the thermostat down to freezing last night just so I could sleep in it. I’d lain in bed wearing it, talking to him on the phone until almost midnight. Even thinking about it made me smile.
