by Tina Beckett
Clancy couldn’t believe how fast time had flown. Soon they would be back in Arlington, far from the sights and sounds of what had happened in this town. And, truth be told, he’d miss it. He’d miss seeing the rebuilding process, especially seeing where the bits and pieces of recycled hardware from Randy’s garland would wind up.
It was the first field hospital he’d worked in as a civilian, and the focus was so totally different from the military as to be like night and day. This was all about helping rather than defending, although he’d done his share of helping while in the army. But there was a freedom to come and go and decide things for oneself, within certain parameters. They still had to work as a team, but it wasn’t as regimented as he was used to. Kind of like life at Arlington Regional.
He’d found Hollee standing by herself and went over to join her. There was laughter and music was playing, but it wasn’t being blasted out of speakers.
Kristen came by before he’d said a word. “We kept the center clear for anyone who wants to do some...dancing.” She said that last word in a sing-song voice, nudging Hollee’s arm and grinning when her friend flashed her an acid glare.
Great. Dancing. He glanced around the room, wondering if Hollee would partner with any of the team.
It’s none of your business, Clancy.
And it wasn’t. But that didn’t mean that he could just shut his brain off whenever it veered in the wrong direction. And this was definitely the wrong direction. Because he found himself wanting to be the one to dance with her. Despite trying to avoid her for the last week.
But it was the last night. Surely he could pass it off as something unimportant.
Like he had ten years ago? Not something he wanted to think about tonight.
The music went up a couple of notches, and some of the children and others headed onto the floor and started moving to the beat. At least this wasn’t the stuff slow dances were made of.
He realized Hollee was still standing next to him. “Do you two want something to drink?”
Kristen shook her head. “Nothing for me, I’m headed out onto the floor in a minute.”
“I’d love a glass of soda or even a beer if there’s some up there,” Hollee said. “Thank you.”
He headed to the table just as Kristen tugged one of Hollee’s hands. “Come on. It’ll be fun. There aren’t enough men to go around. Besides, most everyone in our group is married except a couple of the doctors, us and a few other nurses.”
Hollee tried to resist for a second, but when her friend persisted, she gave a quick shrug, and then went out and started dancing. Clancy tensed, his instinct to stop and watch her whispering in his ear. He already knew he loved the way she moved but that was a temptation he should definitely resist. Even so, as he waited in line for his turn at the drinks table, he turned and glanced over. She was laughing at something Kristen had said, clapping her hand over her mouth for a moment, hiding that little dimple that he knew was there.
He’d already had a few moments of weakness when it came to her. To continue down that path might prove disastrous, especially with all the messiness that had happened with Jacob. She might not know about it, but if he tried to build a relationship with her, knowing he was keeping that a secret, he’d have a hard time living with himself. And he really didn’t want to be the one to tell her.
Why couldn’t you have done what you promised, Jacob?
Impulsive acts brought...complications. He’d found that out, and so had his former friend.
By the time he got back with their drinks, Hollee had changed partners. She was now dancing with...
One of the doctors. A man this time. He was assuming it was one of the single ones Kristen had mentioned.
And the man’s gaze was as steady as a cobra’s, poised to strike.
“Well, damn.” The oath was enough to make someone at a nearby table glance at him.
You are crazy, Clancy. These are team members. No one is throwing cobra looks at anyone.
Holly wasn’t dating. She’d said it herself, she hadn’t slept with anyone since Jacob.
His teeth clenched at that thought. His friend had been dead for five years. Why hadn’t Hollee gotten married again?
Because she was mourning him? Still? Or because she just hadn’t found the right person?
Like this doctor?
He felt like a fool, standing there holding two glasses, so he went over to one of the tables and sat, putting one glass in front of the chair next to his. Then he took a long drink of his beer. At least tonight he didn’t have to worry about driving. Not that he planned on getting drunk or anything.
The other man touched Holly from time to time. Subtle gestures. Fingers to fingers, a palm on her arm. She appeared to take a step back at that, only to have the man slowly close the gap, making the move appear casual. He wasn’t right on top of her by any stretch of the imagination but even so, a warning pressure began to build in Clancy’s head.
He swallowed another drink of his beer. Kristen rejoined the pair, and a feeling of relief swept through him when Hollee seemed to glance at her friend gratefully, again laughing at something she said, while the other man didn’t seem at all happy with the interruption.
What the hell was he doing sitting here, brooding in silence? He’d never been a man to sit back and ignore something he didn’t like.
Like Jacob moving in on Hollee?
That had been different. Jacob had given him a pretty bitter pill to swallow, but it had also made him take a look at himself and decide to make a change.
Clancy was no longer the person he’d been back then. Did he deserve Hollee? Maybe not. But a single dance? That was a different story.
Taking one more bracing gulp, he climbed to his feet, leaving their glasses where they were. His initial goal was to tell her that her drink was ready. That goal shifted when the music changed, a much slower Christmas song thrumming through the speakers. Since most of these people were either colleagues or residents of Bender with a healthy sprinkling of children throughout, there probably wouldn’t be a whole lot of slow dancing, and for that he was grateful. Because all he wanted to do was to draw Hollee into his arms, feel her skin against his, breathe her scent deep into his lungs. Even though it was a recipe for disaster.
Dancing with her. Standing across from her and letting the wistful tune carry them both away.
He made it across the floor, and as soon as he faced Hollee he saw her smile. Not just something polite that welcomed him to their little group but a genuine smile that warmed her eyes in a way that caused his lips to tilt upward.
“I knew I’d get you out here sooner or later,” she said.
He blinked in surprise, until the other man excused himself. Then he realized why she’d said it. So he hadn’t imagined her discomfort. Kristen leaned in and kissed Hollee’s cheek, murmuring, “I had a feeling... Don’t worry, I don’t think you need saving from this one.”
Then she, too, left.
“Sorry,” Clancy murmured. “I wasn’t sure if you were enjoying yourself, but I wanted to tell you that I have our drinks at one of the tables.”
“I wasn’t. Enjoying myself.” Her eyes met his in a way that told him exactly what she meant. She hadn’t liked dancing with that guy. And he was glad. Fiercely glad.
“It looks like you have a good friend in Kristen, then.”
“Yes. She’s been there for me, even when things got...”
“Got?”
“Complicated.”
That made him frown, since it was the same word that had flashed across his brain a few minutes ago. How long had she known Kristen?
“As in with Jacob?”
“Kind of.” She shrugged. “I wanted to start a family, but that didn’t...happen.”
Because she couldn’t? Or because Jacob had been against it? If he had been so cons
umed with other women, why hadn’t he just divorced Hollee? An ugly thought came to him that he quickly discarded.
He and Jacob had always been competitive, but he’d never told his friend about the kiss he and Hollee had shared. And there was no way Jacob would have risked her happiness out of selfish ego. Would he?
But he’d always believed Hollee was deeply in love with her husband.
“I’m sorry that didn’t work out for you. You would make a great mother.” He paused trying to figure out how to word it. “You still could be one. There’s always adoption. Or you might meet someone else.”
“I don’t know. I’ve given that some thought. But I’m so busy that I barely have time for Tommie, much less a baby. And I definitely wouldn’t have had time to come on this trip if I had a young child.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m glad you came.” Surprisingly enough, it was true.
Her pupils widened. “You are? Because you didn’t seem all that thrilled that I was coming when you saw me in the conference room.”
“I could say the same about you. Chalk it up to surprise, in my case.” Which was also true.
And now here he was dancing with her. Smart move? Probably not. But better than letting that doc keep hitting on her, especially since she’d said she hadn’t liked it.
A few minutes later the FEMA liaison tapped them on the shoulder. “How much have you had to drink?”
“Nothing,” Hollee said.
Clancy blinked. What the hell? There was no way the man thought he was drunk. “Just part of a beer, why?”
“We’ve got a situation and several of us have already had more than our share.”
Immediately on alert, he said, “What is it?”
“One of the residents in an outlying area is in labor. The roads are washed out and the midwife has run into trouble. She sent one of the kids to get help.”
“God.” Hollee’s distress wasn’t lost on him.
“Well, the kid made it here somehow. Have you got something that can get through?”
“Several of the residents have four-wheel-drive vehicles, but anything heavy is going to get bogged down in the mud. We already tried to get back into those areas last week.”
“How did the kid get here?”
“He came on an ATV.”
“If you can get me some directions and keep him safe, I’ll get my gear together and borrow it.”
“I’m going too,” Holly said. “I’ve ridden on your bike with you. You know I can do it.”
He did. He remembered a couple of times that he’d had her behind him as they’d torn up some of the local fields. And then there was the night he’d kissed her.
“It’s going to be cold going.”
She frowned, her chin tilting up. “We don’t have time to argue. This is what I’m trained for. Besides, you gave away your stethoscope. You’ll need mine...and me.”
Yes, he would. And he was beginning to think he needed her in more ways than one. “Okay, you grab a coat and I’ll get my medical kit.”
* * *
The ATV was one of the bigger ones, the wheels set wide apart and looking good and sturdy. It was also splattered with mud, attesting to the fact that it was going to be rough going.
“I’m going to need you to navigate,” he said as they buckled on helmets borrowed from other Bender residents.
“Okay. My phone’s GPS is working, so I’m going to try to use that as much as possible, but I have written instructions in my back pocket as well.”
“Perfect.” He climbed on, waiting for her to get on behind him. The slope of the seat tipped her tight against him, which was probably a good thing, even though it reminded him of the past and did a number on his head. “Hang on.”
Soon they were off, the frigid wind whistling past them. A pothole threatened to rattle his teeth out of his head, but that would soon be the least of their worries once the pavement gave out. Which it did about five miles out of town.
He slowed down, the tracks from the kid’s flight into town plainly visible. “I see his path. Here we go.” He eased the vehicle down into the mud.
Things got hairy for a while and maneuvering through the worst of the muck had them shimmying sideways a time or two. Hollee’s arms squeezed his midsection in a death grip. He could remember a time when he might have chosen the worst spots for just that reason. Today was not one of them.
One of her arms left him. “Stop for just a second.”
He immediately throttled down. “What is it?”
“Checking distance. We’re about a mile out.”
He again wondered about the wisdom of her coming, rather than leaving her to finish enjoying the party, but she was right. He would need her. Although he had delivered babies before, it wasn’t his specialty, and Hollee had assisted with lots of them.
The last mile went quickly, and they pulled up outside a small bungalow-style log home. Clancy laid on the horn to let them know they were there before they both leaped off the vehicle. The front door opened in a rush and a man stood there.
“Thank God you’re here! Please, hurry. The baby is...stuck.”
His heart turned to ice, and when he looked at Hollee he saw that she’d gone pale.
“Not good,” she whispered.
She wasn’t kidding. He cast around for the training he’d had on shoulder dystocia, as he assumed that’s what the man had meant by being “stuck.” A wedged shoulder was a medical emergency, because once the baby’s head was delivered, the rest of the body needed to follow quickly.
Clancy quickly introduced them to the man. “The midwife’s with her?”
“Yes.”
They were in the bedroom in a matter of seconds, asking her husband to wait outside. The midwife was calling out instructions, telling the young woman on the bed not to push, even as she attempted to reposition her legs and hips.
Clancy assessed the situation, communicating with the birthing assistant. “What’s the status?”
“The baby’s shoulder is wedged. I’ve tried everything short of attempting to push it back in and do a C-section—which I wouldn’t, of course,” she added quickly, “but I can’t get anywhere.”
Pushing the baby back in was a last-ditch measure and dangerous for both the mother and unborn child.
Hollee touched his arm. “We need to go through the maneuvers in order. We can help you with them.” She glanced at the midwife and got a nod in response.
“I live just down the road. There’s no way we could have gotten her to a hospital and there’s nowhere to land a chopper back here.”
“Yeah, I can see that. It’s bad out there.”
Clancy shed his coat and went into a nearby bathroom to sluice his hands with soap and water, Hollee appearing beside him to do the same.
With the midwife’s help they positioned the woman so her knees were pressed to her chest. Then while Hollee put pressure on the patient’s abdomen just above the pubic bone, Clancy attempted gentle rotation, hoping to free the shoulder. The woman’s agonized cries tore at him, but there was no access to an epidural or other pain medication, and if they didn’t get this resolved quickly, they were in danger of losing both mom and baby.
The baby rotated partially, but the shoulder didn’t budge. “Dammit. I really don’t want to perform a cleidotomy.” The drastic measure involved a deliberate fracture of the baby’s collarbone in the hope that the shoulder would then fit through the pelvis.
Hollee looked him in the eye. “We’re going to do whatever it takes, Clancy. Whatever. It. Takes. But let’s try the corkscrew first.”
The midwife nodded her agreement. From the look of them, both the birthing professional and laboring mom were exhausted. If this failed, the next step was to get her up on all fours. But he doubted the y
oung mother had the strength to hold herself up at this point.
“Ready?” he asked.
Hollee nodded, and when he directed a look at the midwife, she anticipated their every move.
This had better work. They were running out of options. Clancy slowly rotated the baby’s head once again, being more aggressive about it this time, while Hollee located the baby’s shoulder and pushed down hard, trying to dislodge it from beneath the bone. It stuck tight for a terrible few seconds, even as Clancy continued the rotation, then suddenly something popped and shifted. “I think we may be free.”
“I think so too.”
“Okay, let’s push. But without a lot of force.” He added the warning, needing this to be a controlled slide otherwise the baby might end up wedged all over again.
The mom bore down, and the first shoulder appeared in the birth canal. Damn, it had worked.
“Keep pushing, you can do it!” he said. “One, two, three...” The midwife took up the count, guiding the process from her place at the woman’s head. The look of relief on her face was unmistakable.
Two more pushes and, unbelievably, the baby slid onto the readied towel as if there had never been an issue. Carefully cradling the newborn, praying they’d won the race against time, he said, “It’s a girl.”
The baby’s legs kicked, and then she squinched up her face as if registering her extreme displeasure with what had just transpired. He smiled, while rubbing her briskly with the towel to stimulate her, gratified to hear her sudden angry howl. “Sorry about all of that, sweetheart. You gave us quite a scare.”
“Thank God. You did it, Maria.” The midwife dropped a kiss on the woman’s cheek. The new mom must have realized it was going to be okay, because she started weeping, her body going slack.
The midwife brought over surgical scissors, waiting until the cord had stopped pulsing. Then she clamped and cut it.
Hollee came over. “If you’ll check her clavicle and make she wasn’t injured in the maneuver, I’ll make sure there’s no postpartum hemorrhage as we deliver the placenta.”
He’d just been about to do that. Once he was satisfied the newborn’s respiratory system was working well, he laid her on the bed and ran careful fingers along the clavicle and humerus on the affected side. No breaks. He breathed a word of thanks.