Baker's Dozen

by Wendy Smith

  She nods. “I trust you.”

  “I should have been here with you. You’re so close, and I need to keep an eye on you.”

  “We didn’t know.”

  I shake my head. “No, but I should be better at this. It’s my job, and you’re the most important person in the world to me.”

  Her smile’s faint, but it still lights up the room. “And our babies.”

  I nod, but I know if it came down to it, I’d choose Hayley’s life above all else. Even if it killed me.

  “Those two have done fine, and they’re old enough to be born now. Don’t be scared.”

  It’s easier said than done, but if anyone can handle this, it’s Hayley. She knows the risks, but she also knows that these things can be mitigated by catching it early. I’ve seen worse than this and got the mother and baby through. There’d better be a good obstetrician waiting at the hospital.

  There are three lives on the line.

  Hayley’s parents watch as she’s carried to the ambulance on a stretcher. I jump in the back, and sit beside her.

  “Hey,” I say softly.

  She gives me a small smile, but the strain in her expression is clear.

  “How many patients do you think get their own personal obstetrician on the way to the hospital?”

  Hayley laughs, and it’s music to my ears.

  One of the paramedics climbs in with me, and with sirens blaring we take off for the hospital.

  This is about to be the longest ride of my life.

  About halfway, I pull out my phone and dial. What I need is to hear the voice of the man who’s my closest friend.

  At the other end is Owen’s cheery voice. “Hey. Am I an uncle again yet?”

  “Not yet.” I hold back, but my fear bubbles right at the surface. If this was a patient of mine, I’d know what to do. It’s a whole different story trying to think clearly when it’s the woman you love.

  “Dude, what’s wrong?”

  “It’s Hayley.” Suddenly, this doesn’t seem like such a good idea, and I’m not sure if I can get the words out. “She … she …”

  “Slowly, mate. One word at a time.” His tone’s more serious now.

  “We’re on the way to the hospital. She has …” I can’t complete the sentence.

  “She has what?”

  “Placental abruption.”

  There’s silence for a moment. Owen knows Hayley’s history. He and my other brothers were there for her when she needed them.

  “Okay. I’m coming.”

  “You don’t need to. I just wanted you to know.”

  “Let me call Ginny and deal with the kid. I’ll hit the road as soon as I can.”

  “Thanks.”

  I hang up the call. There’s no way I could say a lot more without breaking, and that’s not what Hayley needs. She needs me to be strong because this road could be bumpy from here on in.

  And she knows it.

  25

  Owen

  When we were growing up, it was always Corey and Adam, me and Drew. Spending twelve years of my life sharing a room with him, I developed a stronger bond with him than I did any of my other brothers.

  “Are you okay to drive?” Ginny asks as she climbs into the car beside me.

  “I’ll be fine. You might just have to remind me to keep to the speed limit once in a while.”

  She shoots an annoyed glance at me and nods to the back seat. Shit.

  “Looking forward to hanging out with Max for the night, Ava?”

  Her little blonde head bobs up and down. I smile at her enthusiasm, and make a mental note to try not to imply we might crash. She still has dreams from time to time about that night.

  “Max is so good with her. I bet they’ll have heaps of fun,” Ginny says, her light tone keeping the conversation upbeat. “You’re doing the right thing, Owen. Drew needs you.”

  I’m acutely aware that I rely on Ginny so much where Ava’s concerned. I don’t know if I could do this without her. Reaching for her hand, I link her fingers with mine and drag her hand to the gearstick.

  I called Adam as soon as I hung up from Drew. Their house is going to be Ava’s sanctuary while yet more drama plays out in our lives. She doesn’t need to know anything about it.

  The thought of Hayley being in danger makes me sick.

  Lily’s on the steps when we pull in, concern written all over her face. I grab Ava’s bag while Ginny helps her out of the car, and we walk toward my girl’s auntie.

  “Hi, Ava.” Lily smiles, and I’m so grateful that she’s happy to take Ava on top of dealing with Max and Rose. “Oh, and Owen and Ginny, of course.”

  “Ava.” Max runs out, Lucky by his side. Ava giggles as the dog bowls her over and licks her cheek before Max pulls him off.

  “Naughty,” Max growls.

  I hold out my hand to her. “You okay?”

  She nods, wiping her face with the palm of her hand. “The doggy’s tongue tickled.”

  “I bet it did.” It’s good to hear her laughter. She’s so happy here.

  “How’s Hayley? Have you had any update?” Adam’s right behind Max, his brows knitting in concern as he looks at me. We all know how much Drew loves Hayley, and if anything happened to her, it’d break him.

  “No. I don’t want to call Drew again. I’d imagine they’ll have all kinds of things going on. The sooner we get there, the sooner I’ll let you guys know what’s going on.”

  “What did he say when he called?” Lily asked.

  “Something about placental abruption? I didn’t have time to look it up, I just wanted to get Ava sorted so we could get out of here.”

  The colour drains from Lily’s face.

  “What is it? He was so stressed, I didn’t want to stop and ask.”

  She swallows. “Hayley lost a patient in her second year to placental abruption. Though, in her case, she struggled to get a doctor to take it seriously in time.”

  “Drew’s good. Can you imagine him? He would have been driving her crazy with his hovering.” I lean over and kiss Lily on the cheek. Squatting, I smile at Ava. “Can you be a good girl for Adam and Lily?”

  She nods, the happy expression disappearing from her face. I know she’s pleased to be here, but that I’m leaving her is probably confusing. Even for the night.

  “I need to go and check up on Auntie Hayley and the babies.”

  Her blue eyes widen. “The babies?”

  I nod. “Remember? Two babies.”

  She throws her small arms around my neck, and I hold her tight. We’ve worked ourselves into this routine these past five months, and this is the first night we’ll be apart. I thought this would be easy, letting her stay somewhere else, but my chest is tight at the thought.

  I lift her off the ground, and nod at Adam. “Everything she needs is in her bag. There are pull-ups for night, and her pyjamas, a couple of changes of clothes, and a couple of toys.” She lets go of my neck, her big eyes still focused on me. “If you’re a good girl for Uncle Adam, I’ll have to see what I can bring home.”

  “Can I get a toy?”

  “I’m sure we can find something.” I plant a kiss on her nose and let her drop to the ground.

  Max takes her by the hand. “Come on, Ava. I’m playing a racing game, but you can watch if you want.”

  As she disappears inside the house, I feel a twinge of regret I’m not taking her. But after what happened to her parents, the last place I think she needs to spend time in is the inside of a hospital.

  “Thanks for everything,” I say, not taking my eyes off the door she went through.

  “It’s never a problem. We can take her whenever you need a break.” Lily smiles and slips her arms around my neck. “Give all our love to Drew and Hayley.”

  “I will.” My voice breaks, and Ginny rubs my back.

  It’s time to get on the road.

  26

  Drew

  I hold her hand tight as she’s wheeled into the hospital on a gurne
y. The ambulance crew radioed ahead, and there’s a doctor waiting for us.

  “Mrs Campbell, I’m Doctor Johnson.” He smiles widely.

  “Marcus?” Hayley’s voice is strained and quiet.

  I stare at the doctor who’s arrived to take care of my wife.

  “Hayley? I’m so sorry. I didn’t recognise you at first.”

  “Doctor Marcus Johnson.” He holds his hand out for me to shake. I ignore it.

  “Is there anyone else who can help her. Quickly?” I ask.

  “I’m it right now.” He withdraws his hand.

  “Shit.”

  “Drew, let him do it.”

  I fume. This is the man who nearly ruined Hayley’s career. Do I want his hands on her? No.

  Do I have much choice?

  No.

  “Look, Mr Campbell …” Marcus says.

  “Doctor Campbell. Hayley’s presenting with a class-two placental abruption, and there’s far too much blood loss already. You’d better have your shit together.”

  He nods. “She’s in safe hands, I promise.”

  Reluctantly, I take a step back. It sucks, but right now I don’t have a choice. Hayley and the babies’ fates are in this man’s hands whether I like it or not.

  “Well, Hayley, I’m glad you married a doctor, because at least I don’t have to work out what I’m dealing with.” He grabs the ultrasound wand and lifts Hayley’s shirt. She takes a deep breath, and I walk around the other side of the bed so I can hold her hand and watch the monitor.

  “Sorry, the gel will be cold.”

  “It’s okay. I know.”

  He squirts gel on her belly, and runs the ultrasound wand across her baby bump. Our babies are active and healthy-looking, but I know what he’s looking for because I’m looking too.

  “How many weeks are you, Hayley?” he asks.

  “Thirty-five.”

  He meets my gaze. “Good. I think these babies are going to make their appearance really soon.”

  I shift my focus back to the monitor, and he zooms in closer. The abruption is right there, and while it’s not the worst I’ve ever seen, it’s not good.

  “We’ll be good, Hayley. They’ll be good. The most important thing is that the three of you are safe” I squeeze her hand.

  She nods. “Whatever you two think.”

  Fear is in her eyes, and I lean over. “I’ll be with you the whole way, princess.”

  “Of course you will.”

  “I’m not going to sugarcoat it because I think you both know exactly what’s going on, but the best course of action is an emergency C-section. Your babies stand a good chance at this stage. Time is of the essence,” Marcus says.

  I nod. “I agree. But you’d better believe I’ll be watching every move you make, and if you put a foot wrong …”

  He swallows.

  “Drew, Marcus isn’t a bad doctor.”

  My eyebrows raise at the sound of Hayley’s words. Maybe she’s right and he’s a good doctor, albeit one who chose not to listen to her.

  She gives me a wan smile. “I trust him. And I know you’ll be there, watching over us.”

  “You’d better believe it.”

  While Hayley’s being prepped for theatre, I scrub in with Marcus. I’ll only be there watching, but I want to be as close to her as possible because I don’t trust him.

  “So, what area of medicine are you in?” he asks. “You picking up the abruption saved a lot of time.”

  “Obstetrics. Hayley and I live in Hamilton. We’re just up here visiting her folks.”

  “And you landed here the weekend I’m on call.”

  “Well, then I guess this is it.” I know my exasperation is clear in my voice, but I’d give anything for this to have happened at home where I know the hospital and the surgeons.

  He nods. “I could call in another obstetrician, but the other one on call lives out west, and I don’t need to tell you that the sooner this is done, the better.”

  I suck in a breath. “Let me spell this out. If you put a foot wrong in that theatre, I’ll find some way to ruin you.”

  He swallows hard and nods. “I understand.”

  “You owe her. Big time.”

  “She’ll get the very best care.”

  “She’d better. If anything happens to her …”

  The man I hate, but who will hold Hayley’s life in his hands, grips my arm. “I’ve got her, Drew.”

  I can do nothing more than nod and trust that he can take care of everything.

  It’s weird being in an operating theatre and not being the one performing the operation.

  Instead, I hold my wife’s hand. This isn’t going to be easy for her. She already needs transfusions to make up for the blood she’s lost. Recovering from this is going to be long and tough, but Hayley’s strong, and I’ll be right by her side the whole way.

  “I know this isn’t what we planned, but it’s the safest way. I stroke her cheek.

  She squeezes my hand. “I know. As long as the babies are safe.”

  “As long as you’re safe. You’re my whole world, Hayley Campbell.”

  Hayley smiles. “I still love it when you call me that.”

  “You should be used to it by now. It’ll be your name for the rest of your life.” I lean over and give her a tender kiss before straightening up and checking on Doctor Johnson.

  “Ready, Hayley?” he asks.

  “As I’ll ever be,” she replies.

  As much as I hate this guy, I can’t fault him in his work. He does everything by the book and as good a job as I’d do. It leaves me feeling grateful, and I hate that I feel that way about him.

  “Baby number one.” He lifts our first child out, and emotion overwhelms me.

  “Drew?” Hayley’s voice is so soft. This whole thing scares the shit out of her and rightfully so. It’s easy in this situation for things to go pear-shaped and the mother and baby to be at risk.

  I peer at our baby, and grin. “He’s beautiful, Hayley. Small, but he looks perfect.”

  “He?”

  I grin. For all the scans she’s had, we haven’t managed to catch what gender our babies are. Not that it’s ever mattered. “We have a son.”

  She squeezes my hand, and I step back to let Marcus lay the baby on her chest. Hayley sighs contentedly.

  “Here comes baby two,” he says.

  A little smaller, but no less perfect, appears my daughter. Tears well as I look at her in Marcus’s hands. This is everything I’ve ever wanted—the wife I adore, and our children. I’m a dad.

  For a moment, it punches me in the gut that Owen never got to have this moment. If Cara and Ryan hadn’t died, he’d have been none the wiser about his child. And he missed seeing Ava come into the world.

  Me? I’ll never miss a thing when it comes to my kids. And I’m so grateful for that.

  “You might need to help out here, Drew.” Marcus lifts my daughter toward Hayley, laying the baby beside her brother.

  Hayley’s a blubbering mess, and I’m just as bad, sniffing as I press a kiss to her hand.

  “They’re here,” she whispers.

  “They’re here, and they’re safe.”

  With the babies covered in warm towels, we pay all our attention to them while Marcus works on completing Hayley’s surgery and stitching her up.

  My family’s safe.

  My family.

  This moment has been coming for months, but it still seems surreal. For the rest of my life, I’ll love Hayley and our children. I always wanted a big family, but after today, this is big enough.

  I’m not putting Hayley through this again.

  I know the odds are against this happening twice, but the thought of losing her leaves a hole in my chest so big you could drive a truck through it.

  For years, I thought I wanted a big family, but if we never have more than these two, I’ll be happy. I’m not sacrificing the love of my life for more babies.

  The three people in front of
me are everything.

  They’re all I need.

  We exit the theatre, and time stands still as I watch my wife being wheeled in one direction, our babies in another. Torn for a moment, I do the only thing I can and follow Hayley. The NICU here has a great reputation, and at this stage of gestation with the APGARs the babies got, I’m confident the children will be fine.

  Hayley, on the other hand, still concerns me. By the time we left the theatre, she’d fallen asleep. Her faith in me is unwavering, but I had to swallow down my fear in there. He might have just saved her life, but Doctor Marcus Johnson is still a piece of shit as far as I’m concerned.

  His hand lands on my back. “I’ve got her a private room as close to the NICU as I could. The next couple of days will be really tough as she recovers and is unable to get out of bed, but she’s strong, and I’m sure you’ll be at home with those babies really soon.”

  I turn to see his smile. “The sooner the better.”

  “I understand. She’s just being taken to recovery, and once we’re sure she’s ready, she’ll be moved to the ward.”

  “There’s something else I need to discuss with you.”

  “What’s that?”

  He doesn’t see my fist coming, and I slam him right in the face. Staggering, he hits the wall.

  “You did a great job in there, but I’ve been dying to do that since I discovered what you did to her.”

  Holding his hand up with his other hand covering his cheek, he nods. “Drew, I—”

  “You broke my girl, Johnson, and she is so strong and so good at her job. She’d have been a huge loss to the profession.”

  He nods. “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not me who needs an apology. Just stay away from her.”

  Hayley’s near the end of the corridor, and the bed turns left. I take off and follow, catching up just as the nurse turns it to take her into the room.

  “You’re not supposed to be in here,” one of the nurses says.

  “Tough.”

  She chuckles. “I’ll go and get a chair. She’s likely to sleep for a while. The whole experience can be exhausting.”

  I nod. “I’ve seen plenty of patients sleep after something so traumatic.”