At Odds with the Midwife

by Patricia Forsythe

  “We were staying at the same hotel,” Trent added. “We met in the elevator—”

  “Where Trent showed me what a true gentleman his mom and dad had raised. He gave me his suit jacket because I’d lost my dress and I was in my underwear.”

  Everyone at the table stopped eating and stared.

  Gemma held up her hand. “Back up a minute. How did you lose your dress?”

  Mia smiled. “I didn’t really lose it—the auto-show people took the dresses for cleaning and there’d been a mix-up with our luggage—mine and my roommate’s bags. That left me to go down, wearing a sheet, to claim our things.”

  “Yeah,” Trent said, wiggling his eyebrows. “But you wore that sheet like a boss. We got married four days later.” Trent tightened his arm, rocking her close to him.

  “And had Max eleven months later.”

  “On the side of the highway,” Gemma added.

  “During a lightning storm.”

  A baby’s wail sounded from the monitor and Mia excused herself to go get her son. Everyone continued eating and the conversation drifted to other topics for the next half hour, until she returned carrying a chubby little boy who had his mother’s dark hair and eyes and his father’s smile.

  “Okay, now that you’re back, you can’t stop there,” one of the other ladies at the table said as Mia handed the baby to her husband and contemplated her plate of cold food. “Why wasn’t Max born in a hospital?”

  “There wasn’t one nearby,” Trent answered without looking at Nate. He held up his finger in front of his son’s face and Max grabbed it with both of his tiny fists. Before he could maneuver it into his mouth, Trent lifted him up a few inches, then dropped him down onto his well-padded bottom, causing the baby to give out a deep, rolling chuckle. “Max came two weeks early. Mia’s labor moved a lot faster than we expected. We were both new at this. Mom and Dad were out of town so we were trying to make it there on our own, but the storm hit at the same time Max decided he was tired of waiting around. I pulled over to try and help, but it was way beyond my calf-delivering skills.”

  “Then Gemma showed up and saved the day,” Mia added.

  “I was on my way into Reston to visit my two best friends when I saw a truck stopped and two people inside. One of those people was about to pass out,” she added with a grin.

  “Hey, I was new at this dad business, remember?” Trent protested.

  “I’d never seen anyone with a face that pale who still had a heartbeat,” Gemma teased. “But, as it turned out, Max arrived without any further complications, an ambulance found us and got Mia and the baby to the hospital.”

  “None of that would have happened if we’d had a hospital closer,” Mia said. “I was so scared. I’m so grateful that medical facilities are opening up here. Having a midwife, of all people, show up just in time was a true miracle.”

  The others at the table nodded as they exchanged glances. Being without a hospital had affected everyone in the community.

  “Midwives can be helpful in an emergency birth like that,” Nate said.

  Gemma shot a glance at him as Trent said, “She was more than helpful. She saved Mia’s life. Max was fine, but Mia’s blood pressure was dropping fast.”

  Before he could say anything else, Frances swept up to their table and encouraged everyone to have dessert and then mingle. “The music’s starting up in a few minutes and then I fully intend to charm your wallets right out of your pockets,” she said with a smile as she took her grandson from Trent. “I’ll take Max with me. Nobody can resist an adorable baby. Also, I expect all of you to be dancing and having fun.”

  Everyone at the table stood and moved to the dessert buffet, except Gemma, who stepped back and watched Nathan. She wondered what he thought about the story of Max’s birth. His statement that midwives were helpful in emergency situations was troubling, though not surprising. She doubted that he would ever change his mind.

  As if her thoughts had conjured him, Nate appeared at her elbow. “Care to dance?” he asked.

  “Um, yes.” What else could she say? Besides, she wanted to enjoy this different side of him while it lasted.

  The band was playing a slow tune, which appealed to most of the older guests and to Gemma since it would give her a chance to talk to Nate. It would be a different story once they started up with the Texas two-step. She knew her people and when that song started, everyone, young and old, would flood the dance floor.

  As it turned out, Tom Sanderson and Brantley Clegg pulled Nate aside for some kind of discussion regarding the hospital, leaving Gemma feeling disappointed enough to begin eyeing the dessert table.

  “Oh, there you are.” Carly’s voice drew her out of her unhappy thoughts and Gemma turned to greet her friend. Her gaze went up and down Carly’s lithe frame.

  “You actually wore a dress,” Gemma said, approving of her red knee-length skirt with its matching sleeveless top. Carly’s long black hair wasn’t in its usual ponytail but was down in a shiny wave across her shoulders.

  “Well, it is a party. Even I know how to dress for a party,” Carly answered with pretend huffiness.

  “With cowboy boots.”

  “Hey, I actually polished these,” she said, turning her feet this way and that so Gemma could admire the effect. “They’re my best ones, and you know I don’t wear heels. Why bother when I’m already five foot ten?”

  “How long does it take to polish a pair of boots like that?”

  “The length of time it takes to watch an episode of Real Housewives of...somewhere.”

  Gemma gaped at her. “You never watch reality TV. What did you think of it?”

  “I think those women need to go out and start digging in a garden if they want things to get real very fast.”

  Gemma grinned. “You’re probably right. Well, all the polishing paid off. You look gorgeous.”

  “Thanks. It’s so nice to have a compliment. I hear so few from my vegetables.” Carly glanced around. “I saw your Land Rover on the side of the road. Glad you got a ride here and that flat didn’t happen on the way to a baby emergency.”

  “No baby emergencies yet. No expectant moms yet.” With a shrug, she added, “I’m hoping to get some when we open the birthing center and begin prenatal classes. Moms won’t want me to deliver their babies until they know they can trust me.” She went on to tell Carly about her two flat tires and Nate’s help.

  When Gemma got to the part about Nate removing his shirt, Carly laughed and said, “Anyone who saw you two will have spread the news all over the county. Gossip will have you married off by midnight.”

  “I know.” Gemma sighed. “I hadn’t actually forgotten about small-town and small-county life, but I guess in my case, I was hoping it didn’t apply.”

  “Good luck with that.”

  Glancing up, Gemma spotted a man across the room and went very still. She took a second look before she said, “Carly, did you know Luke is here?”

  Carly didn’t turn around. “Yes. As a matter of fact, he came by my house earlier to drop off something his grandmother left me. Brought it all the way from Dallas since he was coming to his aunt and uncle’s party, anyway.”

  “Oh, really? What did his grandmother leave you?”

  “An antique trunk.”

  “That was nice of her, considering you and Luke are no longer married.”

  Carly shook her head. “What Luke and I had was so short and so long ago, it can hardly be called a marriage. More of a...ripple in the streams of our lives. His grandmother was always sweet to me, though, and I’m honored that she remembered me.”

  Gemma nodded even as she studied her friend’s carefully neutral face. It was a long time ago, but she knew the hurt from Carly’s broken marriage had never really gone away. That’s why she worked so hard, at so many
different projects. At first, she’d done it to forget, but now it was a habit.

  Looking for a change of subject, Gemma surveyed the crowd and asked, “Where is Lisa?”

  “Over by the swimming pool, having one of her usual arguments with Ben McAdams over the direction the city of Reston needs to take.”

  “I hope she keeps her cool and doesn’t push him in.”

  Carly laughed. “When has she ever kept her cool where he’s concerned? She’s always ready to throttle him or defend him to the death. Remember when we were in seventh grade and she made us help her break him out of jail?”

  “I’ll never forget. I know the sheriff only wanted to scare Ben into being more responsible with his BB gun, but I was convinced the law was coming for us.”

  “I think it worked. After that, he never shot at anything except tin cans.”

  Gemma laughed as Carly turned to see who else they knew, then froze in place. “Oh, no,” she said under her breath.

  “What? What is it?”

  “The band is playing the Texas two-step and Bunky is headed our way.”

  “No-o-o,” Gemma moaned, her toes curling into her open sandals. “Oh, please, you dance with him. I almost needed to see a podiatrist after the Christmas party at the chamber of commerce, remember? And at least you’re wearing boots.”

  “I’m too tall for him. He likes dancing with someone his own size, but his wife refuses to, so it’s up to you.” Carly looked around for an escape route and slipped behind a row of flowering bushes.

  “But he’s got two left feet,” Gemma called after her, pitching her voice low. “And no sense of rhythm.”

  Carly’s laughter drifted back to tease her.

  Dalton Bunker screeched to a halt in front of Gemma and grabbed her hand. “Glad you’re here, Gemma girl. You’re my favorite dancing partner.”

  She didn’t have a chance to disagree, plead a headache, or make up a sudden emergency or impending natural disaster before he’d dragged her onto the dance floor and whirled her into his arms so fast she was sure she experienced whiplash.

  The band was playing a rock and roll tune from the 1960s that seemed to fire up Bunky’s blood even more than usual. “That’s what I call real music,” he declared ecstatically as he swooped her into a combination of a two-step and a hip-swing jive step that he’d made up himself. It involved many spins and dips. Gemma simply went with it and tried to keep her toes out of the line of fire, although she wasn’t always successful.

  The other dancers quickly became adept at staying out of reach of Bunky’s enthusiastic moves. Faces whirled past in a blur, but she saw Nate standing at the edge of the dance floor, staring at her, openmouthed.

  It took her a minute or so, but she finally figured out the crazy nonrhythm that Bunky danced to and even managed a few moves of her own, which delighted her partner.

  When the music finally stopped, Bunky gave her a big kiss on the cheek and basked in the applause from the audience. As he took a bow, Gemma slipped away to find a place to hide. When she spied a patio table and chairs near the corner of the house, she gratefully slid into a chair and pulled off her sandals, even as she noticed she wasn’t alone.

  Yvette Burleigh sat in one chair, her feet propped on another. The light in that corner wasn’t great, but Gemma could see the younger woman’s feet were quite swollen, as were her face, arms and hands.

  Trained to keep alarm out of her face and voice, Gemma smiled and said, “Hello, Yvette. It’s so nice to see you again. How are you feeling?”

  “I’ve been better.” Yvette adjusted her position in the chair. “It’s getting harder to move around. And I’ve still got two months to go.”

  Gemma leaned over to examine Yvette’s ankles. “You seem to be retaining a great deal of fluid. Have you been to see your doctor?”

  “I’ve got an appointment on Tuesday.” Yvette twisted again, trying to get comfortable. “I called his office, though, and he said some fluid retention is normal.”

  “Some is, but not this much.”

  Yvette rested her head on her palm. “And my head hurts so bad. Maybe because I don’t sleep much, either.”

  “It’s probably not a good idea for you to wait until Tuesday to get checked—”

  “I don’t want to go to the hospital.” Fear quavered in Yvette’s voice as her eyes filled with tears.

  “I can check you out right here, if that’s okay with you.” Gemma kept her voice upbeat. “I promise that I’m qualified.”

  “I—I know you are.” Yvette glanced around. “I’ve...asked people about you. Yes, please see if my baby’s okay, and me, too, of course.”

  “I’ll go get my bag,” Gemma said as she pulled her sandals back onto her feet. They seemed to have recovered from Bunky’s missteps as soon as she had someone else to claim her focus. “I’ll be right back.”

  She had taken several steps around the corner before she recalled that she didn’t have her car and, therefore, no medical bag.

  Redirecting her steps, she went looking for Nate. When she spotted him talking to Tom, Brantley and a group of other men, she wasted no time in hurrying up and pulling him aside.

  “Is your medical bag in your car?”

  “Of course. What’s wrong?” His gaze swept the area, looking for someone in distress. “Has there been an accident?”

  He didn’t wait for an answer, but excused himself from the group and started for his car at a rapid pace as Gemma scurried along beside him, explaining about Yvette.

  “I’m sure it’s the beginnings of preeclampsia, but I need to check her blood pressure to be sure. Also, she’s got a severe headache, doesn’t sleep and I don’t think she’s eating right. There’s a full plate of food in front of her that hasn’t been touched.”

  Nate shot her a swift glance. “We need to call Emergency Services, get her to a hospital and on the proper medication.”

  “She doesn’t want to go to the hospital, seems terrified of the idea.”

  “She may not have a choice.” Nate stopped at his car and pulled his bag from the trunk. “Where is Cole?”

  “I don’t know, but let’s try to keep this quiet. She’s terrified and I seriously doubt that Cole gives her much support or help with her fears.”

  Gemma led the way back to the quiet corner where Yvette waited. Although she sent Gemma an alarmed look when she saw Nate, she sat quietly while he checked her blood pressure and Gemma slipped an oximeter onto her finger to check her oxygen-saturation level.

  While they waited, Gemma asked Yvette if she’d eaten anything.

  “No. I wasn’t hungry. I know it’s a barbecue and everything, and the Sandersons are so nice, but...” Her voice faded away. “I’m a vegan. I know it’s crazy with Cole’s family owning the cattle sale barn, but have you seen baby calves with those big brown eyes? And baby chicks? They’re so cute and fluffy.”

  They had the results in a couple of minutes. Gemma took her hand. “Yvette, your blood pressure is sky-high and your blood oxygen is too low.” She lifted her head as she heard Carly’s voice coming from around the corner. “Excuse me a second.”

  She hurried away, gave Carly some instructions and returned in time to hear Nate say, “We need to get you to the hospital.” He put his things away and snapped his bag shut decisively. “And get you on the proper medication.”

  “No. No hospital, please.” She looked from Gemma to Nathan, begging for understanding. Gemma’s heart went out to her. She’d seen this before, but she couldn’t let pity for the patient overwhelm her professional judgment.

  “Where is your husband?” Gemma asked. “Is Cole here?”

  “No. He and his mom and dad went to a rodeo in Tulsa. A cousin of Cole’s is riding his first bronc in a big competition. They won’t be back until tomorrow night. I’m here
with my neighbors, Roland and Becky Hall, to represent Burleigh Livestock Sales. They can take me home.”

  “They need to take you to the hospital,” Nate responded. He stood with his hands on his hips, head thrust forward as he observed her. “Or we can call an ambulance.”

  She shook her head again. “I don’t trust hospitals. Every member of my family has died in a hospital. And, yeah, I know it’s not the facility’s fault, or the staff’s, but... I don’t trust them. None of my family members came out alive...” Her voice faded away as she gave in to her terror and tears overflowed her eyes. “Please,” she whispered.

  Gemma plucked a paper napkin from the holder on the table and handed it to Yvette as she said, “This won’t get better on its own. You’re very close to having a serious case of toxemia, which is a threat to your life and your baby’s.”

  Yvette dabbed at her tears and said, “I don’t want me and my baby to be pumped full of drugs.”

  “These would be life-saving drugs.” Nate sounded frustrated as he looked from Yvette to Gemma.

  “Tell me what to do and I’ll go home and do it.”

  Nate shook his head. “It’s not that simple—”

  “Yes, it is,” Gemma interrupted. “Yvette, have you got any eggs at home?”

  “Of course. My mother-in-law raises chickens. And they’re right down the road from us. But I’m a vegan. Cole eats them.”

  “Yvette, it’s time to stop thinking about baby calves and their big brown eyes. Imagine a vicious old bull chasing you around a field, and then imagine him as a juicy hamburger.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re not getting enough protein. For the sake of your baby—and yourself—you need to go on the ‘crazy egg diet.’ Twelve eggs in twelve hours.”

  Nate stared at her. “Eggs? You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “It works. I’ve seen it many times. The albumen in the eggs stabilizes the blood pressure and relieves the headache.”