Page 64 of Consume Me

“Ask her.” I wasn’t about to give anyone permission to touch her.

“Clara,” Dr. Thompson said calmly. “You look like you’re ready to have a baby. I’d like to check the baby’s heart rate if that’s all right. That will make certain that we’re safe in proceeding.”

Clara nodded, her teeth still clicking together. Thompson meanwhile bent down with her stethoscope. After a few moments, she straightened with a smile. “Sounds beautiful. Would you like me to check you?”

Clara looked at me apprehensively. I wondered how long it would be before she trusted someone to touch her. All I could do was reassure her that I was here. “It’s okay.”

She nodded, starting to push up onto the bed.

“Don’t bother,” Thompson stopped her. “You look like you’ve found a position you like. Stool please.”

I was in a daze. This was happening so fast, unlike last time. I slid a stool to Thompson who settled on it like she was about to read the morning paper. Belle and I exchanged glances while Thompson checked the situation.

How far did we allow this to go? If Clara needed an intervention, did either of us have the heart to tell her?

“You are ready to have this baby,” Thompson said warmly. “Would you mind if a nurse joined us? Someone I trust?”

She seemed to understand that something out of the ordinary was happening, but rather than take control she was allowing Clara to retain it.

I think we’d found our new family physician.

“Yes,” Clara groaned.

“Good, because we’re going to need all hands on deck. Would you mind calling for Gillian?” Thompson asked Belle.

Belle did as she was told, her face a mixture of apprehension and excitement. Only a few hours ago, we weren’t certain we would ever see Clara again. Now we were about to witness her giving birth.

“We have a neonatal surgeon prepared. Once the cord is cut, we’ll need to administer some medications to keep the baby’s valve open until we can have surgery.” She spoke directly to Clara, laying out each step as she spoke and erasing any room for doubt or fear. “We don’t have to cut the cord right away. We’ll let you decide.”

“You can do that?” I said, slightly awe-struck. Thompson shot me a look that said I was out of my league.

“Yes, for hours. When she’s ready, we’ll take the next steps,” she said pointedly.

I couldn’t imagine what trauma the doctor suspected Clara had endured, but she was here for her and seemed intent to make that clear.

“But for now, I think you’re ready to meet your baby.” Thompson turned back to Clara, not bothering to order her onto the bed.

Everything happened in a haze. Clara moved and swayed and moaned. She clung to me, drinking in as much love as I could give her as she worked to bring our child into the world, and then she did it.

He was here.

Chapter 25

CLARA

Life changed in an instant. One minute I was ready to tell Alexander that if he even looked at me again I would neuter him, and the next I was clutching a beautiful baby boy. I waited for him to scream, noting with alarm that he was slightly blue and then he opened his mouth and yowled.

Instinct took over, and I brought the baby to my breast as the others helped me into the bed I’d wanted nothing to do with for the last hour. I was suddenly grateful for its existence.

Alexander moved beside me, leaning closer but still keeping his distance. It was oddly shy of him, considering he usually couldn’t keep his hands off me.

“Come meet your son,” I said softly, adjusting the baby to keep him close while giving his father a better view.

“Hello there, little prince,” Alexander whispered. He stared in awe at the miracle we’d been given.

Hours ago, I couldn’t have imagined this gift. I’d thought I would never hold my child. I’d thought Alexander would never meet him. Now we were here—together and complete.

“Elizabeth!” In all of the chaos, I hadn’t thought to send for our daughter.