The Runaway Nurse. Dianne Drake

felt better already. “OK, Edie,” she said, removing the shade from the lamp sitting on the table next to the sofa. “Let’s see what’s happening.”

      One look told her everything. Edie was fully dilated. Ready to crown. And one feel to Edie’s abdomen confirmed it all. “So, are you ready to be a mother?” she asked. “Because we’ve got a little work to do now.” Summer had to remember that even though Edie held an important position at the hospital, she wasn’t considered medical staff and hadn’t had medical training outside some basic first-aid skills. Her position, as Child Life Specialist, was more about stepping in as the go-between, the person who helped the child through the whole hospital experience, explained the procedures in the way a child could understand them. “I know you feel like pushing, and we’ll get to that in just a minute. But I’d like to wait as long as we can, since …”

      “No waiting,” Edie gasped, grabbing the edge of the couch so hard her knuckles went white. “I want this baby born. now!”

      “Let me see what I can do.” Summer felt Edie’s abdomen again, while the next contraction hit, trying to discern the baby’s position. “OK, I think your Mary Grace is as impatient as you are, because she’s not waiting.” Although Summer wanted to wait for Rick, for Rafe, for anybody.

      “So give the ladies what they want,” Rick said from the phone, sounding almost breathless.

      He was on his way. Running, she thought. She knew it. More than that, she felt it. Somehow, that made everything feel better, feel right. Rick being on the other end of the phone that was the only reason she was getting through this and appearing reasonably steady. “I think I will. So, let’s get you in a little better position. Try sitting up as much as you can. Then draw your knees up. And … I see her! I see your daughter, Edie. At least the top of her. Which means, on your next contraction, go ahead and push.”

      Edie struggled into place, with Summer’s help. Then, winded, she laid her head back on a cushion and shut her eyes for a moment. “Remind me to renew my gym membership. I didn’t know I was so out of shape.”

      “Neither did I when I went through this,” Summer said, as she placed a few extra pillows behind Edie’s back. “And let me warn you, while it’s a beautiful thing, and I’d do it all over again, several more times actually, afterwards I ached for days in places I didn’t know could ache. But it’s worth it.”

      “Just get her out,” Edie begged. “Just, please, get her out of me!”

      Summer took a quick pulse, wishing she had something to monitor fetal progress. So far, this process had taken mere minutes … minutes that seemed like hours. “Rick, I’m going to attempt to lift the baby’s head. Anything you want to tell me?”

      “Um … good luck?”

      Summer laughed. “And for that you got your medical degree?”

      “Are you two …?” Edie began, then another contraction hit, and this time she pushed hard. The baby progressed, but not all the way, and Edie fell back into the pillows.

      “Next time,” Summer said, taking a second to unclench her clenched muscles. “A couple?” Edie managed. “What?”

      “Are you and Rick together? You seem so in tune … Oh, oh …” Another contraction hit, and at that exact moment the front door finally, literally burst open, Edie screamed the scream of her life, and Mary Grace Corbett made her entry into the world in one grand whoosh.

      “She’s beautiful,” Summer gasped. “Ten fingers, ten toes …” Then she handed Rafe’s daughter over to Rafe, who was standing shoulder to shoulder with Rick, and collapsed on the floor, a bundle of nerves, a flood of happy tears. With some very gentle arms wrapped around her.

      “You did it,” Rick said, holding onto her, rocking her like she was a child to be protected. “Summer, you did it all by yourself!”

      She glanced up at Mary Grace as the next wave of medical workers hurried in to whisk mother and daughter off to the hospital. “I did,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Laying her head against Rick’s chest, glad to be there, glad for the support, she drew in a deep breath. Smiled. This was a nice place to be. All of it. Everything. A very nice place to be.