Chapter 17 - The List at the Desk
Nora was awake before I finished the sentence.
"Breathe. I'm getting your bag."
"I'm breathing. You're the one putting your shoes on the wrong feet."
She looked down and started laughing. For one absurd second, I laughed too. Then a contraction folded me over the side of the bed.
The drive to the hospital felt both endless and too fast. Nora kept one hand on the wheel and one eye on the road while I timed contractions on my phone.
At admissions, I gave the nurse the written visitor preferences I'd reviewed with Dr. Patel. Nora was with me. Daniel could be informed but wasn't to come into the room without my invitation. Linda was not authorized to visit or receive medical information.
The nurse read the list carefully. "Understood. We follow your instructions."
I almost cried at how simple that sounded.
Nora texted Daniel: Emily is in labor. Mother and baby are being monitored. Please don't come to the unit unless she asks.
His reply arrived a minute later: Please tell her I'm here if she needs anything. I won't bring Mom.
The labor nurse checked my blood pressure and connected the monitors. The room filled with that quick, steady heartbeat I had learned to love.
"There she is," Nora whispered.
Then a stronger contraction hit. I rolled onto my side as instructed. The monitor changed pitch.
The nurse looked up. She adjusted the sensor and called for Dr. Patel.
"What's happening?" I asked.
"We're seeing a change in the baby's heart rate. We're checking and responding. Stay with me."
I gripped Nora's hand. For an instant I was back on the waiting-room floor, begging for a sign of movement.
Dr. Patel came in, studied the tracing, and spoke to the team in a calm, direct voice.
May you like
Then she looked at me.
"Emily, I need you to listen carefully."
