Chapter 10 - The Delivery Room
I reached the operating floor as they were wheeling Briar through double doors.
She caught sight of me.
"You found him?"
I ran beside the bed.
"He's alive. He's safe."
Her face crumpled with relief.
"Good."
"I'm coming with you."
Dr. Patel blocked me long enough to shove scrubs into my hands.
"Change fast."
Inside the operating room, everything was bright, controlled, and terrifying.
Briar's blood pressure had dropped. The baby's heart rate kept falling.
She was conscious behind the drape.
I held her hand.
"Look at me."
"I am looking at you."
"You're doing great."
"That's what people say when things are terrible."
I laughed because she needed me to.
Then Dr. Patel said, "We're delivering now."
A minute later, I heard a cry.
Thin at first.
Then louder.
Our son.
Briar sobbed.
"Is he okay?"
A nurse lifted him just high enough for us to see.
"He's breathing. He's angry. That's good."
I kissed Briar's forehead.
"He's perfect."
Then the doors opened.
Colleen stepped in, face tense.
"I'm sorry. Security issue."
Dr. Patel snapped, "Not now."
Colleen looked at me.
"Maris Sterling is no longer in police custody."
"What?"
"Her attorney got an emergency release pending arraignment."
"She can't come near Briar."
"There's already a restraining order request."
Colleen hesitated.
"But someone used her authorization code ten minutes ago to access the newborn registration system."
I looked toward the bassinet where a nurse was checking my son.
"What did they change?"
Colleen's voice went flat.
"The listed emergency guardian."
She handed me the printout.
May you like
Under our son's temporary hospital record was one name.
MARIS STERLING.
