Page 14 of Everybody Needs a Hero

He grabbed his short dark hair with both hands as if losing his mind. “She’s having a baby,” he answered. “Please. I don’t know what to do.”

Glancing at Tess, she was about to explain she had to help when the actress nodded. “Go help them,” she said.

Without another moment’s hesitation, Drew was out of the Pathfinder and jogging behind the man to take a look. “I see,” she said, staying calm, taking in the scene. The young black woman in the passenger seat looked in severe pain. As if to underline how bad it was, the woman let out a blood curling scream. To make matters worse, a toddler in a car seat in the back wailed too.

“Can you help me?” the father said. “She says the baby is coming, but I can’t get through to 9-1-1.”

Tess joined Drew beside the man’s car. “How can I help?” she asked, and Drew felt a new appreciation for her. Even with all her stress and worry about her own daughter’s safety, she wanted to do what she could for the family in crisis.

Taking over the scene, Drew pointed at the crying child in the car. “Get the baby out of the car seat, take her over to the sidewalk, and do what you can to calm her down,” she said, then turned to the father. “I’m going to need that car seat out. Your wife needs to move into the backseat to lay as flat as possible. I don’t want her to have this baby on the ground, and it’s too tight in the front seat.”

Tess was already moving, but the man stood in place, his eyes wide. “Is she having the baby right here?”

“Seems likely from the sound of things,” Drew said. “I have to look, but first, I need that car seat out.” She pointed into the vehicle. “Now, do it.”

As if she shocked him with her last barked command, the man sprang into action. Pausing to take in everything around her, Drew took in a deep breath, held it to the count of four, then let it out slowly as she walked to her vehicle. Opening the back, she grabbed her emergency bag and tried to relax. She had helped deliver babies in the emergency room, but so many things could go wrong.Think positive, she reminded herself.It’s only one more birth. Nothing different other than the location.

Gently bouncingthe baby girl on her hip, Tess cooed into the scrunched-up, tear-streaked little face. “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart,” she said. “Shhh. You don’t need to worry.” The tone in Tess’s voice seemed to get through to the little girl because her crying slowed. Watching her open her large brown eyes, Tess worried for a moment the child would howl again when she realized a stranger held her. To her surprise, the little girl did the opposite, seeming fascinated to see her. With a final hiccup, the crying stopped altogether. “Well, there you go. See? Nothing to worry about. Your mom is in good hands.” Considering how Drew had taken control of the situation from the minute she stepped out of the car, Tess believed her words were true. As she watched them from the sidewalk, under Drew’s direction, the father helped her lift the struggling woman out of the passenger seat so she could shuffle around to the cleared backseat.

Tess noticed a blanket was spread out for the mother to lay on, and with a practiced hand, Drew snapped on latex gloves.

“You go get in on the other side and hold her head in your lap,” she said to the father. “Let her squeeze the hell out of your hand if she wants to but try to keep her focused.”

Tess watched the man do what Drew said, knowing from the look on his face, he was near panicking himself.I wonder if he knows how lucky he is right now,she thought.He could have knocked on a hundred windows and probably not found a woman more qualified to help in the emergency than Drew Andersen.

While Tess was distracted watching Drew crouch at the open back door, she was surprised to feel the little girl’s hand on her face. Turning to look, she realized the child was reaching for Tess’s long blonde hair. “Oh, so that’s what you’re distracted by?” she asked with a smile, letting the child’s waving hand feel it. As she did, memories of holding Ashley rushed upon her. In the emergency, she had been able to focus on something other than her worry for her daughter. Her chest clenched with anxiety.Oh, Ashley, where are you?she thought.Please be at home waiting for me.

When Ashley was not quite a year old and starting to walk everywhere, Tess had been so worried about her daughter falling and getting hurt. Friends and family who visited teased her for all the baby gates she had to corral the curious girl. Still, for all her precautions, Ashley slipped past her defenses, and to her horror, Tess heard a thump, thump, thump coming from the stairs leading to the basement. In a panic, she feared the worst, only to find Ashley tottering around exploring the new world she found with nothing more than a bloody bottom lip.And like then, I must trust that my girl will bounce back from whatever is happening and be fine.

Suddenly, the woman in the backseat let out a scream much louder than the others, pulling Tess back to the moment. In response, the little girl started to cry all over again. Fearing for the worst but unable to stay away, Tess crept closer. Drew glanced over. “Stay right here with me,” she said. “I want you to hand me that beach towel when I ask for it.”

Tess nodded, seeing it on the roof of the car as she pulled the crying child tighter to free her other hand. “I’m ready.”

“Okay, everybody, we’re going to make this look easy. On three, I want a big push,” Drew said. Tess held her breath. “One, two, three.” The mother screamed but clearly pushed, because in another moment Drew held a squirming, red-faced baby cradled in her hands.

12

Running gentle fingers along the newborn’s forehead, Drew watched the little boy snuggle against his mother and begin to nurse. She loved nothing more than to see the mother-child bonding experience happening in front of her. Of all the sights in the emergency room, watching a baby take to its mother was her favorite.All things considered, he’s off to a great start, she thought.And his family will have a hell of a story to tell about the day he arrived.“Well done,” she said. “He’s very handsome and looking hearty.”

Her eyes filled with tears, the mother reached to take Drew’s and held it tight. “Thank you,” she said, a sob of happiness in her words. “I don’t know what we would have done…”

Smiling, Drew squeezed the woman’s hand. “Everything has a way of working out,” she said. “I am glad I could be here to help bring your son into the world. And now...” She turned her focus to the father who hoovered protectively near her. “I know traffic is horrible, and it will take you a while, but you need to inch your way to the hospital.”

His eyes widened. “Is something wrong?” he asked. “Is it the baby? My wife?”

Drew shook her head. “Nothing is wrong. Not at all,” she said. “But they both need a thorough check. Routine procedure.”

Nodding, the man looked relieved. “Right,” he said. “I’ll go now.” He hesitated. “Can I put my daughter’s car seat in the front?”

Drew smiled. “Considering the circumstances, yes,” she said. “I imagine you’ll be driving more cautiously than anyone could believe possible.” She stepped from beside the car so the backdoor could be gently closed. “Let me get my car out of your way.” Looking toward the sidewalk, she saw Tess rocking the comforted toddler against her while the little girl held a handful of the woman’s long blonde hair. The picture of the two of them was so serene and sweet, Drew took a beat before interrupting to tell Tess it was time for her to give up her charge. Considering how chaotic and stressful the morning had been, the fact Tess could focus only on soothing the child impressed her.There is no way to know where Ashley is or if she is okay, but she put that all aside to help, Drew thought.All the more reason I have to do everything I can to find her daughter.

As if feeling Drew’s eyes on her, Tess glanced over and smiled. “Are you ready for this one?” she asked, moving toward the car. “I think two minutes in her car seat, and she will be fast asleep.”

“Thank you,” the father said, taking the sleepy little girl from Tess. “Thank you both so very much.” As he held the toddler in his arms, he paused. “I’m sorry, I know my question is weird, but are you Tess Landish?” He grinned. “My wife and I are big fans. You were amazing inLights at Night.”

Before Tess could respond, one of the bystanders gathered to watch the drama approached. “I’m a huge fan too,” the woman gushed. “Could I get an autograph?” As if the floodgates had opened, more people came forward, telling Tess how much they loved her. Drew had never seen anything like it, and although Tess seemed calm under the onslaught, she sensed the attention wasn’t welcome. Especially considering everything else going on with Tess at the moment. They didn’t have time to be standing around giving out autographs when they needed to find Ashley.

Banking on Tess wanting rescuing, Drew waded into the forming crowd and took the actress by the elbow. “If you’ll excuse us,” she said, not hesitating to push people aside. “We’re late for an appointment and have to go.” While a few protested, Drew led Tess away toward the Pathfinder.

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