Page 21 of Coast

“Duh. But considering the space they have to go through to get out, they might as well be Brax’s size.”

I patted Luna’s shoulder. “You got this. Everything is progressing normally, and you are gaining accordingly for carrying twins. Besides, the epidural will help with delivery and I imagine you will be just like the other mothers in the end once the babies are born and you hold them in your arms—everything you went through prior won’t matter. If it did, most women would never have any more children.”

“Ha! I can tell you right now, I’m not going through this again,” Luna sneered, and when Ghost bent and kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him. “Don’t think I don’t know what you are doing? Placating me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of doing that, sweetheart. Especially when you are giving me such a gift. Not one child, but two. I love you, baby.”

“Ahh, I love you, too,” Luna said and leaned her forehead against his chest. Ghost kissed the top of her head again, then looked over at Bailey and me with a huge smile, then he winked.

I shook my head and grinned back. After witnessing the interactions between the men of Black Hawk and their women since getting to know them, the men made it pretty hard for their women to refuse them anything. Case in point, the only one not pregnant out of the women was Carly, and per her, it wasn’t from lack of trying.

“Well, I need to get back to work,” I abruptly said and walked away, not waiting for any replies. I didn’t even have to look over my shoulder to know my brisk departure had left them curious.

I walked in my office and closed the door, leaning against it, then swiped at my eyes. Periods of time passed, and not once would I recall the reason for switching my fields of study. Then all of a sudden, the smallest of things would bring tears to my eyes, reminding me that I’d never have the joy of bringing a life into the world. Only sharing in others’ happiness.

There were times I’d tell myself it didn’t matter, and I could have a well-rounded life with a good man and be happy. Other times, it felt out of reach. Emery pursued me now, but if he wanted a family like his friends and brothers, would he change his mind about me?

I walked to my desk, grabbed a tissue, and wiped my face. I needed to put the negative thoughts back in their box and continue my day.

As Bailey and I walkedout of the exam room, Amelia was headed in our direction.

“Doctor Minton, the hospital called. Kate Winston arrived by ambulance. She’s in labor and bleeding.”

“Oh, no. Bailey...” I started.

“I got it. Go, I’ll take care of what I can, and Amelia can reschedule the rest.”

“Thanks,” I said as I was already halfway to my office.

After arriving at the hospital and entering the ER, I checked with the desk to see if Kate was there or if they moved her to labor and delivery. As I rode the elevator up, I said a small prayer for Kate and Larry Winston and their unborn daughter.

Kate Winston was a thirty-six-year-old first-time mother-to-be diagnosed with preeclampsia at twenty-one weeks. She also suffered from hypertension. It had been a battle keeping her blood pressure down throughout her pregnancy.

I pushed through the door of the room Kate was in. Mr. Winston stood on the side of the bed holding his wife’s hand as he tried to stay out of the way while Kate was being taken care of. She already was hooked up to the machine to keep track of her vitals, and the nurse was presently attaching the monitor to her stomach for the baby.

“How are you doing, Kate?” I asked as I picked up the chart and read what had been noted before I arrived.

“Been better. I’m worried, Dr. Minton. It’s too early for her,” Kate said, and her voice cracked at the end.

“You’re at twenty-eight and a half weeks. It’s doable. But let’s not worry yet, okay? Your blood pressure is high enough right now. Can you tell me what you experienced today, yesterday? Cramps, discomfort?” I asked as I moved to the bottom of the bed.

“Yesterday was fine. This morning, I woke up, and while Larry was getting ready for work, I went to the kitchen to fix him a cup of coffee and breakfast. I had a little discomfort in my back, but I figured I’d laid wrong or something. After Larry left for work, I straightened the kitchen, then went to take a shower thinking the warm water would help my back. As I washed, that’s when I noticed the blood.”

While she talked, I pulled on gloves and checked her. She was bleeding, and though it looked like a lot right now, it was considered mild.

“Right now, it’s mild. We’ll keep an eye to make sure that doesn’t change. The baby is doing okay for now, too, which is great. I’m more worried about you. We need to get your blood pressure lowered because that isn’t good for you, and if it spikes more, it could put you both at risk.”

“Is that what’s causing her to bleed, Doc?” Larry asked.

“To an extent. But it isn’t solely responsible. The bleeding is more than likely from a placenta abruption. It means the placenta is pulling away from the uterine wall too early. Kate’s problem is she already was diagnosed with hypertension before the pregnancy, it escalated. Preeclampsia is from normal level HBP turning chronic because of the pregnancy. Placenta abruptions are a part of it all.” I walked and looked at the readout on the EFM (electronic fetal monitor). The fetal heartbeat was good, and so were the oxygen levels, but Kate was also having mild uterine contractions.

When I looked back at her, I watched her twinge, then she reached and rubbed above where the monitor was strapped.

“When did the twinging start?”

“It was right before Larry got home. I’d called him after I got out of the showing from seeing the blood.”

“I called an ambulance after I arrived home because I was afraid to drive and have something happen with her while we were in the car,” Larry replied.

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