LITMIR.BIZ

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mask. Once more he pressed on Rina’s stomach.

      “Can she at least suck on some ice?”

      This time the doctor didn’t answer. Decker felt a headache coming on. Maybe he was just hungry—ten hours since he’d last eaten. Again Rina went into her Lamaze breathing. Decker held her hand, offered words of encouragement. Before the arrival of the doctor, he’d felt particularly needed. Now he was an appendage—useful but not indispensable. Rina stopped her labored breathing and wearily closed her eyes. Her voice was a whisper.

      “I’m very tired.”

      “I bet you are,” Hendricks said. “How about we give you a rest? Georgina, put the baby in the incubator and wheel her into Infant Recovery.” He looked at Decker, and smile lines appeared at the corners of his eyes. “You’ve got a beautiful, healthy daughter, folks. She shouldn’t be in Recovery more than an hour or so. Then they’ll move her to the nursery and you’ll be able to show her off to the family.”

      “That’d be nice,” said Decker, smiling.

      “Grandparents all excited?” Hendricks asked.

      “Yeah, they haven’t held a newborn in a while.”

      Neither had he, he thought. Nineteen years. My God, it seemed like yesterday since Cindy was born. And then, sometimes, it seemed like a thousand years. Georgina loaded the baby in the incubator. “Be back in a minute.”

      Decker nodded, and the room turned quiet. Rina’s eyes were closed, her mouth slightly agape. Decker wanted to tell her how much he loved her, but he didn’t want to disturb her rest. A few minutes later, Georgina returned. She placed a hand on Decker’s shoulder.

      “How’re you holding up, Pop?”

      “Not too bad for an old guy,” Decker said. “Mom’s resting.”

      “Yeah, she needs some peace and quiet.”

      Hendricks said, “Georgina, set up a twenty-milligram Pitocin drip, please.”

      Anxiously, Decker looked up at the labor nurse. She flashed him a smile of crooked teeth, but the expression wasn’t cheery. Then she liberated the metal stand from the corner and opened a cabinet door. Out came a plastic bottle that hung on a rack. Georgina hooked the I.V. line up to Rina’s left arm, then adjusted some valves. A moment later, Decker saw clear liquid run through plastic tubing. Again the doctor pushed on Rina’s abdomen. A soft moan escaped from her lips as she attempted to control her breathing. But fatigue was taking its toll. She cried out. Decker looked at Hendricks.

      “I’m pushing with some pressure,” the OB said calmly. “It doesn’t feel comfortable, but it should help Mom along. Georgina, increase the rate of the drip.”

      “Right away, Doctor.”

      Decker didn’t like the military cadence in the labor nurse’s voice. It had gone from jocular to professional. He felt his heart race.

      “Is everything okay, Doctor?”

      “She’s having a bit of trouble expelling the placenta.” Hendricks paused. “I can feel it, but … the Pitocin should help. Does it hurt, honey?”

      Again Rina nodded.

      “Honey, I need to keep pressing on your uterus. Just keep on with your Lamaze breathing.” He turned to Decker. “Just help her like you did in labor.”

      The doctor compressed her stomach wall. Rina’s face contorted with pain.

      “Try to breathe, Rina,” Hendricks said.

      “I can’t—”

      “Breathe, Rina,” Decker said. “Squeeze my hand if it hurts.”

      Rina took his hand. Her fingers held no strength, and her complexion had become wan. Hendricks clucked his tongue and shook his head. Decker felt his stomach drop.

      “Georgina, get a gurney and see who’s available for OB Anesthesiology,” Hendricks said. “Also, get me point two-five milligrams of Methergine and a BP cuff.”

      “What’s going on, Doc?” Decker said.

      Hendricks ignored him.

      “What’s going on?” Decker repeated.

      “In a moment, Peter.”

      Decker was silent, his gut a tight, wet knot. His body ached with tension. He forced himself to rotate his head, releasing a symphony of creaks and pops from his neck. Georgina returned, carrying a metal tray with a needle on it. Hendricks took the syringe and injected the medicine into Rina’s shoulder. She didn’t even wince.

      “I love you, Rina,” Decker whispered.

      A nod was her answer.

      A petite woman in scrubs entered the room, a gurney in tow. Hendricks pushed the gurney until it abutted Rina’s bedside.

      “I’m going to move you to a delivery room, Rina,” Hendricks said. “At the count of three, I want you to slide your backside onto the gurney. Think you can do that?”

      Rina moaned a yes.

      On three, Rina raised her body as Hendricks and Georgina lifted her onto cold, brushed metal. Up went the side rails, Georgina locking them into place. The flaps of Rina’s hospital gown had unfolded, exposing her breasts. Decker drew them back together and wiped Rina’s forehead with the washcloth.

      “Peter, I want to keep a close eye on Rina until she delivers the afterbirth,” Hendricks said. “It may take a while. At this point, it’s no emergency. But she is bleeding a tad more than I’d like to see. I’m sorry, but you won’t be able to be with her now. Don’t worry. And get some rest.”

      “Why can’t I come with her?” Decker said. “I’m already suited up—”

      “No, I’m going to have to insist you remain here.” Hendricks’s voice was firm and taut. “Georgina, could you please escort Sergeant Decker back to the waiting room.”

      Before Decker could get words up from his throat, Rina was whisked away. He felt a sudden chill and shuddered. Pressure on his elbow—Georgina’s hand.

      “This way, Sergeant.”

      “Why … why is he—”

      “Just like he said, Sergeant. He feels safer if she’s in a delivery room—”

      “You mean an operating room.”

      “Whatever.”

      “Why is he taking her there? Can’t he deliver a placenta here?”

      “It’s a precaution.”

      “Precaution for what?” Decker shouted.

      “Sergeant, would you like to come this way, please?”

      “No, I would not like to come this way, please! I’d like to know what the hell is happening with my wife!”

      Georgina said, “Sergeant, you know as much as I do.”

      “Aw c’mon, lady, you work here. Surely, you have some inside dope!”

      Georgina was quiet. Decker began to pace.

      “I’m sorry.”

      “It’s fine, Sergeant. I understand.”

      Decker trod the floor. “He said something about her bleeding. Does he mean bleeding? Or does he mean hemorrhaging?”

      “Sergeant, I don’t know.”

      The room became still. Decker covered his mouth and blew out air. His eyes began to burn, and he rubbed them vigorously. Georgina managed a tepid smile and placed a fleshy hand on his shoulder.

      “Come.”

      Decker remained rooted. “When will I know what’s going on?”

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