LITMIR.BIZ

Скачать книгу

get it stopped! The baby has to cook in there a little longer, right?”

      Somehow, Gabby forced a smile, wishing it were that easy. “I believe the proverbial bun in the oven actually bakes, not cooks,” she said lightly, proud that she’d managed to keep her tone joking and relaxed. “Let’s see what we can do to make sure she gets to rise a little longer, hmm? Try not to worry until we learn more. Maybe baby is just in a mood, wanting a little attention?” She hoped that was the case, and resisted adding that would mean the infant was a chip off the old block.

      Cameron’s hand squeezed hers tightly, and Gabby frowned when she realized the woman’s breath seemed short and gasping as the EMTs carefully moved her to the bed. Thirty-two weeks along was definitely not the optimal time for a baby to decide to come into the world.

      “Stephanie, get in touch with whichever OB’s on call and get them here, please.”

      Stephanie gave a nod and ran out, and Gabby barely noticed the EMTs leaving too as she grabbed the blood-pressure cuff. “I’m going to get your vital signs, then do an internal exam, okay?”

      “Will you be able to tell if the baby’s coming?”

      “If you’re dilating, yes. Tell me why you think you might be in labor. Are you in pain?”

      “Not...not exactly pain.” Cameron’s hands cupped her belly and her face scrunched up in an unflattering expression Gabby was sure hadn’t been seen on any movie screens by the actress’s many fans, which proved how distressed she was. “I felt a little crampy, kind of like the Braxton-Hicks contractions you talked to me about. And my belly got sort of hard, and when it didn’t go away I knew I had to do something right away and called the clinic.”

      “You did exactly the right thing, calling for the helicopter to come get you.”

      “Well, it seemed to take them forever!” She swiped her elegantly manicured hand across her frowning brow. “It was at least five minutes longer than when they came to get me after I hit my head, and every second that passed I got more worried. I called three times, and I think that made them finally hurry.”

      A smile touched Gabby’s lips, as it was pretty easy to imagine how those conversations had gone. “Let’s see how baby is doing, all right?”

      Gabby pressed her stethoscope to Cameron’s belly, and the sound of the baby’s steady heartbeat sent the breath she was holding right out of her lungs. Thank God, baby was still alive and moving. She snapped on exam gloves and what she found during the examination was a mixed blessing. “The good news is that your membranes are still intact, so no rupture there. Which means your labor’s not advanced, which is also good news. But your cervix is dilated two centimeters, so we’re going to have to do something about that.”

      “Like what? And what do you mean, labor’s not advancing? Dilating means labor, right?”

      Cameron’s voice had gone a little shrill, and who could blame her? Gabby knew she had to help her stay calm—the situation was scary, yes, but with luck it could be managed. “Dilation means early labor, yes, but it can be slowed or sometimes completely stopped with medication. I’m going to get an IV set up to give you a mag sulfate drip right away, and also keep you hydrated with saline and lots of water to drink. We’ll do a urinalysis to make sure there’s no infection, just to be safe. Then we’ll give you steroid injections to help baby’s lungs develop in case she decides she just can’t wait to get here. Please, try not to worry, okay? We’ll be doing all we can to keep her healthy.”

      “I want to see Dr. Crane. When is she coming?”

      Gabby had learned long ago to not be insulted by that demand, which she got from a lot of patients and their husbands. And when it came right down to it, she wanted the obstetrician to get there, too, in case the situation got worse instead of better. “I’ll find out.” She patted Cameron’s shoulder and smiled. “Try to relax. Easy to say, I know, but you don’t want your blood pressure all out of whack and make things tougher for baby, do you?”

      “Could you get me something to drink before you leave? My breath’s been so short for what seems like hours, and I’m beyond parched.” She wrapped her fingers around her throat, little gasping sounds coming from her mouth that this time sounded a little forced. “I’d love some artesian sparkling water with a squeeze of lime. You have that, of course, don’t you?”

      Gabby wanted to say it was more important to get going on the medications she needed first, before wetting her whistle, but figured it would be just as fast to get what Cameron wanted as to point that out.

      The small stainless-steel refrigerator in every room was kept well stocked, and Gabby ran the lime wedge around the rim of the crystal glass like a Hollywood Hills nurse who’d been a former bartender had taught her to. Cameron grabbed it like she’d been walking miles through the desert, and Gabby was glad after all that she’d taken a moment to get it for her.

      “I’ll be right back, okay?” Gabby hurried out to find Stephanie, passing through the halls and out past the beautiful fountain in the center of the glass atrium that made the place feel like a luxury hotel, and breathed in the calming scents of lavender and sandalwood. Except at that moment it didn’t do much to slow the current surge of adrenaline that had replaced all her prior fatigue.

      “Is the doc on the way to see Cameron, Stephanie? Who is it?”

      “Well, as I was about to see who’s on call, James phoned. He told me Cameron contacted him while she was on the helicopter to tell him to send her own doctor, because she’s convinced Dr. Crane is our best. But she’s out of town, so James asked a good friend of his who’s in L.A. visiting to come see her. A Dr. Rafael Moreno.”

      “What?” Gabby stared at her, not comprehending. “Some friend of his? What do you mean?”

      “I guess he’s some world-renowned OB, and not only that but the prince of some Mediterranean principality, if you can imagine. Isn’t that exciting?” Stephanie’s eyes were shining, which seemed ridiculous to Gabby since the woman saw superstars in this hospital all the time. “Said he has privileges in hospitals all over the world, including here in California, and thinks Cameron would appreciate the status of having a prince taking care of her.”

      Gabby gaped. What in the world? A prince OB? Just visiting the U.S.? That was who James thought was the best person to care for this very demanding and famous patient?

      She loved working at The Hollywood Hills Clinic but just might have to point out to James Rothsberg that, exclusive and prestigious or not, the number one focus at this hospital still had to be on premier medical care and not the royalty status of some doctor from another country he happened to be besties with. And, yes, she knew James had founded this hospital with that philosophy, demanding every patient receive the best medical care available, but had to wonder about this particular decision.

      “Well, send him in as soon as he gets here, please.” She headed back to the room, pondering if she should call James right then to talk to him about the seriousness of Cameron’s situation and ask about this doctor and his qualifications—if he was really “world renowned,” or just famous for being royal.

      “The doctor’s on the way, Cameron,” she said as she got the items she needed. “I’m going to start your IV now.” For the moment, she had to ignore the last of the mess in the room she hadn’t finished cleaning up yet until the doctor arrived and she was certain Cameron had been stabilized.

      “It’d better be Dr. Crane,” Cameron said, looking away at the wall with a dramatic wince and yelp as Gabby got the IV needle placed in her arm. “She already knows all about me and my past health scares and situation and I only want to see her.”

      “I know you do.” Gabby tried to find reassurance in the fact that Cameron’s voice had become the petulant one she often used when she felt normal. At least she wasn’t getting real contractions yet or freaking out. Gabby conjured her own acting skills and infused her voice with enthusiasm, bracing herself for the woman to get upset at the news her doctor was unavailable.

Скачать книгу