“Rob… bie, no, be… uff, born.”
“Gini, just rest for now. We’re going to take care of everything. Help is on the way.”
Debbie called Linda, and Linda said she’d meet them at the hospital. Then she went to Alyssa’s door and tapped quietly and opened it. “Alyssa… Alyssa.”
Aly sat up. “What, what time is it?”
Debbie went to her. “It’s the middle of the night. Gini’s in labor and having seizures. The ambulance is on the way. You need to go with Jessica. Cover her ears if you can so she won’t hear the siren. It will frighten her.”
“Okay.” Alyssa went straight to Jessica’s room and closed the door.
Debbie waited at the front door, hearing the siren in the distance.
Gini had closed her eyes and appeared to be asleep.
“Dr. Young,” the paramedic said when they entered the room.
He checked Gini’s vitals and put an IV in her hand.
“No… be, fray.”
“No, there’s no need to be afraid,” he said kindly. “We’ve got you covered.”
“Care… uff, Rob… bie. Care… uff, Rob… ber. No, be, fray.”
“Ready. Let’s get her out of here.”
Robert was calm, thankful Gini was awake and alert.
“I’m going with her,” he said to Debbie as they all made their way to the front door.
“I’ll meet you there. Linda’s waiting for you.” She hugged him. “Gini’s strong.”
“I know.”
The ambulance didn’t sound its siren until they got out of the neighborhood.
Debbie went back and peeked into Jessica’s room. Alyssa was lying in the double bed with her. She quietly got up and went to Debbie.
“They’re taking her to the hospital. Robert’s with her and I’m taking the car.”
“Good. Jessica didn’t hear anything. Debbie, is this serious?”
“Gini was awake and alert when they left. We’ll take care of her.”
“Please, call me and let me know what’s going on.”
“I will.”
It was about a ten-minute drive to the hospital. Gini spoke a few words but mostly lay quiet. Robert was holding her hand and rubbing her fingers on his lips. He had his other hand on her tummy; it was soft, and the baby was moving, so Robert knew he was probably doing okay.
The paramedic was communicating to the hospital. “She’s in her mid-thirties. Appears she’s in premature labor. The baby’s not in position. He’s quite active but not distressed. She had two seizures with labor contractions before we got there. She’s awake and alert now and doesn’t seem to be in any discomfort.”
“Rob… ber. No, be, fray.”
“Shh, we’re almost there. Don’t talk, just rest.”
Gini’s face fell to the side, and her body jerked hard.
Jessica sat straight up in bed. “Mama!” she cried.
“Gini,” Robert called.
The paramedic turned her head and checked her eyes. “She’s stroking.”
The ambulance was just backing into the bay. Robert stood up and opened both of her eyelids. Her right pupil had widened all the way.
“She’s having a stroke,” the paramedic said when the hospital personnel opened the back doors. “Let’s go.”
Robert stood stunned for a moment, then jumped out and ran to the gurney. “We’ve got her, Dr. Young.”
“I’m going with her.”
“Doctor.” A woman ran up beside him. “Please, you have to fill out the paperwork. The doctors are ready for her. Please, stay with me.”
Robert’s heart was pounding, and he felt as if his knees were going to collapse. He filled out the pages as quickly as he could.
Debbie parked and walked up next to him inside. He turned and looked at her.
“Robert, what’s wrong?” She saw a tremendous fear in his eyes.
He scribbled his signature, pushed the paper toward the nurse, and turned to run into the ER. “Gini had a stroke.”
The words hit Debbie like a wall of bricks. She put her arm across her waist and her hand on her mouth. Her body shimmied with fear.
The nurse came from behind the desk and took Debbie into her arms. “I’m sorry, Debbie, so, so sorry.”
Robert ran through the double doors and saw both John and Linda at Gini’s side. Gini’s body was arched up again, another contraction. Everyone was hurrying to get the brain and other monitors hooked up to her.
“Let’s get her upstairs,” John commanded.
The nurse slowly walked Debbie to the waiting room seating. “Can I call anyone for you?”
Debbie quickly shook her head. Then shook it again a few seconds later. The nurse sat with her arm around Debbie to comfort her until the sounds of sirens approached the building. She got up to go back to reception. “Sorry, I have to go.”
Alyssa was rocking Jessica in her arms to calm her down. “I’m here, so don’t be frightened,” she said to console the little girl.
“Mama is calling me. She needs me.”
“You just had a bad dream.”
“My mama is not here.” She looked at Alyssa.
Alyssa knew she couldn’t lie to her. Jessica knew something was up.
“I don’t want you to worry. Your dad and Debbie are with your mama. We’re going to stay here and take care of the place, okay?”
“Daddy’s afraid.”
“No, your dad’s strong and so is your mom. And I know you are too.”
She finally got Jessica to go back to sleep.
Debbie sat staring at the wall. There was a lot of commotion on the other side when they brought in the new patient. She opened her purse and rummaged through it until she found her phone.
“Dee… it’s late.”
“She’s going to die.”
“Who’s going to die?”
“Gini had a stroke, and the baby—”
“Stay right where you are. I’m coming to you. Tell me where you are.”
“ER waiting room.”
Kensy put her phone on speaker while she got presentable and talked to Debbie all the way to the hospital.
When she walked in, her phone was to her ear. She pointed to Debbie
