Beth Carpenter - Sweet Home Alaska

She’d forgotten Mike’s cousin operated an air taxi service out of Sparks. “I don’t think so since we can’t fly, but I’ll call if we do. Thanks, Mike.”

Volta headed toward the exam room, but before she reached the door, another voice drifted out, reassuring and calm. “Good job, Lori. Not much longer now. Try to relax for a minute. Slow, easy breaths.”

Volta stopped in her tracks. She knew that voice, deep and smooth, with just a bit of drawl. But it couldn’t be. The owner of the voice she knew was working on the other side of the world. No doubt this was some other baritone-voiced doctor from Texas. The voice continued, “You’re at a ten. Doing great. Next contraction, you’ll be able to push.”

Dilated to ten? Libby was right. They wouldn’t have been able to get Lori to the hospital in time to deliver anyway. Good thing they’d brought the incubator as a precaution. Volta entered the room. Everyone looked her way. Paul was wedged into a corner beside Lori, holding her hand. Daniel was on the other side, monitoring her blood pressure. Bridget had moved into position to assist the doctor at the foot of the bed.

A surgical mask covered most of the doctor’s face, but he stared at Volta, his eyes wide in shock. Familiar brown eyes. It had been eleven years, but she remembered every detail. She knew if she got closer, she would be able to distinguish the little flecks of green sprinkled through the brown. What in the world was Scott Willingham doing in Sparks, Alaska?

From somewhere far away, Daniel’s voice made itself heard. “Dr. Willingham, Volta Morgan, flight paramedic.”

Scott tugged the surgical mask from his face. “Volta?”

She met his eyes. “Small world, huh?” She turned away to flash Paul a smile and touch Lori’s hand. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m okay.” Lori blew out a long breath. “The doctor says I’m almost ready.”

“He should know. Dr. Willingham has delivered a lot of babies.” At least that was what she’d gathered from the Doctors, Education and Medicine for All website. DEMA was always posting photos of him somewhere in the world, holding a newborn baby.

Scott stared at her as though he were glimpsing a ghost. She didn’t blame him. That was exactly how she’d felt when she’d heard his voice a few moments ago.

“You two know—” Bridget started to ask, but Lori suddenly sat up with a grunt as a contraction started.

“Okay.” Scott was back to his take-charge voice. He pulled the mask over his mouth and moved into position. “This time I want you to push. The first baby is in position. Volta, could you take over Daniel’s post? He can handle logistics since he’s most familiar with the room. Bridget, please have an aspirator at the ready. Paul, hang on. Okay, Lori, now push!”

Lori gave a mighty groan and raised herself off the bed, puffing her cheeks out. Volta watched the monitor. Lori’s BP was high, but it wasn’t spiking out of control.

“Good, good.” Scott always had such a soothing voice. “A little harder if you can. We’re making progress.”

“Come on, Lori, you can do it.” Volta laid a hand on her arm. “Push.”

“I’m trying!”

“I know. You’re doing great,” Volta assured her.

A minute later Scott sat back. “Okay, contraction’s over. Good job, Lori. Now rest.”

Daniel handed Volta a moist cloth. She used it to wipe the sweat from Lori’s forehead and distracted her with a little meaningless chatter. Almost before Lori could catch her breath, the next contraction hit, and they all jumped into action.

Ten minutes later, Scott lifted a wet bundle. “It’s a boy.” The baby squirmed, a good sign, and let out a cry of protest at the bright lights and sounds. Scott handed the baby to Bridget and cut the cord. Bridget carried the tiny child to a table to clean him up.

Volta peered over her shoulder. The baby was small and on the skinny side, but for a premature twin, he was well developed, with a healthy color. Paul stared. “He’s so little.”

“Not that little for a twin,” Scott said. “We’ll want to keep him in the incubator for a bit, but right now, why don’t you hold him?”

Bridget wrapped the tiny baby in a soft blanket and handed him over. With a look of wonder, Paul accepted the baby into his arms. Lori craned her neck to see, and the baby stared back at her with solemn blue eyes. Suddenly, Lori stiffened as another contraction hit.

“Okay, Lori,” Scott said. “It’s time for the second act. Get ready. Push!”

It took several more contractions, but fifteen minutes later, the second baby was born. But this one didn’t squirm. Bridget handed Scott the aspirator. He cleared the mucus from the baby’s throat and rubbed the baby’s back.

Lori reached for Volta’s hand, and Volta squeezed it, but she was ready to run for the prenatal ventilator waiting outside the door with the incubator. An eternity passed in the next couple of seconds, but then the baby sucked in a breath and let out a cry. Volta closed her eyes and sent up a silent prayer of thanks.

Scott smiled. “You have a girl. A beautiful little girl.”

He beamed down at the tiny baby in his hands. Scott must have delivered hundreds of babies, but he seemed as excited as if these twins were his first. This really was his life’s purpose. It had taken Volta a long time to accept that.

As Volta watched Lori and Paul’s new little girl, images of Emma as a newborn flashed through her mind. She’d been twice the size of the baby Bridget was swaddling, but no less a miracle. Emma had been born with a red face, a thatch of dark hair and a voice that left no doubt of her opinion on the whole procedure. Almost eight years later, she still held strong opinions and expressed them enthusiastically. Volta was so grateful to have her daughter. Something that wouldn’t have happened had Scott not quit their relationship.

Scott handed the baby off to Bridget so that he could deliver the placentas. Bridget cleaned and wrapped the baby and carried her to Lori. “Meet your daughter.”

Lori held the baby and smiled down at her. “Hi, little one. You gave us a scare. Don’t ever do that again, okay?”

According to the numbers on the monitor, Lori’s blood pressure was already down a few points, and now that she had delivered, she should be back to normal soon. Volta relaxed for the first time since she’d arrived.

Scott pulled down his surgical mask. “Paul, you have a beautiful family. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Doctor.” Paul seemed to be trying to figure out how to shake hands while holding the baby, but Scott just laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

“You concentrate on that baby. He and his sister are your top priorities from here on out.” He rested his hand on Lori’s shoulder and leaned over to admire the other twin in her arms. “You did well today, Mom. We’ll bring in that incubator to make sure the babies stay warm and we’ll keep an eye on your blood pressure, but y’all will be fine.”

Lori beamed. Scott shook hands with Daniel and Bridget, and finally he turned to Volta. “Thank you for pitching in.” His eyes caught hers and held. “Why don’t we step into the other room and see about that incubator?”

CHAPTER TWO

SOME OF SCOTT’S colleagues at DEMA called him Dr. Chill. The more chaotic his surroundings, the calmer he got. Three weeks ago, he’d performed a cesarean delivery in a tent during a tropical storm while the lights flickered and then went out, leaving him to finish the surgery by lantern. A month before that, he’d hiked seven miles over a mountain for a breech delivery. Neither of those circumstances had tested his ability to remain calm. But when Volta had walked into that room, his heart rate skyrocketed.