Sue MacKay - Heart Of Courage

‘No. I’m not. But she’s lying very still now. She never stops moving for long. Cooper, what if...?’

‘Don’t go there.’ His hand caught hers, squeezed gently. ‘Easy, Sophie. I’m sure everything’s all right. Can I try to feel some movement?’

‘Yes.’ She jerked her top up to expose her belly, and couldn’t care less when Cooper’s eyes widened. ‘Hurry.’

His hand was cool on her skin, but his touch was so gentle she calmed a little. Until he stopped touching her and tugged her shirt down again. Taking both her hands in his, he said quietly, firmly, ‘We should get this checked out to be on the safe side. Can you ring your midwife and tell her we’re coming in?’

‘I haven’t made an appointment with one yet. We only got home yesterday.’ The panic became a full-blown roar in her head. ‘My baby. Something’s wrong. I know it.’

Cooper pulled out into the traffic. ‘Auckland Hospital’s just down the road. We’ll go to the ED.’

‘Whatever. Just hurry.’ Her hands clutched at her belly, while silently she begged the baby to kick as hard as she could. ‘I don’t care how much you hurt Mummy, I just have to know you’re all right.’

Nothing.

She wanted to bang her stomach in the hope of jarring baby into action, but common sense won out—just. It wouldn’t work, and might even give the baby a shock. If she was all right. ‘Hurry up,’ she yelled to Cooper.

He wasn’t exactly going slowly, but right now a racing car at full throttle would be too slow. Too bad if there was a cop lurking in the area. If he tried to stop them he’d get an earful from her. Or he could escort them to the hospital, flashing lights and all.

‘Hold on,’ Cooper snapped as he took a corner too fast.

A glance at the speedo told her they weren’t going as fast as it felt—or as she’d like. But there was nothing they could do in the heavy traffic except go with the flow. Of course there was no parking outside the emergency department. Murphy’s Law was working overtime today.

‘Let me out,’ she all but shouted. ‘You can find parking without me.’

‘Okay, okay. Take it easy.’ Cooper pulled up beside a parked car and flicked his hazard lights on.

She wanted to shout at him for using the ‘easy’ word but when she jerked her head around to argue with him she saw nothing but concern and worry looking back at her. Pulling the brake on her temper, she said, ‘I’m trying, believe me.’

‘I know.’ His smile was strained, but the finger he ran down her cheek was gentle and soft, and made her heart tighten. ‘Go on. I’ll catch you up ASAP. Hang on. There’s a car three spaces up pulling out. Quick, out you get.’

She gritted her teeth in exasperation as she struggled to extricate herself. Infuriating how moving wasn’t the same as it used to be before baby. Baby. Her hand flattened on her stomach. Baby.

Please, don’t let us be too late. Please let them find a heartbeat. Please, please, please.

Sophie shoved out of the car, lurched as she fought to keep her balance.

Cooper called after her, ‘Be careful. I don’t want you slipping in all that water covering the path. You’ll hurt yourself and that won’t do baby any favours.’

He sounded so sure baby was going to be all right, but she’d seen the worry shadowing his eyes, turning his cheeks pale. Despite everything she felt a moment of gratitude for his presence. If not for Cooper she’d still be back at the apartment, freaking out, not knowing what to do. ‘Hurry.’

I need you.

Sophie ran.

Every second counted. Losing her baby was not an option.

‘Hang in there, sweetheart. Mummy’s getting you help.’

She skidded on the smooth concrete at the ED entrance. Teetered on one foot, regained her balance, her heart pounding.

Slow down.

She couldn’t, beat the doors with her fist when they took for ever to slide open.

Bang-bang-bang.

The shots cracked through the air.

Sophie dropped to the ground hard, the air ripping out of her lungs, her shoulder taking the brunt of her fall. She cried out as pain snagged her. Rolling onto her side she curled up as tight as possible, making herself small so the shooter wouldn’t have an easy target.

‘Sophie,’ Cooper shouted.

‘Get down,’ she yelled back. ‘You’ll be shot.’

‘Sophie, it’s all right.’ He was there, kneeling beside her, reaching for her. ‘There’re no terrorists here.’

‘Get down,’ she repeated, stronger this time. ‘There’s gunfire.’

‘No, Sophie, listen. That was a car backfiring. You’re safe. We’re safe. We’re in Auckland. Not Bamiyan.’

‘How can you be sure?’ Her heart was thumping. How did he know no one wanted to kill them?

Cooper stood up and looked around. ‘Nothing out of the ordinary going down, I promise.’ He reached a hand down to her, ready to haul her to her feet. ‘Do you think I’d risk your life if I had the tiniest suspicion everything wasn’t all right?’

The fear backed off as she glanced left, then right. No one was running for their life. There were no shouts or screams. In fact, no one seemed worried about anything. Not even the small group gathering around them.

‘Does the lady need this?’ An orderly with an empty wheelchair paused beside them.

Starting to feel a little stupid, Sophie gripped Cooper’s hand to pull herself upright. ‘I’m fine. Just took a tumble. Thank you for your concern.’

‘You’re welcome,’ the man said, before his gaze landed on her belly. ‘You went down hard.’

‘That’s why I want to get her to a doctor. Now.’ Cooper tucked her against his side. ‘Ready?’

She nodded and took a step, wincing as her ankle protested. ‘Think I pulled a muscle.’ She tried again, tentatively this time, and was relieved to be able to stand on the foot. ‘What an idiot. I seriously thought someone was firing at me.’ Looking up at Cooper, she tried to explain, knowing he’d think she was a sandwich short of a picnic. ‘For a moment there I was back in Bamiyan.’

‘I figured. I’ve seen the same reaction in some of the guys after they’ve been in a battle. I’m just surprised it hasn’t happened to you before.’

‘It did once. But that was on base in Bamiyan. Thought I was over all that now.’ Then her reason for being here slammed into her nightmare. ‘The baby. I still can’t feel any movement. I need to find out what’s happening.’ Or not happening. Sophie’s heart slowed. This was turning out to be the day from hell.

Taking her hand in his, Cooper said, ‘I’m with you all the way.’

Together they headed inside to the receptionist who’d stood up the moment they appeared. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked.

No. My baby’s in trouble.

‘I’m Sophie Ingram. My baby’s stopped moving.’ The words gushed out at about the same rate her heart was beating. She drew a breath, dug deep for calm. Felt dizzy instead. She grabbed at Cooper’s arm for support, felt relief when he wound that strong arm around her again. She sank against him and drew from his strength.

‘We need an urgent scan,’ Cooper backed her up. ‘It’s been over an hour since Sophie felt the last movement.’

That long? Her heart slowed. Too long. Her knees knocked, and if Cooper hadn’t been holding her she’d be in a heap on the floor. Again. ‘Please, get me help,’ she begged.

Within minutes Sophie heard the wonderful sound of the security door buzzing open, allowing them access to the emergency room.

A woman in blue scrubs approached. ‘Hello, Sophie. I’m Dr Kate Wynn. I understand you haven’t felt baby move for a while. How far along are you?’

As Sophie answered the doctor’s questions they were led into a cubicle. She wanted to relax. This gripping tension would not be good for her baby. But her muscles were as tight as ever.