Angel's Rest(99)

Gabe wanted to argue back, but he decided to keep his mouth shut for the time being. The last thing she needed now was more stress. Besides, if this did prove to be a false alarm and she and the babies were okay, he intended to see that the situation changed. Forget Eternity Springs. For the remainder of the pregnancy, they could move to somewhere civilized, near a hospital with a neonatal unit and a perinatologist on staff.

Beside him, Nic made another mark in her notebook. Gabe felt his tension level rise from orange to red. What would he do if she started to hemorrhage? If her water broke? If she passed out?

“Do you mind if I put on a CD?” she said.

“Huh? What?” Did she say she was bleeding?

“I’d like music. I want to play a CD.”

“Oh. Okay. Sure.”

“What would you like to listen to?”

“Your choice.” He bit out the words. “I really don’t care.”

Rain fell in sheets as Norah Jones’ smoky voice drifted from the stereo. He kept his windshield wipers set at full speed, the headlights on high, and his teeth clenched tight. Despite his need for focus, his mind drifted back to another middle-of-the-night, I’m-having-contractions trip to a hospital. That night he’d been tense, too, only that tension had been fueled with anticipation rather than dread. Jen had been five days past her due date, excited and relieved that the big moment was finally under way.

He’d held her hand that night as they made the fifteen-minute trip to the hospital. Tonight, though, he needed both hands on the wheel. He and Jen had laughed and joked during the drive that night—another contrast with current events.

What a magical night that had been. Jen had awakened him with a big kiss on his mouth. Gabe had pulled on suit pants and a Jimmy Buffett T-shirt. Jen had taken one look at him and made him go back and change.

He would never forget the joy that had filled him the moment Matt slid into the doctor’s hands, took his first breath, and let out his first angry cry. He’d been full. So full. When he held his son for the first time, he had truly believed that the bad times were all behind him.

Nic interrupted his reverie when she said, “Maybe I didn’t hydrate well enough. Do you still keep bottled water in the back?”

“I think I have a soft cooler right behind my seat. If you can’t reach it, I’ll pull off and get it for you.”

Nic leaned toward him and stretched her left arm behind his seat. “Almost.”

He remembered how Jen used to lean over like that and lay her head against his shoulder as she reached to pick up a toy that Matty had thrown down.

Nic stretched again, then used her right arm to loosen the catch on her seat belt.

“Don’t do that!” Gabe snapped when he realized what she’d done. He all but expected a car to come careening out of the darkness toward them. In their lane. “Put your seat belt back on. I’ll stop and get the water myself.”

“I’ve got it.” When Nic withdrew her arm from behind him, she held a bottle of water. She buckled her belt, settled back in her seat, and calmly twisted the bottle cap, then took a long sip.

“Don’t ever do that again,” Gabe demanded, his voice raised, his fingers clamped around the steering wheel. “It’s stupid enough to do it under normal circumstances, but look outside. Look at the rain and the road. These are dangerous driving conditions.”

“Gabe, really. It was just a few seconds.”

“It only takes a second.” His chest grew tight as memories flashed through his mind. “Believe me.”

She stared at him for a moment, then winced. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t have unbuckled. I should have asked you to pull over. My mind is on the babies. Since dehydration can cause contractions, all I thought about was getting more water into me as fast as possible.”

“I get it. Just … don’t do it again.”

“I won’t.” She sipped her water and added, “I promise.”

I promise. His throat constricted with emotion; nevertheless, a tiny sound of pain escaped. Those two little words echoed through his mind and pierced his heart.

Hold on, Jen. Please. Help will be here soon. Don’t leave me. Please, dear Lord, help us. Jen, hold on. Don’t leave me!

I won’t. I promise.

They were the last words Jen said to him before she died in his arms.

Grimly he attempted to push the thought aside as he stared ahead, concentrating on his driving, balancing the needs for speed and safety to the best of his ability. But as the miles and minutes ticked by, events from his past assailed him and a sense of inevitability weighted his heart and soul.