Page 9 of Crushing on the Mountain Men

At least it would be private.

Pam and Bascomb came back into the restaurant with blankets and a kit. “We heard the call.”

“We’re going into the back room with -?” I looked at Kailee.

“This is Jessica, and it’s her first baby. Her husband is in the service.”

Ah, so she was on her own. I didn’t count the sister who looked like she was going to join us.

“And your name?” I smiled at the sister, and she smiled back, her eyebrow raised.

“Jenelle.”

“Jenelle, could you please direct the paramedics to the back when they get here?”

“Of course. I’ll send them right back.”

***

When Kailee and Pam got Jessica settled on blankets on the floor of the small break area, I watched as Kailee helped her get undressed from the waist down and get comfortable. The blankets covered her, and I could see Kailee was thinking the baby might actually be born here.

“I didn’t think it was real labor,” Jessica said, before she grabbed Pam’s hand and let out a cry.

“It’s going to be okay,” Kailee said. Davin peeked into the room. “How is it going?”

I wasn’t sure, but nodded at him.

Kailee felt Jessica’s abdomen, and her eyebrows furrowed. She looked right at me. “How long until the paramedics get here, do you think? We’re doing well, but just to be sure.”

I found the waitress, who was keeping people distracted in front.

“They said twenty minutes, but they were dealing with a car accident on Route 10,” she said.

I knew Bascomb had some medical training in the service, but I suspected neither he nor Kailee delivered a baby.

Jessica screamed again, and her sister went to the front door. “I’ll keep watching for help,” she said.

I went back to the room.

Kailee was between Jessica’s legs, and Pam was behind Jessica’s head, helping her have some water.

Bascomb was checking her pulse.

“Kailee, we may get to deliver a baby,” he was saying in the voice I’d heard him use to calm victims more than once. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to calm Jessica or us.

“What if we got the hospital on the phone?” I asked.

Davin started dialing and soon had the ER on a video call with Jessica and Kailee.

“It looks like the head is crowning,” the nurse said. “Maybe get ready to push.”

Jessica pushed, with Pam’s help, and we all encouraged her.

“I can’t do this,” Jessica said, closing her eyes.

“Take my hand.” I squeezed alongside them. Pam shot me a grateful look. “You’ve got this. Your beautiful child is ready to meet you.”

“Do you know what it is?” Bascomb asked as Davin talked with the nurse.

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