Page 35 of Enemies Don't

“What’s next, oh mighty dispatcher?”

“We let Cynthia take charge now.” I bite my lip and check my watch. “It’s been about a minute and a half since her last contraction, so any second now—”

“I’m pushing!” Cynthia interrupts me. “I can’t help it.”

“You’re doing great,” I say at the same time as Collin says, “Whoa, baby.”

Cynthia screams, and after a beat of silence, I hear simultaneous baby cries and Cynthia exclaim, “Oh my gosh, he’s here!”

There’s a cacophony of sounds on the other end of the line. I’m guessing it’s Collin shuffling for towels and passing off the baby. Then I hear him say, “Good job, mama.”

Collin’s voice is sweet and tender, and oh my word, is he choked up?

That’s…unexpected.

A lump rises in my throat. I try to discreetly clear it. I’m checking my literature to see what I need to tell them to do. The ambulance should be there any moment, and the EMTs will take over.

“Congratulations, Cynthia. Is the umbilical cord long enough that you can bring your baby up to your chest?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Good. Do that. We’re going to use your body heat to keep the little guy warm. Rattler, do you have a clean towel handy?”

“Indeed, I do.”

“Cover Cynthia and the baby with that.”

“10-4.”

I pause and listen as Collin talks in soothing tones to Cynthia. All the while, the baby is wailing in the background. Everything in my notes tells me that’s a good sign. It means his lungs are clear, and he’s working to fill them up with oxygen.

“Cynthia, do you and your husband have a name picked out?”

“We do.” A sob sounds over the phone. “His name is Henry, after both of our grandfathers.”

“A good, strong name,” Collin says.

I nod, though neither of them can see me. The blip of the ambulance on my mapping software stops right at Cynthia’s house.

“EMTs should be at your side any second,” I relay.

As I’m saying it, I hear the sound of more voices.

“I’ll let them take over. Cynthia, you’re a rock star. Congratulations again.” Before I hang up, I add, “Rattler, make sure you help her get in touch with her husband.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Thank you so much, Noli,” Cynthia says. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Yes, you could have, but I was happy to help. Take care now.”

Before Cynthia can respond, I hear one of the EMTs ask Collin for an update.

I disconnect the call and blow out a breath.

Those are the moments that make this job worthwhile. They are rarer than I’d like them to be, mostly because usually I don’t get to see a call through like that. I don’t get to know the ending, unless the personnel on the scene fill me in later, but even then, there are privacy concerns and red tape that I don’t have the privilege to cut through.

I glance at the clock. It’s almost seven p.m., which means my twelve-hour shift is almost over. Just in time for me to go on my fake date with Collin.

---