Chapter 3 - Sirens

I called 911 with one hand and held Claire with the other.

My mother started giving instructions before the dispatcher finished answering.

"She needs to lie down. Get towels. Her bag is upstairs. The hospital has her birth plan—"

"Stop talking," I said.

"Adrian, I know what—"

"Stop talking."

The look on her face told me she had never heard that tone from me before.

The paramedics arrived in six minutes.

Claire was thirty-four weeks pregnant, not quite eight months, and the words "possible preterm rupture" made the room spin.

One paramedic asked Claire questions while another checked her blood pressure.

"Any bleeding?"

"No."

"Contractions?"

"A few."

"How far apart?"

Claire hesitated.

My mother answered, "Seven minutes. Sometimes five."

The paramedic looked up. "Ma'am, I need the patient to answer."

I looked at Evelyn.

How did she know?

Claire saw the question on my face and looked away.

As they loaded her onto the stretcher, my mother picked up the folder.

I took it from her.

"You're not coming."

"That's absurd. I'm family."

"Not today."

"If anything happens to my grandson because you're having a tantrum—"

"He's my son."

"Then act like his father."

The words hit hard because some part of me already knew I hadn't.

I climbed into the ambulance.

Claire reached for my hand before the doors closed.

Her fingers were ice cold.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"For what?"

"For not telling you."

"We'll talk after they check you."

She shook her head. "No. You need to know now."

The siren started.

She spoke between shallow breaths.

"Your mother has been coming to my appointments."

"What?"

"Not inside. At first. She'd wait in the parking lot. She knew what time I was there. She knew when my appointments changed. Then she started texting me things I had only told the nurse."

My skin went cold.

"How long?"

"Six weeks."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Claire looked straight at me.

"Because the first time I tried, you told me she was just excited about the baby."

I remembered it.

A dinner. Claire saying, "Your mom knows too much."

Me laughing. Saying, "That's Mom. She collects information like other people collect stamps."

I felt sick.

Claire squeezed my hand.

"Adrian, there's more."

"Tell me."

"She didn't just get into my chart."

May you like

She Tried to Kill a Disabled Woman at a Billionaire’s Pool Party—But One...

She had already lost her leg. Now, they were trying to take her life.At a luxury mansion filled with millionaires, a terrified you...

THEY DECLARED HER DEAD—THEN ORDERED HER CREMATED WHILE SHE WAS STILL ALI...

They were about to burn her alive.Her death certificate had already been signed. Her body was scheduled for immediate cremation. A...

She Pushed a Pregnant Woman in a Wheelchair Into the Pool—Then Her Husba...

She was pregnant. She was in a wheelchair. And the woman standing behind her was smiling.Seconds later, one brutal shove sent her...

The ambulance hit a turn. Claire winced.

"She changed it."