At Odds with the Midwife Read online

  Grabbing his phone, he called Yvette. This time she answered. Once he’d told her he was on his way home and been assured she was all right, he said, “I’ve got a surprise for you, Yvette. It’s one you’ll like.”

  “That’s nice of you, Cole,” she responded in a cool tone. “I’m glad you’re going to do something I like. I’d better tell you now that I’m going to do something you won’t like. I’ve decided that when the time comes, Gemma is going to deliver our baby.”

  “What? No! You’ve got a doctor, and—”

  She hung up on him again.

  * * *

  THE RAIN STOPPED by midafternoon, but with the soaked ground unable to absorb any more water, it stood on the roads in deep puddles that camouflaged potholes and ruts, making driving dangerous. Not that the danger slowed down these Oklahoma drivers, Gemma thought. If the speed limit was fifty-five, that, or more, was their intended target, which made anyone on the road a target, too. Local drivers were often the worst when it came to ignoring the laws. They thought they knew the roads so well they would be safe driving anywhere in the county, and under any conditions. Circumstances often proved them wrong.

  When she had left Yvette’s house earlier, the water in Reston Lake was rising and roadblocks were being set up. She was the last one allowed on the road back to Reston before it was closed behind her. After she passed, deputies dressed in light-reflective slickers were turning drivers back the way they’d come, warning that if they tried to drive around the barricades, they would be arrested. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough deputies in the county to watch every flooded road.

  The water would keep rising for a while. It was expected to peak soon and then begin returning to normal levels as no more storms were expected. She hoped people listened and obeyed the law. She’d seen the effects of careless drivers caught in floods and didn’t understand why anyone would risk it.

  Although Gemma was nervous, knowing she wouldn’t be able to reach Yvette if she was needed, she had to remind herself that Yvette had a doctor and a birth plan that might not include her services. Yvette had said she wanted Gemma to deliver her son, but Cole probably wouldn’t go along with that plan and Gemma didn’t want to get into a conflict with him. It wouldn’t be good for Yvette.

  For now, Cole’s parents were with Yvette, and deputies were nearby if needed. Since she had left the Burleighs’ house, Gemma had been back to the Sunshine to take care of a few things and was now headed home. A peaceful Sunday afternoon in her snug cabin was just what she needed.

  When she pulled into her driveway, she was dismayed to see that water completely covered the yard. She had to be careful to avoid going off the drive into the soft mud. Because she already knew the backyard was a swamp, she went to the front door and hurried inside.

  When she heard a vehicle laboring through the boggy mess, she looked out the window...at a sight that made her heart sink. It was Cole Burleigh’s truck, with Cole behind the wheel, pulling up behind her Rover. She couldn’t imagine what he could possibly want, but when he knocked at her door, she answered it.

  “Hello, Cole.” She took in his unshaven face, bloodshot eyes, blond hair standing up at all angles and rumpled appearance. “You look terrible. And shouldn’t you be home with Yvette? She’s worried about you.”

  “Never mind about my wife, Gemma. And you’re not delivering our baby, either.” His lip curled and his eyes glowed with malicious intent. “I came by to tell you that your birthing center is shutting down.”

  She drew back. “What? What are you talking about?”

  “I gave a huge check to the hospital board,” he bragged. “It might even be enough to finish the renovations without any more fund-raising.”

  “Where did you get that kind of money?”

  “Never mind. I got it and now...” He paused and his eyes took on a calculating gleam. “Somebody on the hospital board told me your buddy Nathan said he’d use it but only if your Sunshine Birthing Center is put out of business. Nobody needs it now that we’ll have the hospital—least of all Yvette.”

  “So that’s what this is about? Yvette?”

  “No.” He pointed a finger at her as his voice rose in fury. “It’s about you minding your own business. You’re not wanted here. Why don’t you sell this place and go back to Tulsa?”

  He whirled away from her, slipping in the mud and slamming against the door of his truck, which he fumbled to open. Once he was inside, he reversed away from the front of her house and turned, spewing up muddy water behind him as he went.

  Gemma stared after him. It couldn’t be true. She knew it couldn’t be true. He was a mean, vindictive man who was only trying to cause trouble. She shut the door and turned away, shaken.

  It couldn’t be happening, she assured herself again, and yet she couldn’t help recalling Nathan’s statement that he would have shut down the birthing center if he could have. Had his wish come true? Had Cole’s check made it possible?

  Gemma’s knees gave way and she sat down in the armchair, replaying every disagreement she’d had with Nate, each time he’d revealed some painful part of his past or his family’s that affected the present. Mostly, she thought about his story of Mandy’s death and the midwife he held responsible.

  Her initial shock gave way to annoyance, and then anger. If this was true, it didn’t matter what she did or said, he would never see her as the professional she was, and the mothers and babies of Reston would be the ones to pay the price.

  There was one way to solve this. She grabbed her phone and called him, hoping that, for once, the call would go through. She only got his voice mail and left a message for him to call her back. It was impossible to keep the fury out of her voice as she said, “It’s not up to you whether the Sunshine stays open. I know how you feel and you’re wrong.”

  She hung up and took a few angry turns around her living room and kitchen, then ended up standing by the kitchen window, staring out at her ruined garden.

  * * *

  COLE FELT A surge of triumph as he drove away from Gemma’s house. That would teach her. Now things would get back to normal. Yvette would listen to him again, do what he said. He’d have the life he wanted.

  He was so elated that he barely remembered to reduce his speed to the ridiculous twenty-five-miles-an-hour pace required in the city limits. Looking around, he decided it probably wouldn’t matter. No one was out, and on this Sunday afternoon approaching dusk, most businesses were closed. He knew Junior Fedder liked to park his cruiser behind the big sign advertising the beauty of Reston Lake, but he wasn’t there today. Cole kicked up his speed and hurried homeward.

  At the bridge over Reston Lake, he found out where Junior was, along with another deputy. Barricades and flashing lights had him pulling to a stop and putting down his window.

  “Hey, Junior, what’s going on?”

  The deputy gave him an exasperated look. “See the bridge ahead of you, Cole? It’s underwater. You can’t cross it.”

  “Whaddya mean? My truck can make it across. I gotta get home.” Cole pointed ahead. “I can see the lights on in my house from here. I need to be with my wife.”

  “Maybe you should have thought of that before you took off yesterday.”

  Cole answered with a nasty snarl. “It’s none of your business, Junior. Now get out of my way and let me cross.”

  “Cole, you’re about the tenth idiot today who’s told me his truck can make it across. It’s not worth your life, or anyone else’s who tries to rescue you, or my job, for that matter, for me to let you cross. And if you try to go around the barricades, I’ll arrest you.”

  “You wouldn’t do that.”

  Junior grasped the door frame and stuck his head into the truck’s interior. “You better believe I would.” His glance fell to the muddied interior of the cab, then down to the floor and back
to Cole’s puzzled face.

  “What are you looking at, Junior?”

  “Evidence of vandalism, I think. Dried mud with what looks like carrots stuck in it. Where’d that come from, Cole?”

  “Um, well. I might have stepped in something...”

  “Yeah, and we both know where, but we’ll talk about that later. I can only handle one crisis at a time.” Junior unhooked the handcuffs attached to his utility belt and held them up meaningfully. “I’m tired, I’m wet and I’m hungry. Do I look like I want to mess with you today?”

  “All right, all right,” Cole said. “But if something happens to Yvette, I’ll hold you responsible.”

  “Good luck with that. Fortunately, your wife is smarter than you are. She’s got sense enough to stay home.”

  Determined to have the last word, Cole said. “Well, for your sake, it’s good that my mom and dad are there, or you’d be in real trouble.”

  Junior shook his head. “They left a while ago. I saw them heading back to their house—on the other side of the bridge.”

  “You don’t have to remind me where my parents’ house is.” Cole put up his window and turned his truck around even as Junior’s words echoed in his head. Yvette was alone. Driving out of sight of the deputies, he pulled over and called her.

  Yvette’s first words were “Where are you? I thought you’d be home by now.”

  He told her about the road closures but didn’t mention the man he met, the check or what he’d told Gemma. There would be time for that later. “I’m down by the bridge, but Junior won’t let me cross. Where are Mom and Dad? Are you okay?”

  “A neighbor called your dad, said his cattle were out on the road and asked for help getting them back in. Margery and Bob both went to help, but they’ll be back soon. Right after they left, I...”

  Cole gripped the phone. “What? What?”

  “I started feeling weird, and my back hurts so much.”

  “What’s wrong? Is it the baby?”

  “I don’t know. It’s not time for the baby yet, but Gemma says he can come anytime now, but maybe this is because I didn’t sleep much last night. I was worried about you.”

  Cole felt like he’d been kicked in the gut. He had thought worrying a little would serve her right, but he’d been wrong. “I’m sorry, Yvette. I...didn’t think you’d care if I was gone for a while.”

  She sighed. “Oh, Cole. How could you think that? I love you. Last night, when you raised your fist to me, I was scared. I never thought you’d do that. I’ve been hit before, but I never thought you’d try it. I wanted to believe you were good, that you’d be good to me, treat me right.”

  The tremor in her voice had him dropping his forehead into his hand. He’d been so caught up in making sure she appreciated the life he’d given her, he hadn’t really thought about what her life had been like before. She hadn’t told him much, but maybe that was because she knew he wouldn’t listen.

  “I’m sorry, Yvette. I promise I’ll never do that again. I love you, too, and you can do whatever you want to the house—paint, new furniture, anything, just...don’t leave me.”

  “Oh, Cole, I’m not leaving. This is my home. Mine and my baby’s.”

  Humbled, he said, “Thank you, Yvette. I’ll be home as quick as I can. Try to rest. I’m on my way.”

  Cole tossed the phone into the console and sat with the engine idling and his wrists resting on the steering wheel as he considered his options.

  Junior had made it clear that crossing the bridge wasn’t one of those options. There was a road over the dam, but it would probably be blocked, too. He could go all the way around the lake, but with road closures and flooding, it would either take hours, or he’d have to turn back.

  He couldn’t turn back. His wife needed him. Slipping the truck into gear, he headed toward town and the road that would take him to the boat ramp that jutted into Reston Lake. He wasn’t surprised to see that it was deserted and high-water warning signs had been posted.

  Parking by the boathouse, he jumped out and pulled a pair of bolt cutters from behind the front seat. With silent apologies to the owners, he cut off the lock and swung the big doors open to reveal an array of watercraft. He chose a canoe and a paddle then grabbed a life vest, which he fastened securely. Ordinarily, he wouldn’t have bothered—his need to appear macho would have overridden his common sense. He couldn’t take chances like that anymore. He had a family—a kid on the way and a wife who loved him.

  Cole closed the boathouse doors, replaced the busted padlock so anyone passing would think it was still secure, then pushed the canoe into the water and climbed in. He knew a place where the lake narrowed. He would cross there, even though the water would be rushing dangerously high.

  He had to get home. Yvette needed him.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “YES, GEMMA.” Brantley Clegg’s voice rumbled over the phone. “Closing the birthing center is something that Nate talked about, though not recently, and the donor of this big check did make that a condition. Or so Cole said, but we only got the money today. The board hasn’t met. It’s short notice, and the storm has everything stopped, so—”

  “You—you mean you’d actually do it? Really even consider it? That’s... I’m...” Gemma was so angry she could barely string words together, much less form a complete sentence.

  “Now, now, Gemma. Calm down. I can’t speak for the board, but we have to look at the big picture, not simply what one small group wants.”

  “Small group? You mean mothers and babies? Maybe that’s something you should have thought of before I came back here.” She took a deep breath. “You’re right about one thing, Brantley. I need to calm down, and talking to you isn’t helping.”

  She hung up over his squawking protests and didn’t answer when he called back. She set her phone down on the table and paced back and forth through her house for a few minutes, breathing deeply and trying to get her rage under control. Nate hadn’t called her back, and he probably wouldn’t once he understood why she had phoned.

  The hurt, anger and betrayal she felt had only grown in the hour since Cole had dropped his bombshell and left. In spite of the tangle of emotions twisting inside her, she knew she had to call and check on Yvette. She could only hope she didn’t have to talk to Cole. Ever again.

  “Oh, hi, Gemma.” Yvette was her usual friendly self when she answered, but Gemma heard a worried edge in her voice. She told Gemma that Cole’s parents had left but would be back momentarily, and Cole had promised he’d be there, too.

  “Okay, but how are you feeling?”

  “About the same as this morning, but my back really hurts. I’ve been lying down on my side, with a pillow under my knees, but it doesn’t help much.”

  Grateful for something to focus on, Gemma responded in a firm tone. “I’m coming right out there. All you have to do is relax and try to rest.”

  “But the bridge is closed. They won’t let you pass.”

  “Don’t you worry about that. I’ll get across that bridge if I have to climb the girders and crawl across the top on my hands and knees, holding my medical bag in my teeth.”

  Yvette laughed. “Thanks, Gemma. I’ll see you when you climb down, then.”

  Gemma hung up and grabbed her medical bag, checking it for any supplies she might need, then adding extras, which took longer than she had planned. Locking her house, she hurried out to her Land Rover and started off.

  * * *

  NATE CHECKED HIS phone and listened again to the garbled message from Gemma. Only a few words had come through clearly, something about closing down her birthing center. One thing he understood as clear as crystal—she was plenty mad. He wished he knew why.

  He had helped at two different accident scenes and was on his way home when he decided to detour to Gemma’s a
nd find out what this was all about. When his phone rang and he saw the sheriff’s office identification come up, he knew it was Junior again.

  “Hey, Doc. You finished with that last accident?”

  “Yes.” Nate suppressed a sigh. “Where’s the next one?”

  “No accident this time, but something’s going on at the Burleighs’.”

  “You mean Cole’s house?”

  “Yeah, I’m on the other side of the bridge, trying to keep people from doing something stupid, but I think Cole outsmarted me.” He told Nate about their earlier encounter. “I don’t know how he got home, but he and his wife came down to the road in her car a few minutes ago, then turned around and went back to the house. I called up there and he said his wife’s in labor, so I thought I’d better get some help. Paramedics are still all tied up.”

  “Good call,” Nate said. “See if Gemma can get there, too.”

  “Already done. She’s on her way. And, Doc? If you’ve got some boots or waders, bring ’em.”

  After hanging up, Nate turned around and started for the bridge. He didn’t own rain boots or waders. Life in the big city had never called for them. He didn’t know what Junior had in mind, but he was glad to help and anxious to see Gemma. Now maybe he could find out what she was so mad about, and possibly finish the talk they’d started this morning before she’d found her yard torn up.

  When he pulled up to the bridge, Gemma was there ahead of him, and already wearing what he assumed were police-issue waders that were too big. She looked like a little girl, dressing up in her daddy’s fishing gear, but that image only lasted until she turned around and gave him a look that would have curdled fresh cream. Whatever she’d been mad about before, she was still mad.

  * * *

  GEMMA’S BACK STRAIGHTENED when she saw Nate drive up, pull onto the shoulder and stop behind her car. When he walked up, she waved dismissively and said, “I can handle this. I’m sure you have other things to do.”