Rory: Hope City, Book 7 by Maryann Jordan (uplifting books for women txt) 📕

An older woman was standing outside on the sidewalk, waving her hands and pointing up toward the building. “Looks like they put someone out for us.” He parked the ambulance in the middle of the street since every available space next to the curb was filled with parked cars.

He, Shania, and Bobby jumped out. The other two grabbed the equipment and Rory hustled toward the building where the older woman was pointing and yelling.

“They called me to come to look after their younger child, but I took one look at Chloe and knew she wasn’t going to make it. I’m the one who called 9-1-1.”

Hustling into the townhouse, he entered the living room, seeing a small child standing to the side, clutching a bear, her eyes wide with fright. On the floor was the pregnant woman, her husband kneeling next to her. Her dress was already bunched to her waist, and just like the neighbor said, he could see the crown of the baby’s head.

Shania hustled in and dropped to her knees between the woman’s bent legs. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

The woman was panting, sweat soaking the hair next to her face. Her husband was on his knees as well and holding her hand, shaking his head. “It took a long time for our first one. We thought we had more time. Her water barely broke, and then suddenly she says she’s got to push!”

Rory had the IV ready to insert and leaned over the woman, smiling. “As soon as you can catch a breath, I need you to breathe deeply. No panting, just breathe deeply.”

“What’s your wife’s name?” Shania asked again, prodding the husband.

“Chloe,” he managed to get out.

“And you, sir? Your name?”

“Joe.”

Offering a nod, Rory smiled at the frightened woman. “You’re doing good, Chloe.” Her deep breathing gave Rory the chance to insert the IV line. “Got it.” He affixed the blood pressure cuff on her other arm and clipped the pulse oximeter onto her finger.

Bobby moved forward and slipped a large, sterile pad underneath Chloe’s hips and legs. Shaking out another one, he had it ready for the baby. Rory glanced down and watched as Shania gently placed her hands on the baby’s head.

“Okay, now,” Shania said. “On the next contraction give a push. Joe, why don’t you get up there near Chloe’s head, and you can support her shoulders and neck while she’s pushing.”

A commotion was heard near the door, and Rory twisted his head around, seeing Blay and Bill step just inside. The firemen responded when EMS was called for backup in case anything was needed.

Once Joe shifted around, Rory showed him how to support her back just in time as she began grunting and bent forward as she pushed.

“That’s it, that’s it, that’s it, you’re doing good,” Shania encouraged.

The baby’s head was out, and while Shania supported it, Rory suctioned the nose and mouth. He looked toward Chloe and said, “The next one ought to do it.” He recognized she was in her own world as she began to push once again. Shania maneuvered the baby’s shoulders out, and then the little one emerged fully.

Rory looked at Joe and asked, “Do you want to cut your son’s cord?”

“S… son.” The man’s wide-eyed, opened-mouth expression of shock indicated he was not ready.

“That’s fine, Joe. You just keep comforting Chloe, and I’ll take care of it.” He cut the cord, allowing Shania to shift to the side, placing the baby onto the sterile pad that Bobby had laid out.

“My baby!” Chloe cried, straining to look toward Shania. “Is he okay?”

“He’s fine, he’s fine,” Shania assured just as the baby gave a loud wail. Bending, she placed the baby on the woman’s chest. The woman opened her blouse and nestled the infant against her breast.

Rory grabbed another sterile pad and placed it over them to keep them warm. As Shania worked on extracting the afterbirth, Rory looked up toward Blay and gave another nod. Blay and Bill headed to the ambulance to get the gurney. They carried it through the front door and set it close by.

Working together a few minutes later, they managed to get Chloe and the baby safely strapped onto the gurney. Rory and Blay maneuvered the gurney down the front steps to the ambulance while Bill assisted Shania and Bobby in gathering all their equipment. Shania questioned the neighbor to make sure she was staying with the small child before they tossed their thanks to the firemen and climbed into the ambulance.

Driving to the hospital, Shania called in their location and ETA. Once there, they made the transfer of Chloe and the baby into the emergency room. “You did real good, Chloe,” Rory said, patting her shoulder before gently touching her baby’s cheek. After completing the paperwork, Bobby climbed back into the back of the ambulance and Rory and Shania swung up into the front.

Driving back to the station, he glanced to the side and saw Shania grinning widely. “Are you remembering becoming a mom?”

She chuckled and nodded. “We see a lot of shit in this job, Rory. It’s always nice when you can see something as wonderful as a healthy baby being born.”

He nodded.

“What about you? Do you want to have children?”

Startled at her question, he nodded again. “Yeah, someday. After I find the right person and the timing is right.”

She barked out a laugh and shook her head. “First of all, the time is never right. There’s never enough money, never enough energy, never enough time. And when it comes to the right person, make sure to find someone who can make you laugh. A woman whose smile is wide, whose eyes are pinned on you when you talk, and won’t put up with your shit. That makes a good wife, and in my opinion, would make a good mom.”

He had no response, so he kept his mouth shut. But for the rest of the drive to the station, the image of Sandy filled his mind.

“I think you should