Geoff leaned closer to Cecilia. “Should I call an ambulance?”
Because Katie had already doubled into another contraction, Cecilia nodded. “Tell them to hurry.”
Geoff already had his cell phone to his ear when Cecilia turned back to Rusty. “Let’s see if we can get her to the aisle. I can’t get to her now to see what’s happening.”
Bobbing his sandy head in assent, Rusty got on one side of Katie, grabbed her arm, and yanked upward. Wincing, Cecilia placed a hand on his shoulder. “Gently.”
“Oh. Yeah, sure. So you think she’s like in labor or something?”
Katie let out a moan that ended as a near wail.
“I think it’s a definite possibility,” Cecilia replied.
“Oh, man.”
Staggering to her feet, Katie took a few halting steps, then cried out again. “It really hurts, Miss Mendoza.”
They were attracting attention now, as the theater employees stopped their tasks to gawk at them. Geoff moved forward. “Here, let me help.”
Without further hesitation, he bent to sweep Katie into his arms. “Where do you want her?” he asked, not even appearing to strain beneath the weight of the heavily pregnant young woman.
At least this theater was pretty much empty for the moment, she thought—and could stay that way until after the emergency crew had arrived, she decided abruptly. “Let’s just lay her in the aisle. Randy, sit cross-legged so we can rest her head in your lap. Geoff, let the manager know what’s going on so they can clear a path for the emergency crew. Were you given an estimated time of arrival?”
“There was a multicar wreck on the mountain highway on the other side of the county,” he replied as he helped arrange Katie as comfortably as possible. “The dispatcher said there could be a delay. Want me to get my car? We could probably get her to the clinic faster than the ambulance.”
Cecilia bit back a grumble. Poverty-stricken Merlyn County was a victim of difficult financial times, and emergency services had suffered in the resulting cutbacks. Having a state-of-the-art medical facility was a blessing, but they had to get the patients there first, she thought with familiar frustration.
She watched as Katie bowed upward, a ragged cry escaping her taut lips. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’d rather deliver a baby here, if necessary, than in the tiny back seat of your car.”
“D-deliver?” Rusty stammered. “You mean the baby’s coming now?”
“I won’t know until I check.” She spoke calmly, reassuringly. “Geoff, maybe you’d clear the employees out of here on your way to notify the manager? I think Katie would be more comfortable without spectators. And see if you can find some towels—paper, if necessary,” she added as a dark, wet stain spread rapidly across the front of Katie’s light-colored maternity jeans.
Geoff met her eyes for a moment, mutely acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, and then he efficiently took charge of the scene.
The theater manager, a stocky, auburn-haired woman in her forties with kind eyes and a brusque manner, appeared with a blanket and a couple of towels. “I heard what’s happening. I keep these in my office for emergencies. I’m holding the showing of the next film until the ambulance arrives.”
“Thank you.” Cecilia draped the blanket over Katie, who was weeping quietly now between racking, near-constant contractions. “Things seem to be moving very quickly. I’m a midwife, so I can handle things in here if you’ll take care of everything out there.”
“No problem.” The manager leaned over Katie. “You listen to this lady, honey. She’ll help you till the ambulance gets here.”
Writhing and panting, Katie still managed to nod in response to the manager’s maternal advice. “Yes, ma’am.”
After dashing through a curious milling crowd to the nearest bathroom, where she did the best she could to wash up with plenty of soap and warm water, Cecilia hurried back into the theater to find Katie still moaning, Rusty looking even queasier, and Geoff doing his best to keep both of them from panicking.
“You’re being very brave, Katie,” Cecilia encouraged, reaching beneath the modestly draped blanket. “I’m going to take these wet clothes off, okay? If you can lift up for me, I’ll arrange these towels beneath you—the best we can do by way of a sheet for you to lie on. We’ll keep the
blanket draped over you so no one will see anything except me.”
Katie was arching again, her hands flailing. “I don’t care. Just make it stop hurting so bad.”
“Lift your knees, sweetie. I’m going to do a quick check to see how far along you are.”
“Oh, man,” Rusty muttered, and he had gone so pale and glassy-eyed that Cecilia wondered how long it would be before he hit the floor in a faint.
Geoff, on the other hand, was perfectly calm. He knelt beside Katie and took her restless hands in his, looking directly into her eyes.
“Katie, do you remember that my name is Geoff?” he said, speaking loudly enough to be heard over her moans. When she nodded, he continued, “Cecilia delivers babies every day, so she knows exactly what she’s doing. I want you to hold on to me and squeeze my hands if it helps when you feel pain. Rusty’s going to wipe your face with the damp paper towel I just handed him, aren’t you, Rusty?”