“Lorinda will help with the baby. Please, I’m begging you, you have to save them.”
Catherine’s head was spinning. She couldn’t even tell if she was making the right choice. It was just her gut, pure instinct, making her say it out loud.
“You’re both going to be okay. Stop talking. I need to check you now.”
Harrell quickly wheeled her into the operating room and ran a basic exam.
Catherine was young and healthy, and Sally’s push, though rough, hadn’t been all her strength. Her water had broken from the shock, but the baby wasn’t in danger just yet. Still, since labor hadn’t started, the longer her water leaked, the more likely the baby was to run out of oxygen.
“Starting now, nothing to eat or drink. Stay in bed. Tomorrow morning, I’m scheduling a C-section, so be ready.”
Harrell explained everything as gently as he could, laying out the plan and adding a few reassuring words. “Don’t worry. You and the baby will both come out of this just fine.”
Catherine lay back against her pillow. Her hair was stuck to her cheeks and neck with sweat. Her skin looked like milk, only now it was washed out, so pale it almost disappeared into the sheets.
Hearing Harrell’s promise, she finally let out a shaky breath, but her eyes were red and glassy as she blinked away tears.
“Could you call Lorinda for me?”
Her purse, and her phone, were in Harrell’s office.
Harrell nodded. “Sure, I’ll call her right now. Don’t worry about a thing.”
With that, he headed out of the ER.
He barely had his phone unlocked before a group of men in suits stepped in, blocking the hallway.
“Harrell. Adela sent us.”
Harrell slipped his phone away, already on high alert.
“What did she say?”
One of the bodyguards leaned in and spoke quietly in his ear.
Harrell’s whole face changed. “That’s insane.”
“If you won’t do it, someone else will. And now that you know the plan, you’re not making it out of this hospital today.”
The whole group closed in, making sure there was no way out.
“But Catherine has people looking out for her. It’s not going to be that easy.”
“You’re her doctor. As long as you’re involved, nobody else will get in to see her.”
Even though Adela wasn’t in Eldervale anymore, she’d made sure everything was lined up before leaving for Cabinda. Both Catherine and Sally were due any day, and Adela wasn’t taking chances.
Harrell fell silent for several moments, wrestling with what to do. Finally, he nodded. “Okay. I’ll do it your way, but let me call Catherine’s friend first.”
“I’m coming with you,” the lead bodyguard said, moving to block his path.
“Fine.”
Harrell’s hands felt clammy as he went back to his office and called Lorinda.
The moment Lorinda heard Catherine was in trouble, she said she’d be right there.

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