Chapter 1 - The Doorbell
The doorbell rang again.
I tried to answer, but another contraction tore through me before I could make a sound.
My fingers dug into the sofa cushion.
My entire body shook.
Then someone started pounding on the front door.
“Hello?”
“Is someone inside?”
“I heard screaming.”
I recognized the voice.
It belonged to Maria Alvarez, the woman who lived across the street.
I tried to shout her name.
What came out was barely a whisper.
“Maria.”
Another violent pressure pushed downward.
I screamed.
The pounding immediately became frantic.
“Natalie?”
“Oh my God.”
“Natalie, open the door.”
“I can’t.”
The words scraped painfully from my throat.
“Travis locked it.”
There was silence outside.
Then Maria shouted something to someone behind her.
A few seconds later, I heard another voice.
Male.
Calm.
Controlled.
“Natalie, my name is Daniel.”
“I’m Maria’s nephew.”
“I’m a paramedic.”
“I’m calling 911 right now.”
Relief hit me so hard I began sobbing.
But Daniel’s next question terrified me.
“How far apart are the contractions?”
“I don’t know.”
“They don’t stop anymore.”
“Is there bleeding?”
I looked down.
The answer was immediately obvious.
“Yes.”
A lot.
Daniel’s voice changed.
“Maria, get me something to break that window.”
“No!”
I gasped.
“The side door.”
“There’s a spare key under the flowerpot.”
I heard running.
Seconds later, the lock turned.
Daniel entered first.
He was still wearing dark blue paramedic pants beneath a gray sweatshirt, as though he had just come off a shift.
His expression hardened the moment he saw me.
Maria stopped behind him and covered her mouth.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
Daniel crouched beside me.
“Natalie, look at me.”
I forced my eyes toward his.
“I need you to stay awake.”
“The ambulance is six minutes away.”
“I don’t have six minutes.”
The pressure became unbearable.
Daniel looked beneath the blanket I had pulled across myself.
His face changed instantly.
“No.”
“What?”
I whispered.
“The first baby is crowning.”
My heart stopped.
Daniel turned toward Maria.
“Get clean towels.”
“Every towel you can find.”
Then he looked at me again.
“Natalie, your first baby is coming right now.”
I began shaking my head.
“No.”
“No, I need a hospital.”
“You’re going to one.”
“But this baby isn’t waiting.”
I screamed as another contraction ripped through me.
Daniel supported my shoulders while Maria rushed back carrying towels.
“That’s it.”
Daniel said.
“Breathe.”
“You’re not alone anymore.”
But terror still swallowed me.
Because suddenly Daniel stopped talking.
His eyes had dropped toward the baby.
And the expression on his face became frighteningly serious.
“Daniel?”
He didn't answer.
“Daniel, what’s wrong?”
He reached for his phone.
“Dispatch.”
His voice was suddenly sharp.
“Upgrade the call.”
“Possible fetal distress.”
Then he looked directly at me.
May you like
“The cord is around your baby’s neck.”
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