Gerty nodded at her little boy. “We’re okay.”
West nodded and sniffled as he started to calm. “Why you cryin’, Momma?”
Gerty shook her head, because she didn’t know. “Lots of reasons, baby.”
“Where are you?” Opal asked, and Gerty released her son’s hand and faced the windshield.
“We just left the rodeo arena,” Mike said. “I came out the east side, went over some curbs, and I’m taking the road a bit north.”
“I’m getting in the car right now,” Opal said. “I’ll meet you at the junction of thirty-six and Harrington.”
Mike looked over to Gerty. “How far are we from that?”
Gerty shook her head, because she had no idea.
“I can see you on my map,” Opal said. “I’ll probably be two minutes behind you, because you’re moving fast.”
“My wife is in labor, and we barely made it last time,” Mike clipped out.
“I’ll meet you and take West,” Opal said. “I’ll call the hospital and let them know you’re incoming.”
“What if the baby comes faster than I can get her there?” Mike asked, and he looked out his side window, almost like he didn’t want to face that possibility.
Gerty didn’t want to, she knew that.
“Then we’ll deal with it at that time,” Opal said crisply. “Right now, Michael, your job is to get Gerty and West to the junction at thirty-six and Harrington.”
“Okay,” he said, and Opal ended the call.
Gerty didn’t know what to say, and tension filled the truck as Mike raced through the darkness. Only eleven minutes later, Gerty had had six more contractions, and Mike turned into a dirt lot at the junction of Highway Thirty-Six and Harrington Avenue.
Opal’s SUV already sat there, and she got out before Mike had come to a complete stop. She held her phone to her ear, and to Gerty’s surprise, she approached her door instead of the back driver’s one, where West’s car seat sat.
“I’m going to check her,” Opal said. “Give you the stats. You’re four minutes out?” She tilted her head, her dark eyes in full Doctor Mode. “Eight. My word. Fine. I’m putting the phone down for a minute. Don’t hang up.”
She tossed the phone onto the dashboard and reached into the truck. “Gerty, how far apart are your contractions?”
“Ninety seconds,” Gerty said even as another one started.
“I’m going to lower you and do a quick check.” She glanced over to Mike. “Get West transferred to my car, Mikey, and come stand here next to me.”
She focused on Gerty again and held up a blanket Gerty had not seen. “I’m going to cover you with this, okay?”
“Opal,” Gerty whimpered. “I don’t want to do this here.”
“I’ve called an ambulance. You guys are still a half-hour from Denver General, and you have to pass through two small towns also celebrating the Fourth to get there.” She wore a fierce expression and spread the blanket over Gerty’s chest.
“You only have to lie there, sweetie. I’ll do all the work.” With that, Opal scooted the seat all the way back and started to lay it down too.
Gerty pressed her eyes closed as Opal worked, and she knew the moment her husband had returned.
“Get my phone,” Opal told Mike, and he complied. “She’s dilated to a nine, and I can see the baby’s head. Where the devil are you?”
Tears slithered out of Gerty’s eyes.I don’t want to have this baby at the junction of Highway Thirty-Six and Harrington, she thought.
“Momma and Daddy are on their way too,” Opal said. “They’ll go to the hospital to make sure you have what you need.”
“I don’t have the baby bag,” Gerty said, trying to sit up.
