The mother’s oldest sister stayed with the baby, and Maxence guided Dree back into the hallway because she felt like she couldn’t even breathe.
After they had walked away a good fifty feet, Dree’s knees gave out, and she crumpled.
Maxence caught her before her knees banged on the ceramic tile and whisked her up in his arms. “You did it. She’s alive, and she’s in good condition for a preemie.”
Dree tucked her face into Maxence’s neck, and to her utter chagrin, began to sob. “I don’t want her to die.”
His strong arms cradled her. “You did all you could. If you hadn’t been there, she wouldn’t have any chance at all.”
“I don’t think I can head back to the village just yet. Maybe if we can find some tea, or maybe if you drove the motorcycle. I’m just exhausted, and I don’t even know what I’m doing.”
He whispered in his deep voice, “Let’s stay here in Chandannath for the night. It’s beginning to get dark out there. I don’t want to drive a motorcycle on those twisty roads above the cliffs in the dark.”
“But Father Booker and Alfonso—”
“We already had the campsite set up before we left. They’ve got two motorcycles, a fire pit ready to go, and three tents. They each have the opportunity to sleep alone in a tent tonight. I think if we go back, they’ll be mad at us.”
Dree nodded into his neck. His sandpaper stubble scraped her nose and forehead. She just wanted to sleep in his arms again.
Chapter Fifteen
Jumla, Again
Dree
Maxence settled Dree on the motorcycle behind him. She held onto his muscular waist and leaned her helmet against his back. She wasn’t trying to tempt him or herself, but holding onto his body with both arms comforted her. She rubbed her gloved palm over the black leather of his jacket, trying to distract herself from worry over the tiny baby they’d taken to the hospital.
When they got to the inn they’d stayed at their first night in Jumla and wrenched off their helmets, Maxence must have caught a glimpse of her tear-streaked face because he grabbed her hand and pressed it between both of his, saying, “You did the most anyone could have done.”
“I should give you that cross necklace back. Angels can work miracles. I think I did something stupid that cost a baby her life today.”
“That baby didn’t stand a chance if we hadn’t tried something. We’ll check on her tomorrow morning before we head back to the village. But no matter what happens, you gave her a shot, even if it’s only a slim chance. She was very small. Her little limbs were just skin-covered bird bones. She didn’t have a twenty percent chance of surviving up there. She had no chance at all.”
“When Batsa said that about the mother-in-law, all I could think was to get that baby out of the house.”
“That’s yet another reason, and you’re right.”
They went inside and found the same three available rooms and eager innkeepers who appreciated wintertime guests.
Isaak grinned and stretched his arms as they checked in. “A real bed all to myself with a warm shower? I have died and gone to Heaven.”
Maxence swiped his credit card and paid for the rooms and meals, even though the innkeepers were willing to bargain again and let them have the rooms for only the price of supper.
When Dree asked Max about it, he said, “I’m unwilling to surrender to the relentlessness of poverty today. Perhaps saving one baby’s life has inspired me to fight on, at least for tonight.”
Dree didn’t feel it.
The innkeeper’s wife made supper for them. They sat at a table in the tiny lobby.
The plant in the corner was still dead.
The world was caving in on Dree. No matter how hard she worked, she couldn’t save anyone. She’d come up with one harebrained scheme to wrap a few random items around a neonate and drive her for hours on a motorcycle.
Dree had probably killed the baby.
She hated herself. She was a stupid, undertrained nurse who thought she was MacGyver.
Maxence’s knee and lower leg pressed against hers throughout the meal, though he didn’t seem to notice it.
