“How can I when he never stays around long enough to ask?”
“Yet he’s been here forever, right?”
“Right.”
They shared a knowing look.
“Listen, Scarlett…” Emmy’s voice dropped to a low whisper, low enough the men wouldn’t hear. “Donell said something outside that’s bothering me. I was saying something along the lines of how we’re his little projects…”
“Yes.” She’d often felt like one.
“He said…well, he said you weretheproject.”
Scarlett frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m not sure.” Emmy cast a sidelong glance at Donell. “I would like to examine you, though, if you’re comfortable with it. I don’t want to alarm you, but Donell seemed to think you’d need more help with this delivery than might be available in this…well, time.”
Panic chased away the last traces of amusement or even confusion. Scarlett’s hands fell reflexively to her stomach once more. “Is there something wrong with my baby?”
“I shouldn’t have mentioned it. It could be something as simple as a breech or the need for a cesarean. Both of which I’ve done beyond the twenty-first century, if knowing eases your mind at all.”
“You think that’s all?” Scarlett asked hopefully, but wasn’t hedging her bets.
For all Donell liked to stick his nose into people’s business, it wasn’t like him to be intentionally helpful when the situation didn’t suit him. Otherwise he would’ve sent Emmy for “assistance” the first time around. Or helped save one of the countless lives lost over the years. Not just babies or children, but some closer to home, including Rhys’s lover, Willem, who’d recently died of a fever.
Was she to be next?
“Seriously, don’t stress it.” Emmy laid a comforting hand on her arm. “I’m sure it’s nothing I can’t handle or I wouldn’t be here, right?”
“Right.”
Emmy patted her arm again. Her uncertainty must have been evident. “I’ve never lost a baby. Even under conditions worse than this.”
In the face of the doctor’s calm, steady reassurance, a measure of Scarlett’s worry melted away. It was comforting to know there was someone around who knew more about modern childbirth than she did for a change. “Good to know.”
“Still, you’ve got a point. A month does seem a rather prolonged prep time.”
Scarlett’s eyes widened with distress. “Um, Emmy, I don’t think it’ll be a month.”
“What? Why?”
“I think my water just broke.” The admission was barely a whisper, choked by shock. A tremor worked its way out from the core of her chest, radiating through her body.
Emmy glared at Donell across the room. “That old fart. He knew and said nothing. I oughta—”
“Perhaps berating him can wait?”
Scarlett’s wince drew Emmy’s attention. She hopped to her feet but quickly dropped down to her knees next to Scarlett. “Are you in pain? Contractions?”
“No, not really. Just uncomfortable all of the sudden.”
With calm efficiency, Emmy hauled Scarlett to her feet. “No problem. Just breathe. Let’s get you to your bed so I can do a quick examination, okay?”
Scarlett nodded numbly, still stunned by the sudden turn of events. “You know, I haven’t heard anyone sayokaylike that in a long time. I rather miss modern speech sometimes.”
“Now you’re just getting loopy,” Emmy teased, though there was a fresh level of stress in her inflection. “Of course, some studies have shown pregnancy causes the brain to shrink, so…” Her shoulder lifted as she trailed off.
“Really? That would explain a lot.” A bizarre, misdirected hope shot through Scarlett. So trivial in the face of her more urgent situation.
