* * *
“So, Jayce,” his father said at the next Sunday dinner. “How was your vacation?”
“It was great.” Jayce shoveled a good portion of lasagna in his mouth and chewed slowly.
Antonio raised one eyebrow. “Is that so? You look like you need a vacation from your vacation. Do I see a little gray in your temples?” Everyone looked at Jayce, as if they were checking him out for the first time.
Jayce shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re inferring. We’re all getting older, you know…”
“Oh, I know,” Antonio said sardonically. “But you look like you’ve aged a few years in just a few days. You haven’t been flying during your time away, have you?”
Jayce just shoved a bigger piece of lasagna in his mouth and chewed. All his family members seemed to be holding their breaths and watching him, waiting to hear what he would say. They never lied to their father when he asked a question point-blank. Jayce wouldn’t either. He just hoped there would be a distraction…and yet the distraction that occurred wasnotwhat he wanted.
Sandra doubled over and cried out in pain. Miguel grabbed her shoulder. “Are you all right?”
“No. Something is wrong…with the baby.” Her free hand was cradling her baby bump.
Gabriella Fierro shot to her feet. “Do something! We have six EMTs around this table. Surely one of you can help her.”
Sandra leaned away from the table and glanced down. “Oh no…”
“What is it, honey?” Miguel’s brow furrowed.
“I think something awful has happened. I’m bleeding,” Sandra said with a shaky voice.
Three cell phones punched in 911 at the same time. Antonio held up one hand. “I’ll call for an ambulance. Get yourselves out on the sidewalk…and move your cars to make room for the ambulance.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Miguel stated.
“Of course not,” Gabriella said.
“911, what is your emergency?”
Jayce was just about to get up and join his brothers when his father put his hand over the microphone end. “Jayce. Stay put. You need to think about running the family when I leave, so you should see what it takes.”
Jayce thought this was totally unnecessary but didn’t question or disagree with his father. He was going to be in enough hot water when the old man remembered he’d never answered his question about shifting and flying.
“We have a pregnant woman in her second trimester, and she’s experiencing sudden sharp pains,” Antonio barked into the phone. “She said she’s bleeding.” Then he rattled off the address and gave his name and the name of the baby’s parents.
Sandra was leaning against Miguel’s shoulder, and he was rubbing circles over her back.
“Is there anything I can do?” Gabriella asked, wringing her hands.
“Not until the ambulance gets here,” Miguel said.
“I was asking Sandra.”
“I… I don’t know. Could you get me a glass of ice water?” Sandra asked. Beads of sweat were popping out on her forehead.
“Of course, darling. I’ll be right back.” Gabriella dashed to the kitchen.
“No. Don’t drink water in case they have to do surgery,” Miguel said. “Just bring a cool, damp cloth, Mom.”
Jayce felt helpless. His father was staying on the phone until the ambulance arrived. Miguel tried to keep Sandra calm. Gabriella returned with a damp washcloth. She bathed Sandra’s forehead and wrists with the cool cloth. He wasn’t needed on the sidewalk to help the ambulance. Four Fierros were certainly enough there.
“It could just be Braxton-Hicks contractions,” Jayce said hopefully.
Sandra gave him a sad smile. She probably knew it was too early for that.
