“We are not in Brookline anymore. I know one of us might not make it, and you can save only one goner per day. I want it to be the baby.”
Kizzy seemed to cover her shock by ignoring the request. “We’ve got to get you to a hospital, now. There’s actually a clinic closer. Gabriella? Do you know anything about that clinic?”
“Oh yes. I went there to get a splinter taken out when we first got here. They were very professional and very kind.”
“Okay, then you’ll have to drive, and I’ll be in the back seat with Ruth. She needs to lie down.”
Gabriella’s eyes widened. “But I…”
“Please! I know the driving conditions are terrible, but we have to try to get there so I can save them both!”
Gabriella took a deep breath and said, “Of course.”
The two women braced Ruth on either side and walked her out to Kizzy’s vehicle. Kizzy handed Gabriella the keys and helped Ruth into the back seat. Gabriella seemed hesitant but eventually got behind the wheel, turned the key, and revved the engine.
“I’m glad this is an automatic.” Gabriella put it in drive, and the three of them took off at a crawl. Eventually, when Ruth began moaning in the back, Gabriella picked up speed.
Ruth couldn’t see what was going on, but Kizzy would glance out the window at the road once in a while, and her face said it all. Ruth quickly cast a protection spell around Kizzy’s vehicle too.
The car zigzagged back and forth. At least they were getting to the clinic, even if they were all shaken like martinis.
“Geez, Gabriella, do you know how to drive?” Kizzy asked.
“Um, I never needed to drive in Boston. Antonio would drive, or I would take the subway everywhere.”
“Do you even have a license?” Ruth asked.
“Not exactly. It expired years ago. I had to get a true ID to come here,” Gabriella said sheepishly.
“Oh my Goddess!” Kizzy and Ruth exclaimed as one.
“Almost there,” Gabriella called out. She careened into the parking lot and slammed on the brakes. If Kizzy hadn’t been kneeling next to Ruth and bracing her, she would’ve wound up on the floor of the back seat.
“Thank the Goddess,” Kizzy muttered under her breath. “We’re here.”
The two anxious women escorted Ruth into the clinic. The rain had let up a bit, but it was too late to get to the hospital. Her contractions were coming fast and furious now. This child wanted to be born immediately, and Ruth wanted her out just as badly!
Her.They had never asked about the sex of the baby, but Ruth just knew. She was about to have a little female witchette.
* * *
A young man in black pants and a white shirt came rushing to the door. The nametag on his lab coat said Dr. José Ortega. Just as Kizzy was helping Ruth through the door and into the clinic, Ruth collapsed. Dr. Ortega reacted quickly and caught her, preventing her from hitting the floor. He scooped her up into his arms and carried her, asking questions in Spanish over his shoulder.
“Do you speak English?” Gabriella asked.
“Yes. Quite well.”
“My sister needs a C-section. I can do it. I’m a doctor,” Kizzy said, following him through the double doors.
There seemed to be only one person behind the desk, and she stopped Gabriella, thrusting a clipboard and some paperwork in front of her. “Go on, Kizzy. I’ll stay here and fill this out to the best of my knowledge.”
Kizzy didn’t think Gabriella would be able to fill out much except Ruth’s name and Aaron’s as next of kin, but she was grateful she wasn’t detained. She had to stay with Ruth.
The doctor set Ruth on a gurney, then turned to Kizzy. “That’s it. You can go no farther.”
Ruth grabbed Kizzy’s hand and cried out, “No! She’s my sister and a doctor too. She goes with me. Donottake her away from me.”
Kizzy smiled. “You heard the girl. I go where she goes.”
