Michael…
He must be frantic.
“Help!”
Her voice was raw and her mouth painfully dry. She spat again, trying to clear the pasty substance.
“Help!”
“Deputy Chief McBride!” The voice came from a short distance away.
“Helen?”
“It’s me. I’m here.”
“Wh-what happened?”
“There was an explosion. Are you okay?”
“I think so. There’s something on top of me. I can’t get out. What about Joe…”
“I don’t know.”
Jeannie closed her eyes against a rush of tears. She loved the chief. Everyone did. “Please let him be okay,” she whispered. “Please.”
“They’re trying to get to us,” Helen said. “I can hear the rescuers coming.”
“That’s good.”
“Hang in there, Deputy Chief.”
“You should call me Jeannie, Helen.”
“No, ma’am, you’re our deputy chief.”
Jeannie smiled at Helen’s adherence to protocol. She drifted… And came to after some time had passed. She wasn’t sure if she’d slept or lost consciousness. As long as she still felt the baby moving, she didn’t panic.
“Helen.”
“I’m here.”
“I didn’t ask… Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m okay. Just waiting to get out of here and worried about you and Joe.”
“He has to be all right. He just has to be.”
“He will be,” Helen said. “I’m sure of it.”
Helen’s certainty was a relief to Jeannie.
“The voices are getting closer,” Helen said. “Shouldn’t be long now.”
Jeannie tried hard to stay awake, sensing that would be important, although she couldn’t remember why. Her brain was muzzy, and her legs were numb from being buried under the heavy thing. Who could’ve done this to them? The thought of finding out who was behind it exhausted her, so she tried not to go there. Instead, she thought about the nursery Michael had painted a pale yellow, while banning her from the area due to the fumes.
She’d wanted to help, but he wouldn’t let her anywhere near it. While he’d painted, she’d stayed downstairs, folding tiny onesies, sleepers and other soft, precious items for the baby who’d soon join their family. They’d chosen not to find out what they were having, so it would be a surprise. If she had to guess, Jeannie would say she was carrying a girl. Michael was certain it was a boy. Neither of them cared, as long as the baby was healthy. Would the baby still be healthy after this incident?
Please, God, protect my baby. Please protect my baby.
