Maternal Harbor Read Free

gently rubbed her friend’s back until the nurse rushed into the lobby, hooked Pai’s chin in the palm of her hand and raised the face until she could look into her eyes.  “Are you having pains?”
    Pai nodded.
    “ Please lean back.  I have to check your baby.”
    Teagan helped Pai straighten and the nurse held her hand against the extended abdomen, then low in the front.  “This little guy wants to meet his mama.  Your doctor is here and will see you right away.  I'll get a wheelchair.”
    Relieved, Teagan squeezed Pai’s hand.  “You’ll be the first one to hold her son.  Can I phone someone for you?”
    Pai shook her head; her silky pageboy shimmered from the slow, sad denial.  “There is no one,” she murmured.
    There had to be someone.  Even Teagan wasn’t this alone.  “Your mother?”
    Pai moaned low in the back of her throat.  “You and Doretta are it.  I've met no one else since our transfer except Erica and a couple of other Korean girls in my building.”  She gripped harder on Teagan's hand.  “I'm scared.”
    “You're just having your baby.”  Teagan glared at the hallway.  Where was the nurse with the wheelchair?
    Pai’s nails dug into Teagan’s palms.  “Listen to me.  It wasn’t just that man scaring me.  I feel like there’s something watching, looking in my window.”
    “What?  Looking from where?”
    “ Will you hear me?  I feel eyes.  My place is filled with them.  Someone is watching.  It started a month ago.  If anything happens, take my baby and make sure Duffy knows?”
    Pai’s agitation frightened Teagan.  “You’re acting completely paranoid.  That can’t be good for the baby.”
    Tears filled the almond eyes.  “You won’t protect my baby?  Why?”
    The question hung between them, and Teagan didn’t know what to do about the sullied air.  “You’ll be just fine.  So will the baby, if you just calm down.”
    Pai grimaced from pain.  “You have to look after my baby.  Promise me.”
    “ You know I will.”  What else could Teagan say?  Even though she was overwhelmed by the thought of caring for one baby, and then adding another baby seemed impossible, she would do everything in her power to guard Pai’s son. 
    A glimmer of hope reflected in the tortured eyes.  “I have to trust you.  Can I?”
    “I don’t break promises.  Never have, never will.”
    “ I know that.”  Pai's nails released Teagan's flesh.  “I'll tell the doctor.  Sign something.”  Her pallid face glistened as another labor pain seized her.  “Evil is watching.  Be careful.”
    Quickly, Teagan scanned the room, looking for some horned madman.  The only thing out of place was the other patients stealing glances, concern written on their faces.
    Finally, the nurse rushed into the lobby with a wheelchair.  They lifted Pai onto her feet and helped her into the chair.
    “ Remember, you vowed.”  Pai glared back at Teagan as if expecting the promise to be repeated over and over until she was wheeled into the mouth of the hallway.
    As soon as Pai disappeared, Teagan collapsed in a chair, glad to have Pai in the hands of people who would help her.  In fact, she delved into the solitude.
                 
    Even after Pai teetered inside the OB-GYN clinic, Erica Thorburn continued to sit in her Chevy Blazer.  Her appointment time came and went.  She simply couldn’t make herself face another checkup.  Everything was fine.  No sense in the doctor poking around more than necessary.  Besides, she felt too hyped to endure the exam room.  She needed a hard run uphill.
    On the seat beside Erica lay a neatly folded pile of Seattle Police Department uniforms.  She brushed away a slight wrinkle in the sturdy, familiar fabric.  They needed to be fresh and clean, ready for her return to duty.  Wearing civvies, especially maternity ones, made her uneasy.  The body armor, uniform, and badge provided security.  She missed the Glock riding her