The Guardian's Protector: The Chamber of Souls Read Free

onto Amy’s stomach. ‘But I meant this far as in I think you may not have long to go.’
    ‘Oh,’ Amy said, a surge of adrenaline making her feel nauseous. ‘Well I hope he makes it then.’
    Adaizi began mopping Amy’s brow. ‘I’m sure he will, beautiful. Until then, I’ll look after you.’
    Amy stared at the door. Luke said he’d be right behind her. Where was he? ‘He’s never let me down before,’ Amy continued, biting her lip. ‘He’s more like my best mate than a boyfriend. If he says he’s on his way, he’s on his way!’
    ‘Then don’t you worry, beautiful,’ Adaizi said as she placed on some surgical gloves.
    Amy couldn’t help it. This had nothing to do with intuition; it was obvious something was wrong. Luke would never let her down like this.
    ‘I need to do a little examination.’ Adaizi patted Amy’s knees and Amy relaxed them for her. ‘Just a quick look to see just how well we’re doing.’
    ‘What part of America are you from, Adaizi?’ Amy asked to distract herself.
    ‘New York,’ Adaizi replied. ‘I’ve been here seventeen years now.’ Amy sensed Adaizi missed the place but, her teeth gleaming, she still smiled.
    Amy smiled back at Adaizi. ‘That’s just longer than I’ve been born!’
    ‘It sure is.’ Adaizi’s forehead wrinkled as she looked at Amy with a mixture of pity and pride. ‘Just relax a little more for me,’ Adaizi added as Amy felt a slight pressure on her cervix.
    ‘I didn’t plan to get pregnant.’ Amy felt the need to clarify as she glanced sidelong at the door again. ‘I wanted to wait until after my higher education. I’m just taking a gap year before I return.’
    ‘Oh? What is it you plan to do?’ Adaizi asked.
    ‘My father wants me to be a nurse,’ Amy said. ‘He thinks I’ll be a natural.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Is that the baby’s heart?’ Amy asked, only just noticing the whoosh, whoosh sound coming from the monitor.
    ‘It sure is,’ Adaizi said, standing straight. ‘And all looks well.’
    ‘I’ve got a job for now, though,’ Amy continued. ‘Just like Luke. He left college as soon as he found out I was pregnant and he’s saved every penny for us. He’s painted the entire maisonette that the council gave us, you know.’ She smiled thinking of him. ‘And bought carpets too. He wanted us to move into it all being done because my mum thought we’d be living in squalor. It was nice to prove her wrong.’ Amy looked at the door in longing each time a silhouette passed by.
    ‘He sure sounds like a good boy.’
    ‘Yes.’ Amy smiled, then felt like crying, wondering where he could be. ‘He normally is,’ she added. She couldn’t believe he wasn’t here. Amy’s stomach began to harden and she braced herself for another wave of pain. She turned to see the radar on the IV machine reach its highest peak, taking deep breaths as she’d been taught, but there was no pain.
    Amy turned to Adaizi. ‘Is that machine making my belly go tight?’
    ‘No. That’s just your contraction.’
    ‘Well, what have you given me?’
    ‘Nothing given ,’ Adaizi said.
    ‘Why am I not in pain then?’
    ‘Because I’ve taken it away. There’s no need for pain now I’m here,’ Adaizi stroked Amy’s arm again, and this time the effect was more powerful than just a deep sense of peace washing over her. Amy felt lightheaded, almost like she could float away, and she knew without a doubt Adaizi had given her something.
    ‘You weren’t at any of my ante natal appointments?’ Amy queried, her mind now taken from Luke’s absence.
    Adaizi’s eyebrows rose in interest. ‘No, but I’m the best person for this birth,’ she said mysteriously. Amy considered her for a moment; there was something else to this woman she couldn’t put her finger on.
    Amy felt the hardness of her stomach and watched the monitor in disbelief. ‘It’s not normal that I’m not in pain!’ Amy stated.
    Adaizi looked amused. ‘It’s normal for