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  Chapter 9

  Two Years Ago, Trinidad

  “My water broke.”

  The nurse took Maya’s hand and led her to a seat. After a hurried discussion on the telephone, she turned to face Maya again.

  “The doctor is on his way, darling. Just come lie over here, and we’ll get you ready. Don’t worry about anything,” the nurse cooed in a heavy island lilt, motioning at a gurney an orderly had pushed through the double steel doors of the emergency room.

  With the nurse’s assistance, Maya did as instructed, and within a few minutes, she was wheeled into a private room. Another nurse took her vital signs and helped her into a hospital gown, hanging her clothes carefully in the small closet.

  The contractions were coming more regularly, and when the doctor rushed in wearing street clothes, she exhaled a sigh of relief. He performed a brief examination and listened to her stomach with a stethoscope, then told the nurse in a hushed voice to bring a portable ultrasound unit in immediately.

  “What’s wrong, Doctor?” Maya asked.

  “Probably nothing. Don’t worry. I just want to check something,” he said, but wouldn’t look her in the eyes.

  The nurse returned with a cart, and the doctor quickly put gel on the probe and moved it slowly around her abdomen. His expression as he watched the monitor was strained. When he looked up at her, he was frowning.

  “There’s a problem. The baby’s heart rate is in a critical zone. We’re going to have to do a C-section immediately.”

  “No! I don’t want one. I told you I want to deliver naturally.”

  “I’m afraid there’s no choice in the matter. I’m sorry. We don’t have any time to waste. Seconds count. Both you and the baby are in danger.” The doctor turned and issued a set of terse instructions to the nurse.

  Maya processed his statement, sweat rolling down her face.

  “Fine. Do what you have to do. Just make sure my baby is okay.”

  He nodded at the nurse, who hurried out of the room, returning in a few moments with an orderly pushing another gurney – this one with an IV bag suspended from a hanger. Maya shifted onto it with the orderly and the doctor’s help, and then the nurse started an IV line and motioned to the doctor. He withdrew a syringe from his bag and approached her, fixing her with a caring gaze.

  “We’re out of time. I’m going to give you the anesthesia and get you into surgery. The injection is much faster than gas. Are you ready?”

  She grimaced. “Yes.”

  He pulled the plastic cap off and then slipped the needle into the IV line.

  “All right. Here we go…” He slowly depressed the plunger. “Just relax. It’s all going to be okay. This will be over in no…”

  His voice seemed to be coming from a great distance as the room faded and everything went dark.