Page 46 of The Hunted Wife
All the way to the hospital proceeded in this way, checking the time between contractions. By the time they arrived, the contractions were three minutes apart.
Adam pulled up outside the Emergency Department, slammed the truck into park and killed the engine. Then he hustled around the truck to Millie’s door.
She’d opened the door but that was as far as she got before he slipped his arms under her and lifted her off the seat.
He stopped long enough to let her slam the door shut but then he practically ran through the automatic door faster than it opened. Once inside they had to stop at security.
The guard called for a wheelchair.
Millie moaned softly as she sat in the chair.
Adam had to empty all his pockets and go through the metal detector. Once he was through he shoved everything back into his pants and wheeled Millie to the intake desk. “My wife is having a baby.”
The woman looked up wearily. “How far apart are the contractions?”
Another pinching pain radiated across her belly. Millie closed her eyes and moaned.
Adam looked at his watch. “Three minutes.”
“Okay, she’s still a good while out, so I think we have time to get all your information. Name?”
“Adam Sullivan.”
“No,” said the nurse gently. “You’re wife’s name.”
“Milena Sullivan,” said Millie with a chuckle. She heard the clack of the nurse’s nails on the keyboard.
“Date of birth,” continued the nurse.
Millie answered that one and all the questions that followed.
The nurse clipped a hospital ID band around Millie’s right wrist. “Okay, you’re all checked in. You can go to the waiting room, and they’ll call you as soon as possible. If something changes please let me know right away.”
“We will,” said Millie. I’m glad to be moving to the next step.
Adam wheeled her to the end of one of the rows of chairs and then sat in the chair next to her. “I feel silly that we got here and apparently had more time. I needn’t have rushed you.”
Millie took his hand and laced her fingers with his. “We didn’t know. It’s not like we’ve done this before.”
He chuckled. “That’s true. We’ll know better next time.”
She squeezed her eyes shut and squeezed his hand. She tried not to make any noise as the next contraction hit, but she let out a quiet moan.
“Millie?” Adam looked at her. His eyebrows were furrowed with concern. “Are you okay?”
Nodding, she didn’t make another sound. She massaged her stomach and counted through the contraction. Soon the pain eased and she opened her eyes.
Her dress was still soaked from her water breaking and the longer she sat there the more uncomfortable she became.
“That one was at the two minute mark.”
“You should probably tell the nurse.”
Adam nodded and stood. He walked over to the nurse and told her the information.
She made an entry on the computer.
The next thing Millie knew, Adam was back and growly.
