Page 42 of The B-Team
“Notwe,”Rachel said. “If we all turn up at her door, she’ll call the police. I know I would.”
“I’m not even sure she’d talk to us anyway,” Claire said. “If a stranger rocked up at my door, asking personal questions, I’d get Grunt to sort them out pretty damn fast.”
“She’ll talk to me,” Rachel said, stopping so suddenly that Ryan almost tripped over her.
Harvard grinned. “Breaking outLadyFord-Talbot again, Princess?”
“It doesn’t seem like we have any other option.” She strode toward the chair that held her handbag and slipped her shoes on, wincing as she did so.
“Are you okay?” Harvard reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear.
“My back aches.” Rachel stood. “I think it’s from those cheap, nasty chairs at the police station. I’m all stiff and achy.” She looked at Julia. “What’s the address?”
“Um, Rachel,” Claire said hesitantly. “Theseachesyou’re getting, are they coming in waves, by any chance?”
“How should I know?” Rachel said irritably.
“You must have noticed if they’re happening on a regular basis.” Claire sounded as though she was talking to one of the children she used to teach in preschool.
“They come and go.” Rachel was dismissive. “It’s been happening all day, and it isn’t a problem. I’m telling you, it’s the chairs.”
Isobel and Claire shared a knowing look.
“Or,” Claire said gently, “you could be in labor.”
“I don’t think so. I only told my lawyer that to help her get me out of that despicable place, but I’m certain that isn’t the case. I’m not in agonizing pain, and I have no desire to push a human being out of my vagina.”
“Ew.” Ryan grimaced. “Please. Don’t use the V word.”
“Oh, do grow up,” Rachel told him.
“What she said,” Isobel added. “Vagina is a perfectly normal word, and half the world’s population has one.”
Ryan stuck his fingers in his ears until Isobel’s lips stopped moving.
“Rachel.” Claire was still in patient-teacher mode. “Did you read up on giving birth? Because it doesn’t sound like you did.”
“I didn’t need to read up on it because I’m not having a vaginal birth.”
“There’s that word again,” Ryan said with a shake of his head. “We’re just throwing it around all over the place today, aren’t we?”
“That’s not how it works,” Claire said to Rachel. “This baby’s coming out when it’s ready. It’s not like it’s going to stay in there forever. Your choice isn’t really a factor here.”
“Yes, it is. I chose to have a cesarean, and I scheduled it for two weeks’ time.”
“Does the baby know it’s been scheduled?” Isobel asked dryly.
Rachel pinned her with her CEO look. “The baby is not in charge here. I am, and I’mnotin labor.” Her face tightened as she rubbed her lower back, and little lines of pain appeared around her mouth.
“Somebody time theseachesRachel’s having,” Claire said.
“On it,” Isobel said as she looked at her phone screen.
“It’s not labor,” Rachel snapped. “My water hasn’t broken.”
Isobel shook her head. “Shoulda read the book I gave you. Not everybody’s water breaks naturally. Sometimes, the midwife has to do it for you.” She smiled wickedly. “They use something that looks like a big crochet hook to do it.”
“Definitely gonna vomit.” Ryan covered his mouth with his hand and thanked God that Sarah was still asleep. He suspected this conversation wouldn’t be very reassuring for her.
