Before Berlin (Berlin Butterfly Series) by Leah Moyes

Author:Leah Moyes [Moyes, Leah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-06-11T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“Aleksandra!” Ruta cried when I entered. “What are you doing here?”

“They needed all the nurses available for surgery.”

“Is it dreadful? The accident? They came and took Nurse Helga and Nurse Ana and told me to keep an eye on things here.”

“Yes, it was awful. An accident between an automobile and a trolley. Five adults and two children.”

“Oh, no.”

“It reminded me of the night of our truck accident,” I mumbled.

She lowered her head. I didn’t know it then, but her two best friends died that night. “I try not to think of it,” she muttered in response. “That’s why I was so grateful I have been assigned maternity.”

“It’s quite nice in here.” Glancing around the space, I was impressed with the condition and comfort of the ward.

“Nurse Ana says it’s because Germany wants the women to have more babies. If they have a good birthing experience, they might choose to have multiple children.”

I smiled tightly, remembering my conversation with Frida. It was true how much of a priority it was, though I had never discussed it with my friends. “Well, you are fortunate to be here.”

She smiled and reached for my hand. “I get to help with new life, not death. Well…mostly not death.”

My thoughts went back to the patients who just arrived. “Well, listen to this.” I pulled her in close. “The boy I was helping, Jonas…he only spoke Polish.”

Her mouth gaped open. “He’s from Poland?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know all the details, but it sounded like they had recently arrived from Poland.”

“So, you spoke Polish with him?”

“I tried. Then Ingrid and I—”

“Ahhhh!” A miserable cry rang out from behind a partition.

I jumped at the sound. “What, what is that?”

“That, my dear friend, is Frau Peters. She has been in labor for ten hours now and the doctor said she is no closer to having a baby today than I am.”

I stared at her blankly. She smiled. “I’m not having a baby. He just said her body is not ready yet. If nothing changes by tonight, he will have to surgically remove the baby and those can be so dangerous.”

I went to the sink to wash my hands. “What can I help you with?” I scrubbed Jonas’ blood splatters off my fingers and silently prayed he was in good hands. “I am not trained here, but I will do whatever you ask.”

“I know.” She smiled then wrapped her arms around me. “It’s so good to have you here. I miss you so much!”

“I miss you too.”

“Very well, if you will just see to Frau Peters and try to make her comfortable, that will help me enormously. I must stay with Frau Kaiser who is in the partition next to her. Her waters broke an hour ago, but since the doctor and nurses were called away, I am keeping an eye on her progress myself. Her pains are still ten minutes apart, so the baby still has some time to go.”

“What if, Frau Peters’ baby decides to come…well, soon?” I arched one of my eyebrows.

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