Second Chance at Love by Irene Brand

Author:Irene Brand
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

When they arrived at the site of the destroyed bridge, a state trooper was helping a pitiful little group of three people up the riverbank. The husband didn’t appear to be more than twenty, and his wife looked even younger. The girl wasn’t visibly pregnant, and Amelia assumed that she was in the early months of her pregnancy. Amelia’s compassion went out to the young woman, and she empathized with the trauma surrounding the couple. An older woman, a resigned look on her face, had an arm around the young woman, who slumped over in pain. “I’m Jerry Anderson,” the young man said as he hurried forward. “My wife’s name is Michelle, and her mother is Norma. If you don’t have room for all of us, I’ll stay behind. Michelle wants her mother with her.”

“Of course, she wants her mother,” Amelia said, remembering how often she’d longed for her mother when she faced a crisis. “But there’s space for all of you. The back seat is roomy.”

She opened the rear door, and Jerry took one look at the spotless gray upholstery and carpet.

“Oh, ma’am,” he said, “we’re so muddy. We’ll ruin your car.”

“Get in,” she urged. “The car can be cleaned, and your wife needs to see a doctor as soon as possible.”

Amelia squeezed Michelle’s shoulders tenderly as she helped her into the car. Chase was surprised, and pleased, at the efficiency Amelia used in handling the situation. He kept forgetting that Amelia was no longer the insecure young woman he’d married. While he drove, she asked some pertinent questions.

“Has the hospital been notified that you’re coming?”

“Yes,” Jerry said. “The trooper radioed the hospital.”

“How far along is she?” she asked.

“Three months,” Norma said. “She’s been doing fine, but her home was flooded, and they lost everything. She’s been awful nervous and upset about that. She started bleeding this morning. I thought she needed to see a doctor.”

“Especially since it’s her first baby,” Amelia said.

“I’m awful worried about her,” Jerry whispered.

Amelia throat constricted, and she sought for words to comfort the couple. She glanced hopelessly at Chase.

“You made the right decision,” he said.

“She’ll soon be in good hands.”

When they reached Williamson, Chase maneuvered the Buick through crowded streets and up the mountain to the four-story hospital. He found a convenient parking space, and he and Jerry helped Michelle up the ramp into the waiting room. Although the hospital must have been pushed to the hilt with emergencies, an aide had a stretcher waiting for them. Clutching her stomach, Michelle was soon whisked into the emergency room.

Before Jerry followed his wife and mother-in-law, he shook hands with Chase and nodded shyly at Amelia.

“We sure do appreciate your help. We’ll be okay now, so you won’t have to stay.”

Amelia looked meaningfully at Chase and shook her head.

Correctly interpreting her mood, he said, “We’ll stay until you hear what the doctors have to tell you. We’ll be in the waiting room. Let us know.”

Amelia chose a seat that was separated from anyone else. She couldn’t talk, and she picked up a magazine and started leafing through it.

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