Sweet Home Alaska
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Beth Carpenter
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Chapter One
IT WAS NEVER a good sign when your normally unflappable pilot suddenly started swearing. Volta looked up from the patient stats she’d been going over with her partner, Bridget, who stared at her in wide-eyed alarm. They peered out the windows. They were still fifteen or twenty minutes from their destination, but the sky ahead was clear. The engines were running smoothly. The wings were still attached. “What’s wrong?” Volta asked Mike through her headset.
“Mount Spurr erupted,” he growled. “Once we land in Sparks, we’re grounded until further notice.”
So, nothing wrong with the plane. That was the good news. The bad news was they had a woman in her thirty-fifth week of pregnancy with dangerously high blood pressure waiting to be transported, and they weren’t going to be able to get her to a hospital. Worse, Volta knew the patient. Lori was the school secretary and also assisted Daniel, the volunteer health aide at the Sparks village clinic. Lori’s husband, Paul, taught secondary school and coached basketball.
Last time Volta had seen Lori was at the hospital in Anchorage when Lori was on her way to an ultrasound. She’d joked to Volta that they’d timed her due date for June 2 so that she and Paul wouldn’t have to miss a day of school. But now Lori’s blood pressure was spiking, a major complication. And on top of that, Lori was expecting twins.
Mike must have been having similar thoughts. “At least that doctor is there.”
“What doctor?” Bridget asked.
“You know. The one who I’m supposed to start flying around with to all the villages next week for some sort of study. He came into Sparks by an air taxi yesterday, and the dispatcher mentioned he’d probably want a ride back with us. Doesn’t look like any of us are getting out today, though.”
“I guess not.” Regardless of why he was there, Volta was glad Lori was under a doctor’s care. Daniel did an excellent job, but preeclampsia was tricky. “What kind of doctor is he?” Hopefully not the academic kind, but Mike did mention a study.
“Something about prenatal care.”
“That sounds promising.” Volta breathed a little easier. “How long do you think we’ll be grounded?”
Mike shrugged. “Depends on how long the volcano keeps blowing, and the direction of the wind. Last time, about twenty years ago, it was two days.”
Two days. Assuming the doctor could get Lori stabilized, two days was doable. In three days, however, was her daughter Emma’s eighth birthday party. Volta wasn’t going to miss that even if she had to hitchhike home, which, considering they were fifty miles from the road system, would be quite a feat. She hoped it didn’t come to that.
Emma would be fine sleeping over with her grandparents until Volta could get back. Since they still had ten minutes before landing, Volta did a quick scan of her calendar. Tomorrow was the PTA bake sale, and she’d volunteered to bring four dozen cookies. Mom would be willing to step in, but her antisugar stance meant what she called a cookie wasn’t what most people would consider a treat. Volta’s brother’s girlfriend, on the other hand, was an excellent baker. Volta set a reminder to call Sabrina later. She returned the phone to her pocket and picked up the fax Daniel had sent when he requested transport.
Mike’s voice came through their headphones again. “Look west.” Volta and Bridget glanced out the window, where a tall gray cloud was forming.
“Ash plume?” Bridget asked.
“Yep. We’re not going to beat it by much.”
Up ahead, the tip of the cell tower over Sparks came into view. Shades of yellow green signaled spring on the tundra. A braided river hugged the south edge of the little community and twisted off to the west. It looked peaceful, as though bad things could never happen there, but they did, and that was when they called in people like Volta, Bridget and Mike.
A few minutes later, Mike landed the plane, the tires bouncing once on the airstrip before rolling to a stop. Mike turned and taxied back to the center of the strip to a parking area. Up ahead, a battered Chevy Suburban rattled along the gravel road between the village and the airstrip. It pulled to a stop beside the plane.
Mike and Bridget climbed out of the airplane and attached a ramp to the door. Volta shoved the portable incubator down the rails. Mike and Bridget picked it up and carried the equipment to the SUV, where Mayor Libby was waiting with the tailgate open. “Glad you’re here.”
Thanks to her good judgment, as well as being related to maybe 25 percent of the local population, Libby was unofficial mayor for life in the village of Sparks. She oversaw everything while running the combination post office, general store and makeshift diner next to the clinic. She also opened her home as a sort of bed-and-breakfast for the occasional visitor and was a one-woman chamber of commerce. And her Suburban doubled as the village ambulance. “Load her up.”
Mike and Bridget loaded the incubator, while Volta jumped down, moved the ramp and closed the door to the plane. Everyone climbed into the SUV. Volta hurried to join them. She slammed the passenger door closed. “How’s Lori doing?”
Libby put the car in gear and started it with a jerk. “She’s in labor. According to that visiting doctor, she has pre-something—”
“Preeclampsia.”
“Right, and so he says she’s got to deliver now. Sounds like she’s close. You might not be able to fly her out until afterward.”
“Unfortunately, we’re not going to be able to take her at all, at least not today,” Mike told her. “Spurr just blew.”
“What, when?”
“About twenty minutes ago.”
“Augh. I knew they’d had rumblings, but I thought it had quieted down. I was over with Lori and Paul and didn’t hear the warning. I’ve got to get back to the post office and find out what’s going on.” Libby whipped around a corner and headed toward the clinic. “Good thing we have a doctor in town. Seems a shame, though. Lori’s been on bed rest for a month, trying to keep from delivering early. But I guess that happens with twins.”
“Twins?” Mike hadn’t read the patient stat sheet.
“That’s right. We’re all eager to see if they’re identical or not. Paul and Lori wanted to be surprised.” Libby pulled up between the clinic and the post office. “I’d better go see what’s up with that volcano.”
“I’ll get a progress report,” Bridget told Volta. “Can you and Mike get the incubator?”
“Sure,” Volta said.
She and Mike carried the portable unit through the door of the clinic while Bridget disappeared into the second room, where they could hear Paul’s voice: “That’s it, babe. You’re doing great. Ouch—”
Volta chuckled to herself. She’d been on the receiving end of some of those hand clenches during labor. Lori was one of the gentlest people Volta knew, but sometimes it took a lot to make it through those big contractions.
“Hi, everyone. Bridget Hickel, flight nurse. Bad news, I’m afraid,” Bridget announced. “Mount Spurr blew its top, and we’re grounded.”
“The volcano erupted?” Daniel’s voice.
“Yes. We were already two-thirds of the way here, so we kept on coming. Unfortunately, we’re not flying out again until the ash cloud is gone. But we did bring an incubator. They’re carrying it in now.”
“Where do you want it?” Mike asked Volta, swinging his end around to fit it into the waiting room.
“Let’s set it here for now,” Volta suggested, nodding toward a clear space against the wall. “It sounds pretty crowded in the exam room.”
They set the unit on the floor. “I’ll head over to Zeke’s and see what he knows,” Mike told Volta. “Unless you need me.”
She’d forgotten Mike’s cousin operated an air taxi service out of Sparks. “I don’t think so since we can’t fly, but I’ll call if we do. Thanks, Mike.”
Volta headed toward the exam room, but before she reached the door, another voice drifted out, reassuring and calm. “Good job, Lori. Not much longer now. Try to relax for a minute. Slow, easy breaths.”
Volta stopped in her tracks. She knew that voice, deep and smooth, with just a bit of drawl. But it couldn’t be. The owner of the voice she knew was working on the other side of the world. No doubt this was some other baritone-voiced doctor from Texas. The voice continued, “You’re at a ten. Doing great. Next contraction, you’ll be able to push.”
Dilated to ten? Libby was right. They wouldn’t have been able to get Lori to the hospital in time to deliver anyway. Good thing they’d brought the incubator as a precaution. Volta entered the room. Everyone looked her way. Paul was wedged into a corner beside Lori, holding her hand. Daniel was on the other side, monitoring her blood pressure. Bridget had moved into position to assist the doctor at the foot of the bed.
A surgical mask covered most of the doctor’s face, but he stared at Volta, his eyes wide in shock. Familiar brown eyes. It had been eleven years, but she remembered every detail. She knew if she got closer, she would be able to distinguish the little flecks of green sprinkled through the brown. What in the world was Scott Willingham doing in Sparks, Alaska?
From somewhere far away, Daniel’s voice made itself heard. “Dr. Willingham, Volta Morgan, flight paramedic.”
Scott tugged the surgical mask from his face. “Volta?”
She met his eyes. “Small world, huh?” She turned away to flash Paul a smile and touch Lori’s hand. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay.” Lori blew out a long breath. “The doctor says I’m almost ready.”
“He should know. Dr. Willingham has delivered a lot of babies.” At least that was what she’d gathered from the Doctors, Education and Medicine for All website. DEMA was always posting photos of him somewhere in the world, holding a newborn baby.
Scott stared at her as though he were glimpsing a ghost. She didn’t blame him. That was exactly how she’d felt when she’d heard his voice a few moments ago.
“You two know—” Bridget started to ask, but Lori suddenly sat up with a grunt as a contraction started.
“Okay.” Scott was back to his take-charge voice. He pulled the mask over his mouth and moved into position. “This time I want you to push. The first baby is in position. Volta, could you take over Daniel’s post? He can handle logistics since he’s most familiar with the room. Bridget, please have an aspirator at the ready. Paul, hang on. Okay, Lori, now push!”
Lori gave a mighty groan and raised herself off the bed, puffing her cheeks out. Volta watched the monitor. Lori’s BP was high, but it wasn’t spiking out of control.
“Good, good.” Scott always had such a soothing voice. “A little harder if you can. We’re making progress.”
“Come on, Lori, you can do it.” Volta laid a hand on her arm. “Push.”
“I’m trying!”
“I know. You’re doing great,” Volta assured her.
A minute later Scott sat back. “Okay, contraction’s over. Good job, Lori. Now rest.”
Daniel handed Volta a moist cloth. She used it to wipe the sweat from Lori’s forehead and distracted her with a little meaningless chatter. Almost before Lori could catch her breath, the next contraction hit, and they all jumped into action.
Ten minutes later, Scott lifted a wet bundle. “It’s a boy.” The baby squirmed, a good sign, and let out a cry of protest at the bright lights and sounds. Scott handed the baby to Bridget and cut the cord. Bridget carried the tiny child to a table to clean him up.
Volta peered over her shoulder. The baby was small and on the skinny side, but for a premature twin, he was well developed, with a healthy color. Paul stared. “He’s so little.”
“Not that little for a twin,” Scott said. “We’ll want to keep him in the incubator for a bit, but right now, why don’t you hold him?”
Bridget wrapped the tiny baby in a soft blanket and handed him over. With a look of wonder, Paul accepted the baby into his arms. Lori craned her neck to see, and the baby stared back at her with solemn blue eyes. Suddenly, Lori stiffened as another contraction hit.
“Okay, Lori,” Scott said. “It’s time for the second act. Get ready. Push!”
It took several more contractions, but fifteen minutes later, the second baby was born. But this one didn’t squirm. Bridget handed Scott the aspirator. He cleared the mucus from the baby’s throat and rubbed the baby’s back.
Lori reached for Volta’s hand, and Volta squeezed it, but she was ready to run for the prenatal ventilator waiting outside the door with the incubator. An eternity passed in the next couple of seconds, but then the baby sucked in a breath and let out a cry. Volta closed her eyes and sent up a silent prayer of thanks.
Scott smiled. “You have a girl. A beautiful little girl.”
He beamed down at the tiny baby in his hands. Scott must have delivered hundreds of babies, but he seemed as excited as if these twins were his first. This really was his life’s purpose. It had taken Volta a long time to accept that.
As Volta watched Lori and Paul’s new little girl, images of Emma as a newborn flashed through her mind. She’d been twice the size of the baby Bridget was swaddling, but no less a miracle. Emma had been born with a red face, a thatch of dark hair and a voice that left no doubt of her opinion on the whole procedure. Almost eight years later, she still held strong opinions and expressed them enthusiastically. Volta was so grateful to have her daughter. Something that wouldn’t have happened had Scott not quit their relationship.
Scott handed the baby off to Bridget so that he could deliver the placentas. Bridget cleaned and wrapped the baby and carried her to Lori. “Meet your daughter.”
Lori held the baby and smiled down at her. “Hi, little one. You gave us a scare. Don’t ever do that again, okay?”
According to the numbers on the monitor, Lori’s blood pressure was already down a few points, and now that she had delivered, she should be back to normal soon. Volta relaxed for the first time since she’d arrived.
Scott pulled down his surgical mask. “Paul, you have a beautiful family. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” Paul seemed to be trying to figure out how to shake hands while holding the baby, but Scott just laughed and patted him on the shoulder.
“You concentrate on that baby. He and his sister are your top priorities from here on out.” He rested his hand on Lori’s shoulder and leaned over to admire the other twin in her arms. “You did well today, Mom. We’ll bring in that incubator to make sure the babies stay warm and we’ll keep an eye on your blood pressure, but y’all will be fine.”
Lori beamed. Scott shook hands with Daniel and Bridget, and finally he turned to Volta. “Thank you for pitching in.” His eyes caught hers and held. “Why don’t we step into the other room and see about that incubator?”
