Marrying The Boss by Judi Nolan Read Free Book Online Page A

woman. "Mandy's been waiting for some time to see
him."
    " Help me get her into my room, then." Kate
instructed the receptionist. "Hello, Mandy. Let's see if we can
make you more comfortable. Can you stand up for me?"
    " I think so but my back is so sore." Mandy
looked thoroughly miserable. She managed to struggle awkwardly to
her feet.
    " I'm Dr. Martin. How far along are you
now?" Kate asked as they helped her into the consulting room and
onto the examination couch.
    Kris left to tidy Reception and Cheryl
slipped into the room. The nurse stood at the head of the couch
holding Mandy's hand, trying to reassure her.
    " I'm about thirty-eight weeks," Mandy
mumbled in a miserable tone. "I feel like an overweight elephant."
She laid her hands over her distended abdomen. "I've had dreadful
backache all night. I had no idea my baby was on its way, but now
my waters have broken and I just know I can feel that the baby is
ready to come—everything's happening at once, Dr.
Martin!"
    Kate grasped her free hand. "I'm afraid
babies are like that, and my name is Kate."
    " Thanks, Kate." Mandy squeezed her fingers
tightly. "What's going to happen now? Oh, I think I'm having a
contraction!"
    Kate returned her tight grip. "Please try
to hold on. We need to check the baby's position first."
    " I'll try," Mandy nodded jerkily.
    " Good girl. I'll be as quick as I can."
Moving down to the foot of the couch, Kate quickly completed a
complete pelvic examination and found that Mandy was already fully
dilated. The baby's head was engaged and birth was
imminent.
    " I need to push. I can't hold on," Mandy
managed to gasp as another pain curved her body upwards.
    " Everything looks in order." Kate glanced
up. "You need to breathe, Mandy. You can do this, we can do it
together. Breathe ! And push when you need to. Breathe in and
push."
    Kate found she had no choice but to begin
delivering the baby. Gently the child's soft, damp head crowned,
but as she slid her fingers down the baby's neck to check for the
umbilical cord, she was alarmed to find several loops coiled around
the baby's neck. Her alarm turned to dismay when she discovered
they were so tight she couldn't pull then over the baby's head to
enable a safe delivery.
    She looked up quickly. "You're going to
have to hold on for a while, Mandy. Whatever you do, don't push. Do
you remember your breathing exercises? You need them right
now."
    " I don't know," Mandy cried tearfully as
she began to pant awkwardly. "I can't do this. Call my husband. I
need Matt to be here!"
    " Yes, you can do it, sweetie. Breathe and
pant. Good girl." Kate quickly lifted her eyes to meet Cheryl's.
"I'm going to need an extra pair of hands. Hurry and see who you
can find for me. And get Kris to call for Mandy's
husband."
    " I'll be as quick as I can." Cheryl nodded
and slipped out of the room.
    It seemed like hours before the nurse
returned, but Kate knew it had only been a few minutes. Spencer was
following close behind. He closed the door.
    " I hear you're adding to Mountaindale's
population. What do you need?" His narrowed, sweeping gaze
freshened Kate's feeling of tension. Even asking for his
professional help seemed to be pulling her closer to this man she'd
been determined to keep at arm's length. But right now she had no
choice.
    Kate swallowed her tension and beckoned him
over so she could explain her predicament in low tones. She braced
her shoulders as he stepped closer.
    His vitally warm presence enveloped her with
an aura of solid dependability. It ruffled her wary senses. What
was it about this one masterful man that she found so hard to
ignore?
    " The baby's face looks a little cyanosed."
Spencer assessed the situation quickly. "If it's already hypoxic we
might as well clamp and cut the cord, rather than trying to loosen
it. It will quicken the birth."
    Kate nodded sharply. "We'll need to do an
episiotomy. The quicker the baby is born the better." She carefully
explained to Mandy what they were about to do.