you changed your mind?’ the woman asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Sophie shook her head to clear the images of Cooper that had taken over her brain. ‘No. I haven’t,’ she said, putting determination in her tone. She would not be side-tracked by anyone, least of all Cooper. She needed a home for her baby, and she needed it now so there was time to fit it out properly. Scribbling her signature across the bottom of each form placed in front of her, she waited for the calm to come at having achieved finding her future home.
But instead she found herself staring around the gloomy room, wondering what she was doing there. There was a good offer on the table if only she’d swallow her pride and take up the challenge. Cooper’s house was all the things this place wasn’t.
The agent was quick to put the signed papers in her bag. ‘I’ll be in touch when the current tenants have moved out.’
And that was that. ‘I have somewhere to live,’ she muttered as she sank into the front seat of Cooper’s car.
‘You already had somewhere if only you weren’t so stubborn,’ she was told sharply.
Couldn’t argue with being stubborn. She’d warned him about that. ‘You’ll thank me for this later.’
Cooper said nothing as he drove away from the apartment.
Thank goodness, Sophie thought. She’d done enough talking to the agent that morning to last all day. Quiet was exactly what she wanted. Her hand hovered over her belly where the baby was also quiet. Too quiet? ‘Baby?’ Automatically her hand rubbed her tummy. Nothing. ‘Move, will you?’ The panic was rising in her chest, up her throat. ‘Come on.’
‘What’s happening?’ Cooper asked, already pulling off the road to stop the car. ‘When did you last feel movement?’
‘Not for a while.’ When? She racked her brain. ‘I don’t know when. Before we got to the last apartment.’
‘You’re sure?’ The worry in his eyes did nothing to allay her fears.
‘No. I’m not. But she’s lying very still now. She never stops moving for long. Cooper, what if...?’
‘Don’t go there.’ His hand caught hers, squeezed gently. ‘Easy, Sophie. I’m sure everything’s all right. Can I try to feel some movement?’
‘Yes.’ She jerked her top up to expose her belly, and couldn’t care less when Cooper’s eyes widened. ‘Hurry.’
His hand was cool on her skin, but his touch was so gentle she calmed a little. Until he stopped touching her and tugged her shirt down again. Taking both her hands in his, he said quietly, firmly, ‘We should get this checked out to be on the safe side. Can you ring your midwife and tell her we’re coming in?’
‘I haven’t made an appointment with one yet. We only got home yesterday.’ The panic became a full-blown roar in her head. ‘My baby. Something’s wrong. I know it.’
Cooper pulled out into the traffic. ‘Auckland Hospital’s just down the road. We’ll go to the ED.’
‘Whatever. Just hurry.’ Her hands clutched at her belly, while silently she begged the baby to kick as hard as she could. ‘I don’t care how much you hurt Mummy, I just have to know you’re all right.’
Nothing.
She wanted to bang her stomach in the hope of jarring baby into action, but common sense won out—just. It wouldn’t work, and might even give the baby a shock. If she was all right. ‘Hurry up,’ she yelled to Cooper.
He wasn’t exactly going slowly, but right now a racing car at full throttle would be too slow. Too bad if there was a cop lurking in the area. If he tried to stop them he’d get an earful from her. Or he could escort them to the hospital, flashing lights and all.
‘Hold on,’ Cooper snapped as he took a corner too fast.
A glance at the speedo told her they weren’t going as fast as it felt—or as she’d like. But there was nothing they could do in the heavy traffic except go with the flow. Of course there was no parking outside the emergency department. Murphy’s Law was working overtime today.
‘Let me out,’ she all but shouted. ‘You can find parking without me.’
‘Okay, okay. Take it easy.’ Cooper pulled up beside a parked car and flicked his hazard lights on.
She wanted to shout at him for using the ‘easy’ word but when she jerked her head around to argue with him she saw nothing but concern and worry looking back at her. Pulling the brake on her temper, she said, ‘I’m trying, believe me.’
‘I know.’ His smile was strained, but the finger he ran down her cheek was gentle and soft, and made her heart tighten. ‘Go on. I’ll catch you up ASAP. Hang on. There’s a car three spaces up pulling out. Quick, out you get.’
She gritted her teeth in exasperation as she struggled to extricate herself. Infuriating how moving wasn’t the same as it used to be before baby. Baby. Her hand flattened on her stomach. Baby.
Please, don’t let us be too late. Please let them find a heartbeat. Please, please, please.
Sophie shoved out of the car, lurched as she fought to keep her balance.
Cooper called after her, ‘Be careful. I don’t want you slipping in all that water covering the path. You’ll hurt yourself and that won’t do baby any favours.’
He sounded so sure baby was going to be all right, but she’d seen the worry shadowing his eyes, turning his cheeks pale. Despite everything she felt a moment of gratitude for his presence. If not for Cooper she’d still be back at the apartment, freaking out, not knowing what to do. ‘Hurry.’
I need you.
Sophie ran.
Every second counted. Losing her baby was not an option.
‘Hang in there, sweetheart. Mummy’s getting you help.’
She skidded on the smooth concrete at the ED entrance. Teetered on one foot, regained her balance, her heart pounding.
Slow down.
She couldn’t, beat the doors with her fist when they took for ever to slide open.
Bang-bang-bang.
The shots cracked through the air.
Sophie dropped to the ground hard, the air ripping out of her lungs, her shoulder taking the brunt of her fall. She cried out as pain snagged her. Rolling onto her side she curled up as tight as possible, making herself small so the shooter wouldn’t have an easy target.
‘Sophie,’ Cooper shouted.
‘Get down,’ she yelled back. ‘You’ll be shot.’
‘Sophie, it’s all right.’ He was there, kneeling beside her, reaching for her. ‘There’re no terrorists here.’
‘Get down,’
