CHAPTER 2: THE RING IN HIS HAND
Ethan reached the hospital fourteen minutes later.
He entered through the emergency doors still wearing his firefighting gear.
“Where is my wife?”
The receptionist looked up.
“Name?”
“Amelia Carter. Thirty-one weeks pregnant. She came in by ambulance.”
Before the receptionist could answer, Noah stepped from the waiting area.
Ethan saw the blood on Noah’s sleeve.
His face changed.
“Is that Amelia’s blood?”
Noah did not answer.
“Where is she?”
“In surgery.”
Ethan froze.
“What happened?”
“The doctors believe the placenta separated.”
“Is the baby alive?”
“For now.”
Ethan stepped toward the restricted hallway.
Noah blocked him.
“Move.”
“No.”
“I’m her husband.”
Noah slowly opened his hand.
Amelia’s wedding ring lay against his black glove.
Ethan stopped breathing.
“She gave me this.”
His eyes remained fixed on the diamond.
“No.”
“She told me to give it to you when you realized who you left behind.”
Ethan reached for it.
Noah closed his hand again.
“Not yet.”
Anger flashed across Ethan’s face.
“That belongs to my wife.”
“It belonged to your wife.”
Ethan grabbed Noah’s uniform.
Noah did not move.
“You carried Claire out while Amelia was bleeding on the floor,” Noah said quietly. “The paramedic warned you there was a pregnant victim inside.”
“I didn’t hear him.”
“I was standing beside you.”
Ethan’s grip loosened.
Noah continued.
“You heard every word.”
The operating room doors suddenly opened.
Dr. Shah stepped into the hall.
“Family of Amelia Carter?”
Ethan turned.
“I’m her husband.”
The doctor studied his face.
“We had to perform an emergency delivery.”
Ethan went pale.
“My son?”
Dr. Shah paused.
“The baby has a heartbeat.”
Relief nearly dropped Ethan to his knees.
“But he is extremely premature and struggling to breathe.”
“And Amelia?”
The doctor’s expression became more serious.
“She lost a dangerous amount of blood.”
Ethan moved forward.
“I need to see her.”
“No.”
The voice came from behind the doctor.
Amelia’s older sister, Mara Bennett, stood in the hallway holding a signed medical form.
“She listed me as her emergency contact.”
Ethan stared at her.
May you like
Mara lifted the document.
“And she specifically requested that you not be allowed into her room.”
