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She reached up to touch her neck “I forgot I put them inRoll is al would be ”

Gabriel’s heart clenched

“You’ll be back at the university soon enough Rebecca and I will help”

Julia huht his mouth to her ear “I’m sorry”

“We talked about this Sos”

“I’ll do whatever it takes toa child with you isn’t a hardship Except for the pain” She grimaced

He pressed his lips to her brow “I calledto speak to your dad and Diane I doubt they’ll be able to drive up with To to offer”

She nodded but didn’t open her eyes “Good”

While Julia was sleeping, the obstetrician atte of babies was not unco labor or the obstetrician would sirateful for the doctor’s encourageth was his hope for the future—the knowledge that soon he woulda father

As Julia lay in her bed half-asleep and drea hospital bed, so fragile

So young

Chapter Eighty-three

Julia?” Gabriel held her hand as the next contraction gripped her He kept a watchful eye on the inning to subside, and then afterward he would gently stroke her knuckles or her forehead, praising her

“You’re doing so well”

Gabriel was not He was disheveled and nervous and, if he were to take the time to think about it, extremely concerned Despite the fact that they were in a well-respected hospital in Boston and enjoying excellent medical care, he was terrified

He kept his fears to hi Roll would be all right

Shortly before nine o’clock in the evening, Julia began to run a fever By that time, Dr Rubio was on call She examined Julia and ordered an antibiotic added to her intravenous drip

Gabriel chewed at his lip as he watched the nurse hang the bag next to the other fluids that slowly dripped into his wife’s arin pushing Her epidural succeeded in taking only some of the pain away, andin the lower half of her body

Nurse Susan held one of Julia’s legs while Gabriel held the other She pushed with each contraction, and although Dr Rubio and Gabriel cheered her on, very little happened Eventually the obstetrician ad Roll was stubbornlyher transverse position, and she was situated too high up to be delivered with forceps