Clara glanced at the sandwich, but her stomach cramped slightly. “Thanks, Ms. Hazel, but I don’t think I can eat anything.”
“Are you feeling okay?” Hazel said softly.
How did Hazel always sense when things were off with her? “Just nervous,” Clara said.
Suddenly a loud knock sounded at the door. Both Clara and Hazel jumped.
“Who’s that?” Clara asked.
A puzzled look crossed Hazel’s face. “I don’t know, but I’ll go see. Maybe a neighbor checking on us.”
Clara nodded and twisted her hands together, tapping her foot as Hazel lumbered to the kitchen door. Her breathing grew choppy, and she tried to calm herself with a deep breath as a spasm clenched her belly.
God, please, don’t let this be labor.
Clara heard voices in the kitchen then Hazel walked in with her counselor Ms. Putnam. Clara’s pulse jumped in surprise. “Ms. Putnam, what are you doing here?”
“Mabel stopped by to check on you,” Hazel said with a shrug. “Isn’t that nice?” Hazel patted Mabel’s shoulder. “Although that was dangerous for you to be out in this weather, Mabel.”
“I’m fine,” Mabel said as she walked toward Clara.
Nervous energy seemed to radiate from her as she sank onto the sofa beside Clara. “With you this close to delivery and this storm and power outage, I was worried about you,” Ms. Putnam said.
Clara released a shaky breath and shifted on the couch to ease her aching back. It had been throbbing since the nightbefore. She massaged it with one hand, wincing as a tightness gripped her abdomen.
“Are you okay?” Ms. Putnam asked. “You look uncomfortable, sweetie.”
Hazel gave Clara a concerned look. “Yes, honey, are you all right?”
Clara’s breath caught as the pain in her back intensified. “I’ve had a backache all night and today, and my stomach feels tight.”
“How often are the pains?” Hazel asked.
“I don’t know.” Clara gripped the arm of the sofa as another cramp clenched her stomach. “Tell me they’re those fake ones,” Clara said, panicked.
“Braxton Hicks,” Hazel said. “It’s possible. But we’ll start timing them.”
Ms. Putnam squeezed Clara’s hand. “Let me drive you to the hospital. Better to be safe than sorry.”
Hazel shook her head. “Mabel, she’s not getting in the car with this crazy storm.”
“We’ll be fine,” Ms. Putnam assured them. “She needs to see a doctor.”
“No,” Hazel said. “She needs to stay inside where it’s at least warm and safe. The roads have to be treacherous out there and power lines may be down.”
Ms. Putnam lowered her voice. “Don’t worry, Hazel. I’ll take care of her,” the therapist said.
Clara doubled over. “Oh, my God, it hurts.”
“That was only two minutes apart,” Hazel said. “Typically, first time labors go slowly. How long did you say your back has been hurting?”
Clara choked back a cry. “Since last night,” she admitted.
“What does that mean?” Ms. Putnam asked.
Hazel gave Clara a comforting look. “Clara, honey, you may be experiencing back labor. It’s not uncommon.” She tookClara’s hand. “When the contraction starts, just breathe in and out like we practiced.”
Clara still saw a note of worry in Ms. Hazel’s eyes.
