After one ring, a voice said urgently, “Hello?”
“Susie?” Ellen said, recognizing Margery’s younger sister.
“Ellen, thank God.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Margery is spotting. I want to take her to the hospital, right now, but she said to call you first.”
It was more than thirty minutes in good weather to get from her house up off Rock Creek Road to Gainesville, where the hospital was, but right now it could take nearly twice that. There were medical services in Whitesboro, but they wouldn’t be able to handle a premature baby and would automatically transport her to Gainesville.
Plus, the roads were so bad from the hailstorm over the weekend that getting a very pregnant woman out over the bumps and potholes until she reached the highway would be problematic. And getting back would be next to impossible, at least for the next day or two.
“Is she actively bleeding?” Ellen asked. Light spotting was normal during pregnancy.
“Just a second,” Susie said.
There were voices in the background, then Margery picked up the phone and said, “Ellen? I’m sorry to bother you.”
“No bother. Tell me what’s going on.”
“I didn’t even want to call…”
Ellen bit back a comment. Margery had called her nearly every day for the last two months. But if five minutes of conversation could keep Margery calm, that was fine by Ellen. Ellen had gone with her to her last OB/GYN appointment two weeks ago. They had an ultrasound and all the blood work was good. The only mild concern was a slightly elevated blood pressure, which is why Ellen really wanted to keep the soon-to-be mom calm.
“Just tell me how you’re feeling.”
“I took a nap this morning, I swear I’m so tired and the thunder last night kept me and the dogs up.”
“I understand that.” Whiskey didn’t like thunder, either. He always tried to get under her blankets during storms. Ever since John died, Ellen let him.
“So, about nine I went down for a short nap, not even an hour. And when I woke up, there was blood in my panties.”
“How much? The size of a quarter? More?”
“About a quarter. And I know it’s normal, I read everything you gave me, but I just feel… well, super tired and crampy.”
“You’re carrying around an extra thirty pounds. That would make anyone tired and crampy,” Ellen said, trying to make light of it, but mentally going through the checklist of potential problems.
Susie was talking in the background, but Ellen couldn’t hear most of what she said, except for, “Just ask her.”
“No,” Margery said to Susie, not Ellen.
Ellen knew what Susie wanted, but this was the worst day to leave the farm. It was too far to travel on an ATV, but her truck, even though it was a four-wheel drive, could easily get stuck up at Margery’s place, or anywhere along the route.
Still, they were in a flood watch, not a flood warning, and while the skies were dark, it was barely raining for now.
If she waited, it would only get worse. Flash flooding was the primary problem, but she’d keep the radio tuned to the emergency station.
“Margery, just to be safe, I’ll come up there and do an exam, check your blood pressure.”
“You do not have to do that. Don’t listen to my sister.”
“If there is something that needs to be taken care of, it’s better that we know now, right? There’s probably nothing wrong, your ultrasound showed a healthy baby, and your labs are normal. But I’ll just check a few things, okay?”
“I would appreciate it. I know the weather is awful and you have kids and a farm and—”
“My kids are fine, Jake’s eighteen now. We have everything under control here, I promise you.” More or less, Ellen thought. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
