AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Several women Jo didn’t know had dropped to their knees, while several other women, too pregnant to drop easily, turned and called for Julia. “Chelsea fainted!”
Jo crossed the distance in a few short strides, Julia at her heels. While Julia dropped to her knees and grabbed Chelsea’s wrist, Arnett and Jo cleared a small circle around Chelsea.
“Someone call 911,” Julia said. “What exactly happened?”
An unidentified blonde pulled out her phone. “We were just talking, and she collapsed.”
“Did she show any signs of distress?” Julia asked, glancing at her watch.
“She said she was feeling a little weird, and she kept clutching the sides of her belly,” a brunette said. “Like you do when you’re uncomfortable from standing for too long.”
Jo squatted to examine the small cup that had fallen from Chelsea’s hands; no liquid was left in it. She pulled a nitrile glove from the pocket of her blazer, picked the cup up into the palm of her hand, then peeled the glove back off her hand and up over the cup. “Anyone know what she was drinking?”
“I do,” the brunette said. “I got it for her. She asked for Pellegrino. She said even though it gives her gas since she got pregnant, she loves the bubbles.”
“Her pulse is fine, and she’s breathing.” Julia looked up at the women. “Can someone grab a few of the pillows we use in class?”
Clearly relieved to be able to help in some way, several of the women hovering around the edge hurried to bring Chelsea an array of pillows.
As Julia lodged one underneath Chelsea’s legs, Chelsea’s eyes fluttered open. “What— What happened?”
“Don’t move,” Julia said, and shoved a second pillow under Chelsea’s feet. “You passed out. Have you been having pain or discomfort?”
“Off and on for a couple of weeks,” Chelsea said. “But the doctor says everything’s fine.”
“What did you have to eat today?” Julia asked.
Chelsea rubbed her forehead. “I had Cheerios for breakfast.”
“What else?”
“A couple of the apple slices from the buffet.”
“That’s it?” Julia said. “I told you, you can’t skip meals while you’re pregnant.”
“I haven’t been very hungry this week, what with everything…” Chelsea’s other hand flew to her belly.
Julia leaned back onto her heels and grabbed Chelsea’s wrist again. “That’s probably all this is then, emotional stress and low blood sugar. But we’re calling an ambulance anyway.”
Chelsea tried to push herself up. “No, please don’t do that. I’ll be fine.”
Julia motioned to the blonde girl on the phone, who was in the process of telling the dispatcher that Chelsea was now awake and responsive. “If you don’t want an ambulance, that’s fine, but we need to take you to the ER. We need to be sure everything’s okay.”
“No, honestly, that’s not necessary—”
Visions of both Sophie’s and David’s faces sprang up in front of Jo’s eyes, David’s filled with concern about his child, Sophie’s filled with suspicion about Chelsea’s motives. Whatever was happening here, she couldn’t risk something happening to the baby, for everyone’s sake. “I’ll call David,” Jo said. “He can take you.”
Chelsea reached for Jo. “No, please don’t do that. I’ve bothered him enough and I know he’s with his girls tonight. Really, this is just because I didn’t eat anything. I’ll force something down.”
Jo hadn’t expected her to object. “Chelsea, don’t be difficult about this. I won’t call David if you don’t want me to, but you’re going to the hospital. We’ll have the officer assigned to protect you take you in. He’s supposed to be with you all evening anyway.”
Chelsea looked from Jo to Julia and back again. “Okay. I guess that’s the safest thing to do.”
While Arnett went out to tell the officer what was happening, Jo and Julia helped Chelsea to her feet and slowly walked her to the door. They helped her into the officer’s car, then watched as it took off down the street.
As soon as it was out of sight, Jo pulled out her phone.
“Who are you calling?” Arnett asked.
