no one else to call. And sheâd never been any good at making and keeping friends.
Another pain shot through her abdomen and she cried out and then panted. She needed help fast.
The closest people to her were the wives. Calling Pearson was out of the question. She wasnât sure Nadalia had the ability to push herself out of the way to run to anyone elseâs need. Vonita only lived ten minutes away and she was also a doctor. The fact that she was actually a pediatrician didnât matter.
She dialed the number and thankfully, Vonnie she answered.
âHey Ryan. I was just about to call you. Iâââ
âVonita!â Ryan yelled, gasping for air. âI need you!â Her voice squeaked and she panted out short spurts of breath.
âRyan! Oh my goodness! Are you okay? Do you want me to call Andy?â
âNo!â Ryan spat as her skin grew hot. She released another wail as another pain shot through her belly. They were lasting longer now.
âWhatâs wrong, sweetie?â
âIâm having a miscarriage. Iâm here by myself, can you come please!â
âDid you call 911?â
âI just donât want to be alone,â she cried. Why did Vonita have to ask so many questions? âCan you come, please?â
âOh Lord! Honey, Iâll be right there. It shouldnât take more than ten minutes. Do you want me to get Andy on the phone while Iâm on my way?â
Ryan wouldnât say to Vonnie that calling Andy would be a waste of time.
âPlease donât call anyone,â Ryan cried out again. âJust. Come. Now!â
âOn my way!â
âVonnie!â Ryan caught her just before she disconnected the call. âIâm upstairs in my bedroom. Thereâs a key under the potted shrub by the door. Please hurry.â
âIâll be there as fast as I can.â
Ryan dropped the phone and slumped over. Before she grew too weak, she dialed 911 and panted out her issue to the operator. After, she dropped the phone and tried to summon what little strength she could as she waited for Vonnie. When she felt like she would pass out, she started praying the way her grandmother had taught her.
âRyan!â Vonnieâs voice carried as she barreled up the stairs. She had made it in no time.
Ryan winched, squeezed her eyes shut and took several quick breaths. She couldnât get any words past her dry mouth.
âRyan!â she yelled again just before busting through the bedroom door. Once inside, she froze.
Ryan read the horror on her face as she looked around the room. âOh my goodness, Ryan. Thereâs so much blood!â Vonnie covered her mouth and blinked fast.
âHelp me, Vonnie.â Her voice sounded like it was fading.
Shaking off the shock, the doctor in Vonnie jumped into action. She ran to the bathroom. Ryan heard her slamming the medicine cabinet and vanity doors, rummaging through their things.
Vonnie reemerged with wet towels and a thermometer. She stuck the thermometer in Ryanâs mouth, and then grabbed her wrist in search of a pulse. She looked at her watch and counted under her breath. When she was done with that, she read the thermometer and placed her hand across Ryanâs forehead.
The blaring sounds of the police and ambulance sirens pierced the air. Vonnie ran downstairs to let them in. Her return along with the harried footsteps of the ,s sounded like a herd of stallions. They were communicating in a medical language that Ryan didnât understand. She tried hard to focus, but their voices were fading in her ears.
The EMTâs took her blood pressure, then slapped an oxygen mask on her, wrapped her in a blanket, slid her onto a gurney, and rushed her to the ambulance.
Hours later when Ryan woke, Vonnie was sitting beside her bed in the recovery area. Vonnie took Ryanâs hand and rubbed her thumbs across her small fingers.
âHow are you