Off The Clock: First Responders, Book 1 (2 page)

“I was at Grand Pré when the call came in. Single vehicle?”

“Hit and run.” He gave her the time, make and partial plate number, always keeping one eye on Eric and Mike, tensing when they put Carly on a stretcher.

“You need anything else?” He forced his gaze back to the constable and she smiled at him.

“No, go. I can tell you want to. I can talk to Carly later. And you too, I suppose. You’re going to the hospital?”

He nodded, off balance by the unusual tightness he felt in his chest. “Friend of the family,” he replied, knowing in his heart Carly was more to him than that. “I don’t want her to go alone.”

It was crazy. She wouldn’t be alone. She had Mike and Eric with her. But it wasn’t the same. Not anywhere near the same. He wouldn’t fail her the way he’d failed Brandon.

“If you give me your keys, I’ll send someone out to bring in your truck.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t.” She raised an eyebrow. “Gift horses, Gabe. We’ll drop your keys at Emerg.”

He handed over the keys to his truck and jogged over to the ambulance, hopping in the back with Mike. Mike never said a word. As they drove off, lights flashing, Gabe reached over and took Carly’s cool hand.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she whispered, and Gabe’s chest cramped. She’d said the same thing years ago, when Billy Rogers had stood her up for prom and she was waiting at home, all alone in her fancy dress. Gabe had put on his graduation suit and taken her instead, thrilled to be able to play her hero for once and terrified of kissing her at the end of the night. In the end she’d been the one to do it, leaning across his seat and pressing her lips to his. Thoughts had raced through his nineteen-year-old brain, and for a minute he’d considered taking it further. But he couldn’t. It was like an unspoken rule—thou shalt not mess around with your best friend’s sister. Brandon would have kicked his butt if he’d known Gabe was making out with his sister.

Brandon wasn’t here now, but if he were he wouldn’t be too happy with Gabe holding Carly’s hand. Gabe couldn’t blame him for those feelings, but they weren’t teenagers anymore and her baby’s father was nowhere to be found.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he answered, squeezing her fingers in his.

Chapter Two

At the hospital Gabe walked alongside the gurney, still holding Carly’s hand. She squeezed his fingers again and he checked his watch. “Six minutes.” She’d begun having contractions during the drive and Gabe had timed them closely. The obstetrician on call was waiting as well as the doctor on shift. Gabe let Mike give them the rundown. Right now he was focused on Carly. She was pale and she was terrified.

“Breathe,” he murmured, rubbing her hand. “Big long exhale, darlin’. Nothing is happening for a while yet.”

“He’s right,” Dr. Denning spoke reassuringly. “We’re going to examine you first, Ms. Douglas, and put you on a fetal monitor to see what’s happening with your baby. You’re exactly where you need to be.”

“Gabe…” Dr. Denning spoke gently, but he knew what that tone meant. And as much as he wanted to be there for Carly, he wasn’t her husband, or the father of her baby, or even really family, and things were about to get quite personal.

“Don’t go.” Carly’s voice was firm. “Please, Gabe.”

“Carly, they’re going to examine you and…” He felt a blush creep up his neck. A blush, of all things. He’d seen so much more during his years as a paramedic. He’d even delivered a baby in the ambulance once. But it wasn’t the same as knowing it was Carly. And he wasn’t the father of her child. He’d given up that idea years ago.

“Later on you’ll be glad they did this privately.” He gave her a crooked smile, attempting to reassure her. “I’ll be right outside. Can I call someone for you?” As much as the words felt like cotton in his mouth, he had to ask. “Your husband?”

“No,” she replied, looking away. “Not Jason.”

Something about the cold way she said her ex-husband’s name made Gabe want to plough his fist into a wall. He gritted his teeth. “What about your mom? Your mom and dad should be here.”

Tears filled Carly’s eyes. “Yes, my mom. She’s my delivery coach.” Her lip quivered. “Delivery. This is really happening, isn’t it?”

Gabe glanced at the doctor, who nodded, and then at Carly. “Yes, it is. But you’re in the hospital and getting the best care.”

“Oh God, I’m so not ready for this, Gabe.”

“Don’t be scared.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead, closing his eyes and feeling a little afraid himself. He hated that she felt so alone. He’d heard about Jason walking out and the subsequent divorce and knew he should have found the time to catch up with her before now. To be there for her, to be the friend he should have been all along. But he hadn’t wanted to face certain things and so he’d let it slide. He’d been a complete coward.

“I’ll be out in the waiting room and Dr. Denning will come for me if you need me.”

He left so that the doctors could do their jobs, but he couldn’t forget her pale skin and how frightened her eyes were when she gripped his hand. As messed up as things were, he knew damned well that if she asked him to, he’d go through the next hours by her side.

But the request never came. Carly was moved to labor and delivery, and when her parents arrived, her mother joined her in the delivery room. Gabe and Carly’s father, David, were left in the waiting room, faces drawn as the sounds of the ward filtered through closed doors and the minutes ticked slowly past.

“You’re pacing, Gabe.”

He stopped his steps and looked at David. “I guess I am. I don’t know how fathers do this. Wait, I mean.” All he could think about was Carly, and if she was in pain, and if everything was okay with the baby. Since moving her to the ward he hadn’t been given any update at all. She was nearly to term, but with the accident…

No, he couldn’t think about that. They’d done everything right.

David smiled. “I expect it’s worse for the moms,” he remarked. “Thank you for everything you did tonight. For being there with her and for calling us.”

“I’m just glad I was behind her,” Gabe replied, looking away. David probably didn’t remember how he’d voiced the same words of gratitude as they’d paced the emergency room years ago, waiting for news of Brandon. Guilt slithered through Gabe each time he thought of that night and the part he’d played in it. David hadn’t known, but Brandon had known exactly where to place the blame—on Gabe’s shoulders. It had ended their friendship. It had ended a lot of things, and seeing the hate in Brandon’s eyes hadn’t been the worst of it. It had been looking in the mirror that had nearly destroyed him.

And now Gabe was waiting for news of Carly. He didn’t want to think of what would have happened if Carly had been all alone on that stretch of road. What might have happened if she’d gone into labor with no one there. Now that she was here at the hospital, he felt a burning anger towards the driver of the other vehicle who had been too much of a coward to stay, to do the right thing and help. If there was any small consolation in the events of the past, it was that Gabe had stayed and tried to help even knowing the consequences. He had accepted those consequences without question, even though it had meant the end of his scholarship and degree. But he had done the right thing. That small bit of knowledge had been what pulled him through afterwards and had prompted him to become a paramedic in the first place. The first responders had saved Brandon’s life that night.

“She asked Cindy to be with her, you know.” David Douglas continued speaking and Gabe pulled himself back to the present and turned his attention back to the man who’d been like a second father to him for years. “When it was clear that…” David paused, licked his lips.

“That
he
wasn’t coming back?”

“You heard, then.”

“I heard enough.” Gabe bit out the words. “Carly deserved better.”

“On that we agree,” David replied. “For God’s sake, Gabriel, sit down. You’re making me nervous.”

Half an hour later, Cindy came into the room, a victorious smile lighting up her face. “It’s a boy. A little over six pounds, and ten perfect fingers and toes. I think he has the Douglas chin.”

“And Carly?” Gabe stepped forward, clenching his fingers.

Cindy’s face softened. “She’s tired, and I think she’s going to be quite sore once everything settles.” She came over and took Gabe’s hands in hers. Her voice was rough as she kissed his cheek and said, “When I think…alone in that car, with the baby coming…”

She wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Now go. She wants to see you.”

Gabe went to the hospital room door and opened it a few inches, peeking inside. “Is it okay to come in?”

The nurse nodded. “She’s been asking for you.”

He took quiet steps towards the bed. Carly’s face had regained its color but she looked frail in the blue hospital gown and her hair was tangled and damp on the pillow. The back of the bed was raised and she smiled at him, a tired, satisfied smile as he came around the side and reached for her hand.

In Gabe’s eyes, she’d never looked so beautiful.

Carly knew she looked terrible, but this was one of those times in her life that she didn’t care. Her baby was here and he was fine. Her head pounded and her shoulder was starting to ache again, but it ceased to matter. Gabe had saved her tonight. She knew that as sure as she was breathing. She was okay and baby Nathan was okay because of him. They owed him everything.

“Gabriel…”

Saying his name did it. Hearing her own voice, the sound of it torn and frayed around the edges, toppled her over the edge. Emotions she’d held in while focusing on delivering Nathan, feelings she’d pushed aside over the last few months, came bubbling up and out now that it was over. It wasn’t supposed to be this way, she thought bitterly. She wasn’t supposed to be alone. She was tired of being strong and brave when she really wanted a shoulder to lean on—and now that she had one, it made her feel weak. She didn’t want to need anyone. Needing hurt.

She began to cry, helpless to stop it. Gabe sat on the edge of the bed and took her in his arms and nothing had ever felt so good. With Gabe she’d always been able to just be herself, and tonight he’d been there when she needed him most. It shocked her to realize she wouldn’t have wanted anyone else.

“Don’t cry, Carly. It’s all fine, you see? You’re okay and your baby is healthy. Nothing else matters. It’s all going to be okay.”

“We could have died,” she whispered between sobs. The enormity of the accident sank in and she started to shake.

“But you didn’t. You held on and you delivered a gorgeous baby boy. You did that, Carly. Just you.”

He held her for a long time while she cried herself out. Jason should have been here, she thought, and knowing he didn’t care ignited a flare of resentment. But he hadn’t wanted Nathan, not from the start. At a time when they should been growing closer as a couple, the news of her pregnancy had fractured their marriage irreparably. For months Carly had stayed strong for her baby’s sake. She’d moved back to the valley to be closer to her parents. She’d worked as a substitute teacher until the short-term contract had come her way. And not once had Jason called, asked how she was, asked about the pregnancy.

Tonight she was filled with bittersweet joy. Nathan was a blessing. She was somebody’s mother—it was almost too profound to believe. But it had cost her her marriage, and she couldn’t help feeling like something was missing because of it. Both for her and for her baby son.

And then there was Gabe. Having him here tonight had somehow reminded her of how she’d used to feel when he was around. Safe and secure, a little breathless. He’d always seen her as Brandon’s little sister, but she’d hoped, once upon a time when fairy tales still seemed possible, that he’d see something more. It had been foolish, but the night he’d stepped in and taken her to the prom she’d wondered if he would ever see her the way she saw him. She’d kissed him good night after the dance, but he’d ended it there and backed away. At the time she’d been hugely embarrassed. And yet she’d never quite managed to forget. There’d always been this little bit of “what if” hanging on. What if they’d started something that night? Would things have ended up differently?

But he hadn’t seen her in a romantic way, and life had gone on. She’d gone away to university and he’d lost his football scholarship, instead moving to Halifax to study to be a paramedic. She’d married Jason and moved to Moncton and Brandon had moved out west, effectively erasing any need for regular contact between the two families. They only crossed paths by coincidence now. Neighbours. Citizens from the same town. Contemporaries.

But tonight there was more. Tonight she was reminded of the kind of boy—the man—she’d always admired and secretly yearned for. And oh, he’d come through for her in a major way.

She sniffled and leaned back a little, moving gingerly as stiffness began to set in. “You saved us tonight, Gabe. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you.”

“It’s my job,” he said quietly, but his fingers tenderly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“You were off the clock, remember?” She smiled at him. “When I looked up and saw your face…” Her heart gave a little jump. The way he was looking at her, his dark eyes so grave and his lips unsmiling…

“I was so scared,” Gabe admitted, letting out a breath. “I saw you in that car and I froze. First time that’s happened since…”

She wondered if he was going to mention the night Brandon had nearly died, but he stopped abruptly and she wondered if the memory was still too raw. So many things had changed that night. Lives had taken new directions. “Because you knew me?” she nudged gently.

He shook his head. “I’ve known patients before. Because…I care about you.”

Something like excitement zinged through her but she blinked, clearing her mind. Of course he cared. They’d known each other for a long time. He didn’t mean anything other than that.

He held her hand within his. “I don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to you.”

She couldn’t let herself read too much into the words. “Well, it didn’t. There’s no permanent damage and I’m already on the mend.” She forced a smile.