Chapter 2 - THE MAN WHO SAID HER NAME
Emma remembered very little about being pulled into the helicopter.
Hands.
Blankets.
Someone shouting blood-pressure numbers.
A medic cutting open one sleeve of her white coat.
The baby’s heartbeat coming through a portable monitor.
Fast.
Alive.
Emma cried when she heard it.
Then the silver-haired rescuer knelt beside her.
His gloves were covered in snow.
There was blood on one knuckle from where the rescue cable had burned through fabric.
Emma whispered:
“My husband…”
“We’ll deal with him.”
“He pushed me.”
The man froze.
“Michael pushed you?”
Emma looked at him.
She had never told him Michael’s name.
Before she could ask, the colonel leaned closer.
“Emma.”
Her fear sharpened.
“How do you know my name?”
His face collapsed.
Not surprise.
Pain.
Twenty-nine years of it.
“Emma Claire Walker.”
Nobody used that name anymore.
Not since she married Michael.
She tried to sit up.
“Who are you?”
A medic stopped her.
“Ma’am, stay down.”
Emma stared at the colonel.
He removed one glove.
His hand trembled.
“Colonel Nathan Hayes.”
The name meant nothing.
But the way he said hers meant everything.
“You know me?”
Hayes looked away.
“I know who you are.”
“How?”
His eyes filled.
Then Emma cried out.
A contraction tore through her.
The medical team moved instantly.
Hayes stepped back.
“Contractions two minutes apart!”
Emma grabbed his wrist.
“Don’t leave.”
Something broke in his face.
“I won’t.”
The helicopter landed at St. Catherine Regional Medical Center nineteen minutes later.
Emma was rushed toward obstetrics.
Hayes followed until hospital security stopped him.
“Family only.”
He stood motionless.
Family.
The word visibly hurt him.
Before the doors closed, Emma shouted:
“Colonel!”
Hayes stepped forward.
“Why do you know me?”
He looked at her.
Then said:
“Because I’ve been looking for you.”
The doors closed.
Emma went into emergency delivery forty-six minutes later.
Her son was born early, small, bruised from the violent trauma but breathing.
She named him Noah.
May you like
Michael did not arrive.
He was already telling police Emma had slipped.
