Chapter 13 - The Early Labor
At three o’clock the following morning, a sharp, breathtaking cramp seized Clara’s lower abdomen, waking her from a deep sleep.
She sat on the edge of the mattress, gripping the wooden bedpost as a second wave of pressure tightened across her back.
"Papa," Clara called out, her voice clear despite the sudden spike of pain.
Viktor was at her door in three seconds, fully dressed in his boots and heavy sweater, his tactical flashlight in hand.
"My water broke," Clara said, looking down at the dark stain spreading across the rug.
"It’s three weeks early, but he’s coming."
Sophie was already on the satellite phone, alerting Dr. Weber’s emergency surgical team at St. Jude’s Hospital downtown.
"The contractions are six minutes apart," Sophie reported, grabbing the prepared hospital bag from the closet.
"We have a seventy-minute drive down the mountain if we push the speed."
Viktor carried Clara out to the reinforced SUV, wrapping her in a heavy wool blanket while Sophie took the rear seat to support her back.
"Hold on to me, Clara," Sophie whispered, rubbing her sister's hands as the engine roared to life.
"You're doing amazing. You're almost at the finish line."
The SUV sped down the winding Black Forest roads, its high-beam lights cutting through the thick mountain fog with precision.
Every bump in the gravel road sent a jolt through Clara's ribs, but she didn't bite her lip this time.
She breathed deeply, loudly, and freely, vocalizing her strength with every wave of pain that passed.
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"Let it out," Viktor said from the driver’s seat, his eyes fixed on the twisting road ahead.
"You never have to be quiet again, my girl. Let the whole world hear you."
