Chapter 31 - the mother who arrived too late
The first warning came on an ordinary Tuesday morning.
Claire was standing in the pavilion's main corridor when she noticed a young woman sitting alone near the emergency entrance.
The woman looked exhausted.
She was holding a newborn baby against her chest.
Claire would normally have walked past with a quiet greeting.
Instead, something about the woman's expression stopped her.
It was the look Claire remembered from years ago.
Fear mixed with disbelief.
Claire approached.
"Are you okay?"
The woman looked up.
"Are you Claire Sterling?"
"Yes."
The woman tightened her arms around the baby.
"My name is Elena."
Claire sat beside her.
"What happened?"
Elena looked toward the maternity ward.
"My daughter was born three days ago."
Claire smiled softly.
"Congratulations."
Elena didn't smile back.
"I almost lost her."
Claire's expression changed.
"Why?"
Elena explained that she had gone into labor at another hospital.
She had been told the hospital was full.
She was transferred twice.
By the time she reached the pavilion, the baby's heart rate had already dropped dangerously.
The doctors had saved the baby.
But Elena had arrived twenty minutes later than she should have.
Claire felt a familiar heaviness in her chest.
"Why didn't the other hospital transfer you immediately?"
"They said they were waiting for authorization."
Claire's jaw tightened.
"Authorization from whom?"
Elena shook her head.
"I don't know."
Claire looked at the sleeping newborn.
"What is her name?"
"Amelia."
Claire smiled.
"She's beautiful."
Elena finally smiled.
"She is."
Claire stood.
"I'll look into what happened."
Elena caught her hand.
"Please."
Claire nodded.
"I promise."
That afternoon, Claire called Elaine.
"I want every transfer record from the last twelve months."
Elaine frowned.
"All of them?"
"All."
"Are you expecting another problem?"
Claire looked through the glass toward the maternity wing.
May you like
"I think we have one."
And this time, Claire wasn't willing to wait until someone almost died before admitting it.
