Family Be Mine by Tracy Kelleher

Julie’s voice was chilling.
    Sarah looked into her friend’s eyes and was shocked to see how serious she was. She had known Julie for all the time she had lived in Grantham, roughly four years. In many ways she knew her intimately—what she thought of their various colleagues, her favorite ice cream, and her nervous habit of twiddling a lock of hair around her index finger when she was reading. But this was different, and even though she had no proof, she was sure that Julie’s dire warnings rose out of something deeply personal.
    â€œOkay, I grant you that there might be a remote possibility that I could faint when driving, but in all seriousness, what do you intend for me to do about it?” Sarah asked.
    Julie put her hands together as in prayer. “Please, for a smart woman you can be so dense!” She spread her arms apart in exasperation. “How do I say this? I’ve never lost a patient in labor, but I’ve had two die driving to the hospital. I don’t want the same thing happening to you before you even get that far. In two words, stop driving.” She glowered at Sarah.
    â€œStop driving! I can’t possibly give up driving,”Sarah protested. “Almost a third of my patients are postoperative home visits.”
    â€œThen you’ll have to give them up.” Julie crossed her arms in front of her chest.
    â€œBut I can’t just give them up! It’s my job! For a smart woman, you can be so dense. Do I need to remind you that I need to support myself and my unborn child?”
    â€œThen you’ll just have to get someone to drive you,” Katarina said, shaking her head.
    â€œHello, I can’t afford a limousine service.” Sarah’s voice rose. “Not unless I want to give up little things like food and utilities.”
    â€œI suppose there’s always Zach, dear,” Penny said tentatively, referring to Sarah’s ex-fiancé.
    Sarah looked at her aghast.
    Penny stood her ground. “Don’t look at me that way. After all, he was intimately involved in making the baby, or so you said.”
    â€œWho’s Zach?” Hunt asked Lena quietly.
    â€œYou mustn’t mention the name Zach.” Lena covered her mouth with her hand. Even so, her powerful voice penetrated across the room.
    Sarah blew out her breath loudly. “Mother, if I said Zach was the biological father, then Zach was the biological father. I do not sleep around!”
    Penny covered her mouth.
    â€œSecondly—” Sarah was not done, no, sirree “—under no circumstances will I contact Zach, and that’s final.”
    â€œI don’t get it.” Hunt took a thoughtful sip of wine, finishing off the glass. “If this guy is the father, why doesn’t she call him?” he asked Katarina.
    â€œIt’s complicated,” Katarina explained under her breath. “I’ll tell you later.”
    â€œThen you’ll just have to find someone else to help out,” Julie said, bringing the conversation back to the issue at hand. “I would gladly let you move in with me, but my hours aren’t remotely compatible with yours, and I just don’t have the flexibility to drive you when you need to see patients.”
    â€œAnd we live out in the boonies,” Katarina said. “You couldn’t even walk anywhere.”
    â€œYou are more than welcome to stay with me,” Lena offered. “At least my house is within walking distance of the hospital and your office. And I suppose I could always rearrange my volunteering schedule and classes, and…oh, yes…my tennis games until the baby comes.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous,” Sarah protested. “That would be much too much of an inconvenience.” Besides, she had seen the way Lena drove. Talk about risking life and limb on a daily basis. She held up her hands to try to establish some order. “Listen, everybody, really,