I grabbed my cell phone out of my purse, ducking down a little in the seat, hoping he couldn't see me. Charlotte's number was three on my speed dial, after "home" and "Charlie's cell." I pushed the button and waited, but nothing happened.

"Fuck," I swore, looking at the "Searching for service" screen illuminated on my phone.

I was in the middle of nowhere. Of course there was no service. It was always iffy out here. Charlotte had called me at three-fifteen to tell me Katie's water had broken and told me to meet her there. This was only the fifth birth we'd done together, and I couldn't believe I might miss it because of some cop!

I heard his boots kicking gravel again and shoved my phone back into my purse, looking up at him as he leaned over to talk to me. "Do you know why I pulled you over, ma'am?"

"No." I shook my head, seeing him raise his eyebrows at me under his hat.

"You have a headlight out." He pointed to the front of my husband's car. I always took his car when I went to a birth, because he had to take the kids to the sitter, and the car seats were in the minivan I usually drove.

I sighed, closing my eyes in frustration. I thought it had seemed darker down here than the last time I'd traveled this road. Charlie had sworn he was going to have it fixed.

"I didn't know, officer," I insisted. "This is my husband's car."

He frowned again, his eyes narrowing just slightly. "It's registered in your name."

"Both of our cars are in my name," I explained, leaning my arm on the window. "Officer, there's a woman in labor, I really have to-"

He took off his hat, revealing dark, close-cropped hair. "Ma'am, do you realize you're driving on a suspended license?"

I stopped, staring at him, blinking fast. "No," I replied, incredulous. "That's not possible."

"Can you get out of the car, please, ma'am?" he asked, taking a step back.