Country Secrets

by Caz May

  At her suggestion I have to laugh because she’s right, "That sounds more than perfect."

  Her response is a kiss, a perfect kiss that makes my heart melt.

  I’m absolutely hopelessly in love with her and I’m sure things will turn out just perfect.

  (53) Savannah

  It’s a been about a month since Hunter had proposed and we'd spent the perfect first night together. We've barely left his bedroom since, content to lie naked in each other's arms, but a thought keeps popping up in the back of my mind; a question of how we could continually be able to have non interrupted hot sex and the thought that goes along with that is it’s has not been weeks but months since I've had that monthly visitor.

  Sitting now at the kitchen table clutching my coffee, a sudden urge to vomit rises in my throat.

  Swallowing it down, I gag at the taste it left in my mouth.

  Hunter is at the stove, cooking his mean bacon and eggs.

  “Baby are you ok?"

  "Yeah just choking on my coffee,” I reply, not meeting his intent gaze on me. He turns back to the stove but I can feel the tension in the air, like he doesn't believe me for a second and when he places the plate of bacon and eggs on the table in front of me I can't fight it.

  The sick feeling this time starts in the pit of my stomach, the moment the smell of the egg hits my nose, rising up in my chest I can feel it in my oesophagus and in my mouth.

  Swallowing it this time isn't going to happen so smashing the coffee cup down on the table I clap a hand to my mouth and bolt down the hallway to the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.

  Clutching the cold porcelain of the toilet bowl I feel as though I’ve literally puked my guts out. It isn't very ladylike to say as much but it’s the truth.

  I hear Hunter knocking on the door. “Baby are you sure your ok?"

  "I'm fine,” I screech back, not wanting him to come in and see me looking like I've been dragged through the bush backwards.

  Of course being the caring protective type he doesn't listen, opening the door slowly and rushing to my side to hold my hair back as I retch again.

  Coffee certainly doesn't taste so nice coming back up.

  Brushing my cheek with his fingers he says softly, "You're not fine baby."

  Not responding I stand up, pushing him aside as I flush the toilet and proceed to wash my hands in the sink.

  "Savannah please don't push me away."

  I tilt my head under the tap, gulping down a stream of water, swallowing it hard to get rid of the god awful taste in my mouth.

  Hunter is standing behind me when I look up at him, with his hands on his hips.

  The look on his face is worry, but also like he wants to say something but doesn't know what.

  "I'm fine. Probably just a bug,” I say reassuringly, knowing exactly what he’s thinking, because I’m thinking the exact same thing and that can't be possible.

  “Baby," he starts stepping closer to me, "your not pregnant are you?"

  His eyes light up at the possibility of his statement and my heart constricts when I speak, "You and me both know that's not possible Hunter."

  He pulls me into a hug, rubbing his hands up and down my back in comfort.

  The tears are stinging my eyes and he pulls back from the hug, kissing my forehead.

  “Please don't cry Savannah."

  "But Hunter you obviously want a family..and I can't give that to you,” I sob.

  “Yes, I'd love a family Savannah but you know there are many ways to have a family these days. All I really want is you."

  "You say that now, but what if I can't..if I have another miscarriage,” I plead with him, desperate for him to see it from my perspective.

  He again hugs me and I bury my face against his chest, listening to the pounding of his heartbeat when he places a kiss on my hair.

  "Don't give up on the possibility of trying IUI again because your scared of the worst,” He says sternly.

  My words are muffled, "I'm not scared to try. I'm scared that you won't love me anymore when it doesn’t work or I lose the baby.”

  "Sorry, but that's not even possible,” he promises.

  He kisses my cheek then and I love the giddy feeling that always gives me.

  I don't deserve him.

  Just as before the sick feeling is rising up in my chest and instinctively I pull away from Hunter, only just reaching the toilet bowl to vomit again.

  This is some crazy bug.

  He has again come to stand behind me and hold my hair back.

  "I'm taking you to the hospital."

  I shake my head in protest. “I’m fine Hunter."

  "You're not fine Savannah. I'm not going to take that for an answer."

  There’s no point arguing with him, as he’s right that I need to see a doctor.

  Helping me up he takes my hand, to lead me out to get dressed.

  In the bedroom I tug my too big track pants on, touching my stomach as I catch sight of my body in the mirror. I’m getting fat, so bloated.

  "Ready?" Hunter asks, a frown crossing his face when he looks at me and the expression on my face as I check my appearance in the mirror.

  "Do I look fat?" I ask.

  "No, you look beautiful,” He says smiling.

  He takes my hand and leads me outside to the Ute.

  Once out on the open road into town, I wind my window down to practically suck in the fresh air to quell the nausea in my stomach. Hunter has never looked so worried and he reaches across to touch my thigh in comfort.

  “Do you want me to pull over baby?”

  “No, I’m ok. The fresh air is helping.”

  We drive the rest of the way to the hospital in silence, me clutching my stomach wondering just maybe.

  ~ ~

  The nausea has subsided on the drive from the farm as I practically sucked in the spring air but walking into the hospital the overwhelming smell of bleach comes at me full force. I vomit into the rubbish bin by the door.

  Hunter has raced up to the nurses to get me in as soon as possible.

  Wiping my hand across my face I step up behind him, and he draws me to his side with his hand on the small of my back.

  The nurse speaks loudly, "I understand Mr Mackenney, but you're not her emergency contact."

  "But we're engaged,” He protests, a hint of anger in his tone.

  Patronisingly the nurse replies, "Congratulations, Mr Mackenney but the answer to can you go in with her is no."

  He looks down at me plastered against his side. He’s clearly pissed off with the nurse.

  "I'll be ok Hunter."

  "I know but I just want to make sure that's all."

  He brushes his fingers across my cheek and kisses my forehead.

  The nurse is furiously tapping her fingers on the keyboard and her tone when she speaks again is stern, "Take a seat Ms Galison. Doctor Yorke shouldn't be too long."

  Great, just the doctor I want to see, Doctor Addison Yorke, snotty ex-girlfriend of my now fiancé

  Why does she have to be fucking doctor on duty?

  Hunter is sitting next to me, his elbows resting on his knees. He seems so worried and it tugs at my heart, to know how much he cares about me, how much he loves me.

  Pressing a kiss to his cheek I say softly, "I'll be fine Hunter. She's a good doctor and knows my history."

  "I know baby. I just don't like seeing you in pain."

  I have no words to say to his response. He’s so amazing, so different to Dante, who'd gotten off on seeing me in pain.

  "And baby I'm sick of being in this place."

  That I can agree to, "Yeah me too."

  He sighs, pulling me closer to him with an arm around my shoulder.

  The air in the room suddenly feels thick with tension, the click clack of high heels on the hard floor coming closer.

  Doctor Yorke is standing right in front of me and she looks at Hunter first, then at me, her gaze stopping to focus on the sparkle of my engage
ment ring.

  I swear I actually see her heart constrict in pain, probably thinking it should have been on her hand instead.

  Letting out an exasperated breath, she says, "Follow me please Ms Galison."

  Hunter kisses my hand as I stand up to follow Doctor Yorke to the examination bays. Pulling the curtain across she directs me to sit up on the bed and gets straight to the point.

  "So Ms Galison, you're in today for severe vomiting, correct?"

  "Yes."

  "When was the last time you vomited?"

  "About twenty minutes ago when I got here."

  "Ok and any other symptoms?"

  "I've been really tired and irritable."

  She only says, 'hmmm' like she’s thinking of her next question.

  "Do you think it's some gastro bug?"

  “No...I..." She says hesitating and flipping through the notes on her clipboard chart from my previous hospital stays.

  "Ms Galison, have you had another period since your miscarriage?"

  I gulp, swallowing hard as I try to comprehend what she’s saying.

  "No, I haven't."

  She looks at me with pain in her eyes, a tear stinging the corners. She’s obviously still in love with Hunter because her professional stance appears to be waning.

  "And since your last hospital stay, I'm sorry if this is difficult..." she gulps and continues, softer in tone, "have you been sexually active?"

  Her eyes lock on the engagement ring as she says the words.

  I blush. "Yes, I have."

  "Um...Ms Galison…is it possible you're pregnant?"

  I shake my head. “I don't think so. I had to do IUI to get pregnant last time."

  I can't decipher the look on her face and I’m suddenly worried that if I’m pregnant that it’s Dante’s, not Hunter's and that the poor child will look like Dante.

  That would damn near kill me.

  Doctor Yorke lets out a little chuckle. “It can be easier to get pregnant a second time, even after infertility."

  "Really?" I ask intrigued.

  "Yes, so I'd like you take a urine test and then if needed we will do a blood test and ultrasound."

  "Um ok."

  She turns behind her to the supply trolley and hands me a specimen jar.

  "You know where the bathroom is. Bring it back here when you're done."

  I ease myself off the bed and head for the bathroom.

  Peeing into a tiny jar when you don't really need to go is quite a challenge but I manage to half fill the jar.

  Washing my hands at the sink, I check my appearance in the mirror, trying to spread a smile across my face, ready to find out if the impossible is possible.

  Back in the examination bay I sit back on the bed, too scared to watch as Doctor Yorke unscrews the specimen jar lid, filling the pipette to drop three drops of urine on the cassette pregnancy test.

  Placing it down on the supply trolley the fluid runs across the window and I have to look then, as two clear pink lines become visible.

  My heart practically falls out of my chest in shock.

  I’m Pregnant. I'm actually PREGNANT!

  “Well, Ms Galison, I guess congratulations is in order."

  I’m speechless.

  Literally there are no words and her saying congratulations like she actually means it is rather odd. Maybe she does actually have a heart.

  "So I'd like to do a blood test to see how far along you are and then we can organise an ultrasound when the blood results come back."

  Her words are going in one ear and out the other. I’m absolutely giddy.

  "Um..sorry..I just..can't believe it."

  “Hmm...yeah," she says, a hint of pain in her voice.

  "Um Addison?" I say trying to appeal to her as a friend and not my doctor

  “Yeah?"

  "I'm sorry."

  "For what?"

  I touch my ring instinctively.

  "For taking Hunter away from you."

  She laughs. “You didn't take him away. He fell in love with you."

  "Yeah but...I know you love him."

  "Yeah I do...but I can't give him what you can."

  Her words show genuine pain and I don't want to push things further when she already seems so on edge, not only finding out we are engaged but that I’m also pregnant.

  "Please don't tell him yet,” I plead to her.

  “Sorry...you don't want him to know?"

  "I want to tell him please?"

  She nods. “I know. So are you ok with blood tests?"

  "No but I'll suck it up."

  She laughs, preparing the needle and vial for the blood test. She’s methodical in her work as she lifts my sleeve up my arm, rubbing a cotton ball over it with rubbing alcohol on it in preparation. I turn away as she presses the needle into my vein, verbally hissing at the pin prick sensation. It’s over as quickly as it started.

  "So I'll send this to the lab and we should have the result in a day or so."

  "Ok..um how far along do you think I might be? And the sickness?"

  She places a hand on mine.

  "Without the blood results I really can't say but maybe four or five weeks. I think you may be suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum."

  "What?" I spit confused at the medical jargon.

  "Severe morning sickness. Just see how you go the next couple of days. Keep your fluids up and try to eat if you can."

  "Ok but what do I tell Hunter?"

  "That you're pregnant. He'll be over the moon."

  She hands me another pregnancy test. “Use this at home."

  "Thank you Addison."

  "No worries. I'm just doing my job."

  I hop off the bed and I’m about to leave when she says softly, "Congratulations for the engagement too Savannah. You're really lucky to be marrying Hunter."

  “Thanks," is all I can manage to say and maybe it’s the pregnancy hormones but I feel a pang of guilt for making her so upset.

  She leads me back out to the waiting room to a panic stricken Hunter.

  "Are you ok?"

  "Better than ok. I'll tell you later."

  He looks at Addison with worry on his face.

  "Addison?" He asks.

  "She's fine Hunter. Just a stomach bug. Plenty of fluids and rest."

  Hunter says thanks to her, not noticing the wink and nod she sends my way as I walk out of the hospital clutching Hunter's hand in mine.

  I push my hand in my pocket checking to make sure the other pregnancy test is still in there.

  I have the most perfect idea about how to tell Hunter the news and I can't help but smile just thinking about how he’s going to react.

  (54) Hunter

  Savannah is a little distant on the way back to the farm, even though her nausea has subsided a little, she still has the window down to breathe in the fresh air.

  Her silence is getting to me, especially as she has a ridiculously cute grin on her face and I can't help but look at her.

  "Baby what are you smiling about?" I ask her, hoping to get her to talk.

  "Nothing. I'm just happy to have you in my life."

  "Me too baby."

  Her answer doesn't exactly make me feel any better as there’s definitely something she isn't telling me.

  "Was Addison at least nice to you?"

  "Yeah, she was actually. Too nice."

  I touch her thigh, leaving my hand resting on it when I ask, "What do you mean too nice?"

  "She was just really friendly, and even congratulated me on being engaged to you."

  I have to laugh at that, because I thought Addison would have been a complete bitch about it. It’s no secret she still loves me.

  "Well, you're pretty lucky to be engaged to me, right?” I tease.

  "Thats what she said.”

  Savannah laughs softly. “And yes I am lucky."

  I smile wide at her, and she smiles back even wider, before licking her lips.

  Seeing her teasing gesture I
've never been more glad to be back at the farm.

  "Just you wait until we get inside, teasing me like that,” I taunt, smirking at her.

  She giggles, as I jump out to open the gate before driving in.

  As soon as we stop she jumps out and races to shut the gate.

  The crazy happiness that has taken her over is endearing, but she’s definitely hiding something.

  I don't dare think of the possibility that she really is pregnant.

  After closing the gate, she comes running at me to hug me tightly. Pulling her close to my chest, I kiss her hair and whisper in her ear, "I love you Savannah, so much."

  She looks up at me, still with her arms wrapped around my back.

  “I love you to Hunter. And I need to tell you..."

  She pulls back suddenly to run inside. I don't even have a moment to catch her hand and pull her back. I have a feeling I know what she’s going to say, but the conversation we had before heading to the hospital is tumbling in my head and I don't want to think that it could really be possible.

  ~ ~

  When I follow her inside she has disappeared, as has Blitz. I don't want to bother her as I’m feeling really confused about how to react after she seemed so unwell one minute and then insanely happy the next minute.

  She also isn’t throwing up anymore and it doesn't make any sense.

  I’ve started to fix myself a coffee, opening the fridge to grab the milk, dropping it on the floor when Blitz comes tearing into the kitchen with a long white item in his mouth, between his teeth.

  I ruffle his head fur, speaking to him, "Hey buddy what have you got there?"

  He drops it on the floor in front of me, and my heart leaps in my chest.

  Picking it up I can't help but let out an excited yelp.

  It’s a positive pregnancy test.

  "Savannah?" I call out, "Savannah, get in here!"

  I’m still clutching the pregnancy test in my fist, when she saunters into the kitchen, the grin still plastered on her face when she speaks, "Yes Hunter?"

  "Is this real? Did you just take this?" I say, waving the pregnancy test at her.

  She nods. "Yes, I did. I'm pregnant Hunter."

  I drop the test and race over to her, pulling her into a hug, honestly not knowing what to say.

  I’m absolutely over the moon excited. Pulling back from her I kiss her forehead.