Their Miracle Baby (BWWM Romance Book 1)

by Shanade White

  “Having a problem?” he asked, leaning against the door frame, where he’d been standing watching her.

  “How did I manage to accumulate all this stuff? We’re in the jungle for goodness sakes.”

  “Here, let me help, it’s all in the way you pack it,” Lewis said, dumping the bag out to start over. “Are you ready to go home?”

  “Yes, I’m sure we made the right decision. You’re ready, aren’t you?”

  “I’m ready, but I think we should come back someday. If not here then somewhere else. It’s been a life-changing experience,” he said, zipping her bag up.

  “In more ways than one,” she said, looking at the ring on her finger and remembering the night they’d shared the heart.

  Lewis took her hand and kissed it where the ring rested on her finger. She pulled him over to her on the bed, knowing that their lives could be changed in another way any day now. Lewis had said to surprise him, so she’d kept it to herself that she’d stopped taking her birth control. Hopefully, in another month she’d have a surprise for him. The timing was right, if her calculations were correct.

  Later that night, when they were snuggled together in bed, Venetia noticed that Lewis felt hotter than usual. She was accustomed to his normal body heat and this felt different. Sitting up in bed, she reached over and felt his forehead, dismayed to find that he was hot. At least a degree hotter than normal.

  “You’re running a fever. Do you feel okay?” she asked, concern on her face.

  “I feel fine. It does seem a bit hot in here, but I’m always hot when I’m with you,” he said, as he pulled her under him, pushed her legs apart, hesitating only a second before sliding inside her. “It never ceases to amaze me how wonderful you feel,” he said, capturing her mouth in a fiery kiss.

  The next morning, Lewis’ temperature had risen even more and he couldn’t hide the fact that he felt it. She dressed hurriedly and ran to the medical tent, returning with a powerful fever reducer and some cool water. She got the medicine and a good bit of the water down him before he collapsed back on the bed exhausted. Venetia tried to hide her worry, but he read her like a book.

  “It’s just a virus, we’re not used to them so it’s hitting me harder. I’ll be fine, I just need to sleep,” He said, closing his eyes.

  “I’ll be back to check on you in a little while,” She said, kissing his hot forehead.

  Once she left him, she made a bee line for Ronnie’s hut hoping she’d still be there. She pounded on the door, panic taking over when she thought of all the really bad things that could be wrong with Lewis. Malaria was at the top of her list, followed by a host of other worse conditions.

  Ronnie threw open the door, her medical bag already in her hands. Then she stepped back in surprise when she saw Venetia standing there. “What’s wrong?”

  “Lewis is really sick. I’m afraid it’s malaria or something worse. His fever is really high and he can barely stay awake,” Venetia said, tears running down her cheeks.

  “You need to calm down. We have medicine for malaria in the clinic, and if we have to we can get him out of here. You know we can handle this, we’re prepared,” Ronnie said, taking her hands in hers.

  Venetia looked at Ronnie, then took a deep breath. Ronnie’s presence was calming her, allowing her to slow her mind. It would be okay, Ronnie was right, they’d successfully treated many cases of malaria since she’d been here. Taking one more breath, she collected her thoughts and pushed her panic away.

  Letting the doctor in her take over, she began to make a mental list of all the supplies she’d need. Lewis would have to remain where he was since there were still a few mother’s staying at the clinic. Only at that moment did she realize how lucky she was that Ronnie had returned just last night.

  She’d been attending another birth, this time with one of her new apprentices who’d finally gained enough knowledge to be useful. “I’m so glad you’re her,” Venetia said, stopping in her tracks, realizing that the best plan would be for her to go get the supplies while Ronnie went on to examine Lewis.

  “I’m going to go to the medical hut and get the supplies I think we’ll need. Will you go on ahead to Lewis?”

  “Of course. Good thinking. Send one of the men to me, we’re going to need a fire here and a supply of water,” Ronnie said over her shoulder already headed for Lewis.

  When she got to the center of the clearing, she spotted one of the men who went hunting with Lewis. She explained the situation and before she knew it the village was mobilized. All the equipment and supplies she wanted were taken to their hut, a fire was built, and fresh water was in place in only minutes.

  She dreaded hearing what Ronnie had to say but knew that if it was malaria, time was an important factor. The sooner they began treatment the sooner he would recover. The sight that greeted her when she entered the hut, would remain with her forever, Lewis was huddled in the bed, violent shivers racking his body.

  Although it appeared that he was freezing, rivulets of sweat were running down his face. The medicine she’d given him earlier had done nothing to combat his fever, a sure sign that he had malaria, she’d seen it before. What worried her the most was that it had come on so fast, another bad sign, she knew.

  Of all the strains of malaria, there were several very virulent ones that were devastatingly resistant to common treatments. If Lewis had one of these strains, they might not have the right drugs to treat him. Then it would be a matter of keeping him alive until a transport could bring them the right medication. The worst part was that in order to get the correct medication, Venetia was going to have to identify the strain, something she’d never been very good at.

  The look on Ronnie’s face said more than words ever could, so instead of discussing what was obvious, she started by giving Lewis an injection that would lower his fever. As his fever began to go down, the terrible shivering stopped, allowing Venetia to insert a catheter so she could give him IV fluids. Then knowing that it was probably useless, she gave him the first dose of malaria medication.

  She then took blood samples and with deep regret left Lewis with Ronnie while she ran them through the machines back at the medical hut. The results were exactly what she’d expected, with the added worry that Lewis had become anemic. She made blood smears in case she needed to use them to identify the pathogen, then hurried back to Lewis.

  When she entered the hut this time, he was sitting up in bed. Ronnie was spooning water into his mouth. He looked better, but the dark circles under his eyes spoke volumes. “Hey, you look better,” she said, sitting down on the other side of him.

  “I feel a little better. Ronnie says I’ve got malaria,” he said, searching her face for signs that he’d got it wrong.

  “Everything points to that,” she said, her voice quavering. The both knew that while often not fatal, the disease could be physically debilitating. “But it’s going to be fine,” she added, her voice stronger.

  Ronnie, knowing that they needed a few minutes alone together, stepped out of the tent. Venetia knew that she wouldn’t be far but silently thanked her for this time. Lewis could be in the throes of delirium in a short time, and she wanted to tell him about her decision to stop taking her birth control. She carefully curled up against him, pleased to find that he was much cooler than he’d been before.

  His recovery could be due to the medication or simply the devious way the fevers seemed to come and go with malaria, but whatever the cause Venetia wanted to make the most of these few minutes. But she had no idea how to introduce the subject, all her plans had centered on not telling him until she was pregnant, which she could very well be right now.

  Finally, she figured out what she wanted to say. “You’re going to have a battle on your hands, I want you to fight this with everything you’ve got and I’m going to do the same,” she said, looking up at him.

  “This is a battle I can win if I know you’ll be waiting for me at the end,” he said, through dry lips.

&nbs
p; Venetia got up and gave him a sip of water, then sat down next to him again. “You know I’ll never leave you, we’ve worked too hard building what we have.” She could tell that Lewis was getting tired so she rushed on. “But I want to give you another reason to fight. I stopped taking my birth control over a month ago. We could be pregnant right now.”

  Lewis couldn’t believe he’d heard her correctly, there was a buzzing in his ears and his head felt heavy. “I stopped taking my birth control,” she said, laughing when a big silly grin spread across his face.

  “Make love to me,” he said, sitting up higher against the pillow she’d wedged behind him.

  “Lewis, that’s ridiculous, you’re much too sick for something like that,” she said, starting to get up from the bed.

  “But, what if...” He started to voice her worst fears.

  “Don’t you even finish that sentence,” she said, sitting down on the bed and putting her fingers over his mouth.

  He sucked her fingers into his hot mouth, making her loins tighten with desire. “Lewis, stop,” she said again.

  “No, please do this for me. I want you,” he said, reaching for her.

  The doctor in her was at war with the woman who loved the man who was pleading with her to share her body once more before the disease that was currently incubating inside him took over, possibly killing him before it was over.

  Silently, she stood and took off her clothes, then pulled back the blanket that covered Lewis. He was naked underneath, it being easier to change his bedding than his clothes every time he sweated through the fevers that were a hallmark of malaria. His erection was hard and throbbing, draining what strength he had.

  Venetia climbed carefully on top of him, then sank down on his erection, burying him deep inside her. Then taking control she rode him until they both reached the climax he’d so badly wanted. Lewis had fallen asleep before she even lifted herself off of him. The last words he’d spoken a gentle assurance of how much he loved her.

  She snuggled up to him, her head on his chest and slept in his arms, knowing that the battle had just begun. Part of her felt guilty for taking advantage of him when he was so debilitated, but he’d wanted it as much as she had. The other part of her was glad that they’d shared that moment, especially if it was their last.

  She fell asleep wrapped in his arms, waking later when his fever began to spike again. Dressing, she placed a hand on her belly hoping that they’d created a life, knowing that if she lost Lewis, she’d always have their child. Sending a prayer to whoever was listening in this wilderness, she asked for Lewis’ recovery and the creation of their child. Maybe she was being greedy, but she’d earned it.

  Chapter 12

  Malaria can be a cruel disease and the form that had its grip on Lewis was especially strong. Before she knew it, he was passed the point of evacuating him. Moving him would be too much of a strain on his body. She and Ronnie agreed that this wasn’t the normal strain that they usually saw.

  Venetia took the blood slide she’d made and tried her best to identify the strain, but her microscope was just not powerful enough to give her a clear view. She’d have to find a way to get the sample back to civilization, at least a hundred miles from here. It would take time, and she felt that time was something they didn’t have a lot of.

  Packing the slide in a shatter-proof box, she went to the center of the village in search of Lewis’ friends. When she found them and explained the situation, they immediately devised a plan to get the slide down the mountain and the medicine back up. A group was quickly formed and they left the village almost immediately.

  Venetia used the satellite phone to call ahead and alert the hospital to their situation, and Venetia was introduced to the way things worked in the jungle. Later, she discovered that all along the way, people helped in the quest to save Lewis. From one village to the next, people donated vehicles, gasoline to power them, or simply prayed.

  People from surrounding villages had also learned of Lewis’ condition and arrived in droves, food in hand to pray for his recovery. The first time Venetia saw them, she was stunned to tears at the love she felt. But no amount of love could cure Lewis, only the medication could do that.

  Lewis had plummeted into a fever-induced delirium and no amount of medication could bring it down to a comfortable level. She’d been able to prevent more of that terrible shivering, but he was still senseless as his body fought the invader. Hour after hour, she bathed his face, feeding him a spoon full of water at a time, in an effort to keep his lips moist, but it was a losing battle.

  By the time the slide with Lewis’ blood sample reached the lab, the fever had ravished Lewis, sapping him of even the strength to lift his head, and Venetia knew that another round of fevers might take the last of his strength and might be more than his body could handle.

  She was becoming desperate, he was barely conscious and hadn’t spoken since the fever came down the last time. There was such a small window for his body to rest that she wanted more than anything else to give him some of her strength. But the best she could do was keep the fluids flowing and hope that he’d be able to gain some strength from that.

  Sleeping beside him had proven to be the only way she could sleep. With her hand on his heart, her head on his chest, she could be sure that he was still with her. It also allowed her to monitor his temperature without getting up. Hour by hour, she laid that way, praying that the fever would stay away.

  After two days of Lewis remaining unconscious, she began to lose hope. They’d tried all of Ronnie’s holistic treatments; some had helped Lewis to be more comfortable, but some had shown little effect. They’d heard nothing from the runners, and by now she should have heard something. Her exhaustion and despair was getting the best of her, nights of little sleep had drained her of her energy as well.

  Ronnie finally put her foot down. “You have to get some real sleep. You just can’t go on like this. I want you to go to my tent and stay there until you’ve gotten some sleep. Then I want you to eat a huge meal. You’ll feel better,” she said, pushing Venetia out of the tent.

  Venetia was exhausted, spots floating before her eyes as she stumbled to Ronnie’s hut. Some sleep was a good idea, and maybe when she woke up there would be word from the runners. She was out cold before her head hit the pillow, waking hours later, her stomach upset.

  Stumbling out of the hut, she just made it to the trees behind the hut before what little she had in her stomach came pouring out. Shocked at the violence of her sickness, she stumbled to their hut, her thoughts going to Lewis immediately. As soon as she walked in the door, Ronnie was on her feet, helping Venetia to sit on the floor.

  Her eyes went immediately to Lewis who was resting quietly, looking to Ronnie for information, her heart sank when she just shook her head no. “You don’t look any better than when I sent you out of here. Did you sleep?”

  “Yes, I’ve been asleep this whole time, but I think I’ve pushed it too hard. My stomach is all messed up,” Venetia said, getting unsteadily to her feet to sit by Lewis.

  “Let me look at you. I can’t have both of you sick,” she said, giving Venetia a quick physical exam. “Well, it’s nothing to be too worried about,” she finally said.

  “What do I have? I can’t be sick with Lewis already sick,” Venetia said, panic filling her voice.

  “Don’t worry. Your pregnant, that’s all,” Ronnie said with a big smile.

  “But, I only...it’s only been a little over a month,” Venetia stammered.

  “Well, I’d say that was long enough,” Ronnie said, patting her back. “I’ll give you a few minutes alone and then you need to eat something. I’ll put together a bag of herbs and plants for you, don’t forget your vitamins.”

  Venetia sat stunned, her hand automatically reaching for Lewis’ limp one. She had no idea if he could hear her, but she’d learned that some people could remember people talking to them when they’d appeared unconscious. She laid down beside Lewis and p
laced his hand on her belly.

  “Did you hear that? We’re going to have a baby. Our baby is growing inside me right now.” When she said it, it suddenly became real to her and tears threatened to come. Through sheer force of will, she managed to hold them back. “I need you to come back to me. I don’t want to do this on my own.” Then no longer able to control them, huge sobs came pouring out of her.

  Lewis was only dimly aware that Venetia was there with him. She felt good in his arms, but he sensed that something was wrong. He knew that he needed to get up and help her with whatever the problem was, but he just couldn’t seem to gather enough strength to get up. Finally, the effort to stay conscious was too much and he sunk back into the blackness, the feel of Venetia’s warm tears on his chest.

  The next time he surfaced, he was aware of being hot, not the searing heat he remembered, but nonetheless it was uncomfortable. His exhaustion still prevented him from opening his eyes, but this time he knew that Venetia was there, wiping his forehead with a cool cloth and whispering endearments in his ear.

  He dreaded another round of the shivers and burning fever, but knew that was the progression of the disease if left untreated. He had no idea how long he’d been out, but it felt as if a lot of time had passed. As he felt the first spike of his fever, he managed to grip Venetia’s hand and squeeze.

  Venetia’s breath whooshed out of her in a big gush, she hadn’t imagined it. Lewis had squeezed her hand. Hope sprang to life in her heart; any sign of life was a positive thing, something to keep her going. But, in the next minute, she saw the sweat break out on his forehead and hoped that he wasn’t saying goodbye to her.

  She was applying cold compresses to as many places as she could when Ronnie came through the door a huge smile on her face. “The medicine is on its way. They’re sending it on a drone, which will be here in the morning. They didn’t want to tell us until they were sure it would work, but help is on the way.”