“Libby, you are impossible. Can you not do anything your told?” He moves my hair from my face. I try to move from the floor and his arms, but he’s having none of it.
“I believe I’m quite stubborn.”
“Yes you are. Alex is going to have his work cut out with you. How is the pain now?”
“Truthfully?” He nods. “Unbearable. I’m struggling to hold it together. That’s why I asked for mainly James to leave.”
“This has to be more than you slipping.”
“Well in that case, it’s the hangover from hell, kicking in.” I feel my whole body tense as I speak. Even I know this isn’t some hangover. And it has to be more than over working as well.
“Karl . . . I’m going to be sick . . .” He looks around the office and grabs the waste bin. Karl helps me to my side and just as Alex enters the office, I throw up.
“Shit! Libby . . .” Alex is at my side. “How long has she been like this?” he asks Karl. Em hello I’m here, I can speak for myself.
“Not long, a few minutes or so. But she did faint, that’s why we’re on the floor.”
“Right Libby, I’m taking you to hospital,” Alex tells me.
“All I want to do is go home,” I whine at him.
“Not a hope of that happening. Karl can you help me get her onto her feet.”
“Argh . . .” I cry out as I move to my feet. Alex is worried, I can see in his face. His eyes are a dead giveaway. I’m standing, although I really want to be lying back down. The pain is way past the stage of being bearable. The tears run down my face and I can’t stop them. There is no way I’m leaving the office like this. I need to pull myself together.
“I’m going to pick you up and carry you. There’s no way you can walk out to the car. Murphy is waiting at the main door.”
“Alex, please let me walk.”
“You are struggling just now, with just a few steps. No way. I’m carrying you. It’s not up for discussion.” Karl grins at Alex’s determined and forceful tone.
I try to prove my point, that I can walk on my own. But I don’t manage even two steps before the dizziness takes over and darkness overtakes me again.
DRAWING IN A DEEP BREATH, I breathe in a very familiar smell. Manly, rich, Alex is with me. Opening my eyes I take in my surroundings, and I’m not liking what I’m seeing. Clean, white, sterile—I can’t believe I’m in hospital. I wanted go home. I squeeze Alex’s hand which is in mine. He lifts his head and his dark brown eyes meet mine. A flash of emotions show on his face.
“Libby, glad to see your back with me. I’ll go and get the doctor.”
“Give it a minute. Please,” I plead with him. “How long have I been here?”
“Not long. How do you feel?”
I take a minute to think about his question. My head is still sore and when I try to move, the pain strikes again.
“Much the same.”
“Time for the doctor.” He places a kiss on my head.
“Promise me you’ll be back,” I say with a shaky voice, that I hardly recognise. He stops at the door.
“Of course I will be back, where else would I be?”
Leaving me alone with my thoughts. I hate hospitals. I want to be home, in my own bed. With Alex’s arms wrapped around me keeping me safe.
Alex enters with the doctor and a nurse, who both have lots of questions to ask. I try and answer them all, but all I want to do is close my eyes. They’re heavy and I’m struggling to keep them open. The doctor leaves Alex and me alone after running some routine tests. Blood tests, urine tests. I’ve been poked at and prodded at. I have a drip pushing fluids through. You would think I would be used to this? Second time in as many months, in the hospital. The pain is easing off only slightly; I trust that will be whatever pain medication the good doctor has given me.
“Close your eyes if you want. Do you want me to let your parents know?”
“If you want. All my mum will do is rush here.”
“I will call them shortly then,” he tells me.
My eyes close and I feel myself drifting off.
“Libby. Libby sweetheart wake up. The doctor wants to speak with you,” Alex’s soft voice brings me back from my sleep. I open my eyes slowly, adjusting to the bright room. Alex is still sitting beside me, holding my hand, as the doctor stands at the end of the bed.
“Miss Stewart,” the doctor says with a smile. “I want to go over some of the results from your tests. Alex squeezes my hand, offering me his support. “I gather from speaking with Mr. Mathews, you've been having a few of these dizzy spells for a few days.” I nod slowly. “Mr. Mathews also tells me you’ve been, overdoing it at work.” Again I can only nod. I can see Alex taking great pleasure later in telling me, ‘he told me so.’
“I’m just tired,” I tell the doctor.
“No Miss Stewart, it’s more than that.”
I look to Alex as I feel myself start to panic. My breathing changes pace. He lifts my hand and places a soft kiss in the middle of it. Reassuring me.
“Miss Stewart, congratulations you’re pregnant,” the doctor tells me. I sink into the bed at his words. I can’t possibly be, it’s impossible. I feel my heart rate quicken.
I look at Alex, and I’m sure his face is a mirror of my own. Total shock.
“I can’t be. It’s impossible. I can’t be,” I say with urgency, thinking of the shot I get.
“Miss Stewart, I understand this may come as a surprise,” the doctor says.
“I can’t be, I’m up-to-date with my injection and I’m due to get it again in two weeks. So I’m sorry doctor, you must be mistaken.”
“Miss Stewart, I need you to calm down a little. Please take a deep breath. And I’m not mistaken, you are pregnant. There can be many factors that would mean your injection would stop working. Stress is a big factor and reading your notes, you’ve had a bit of a stressful time this year. The high dosage of antibiotics you were given for the infection in your back can cancel out the birth control you are on.”
“Should Libby not have been informed about this at the time?” Alex questions the doctor in a raised voice.
“Mr. Mathews.”
“Don’t. This is something that should have been pointed out at the time, not now.”
I can’t breathe. I don’t want to hear this. I can’t be pregnant; I gasp and let the tears fall. You stupid, stupid girl.
“I can’t be. I just can’t be.”
“Libby.” It’s the first Alex has spoken to me and his voice is soft and full of warmth. “If the doctor here says you’re having baby, then please take his word for it. It will be fine.”
“Miss Stewart, I am still a little concerned.” Alex moves from his seat, and sits beside me on the bed wrapping his arms around me. “I want to have a scan done, just to check, you’ve had a couple of falls tonight and I want to make sure everything is okay. Now as for the dizziness, that should be the last you have of that, as long as you take care of yourself. We will get you started on the vitamins and iron tablets your body needs. Do either of you have any questions before I go and organise a scan.”
“Yes,” I say. “When I slipped earlier, I didn’t fall as such, but I know I twisted a little awkwardly trying to stop myself falling. Could I have . . . And last night I was so drunk. I know you’re not supposed to drink while pregnant.”
“Miss Stewart, let’s get you scanned first and then we can talk. I’m certain you've done a bit of muscle damage from your fall. As for everything else, let’s take it one step at a time. I will be back shortly,” he says before leaving us alone.
I turn to Alex, who seems to be taking the news much better than I am. I have all sorts of things running through my head, from any damage my shot could’ve done and if my fall has done . . . I can’t let my mind wander in that direction. I don’t know what to say to Alex, I’m speechless. I’m worried. This is a lot to take in.
I close my eyes because I feel tears building. I won’t believe I’m really
pregnant until I see it for myself.
“Baby, open your eyes. Speak to me. What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“I don’t know,” I tell him, lifting my eyes to meet his. “I can’t be pregnant.”
“Would it be such a bad thing if you are?” he asks, sounding hopeful. Alex hasn’t hid the fact that he would love children.
“I don’t know. I just don’t know.” And the dam bursts. I know it’s not the worst thing in the world that can happen. Alex keeps hold of me and comforts me. I have to be so selfish, here’s me trying to handle my own feelings and fears, and I haven’t even asked Alex how he feels about the news. I sob as he holds me, cradling me in his arms.
“Libby, you will need to try and calm down. You’re getting yourself into a state. Look at me.” He shifts on the bed until he is sitting facing me. He tilts my chin, making me look at him. There’s a whole mix of emotions on his face as I try to bring my sobbing to a stop. “Talk to me?” he pleads with me.
“I don’t know what to say. This was the last thing I expected to hear tonight. I suppose I’m in shock. How about you? How do you feel?”
“Libby, all I want is your happiness and your love, anything else is an added bonus. But this is a bonus I never thought I would have. I’m happy, but I need you to be happy too.” His mouth meets mine with softness, I respond quickly. I need him to know how much I love him, even though I’m just overwhelmed with today’s event.
He pulls away slowly, almost painfully. “Libby, we’re ready for this. I know we are. I don’t want you worrying and overthinking this. You are going to be a brilliant mum, I don’t doubt that, even for a second. But you must be aware, you don’t get an option now for the wedding. We are getting married on the thirtieth of January. I know you have to have this happen in the correct order, you’ve already told me that. Wedding before baby.”
“Yes we are.” I smile. “I already decided today. It’s in the diary at the hotel. You can contact Father O’Connor tomorrow. The date was free and I thought why not.”
He kisses me hard, taking my breath away. “Are you serious? You already made the decision before finding this news out?” he asks.
“Yes, as long as it can be organised within the next few weeks, and it doesn't have any effect on your brother’s wedding. Then yes I want nothing more than to become Mrs. Mathews.”
“I fricken, love you. Don’t ever doubt how much. ”
“I don’t doubt it, at the moment my only doubts are about me.”
“Look, try not worry. We’ll let the doctor scan you and then take it one step at a time. As long as we’re together, we can face anything.”
Just as Alex finishes saying that the doctor comes in and tells us we will be taken for a scan. Now I feel a bit nervous.
We find ourselves in an ultra sound room. My pain relief is starting to wear off and I’m uncomfortable again. But I’m maybe not as uncomfortable as Alex. Poor Alex he turned as white as a sheet when the doctor said I would need an internal scan. The look on his face was priceless.
“Miss Stewart, I know it’s hard but try and relax. This will give us an indication of how far along you are, even if you are really early in this pregnancy. We will be able to see baby’s heartbeat. Now if you’re ready we can do this ultrasound and see just at what stage you’re at,” the doctor says.
I brace myself for whatever I’m about to find out. Alex sits at my side holding my hand, anxiously. I let out a shaky breath.
I stare at the monitor to my side, trying to shift my focus from what the doctor is doing. I’m not sure if I’m uncomfortable from the internal scan, or because I can see Alex’s reaction to it. I watch the flickering on the screen.
“Okay Miss Stewart, Mr. Mathews, let me just enlarge the picture on the screen for you both and I will explain.”
I wish he would hurry up.
“Now here we have baby and everything looks perfect at this stage. But you are early on in the pregnancy.”
“How far along am I?” I ask wondering when this has happened.
“Going with sizes, I would say about six or seven weeks.” The doctor smiles. Alex squeezes my hand a little, acknowledging his words. My thoughts drift to New York that was six, seven weeks ago. “Now I gather from your initial reaction to the pregnancy, Miss Stewart, this was a surprise?” I nod. “Now is it a good surprise?” Again I can only nod. It is, it will just take a bit of getting used to, that I’m going to be a mum. “Well, it is a night for surprises. Miss Stewart, so you can see clearly baby’s strong heartbeat here and as I’ve said, at that stage it looks perfect. Now if we move slightly . . .”
I focus on the screen and the doctor’s words trail off. I see it instantly.
Shit! Not what I was expecting.
The doctor smiles at me knowing I’ve got it. Alex looks between both of us. “Could one of you explain?” Alex asks.
“Miss Stewart would you like to do the honours?”
“Well Alex, it would seem we have more than one baby to look forward to. We’re having two, at least I hope it’s just two and not anymore.”
“No Miss Stewart, just two. I’m pleased to tell you, you’re having twins.”
I look at Alex, who seems a little lost for words. He is sitting staring blankly into space. The doctor leaves so I can fix myself.
“Alex, can you help me please? I’m still a bit too sore to do this on my own.”
“Yes baby, of course.” He manages to help, on auto pilot, not managing to put two words together. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Alex look so shell-shocked. It really is quite funny. I know I shouldn’t laugh, and I try really hard not to.
“Alex. Can I speak to you before the doctor comes back in?”
“Of course.”
“Are you okay? Are you happy?”
“Baby. I’m more than okay. Of course I’m happy.” He kisses me softly on the lips. “I have a million things running through my mind. I can’t believe we’re having twins. You’re giving me not one precious gift, but two. It’s a lot to take in, but I can’t wait to tell the world.”
“Hold it right there, buster. You do realise twins run in the family,” I say smugly. “It’s still really early to be broadcasting it to the world. I still need time to get my head round the idea. So I would rather keep it to ourselves for a bit.”
“That might be a bit hard . . .” He softly says.
“Why?”
“Because our parents are all on their way here. I called them whilst you were sleeping. We will need to tell them something, to stop them worrying.”
We are taken back to the accident and emergency, where I was first seen. The doctor that saw me earlier wants to go over a few things with me.
“Miss Stewart, Mr. Mathews, congratulations on your news. Twins, double the trouble. I should tell you, your family is in the waiting room. I will let them see you soon. Okay, you have damaged the muscle when you fell. I can give you some medication for that to help with the pain. It should start to ease off in a few days. I will also have a prescription for vitamins for you. I need you to eat normally, none of this eating for two, or in your case three.” He smiles warmly at me. “I don’t believe in it. Have you had any sickness?”
“Only today and I had put that down to a hangover.”
“There will be no more alcohol for you. The consultant will be in touch about your pregnancy care. I have no reason to keep you here tonight, so you are free to go home. But any problems in the next twenty-four hours I want you to come straight back in. I will send your parents through.”
“Thank you,” Alex says to the doctor.
Alex sits on the bed beside me, and takes my hands in his. My eyes lift to his. I shift on the bed closing the gap between us. His face lowers and his lips find mine. Pulling his hands out of mine, he wraps them around me pulling me flush against him. My mouth moulds to his, as I kiss him back.
And in this one single moment of togetherness, all my fears from the night disappear. I know
without a shadow of a doubt, this is the man I will spend the rest of my life with. The man who will care for me, protect me, but most of all love me for who I am. He is going to be a great dad to our babies.
He breaks our kiss and stares into my eyes. His smile is infectious. “Not only am I to be blessed with you as my beautiful wife, we are to be blessed with not one but two beautiful children.”
“I knew it,” my father says as they enter the room. “I told you Jane, didn’t I tell you.”
Alex and I both turn to all our parents, who have obviously heard our news. So much for keeping it to ourselves for a bit. Alex moves and lets my dad approach me.
“So how did you know Dad when I didn’t?” I ask him.
“Your mother will tell you I told her when she was expecting you and Ethan. She didn’t have a clue. Not sure how I knew, I just did. But I did think you two knew, especially when Alex asked for my permission to marry you.”
“Twins! Congratulations, my beautiful baby girl.” My mother has tears in her eyes as she embraces me. “You are going to be a brilliant mother, sweetheart. You are both going to be great parents.”
My mum swaps places with Sarah, who is overjoyed. “I can’t believe I get to be a grandmother this coming year. I’m so happy for you.” Richard also offers his congratulations to us both, albeit a bit more reserved than his wife.
“So how far along are you Libby?” my mother asks.
“According to the scan, about six or seven weeks.”
“Lovely August for these two babies. I do hope it’s not too warm a summer for you,” Sarah says.
“Okay, I think it’s time to get you home,” Alex says coming back toward me. “I think you’ve had enough excitement for one day. And you’re under doctor’s orders to take it easy for a few days.”
“Yes sir,” I reply with a smile, to his amusement.
Both sets of parents leave us. My parents are heading home, Alex’s are going out to the car. Murphy brought them here, so we will all go home together. But there is one person I need to tell, before anyone else does or anyone else finds out. Ethan. After speaking to Alex I decide to call him. Well we do get two for the price of one, Sophie is at Ethan’s house.
He's Captured My Soul (Captured Series Book 3) Page 12
