by Lexy Timms
“No, you're fine.” She inhaled a shaky breath.
“Is everything alright?”
She pictured a nurse holding his phone to his ear and his hands buried deep inside someone, saving his life. “We’ve got a bit of a situation.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m down in Emerg.”
“What the hell happened? Is the baby alright?”
She slapped her forehead realizing how it sounded. “Baby is fine. We’re both fine. I’m working in Emerg. A patient with a broken clavicle came in. It’s Laura.”
“Pardon?”
“She came in under an assumed name. Paramedics dropped her off. The head nurse down in Emergency looks new so I don’t think she would have recognized Laura. Dad’s not working so I’m not sure what to do.”
“Has she seen you?”
“I was the first doctor to see her.”
“Shit!”
“I’m okay. She didn’t try anything. She’s in a lot of pain.” She didn’t bother to add that Laura realized she was pregnant.
“I don’t give a toss. She is banned from this hospital!”
“So what do we need to do?”
“Have the head nurse call General. Tell them you have a patient transfer.”
“That’s it? We don’t have to treat her?”
“Hell no! It’s not life threatening.”
“I ordered X-Rays to confirm it’s a break.”
“What? Charity! You should have walked away from her and contacted the police.”
“I’ll do that now.”
“Good, and get the hell out of the ER for the rest of the morning. If anyone has anything to say about it, tell them to talk to me.” He huffed. “Your father’s going to kill me.”
“I’m okay,” she reassured him again.
“It’s not your safety that’s going to piss your father off; it’s the fact that Laura got in and was admitted. There are things in place to stop that from happening. They obviously don’t work.”
“She changed her name.” The woman was resourceful. It wouldn’t surprise Charity if she used someone else’s insurance information to get in.
“Just please stay away from her! Promise me that.”
“I will.”
A code warning came over the intercom system. “Paging Dr. Armstrong to the ER. Paging Dr. Armstrong to the ER.” There was no Dr. Armstrong in the hospital. It was code for security to come to the Emergency Room.
“Sounds like the cavalry is on its way.”
A sigh of relief echoed through the phone from Elijah. “I’ll see you in an hour for the ultrasound.”
“Okay.”
“Charity?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
She blinked, surprised he would say that in the middle of surgery around medical staff. “Me, too.”
“I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done.”
“Okay.” She didn’t know what else to say. She knew she was in shock and should probably grab a sugary drink or something. David’s patient! She couldn’t leave him unattended. She would just check in on him and then call the police.
She hesitated. She should probably call the cops first. Flipping David’s tablet on, she went to monitor the heart patient’s vitals as she headed to the Emergency desk station. She wanted to see how serious the patient’s condition was. His blood pressure was elevated and his heartbeat irregular, but the blood work hadn’t come back yet. She quickly looked up the security number for the hospital and explained the situation.
When she headed for the heart patient’s cubicle, four security guards marched past her. They wasted no time. Part of her wondered if Elijah had someone in surgery call too.
David came in right behind her. “I got this.” He took the tablet and smiled.
Screaming and cursing erupted from the cubicle where Laura was. Charity jumped and then ducked behind David. Her body did it automatically as if it was trying to protect itself from any chance of getting hurt again. David leaned close so only she would hear, “You should probably head into the doctor’s lounge until everything’s… cleared.”
Dazed, she nodded and backed up slowly. “Let me know if you need anything.”
He smiled and patted her shoulder. “We will. Definitely.” He turned his attention to the couple watching in front of him. “Now, shall we get back to work? There is never a dull moment in Emergency.”
Charity hurried out of the ER as fast as she could without running, trying to put as much distance between lunatic-Laura and herself. In the doctor’s lounge, she went to pour herself a coffee and changed her mind, heading to the vending machines and grabbing herself a coke instead. She popped the can open and took several long sips before leaning against the wall to relax.
She inhaled a long, deep breath and sighed. As she exhaled, an enormous belch erupted from inside of her. She covered her mouth and glanced around mortified. No one was around thankfully. She closed her eyes and rested her head against the cold wall. So much for sounding professional.
Maybe if she stood there a little while longer she would open her eyes and it would just be a nightmare.
The tinkling of her half-finished can of Coke hitting the wall because of her shaking hands and jelly legs seems to solidify the inevitable.
Another crazy story to add to the list.
Chapter 10
Forty minutes later Elijah found Charity half lying on a couch in the doctor’s lounge. She had her feet up on the coffee table beside the can she was still nursing and her hands resting on her belly. “Everything alright?” He dropped down beside her and polished off the rest of her coke.
“I haven’t heard anything from downstairs.” She leaned her head against the back of the couch. “I decided I didn’t want to know.”
“She’s gone. Police picked her up and had her transferred to General.” Elijah shook his head. “Ridiculous.”
Charity didn’t care. She refused to give that woman another moment of her time. She shifted her hands over to the right. “This little guy has been dancing ever since I sat down.”
Elijah leaned over and placed his hand over hers. “Really?”
“It might be from the pop.”
“Oh no! We’ve got a caffeine freak?” He grinned when Charity moved her hand and a ripple of movement fluttered. Elijah laughed. “I felt that.”
“It could be the baby or my intestines.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m betting on the baby.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Have you drank your liter of h-two-o?” He stood and went over to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water and brought it over to her.
“Crap! I forgot.” She opened the plastic bottle and guzzled three-quarters of it. “I already have to pee. That should be plenty.”
Elijah motioned with his hand. “Finish it. You were supposed to drink two.”
She groaned. “I can’t drink two!”
“I’ll take it along and you can sip it while we walk.”
She stood and finished the rest of the one she was holding and tossed it in the recycling bin.
They headed to the stairwell where a security guard stopped them. “Elevator’s only right now.”
“I’m Dr. Bennet. Chief surgeon while Dr. Thompson is gone. This is Dr. Thompson-Bennet, his daughter.”
Way to name drop, Elijah. She would have laughed but was afraid she would pee her pants. She swore the baby was using her bladder as a trampoline.
“Dr. Bennet. Security asked to keep the stairwells closed and only valid ID for anyone entering or exiting the hospital.”
“Why wasn’t I told of this?” Elijah pulled out his phone. “Oh, I was. Sorry, mate.” He grabbed Charity’s hand and walked toward the elevators. “It’s apparently protocol when someone enters the hospital that isn’t supposed to be here.” He scrolled through his phone. “Looks like your dad is on his way over now. Let’s go see our baby and forget all this ugly stuff.”
“Sounds g
ood to me.”
They took the elevator down to the second floor and checked in.
“Is your bladder full?” the sonographer asked.
“Very.”
“Perfect! Then let’s get you started.” She handed Charity a blue hospital gown. “Put this on. You can keep the undies on as well.” She smiled at Elijah. “Dr. Bennet, you can come and wait with me while I set up the anomaly scan.”
Charity stepped into the small change room and switched from her green hospital doctor gear into the blue patient dress. She wondered what they would say if she wore her medical coat overtop. After the crazy morning, now probably wasn’t the right time.
She followed the sound of Elijah’s voice to the room.
“Hop up on the table.” The sonographer patted the bench with one hand and worked on the computer with her other one.
Charity did as instructed and let the girl, which she didn’t even know her name, put a blanket over her pelvis. “Just lift your gown up and I’ll slide the sheet into place.” She reached for a tube. “This is going to be a bit cool. Sorry. The machine is supposed to keep it warm but for some reason it dictates cool as a warm temperature.” She motioned for Elijah to stand on the other side of Charity so he could see the monitor. She squeezed the gel and covered Charity’s belly. “You know what I’m going to be checking today?”
Elijah leaned forward as the sonographer clicked through screens with her left hand and directed the ultrasound over Charity’s stomach. “You want to see that the baby is developing normally.” He stopped and reached for Charity’s hand. “Maybe the resident should answer this.”
Charity rolled her eyes and smiled. “Always the teacher. How about we let…” she glanced at the sonographer to see if she would give them her name.
“Danielle.”
“Thank you. How about we let Danielle do her job and just be parents-to-be instead of doctors?”
Danielle laughed. “I hear ya, sister. Okay!” She shifted so she could watch the screen and moved the ultrasound down by Charity’s bladder. “Yup, you’re full.” She smiled. “We want to see how your baby is developing. Determine the age of the fetus and confirm your due date. We also see where your placenta is lying in your uterus.” She pointed to the screen. “See that? That’s the placenta. It’s posterior. It’s in the perfect location.”
A whish-whish sound filled the room. Elijah squeezed Charity’s hand.
“Here is your baby’s head.” Danielle moved the small stick in her hand with expert ease, measuring and moving a mouse and clicking away with her left hand.
Charity watched the screen in awe. The baby’s skull, rib cage, and everything were there. His arms moved and legs tucked in. She could have stayed there all day watching.
Danielle went through a series of images, clicking and measuring before filing all the photos and going back to the monitor that showed their baby.
Elijah smiled, grinning ear to ear.
“What are you smiling about?” Charity asked him.
“Am I smiling?” He tried to stop, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward. “The baby is doing great. There are no abnormalities or issues to be concerned about. I’m excited.” He leaned down and kissed her. “Happy.”
Danielle rotated the monitor so they could both see it better. “I’m not supposed to say anything, but you are a doctor.” She moved the ultrasound around Charity’s belly. “Do you want to know what you are having?”
Charity nodded, suddenly too afraid to speak.
The screen focussed on the baby’s mid-section. “It looks like you are going to be painting the room—”
“Pink!” Elijah said loudly.
“It’s a girl?” Charity felt herself grinning. “And I was so sure it was a boy.” She looked excitedly at Elijah, who was all smiles. “A girl.”
“A girl.” He sounded as dorky as she did.
Charity loved it. The moment couldn’t get any better. It was right up there with their wedding.
“A very active one.” Danielle pointed to the midsection. “She’s proving to you she’s a girl. Congratulations.” She held the ultrasound on the baby and showed the baby’s femurs, feet, hands. “She likes sucking her thumb.”
“What’s that?” Charity pointed as the baby’s body suddenly began spasming. “Is she okay?”
“She’s got the hiccups. You may have already felt them a number of times.” Danielle moved to the baby’s head. “You are actually closer to twenty-two weeks than twenty. Your stomach is still pretty tiny, but this is your first baby and you have strong abdominal muscles. Don’t be surprised if you start popping out now.” She grinned. “And then pop back in again. You look like the exercising type.”
Charity giggled, on a high about seeing the baby. It made it all real now. “Haven’t been doing much exercising or dancing since I found out I was pregnant.”
“I’m sure you’re busier than you realize.” Danielle patted her own stomach. “It’s the fourth one that leaves all the baggage.”
“You have four?” Charity had figured Danielle was younger than she was. “You look fantastic!”
Danielle laughed. “Running after them, and loving every minute of it. Some people say kids make you old, but I believe they keep you young.”
“Words to live by,” Elijah said.
“Except at three in the morning when the baby is crying and doesn’t want to sleep.” Danielle winked. “Then you feel incredibly old and you wonder how you ever survived university with no sleep.” She handed Charity some paper towels. “I’m all done here. Dr. Govender will have the detailed results at your next appointment with him.” She gave Elijah a four by six sheet of paper. “Congratulations again.” She stood. “I’ll be outside so take your time.” She slipped quietly through the door.
Charity wiped the gel off her belly and sat up. “What did she hand you?”
Elijah held it up. “Our first baby picture.”
Charity squinted at the little picture, making out all her little features. “She’s gorgeous.”
“We did that.” He tapped the printed photo. “You and me. We made her.”
She thought back to earlier today and frowned. She didn’t want this moment ruined by anything or anyone. She put her hand over her belly feeling a new sense of protection. This little girl of theirs was innocent and utterly vulnerable. No one was going to touch or hurt her. Ever. Mama bear protecting her cub. She smiled. It was a line her mother used to say to her when she was little.
She hoped she could be half the mom her mother had been. Tears filled her eyes as she stood. She moved so Elijah wouldn’t see them. A painful lump formed in her throat and she tried unsuccessfully to swallow it down.
His warm arms encircled her and held her tight. “Crazy day.”
“You could say that.”
“I say we play hooky and just go home. Skip the rest of the day.”
They couldn’t do it, and neither of them would anyway. “I should go change.”
“I’ll be outside in the waiting room.” He had already pulled out his phone and was checking messages.
She wanted to tell him that she wished her mom was here to share in the excitement and to help when the baby came. She watched him walk down the hall, head down and his fingers busily tapping on the phone keypad. She had a rush of loneliness and couldn’t quite understand why. Elijah was the perfect husband and she knew he would be an excellent father.
Somehow though, she felt on her own. She straightened her shoulders and tried to shake the uneasy feeling off as she went to change.
It was anxiety. Nothing more… Right?
Chapter 11
The business of life continued on. The baby grew and so did her belly. Every day Charity swore weight added while she slept. She marveled how her stomach didn’t just drop down to her knees. It stayed perfectly in front of her like she was carrying a basketball under her shirt.
Margaret had extended her vacation from four weeks to seven. She wanted
to stay longer but had a number of commitments in New Zealand she couldn’t skip.
She and Charity were having tea in Elijah’s office the day before she had to fly home. “I wish I could stay longer.” She sighed. “However, I do have appointments and it’s already been nearly two months. Rapt Bach can’t be left empty forever.”
Charity took a sip of her tea. It had already been a long morning and she had about fifteen minutes before she had to be back in surgery. “Have you thought about selling?” She and Elijah had talked about it briefly a few times but hadn’t brought up the conversation with his mom.
“It’s Elijah’s now. And yours.” Margaret smiled. “And soon to be my little grand-daughters. It’s a mansion of a house. But do you know what? It’s never been about the size or the value of the property. Elijah does well, he doesn’t need the money from it, nor do I. His father designed and built that home. It was his dream and I’d hate to sell it to just anyone. It was our home.”
“I think my dad feels kind of like that also. I never understood why he didn’t move.” She settled back in her chair, feeling older and wise as the baby moved about in her belly. “In all honesty, I never asked him. He’s not the most approachable guy.”
“He isn’t?” Margaret stared at her with surprise. “He does tend to say what he thinks, but I can respect that. I’m not all butterflies and kittens.”
Charity resisted the urge to laugh. Her mother-in-law definitely wasn’t soft. That’s probably why her father and Margaret got along. Charity was realizing that the older she got, the less she cared what others thought. It made life a little easier. Not that she understood easy. “My mom was soft and cuddly. She was very gentle, but one of the smartest women I have ever known. She knew how to be with my dad without fighting. I don’t. We can’t manage most conversations without arguing or getting frustrated. It’s getting better.” But it’s still there.
“Have you talked to him about it?”
Charity checked her watch. She had about ten minutes before she had to head back to work. Maybe now wasn’t such a great time to have this conversation. It was like trying to squeeze a main course in when you only had time for a quick snack.
