Against the Odds: A Love Story (17 page)

“Hayden,” I whispered, feeling my grip on the cart handle loosening.

“Raine,” I heard his worried voice say, and in the next instant everything went black.

Trials are unwelcome but shouldn't be wished away. They produce a thicker skin and a stronger will.

Twenty-five

I
slipped in and out of consciousness. When I finally awakened fully, I was lying in an emergency room bed at Roswell Regional Hospital with an IV in my arm. Hayden was sitting in a chair next to the bed holding my hand, his brow creased with worry. When his eyes met mine, he heaved a relieved sigh and smiled

“Welcome back, baby,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “You've been out for a little while.”

“What happened?”

“I don't know, honey. You were holding on to the cart and the next thing I knew, you just passed out. I barely caught you before you hit the floor.”

My free hand immediately went to my stomach. “The baby?” I questioned anxiously.

“The baby is fine, darlin'. Dr. Salem is having some test run on you. They called him as soon as the paramedics brought you in.”

“Are you sure the baby is okay?” I asked again, worried about anything happening to our child.

“I'm positive. The doctor listened to the baby's heartbeat and said it was strong.”

I sighed, relieved. We both turned as Dr. Salem entered the room. The graying Indian man smiled as he approached the bed. “How is my favorite patient feeling?” he asked, placing a gentle hand on my arm.

“My head still hurts a little.” I looked up at him. “What is it? Is there something wrong?”

“I'm afraid so,” he said in a kindly voice. He rolled a small stool over and sat next to the bed, turning so he was facing both me and Hayden. “I got your test results back, and there is good news and bad news.”

I squeezed Hayden's hand tightly as my stomach balled up in a tight knot. “What's the bad news?”

“Well, the bad news is you're suffering from preeclampsia, or toxemia as it's commonly called.”

I didn't have to ask him what it was because a couple of my friends in Atlanta had had it with their pregnancies. “But until today, I have been feeling fine. How could it just suddenly happen like that?”

“Sometimes it just does. Every woman's body is different, and while some women gradually feel the effects of preeclampsia, it strikes others suddenly, sometimes in a matter of days, sometimes hours, which is what happened in your case.” He flipped open the chart. “Now, we found a lot of protein in your urine and your blood pressure is pretty high. The heightened blood pressure is probably what caused the headache and the dizziness. Sometimes stress can trigger the symptoms and make them worse.”

Feeling Hayden's grip tighten on my hand, I looked at him as he lowered his head and closed his eyes  tightly. I heard him swear under his breath and I knew he was thinking about Jerome's visit upsetting me, not to mention the earlier words with Debra. I squeezed his hand back, urging him to look at me. When he opened his eyes, I gave him my 'everything will be okay look,' and he forced a smile.

The doctor looked up from his chart. “How is your vision?”

“It's fine now, but earlier it was a little blurry.”

“Any pain anywhere?”

“My right shoulder hurts a little.”

“Those are two more symptoms of preeclampsia.” The doctor pressed his fingers against my ankles. “You've got a little swelling too.”

Hayden, listening intently finally asked, “Well, what's the good news, Doctor?”

“The good news is since we've caught it this early, treatment will be a lot easier. Now, I'm going to prescribe a mild medication for the blood pressure that won't affect the baby. I'm also going to put you on strict bed rest. I don't want you to get up to do anything except to use the bathroom and take a shower in the mornings. That's it.” He looked at Hayden. “Keep her down and don't let her do anything.” He smiled and winked. “We both know how stubborn she can be.”

Hayden grinned. “Don't I know it.”

“Thanks a lot,” I said sarcastically and he kissed my hand.

Doctor Salem scribbled a few more things down. “I'm going to schedule you to come in for a checkup every other week so we can keep tabs on your blood pressure. We're also going to do an ultrasound at each visit to make sure the baby stays okay, too. And the next time you come, we should be able to tell the baby's sex.”

I finally smiled. “At least I'll have something to look forward to.”

“Yes, you will, my dear,” Dr. Salem said, closing the chart. He handed Hayden the prescription for the blood pressure medicine and gave me some final instructions. “In addition to your medicine, keep taking your prenatal vitamins. If you start to feel nauseated again, call me and I'll prescribe something for that as well.” He stood and squeezed my arm. “You're all set. Now I want you to lie here for another hour and I'll send someone in a little bit to remove the IV. Then you can go home.”

Hayden stood. “Thank you, Doctor,” he sighed, shaking his hand.

“You're welcome. And don't you worry. We'll make sure this pretty little wife of yours and your baby stay well.” He smiled at me once more and left.

When we finally arrived home, Hayden surprised me with his sudden protectiveness by carrying me into the house and placing me on the bed. “Now don't move,” he said, taking off my shoes.

“Yes, sir!” I said with a grin and saluted.

He chuckled and kissed me. “You laugh all you want, Mrs. McKade, but you're gonna do exactly what Dr. Salem ordered.” He opened one of the dresser drawers and pulled out a clean gown and handed it to me. Then he pulled back the covers. “You just slip that on and get into bed and I'll be right back.”

“All right,” I said, smiling up at him. I reached for his hand. “I love you, Hayden.”

He knelt down on the bedside step in front of me and gently took my face in his large hands. “I love you too, baby. More than anything else in this world.”

My vision of him blurred and I blinked the tears that filled my eyes onto my face. I was beginning to feel like I was going to be a burden to him because he had so many responsibilities all ready. “I'm sorry this won't be a normal pregnancy.”

“Hey,” he said, brushing my tears away. “Don't you be sorry. It ain't your fault. It's just something that happens sometimes.” He wagged a finger at me, reading my thoughts. “And don't you be feeling like you're a burden. You're my wife, and it's not only my duty, but it's an honor for me to take care of you.”

I smiled as more tears spilled down my cheeks. He again took my face in his hands and kissed the tears away. Then he finally kissed my lips. “I love you,” he whispered again. “And everything is gonna be all right.”

I nodded. “I know.”

He quietly looked at me for another moment, his brow furrowing slightly.

“What is it?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

“No, it's not nothing. Tell me.”

He released a frustrated breath. “I just wish Jerome had never shown up.”

“I know,” I said, touching his face “Me, too. But this probably would've happened even if he hadn't come.”

He raked a hand back through his hair and heaved another frustrated sigh. “Well, I meant what I said to him. I also meant what I didn't say. If he ever brings his tail back here, it will be a painful experience for him.”

“I honestly don't think he will come back.” I smiled, caressing his beard. “At least I hope he doesn't. The last thing I need is to have my husband locked up.”

“I promise I won't break the law, darlin'.” He smiled slyly. “Just bend it a little.”

“You!” I growled

He chucked and kissed me once more and stood. “Now you go on and change while I get you a pitcher of ice water and something to eat. I'm sure Caroline will be here soon to see for herself that you're all right. I called her from the hospital and she wanted to know the minute you got home.”

“Well, then I guess I had better change.” I looked up at him again and smiled. “Thank you for taking such good care of me.”

“No need to thank me, darlin'. I'll always take care of you.”

As Hayden winked and left the room, I sent up a silent prayer of gratitude for the privilege of having him as my husband. I also prayed that everything would be all right with me and the baby.

Adversity likes to kick you when you're down. But love compels it to take a hike.

Twenty-six

I
f I was asked to describe the next day, I would have to say it was definitely the longest day of my life.

The morning was blissful because Hayden slept in a little later than normal. However, the blissfulness was ended abruptly by the ringing of the telephone. Hayden groggily answered it. It was David.

“Hey, David, what did you need?”

For the next moment there was silence. I didn't know what was being said, but Hayden frowned in response to David's answer.

“I really don't wanna do it,” he said. There was a subtle tension in his voice.

I turned to my side to face him fully. It wasn't like him to say no to David, so I was very curious to know what he'd asked Hayden to do.

“Can't Tom or Lance do it?” he asked brusquely. After hearing David's response, Hayden closed his eyes and sighed. “All right.” He turned to see me staring at him and reached for my hand. “That's all right,” he said to David before hanging up.

“What's wrong?”

He heaved a sigh and pushed a hand back through his tousled hair. “David needs me to make a hay delivery I don't wanna make.”

“Well, where's the delivery?”

He looked at me, hesitating to answer. “It's Debra's place.”

“Oh,” I said softly, my heart dropping slightly.

He pulled me into his arms and buried his face in my hair. “I don't wanna go, baby, but David's back is bothering him this morning and Tom and Lance are taking over for him until this afternoon. If I could get out of it, you know I wouldn't go.”

I pressed my face to his warm chest. “I do know.” Taking a deep breath, I drew back a little. “You have to do your job.”

As much as it bothered me to have him going to that woman's home, I wouldn't make it any worse for him by complaining. But oh, how I despised her at that moment! And I was sure this was just another excuse for her to see Hayden. True, she couldn't have known Hayden would be the one to make the delivery, but it still angered me that she was able to intrude on our lives this way. If I didn't know any better I would swear she and Jerome had met somewhere secretly and were conspiring against us, doing everything they possibly could to make us miserable. Leave it to my overactive imagination to conjure up such a dreary thought.

I burrowed myself deeper in Hayden's embrace, wishing with all my heart that I could go with him. It wasn't that I didn't trust him. It was
her
I wouldn't put anything past. I hated the thought of her being anywhere near him. If I had learned anything about Debra in the two times I'd met her, it was that she was a cunning and conniving little vixen who wouldn't give wrecking someone's marriage a second thought if it meant she could have what she wanted. And what she wanted was my husband.