from Pain to Pleasure (Gainesville Book 1) (39 page)

“I’m not hungry.” Danielle couldn’t look at any of them. She didn’t want to mention the burn in her legs. “It’s a headache.” That much was true.

Logan cleared his throat. “Sorry.” He glanced at Danielle, and then Alex. “She’s been nauseous again.” He had walked in on her in the bathroom that morning and once before in the last week. “Could something be wrong?”

“She’s pale, too.” Marie brushed back Danielle’s hair. “Maybe you should call her doctor.”

Alex lifted Danielle’s chin. “Is it that bad? Or are you a bit under the weather?” He didn’t want to panic. When she smiled, he relaxed. “She has an appointment tomorrow.” He watched her for a few more minutes, and then was sure she hid something. Accusations were not the answer, though.

Unable to eat, Danielle listened to the conversation around her. When she felt worse, she wanted to ask if they could leave. With one hand on her belly, she closed her eyes. She still felt like she was fat, although she carried it well; it was seemingly all baby.
Please let me get through today
.

“Let’s head out,” Alex said as he got to his feet and pushed his chair back. He stood next to Danielle and put out a hand. “We’ll make it an early night, beautiful.”

She smiled and let him help her up. Her thighs felt worse. Suddenly, her knees buckled. She grabbed the table while Alex caught her around the waist. He eased her back into the chair.

“What happened?” Alex was beyond concerned. “You OK?” He palmed her cheek and tilted her face up. “Dizzy?”

Danielle chewed on her bottom lip, nervously. “I don’t know.” She tried to will the tears back, but a few fell. Fear built in her. “I just fell.”

“We need to go to the ER.” Marie walked around the table. “I have a bad feeling about this.” She had thought Danielle seemed off all weekend. “The doctor said to report any problems.
This
is a problem.”

“I’ll call her doctor from the car and ask if she can see us now. The office might still be open.” Alex nodded and guided Danielle to the exit. “Are you tired?” He felt like he dragged her. Then he realized she walked awkwardly. She only shrugged. “Why’re you walking like that, then?”

“My legs feel funny and—and there’s pressure… down there.”

Alex tried to quell the dread, but it quickly consumed him. “Pressure? As in the baby coming out?” He quickly lifted her in his arms and rushed to the car. “We’re going to the hospital.” His mind raced. A hundred different ideas came to him. The one he was terrified of was them losing their baby. “Marie, call Dr. Greene,” he shouted. “Ask her to meet us at the hospital.”

Danielle sensed his anxiety. Her breath came faster. “Pressure is bad?”

“It could be.” Alex opened the passenger door and set her in the car. “Don’t worry.” He caressed her cheek. “Everything’s gonna be fine.” He fastened her seatbelt and kissed her lips. “The safest place for you to be is the hospital.” After he had closed her door, he placed his hands on the car roof and took a few deep breaths. He needed to be calm for her.

Logan patted Alex’s back. “It’ll be OK.”

“I hope so.” Alex closed his eyes and whispered, “What if she loses our baby? It’s too soon.”

Sure it would help, Logan replied, “She won’t. She’ll be fine.”

If she’s not, Brian is gonna get what he deserves
. If it came down to it, Alex planned to call Damien and have Brian be taught a lesson.

Once in the emergency room, Danielle was seen quickly. They rushed her to the maternity ward. As soon as Alex had helped her into a gown, she was externally examined by the doctor on call. Then blood was taken and some basic tests were done.

When the male doctor pulled a stool between her legs to do a pelvic exam, Danielle cringed. “Alex!” She grabbed his hand and struggled to move away from the doctor.

“Did I do something wrong?” Dr. Carney asked, confused.

Alex sighed. “No. Is there a female doctor? She was, uh… abused.” His voice was almost a whisper. He didn’t want people to hear him.

“Do you need me?” Marie called from the hallway where she and Logan waited, so Danielle had privacy for the exam. “I can hold her other hand.”

“I got it, Marie.” Alex turned to Dr. Carney. “Is Dr. Greene on her way?”

The young doctor frowned. “She’ll be at least another hour. She’s doing a delivery now.” The fear in Danielle’s eyes got to him. “Let’s get her hooked up. Then we can try again.”

Alex stood back as two nurses connected several monitors to his girlfriend. The one for contractions didn’t read anything, which was good. Their child’s heartbeat sounded strong at least, and whishing sounds were heard whenever Danielle moved. He watched them attach heart and pulse monitors as well. Her numbers seemed high to him, but he knew she was under stress.

When everyone backed away, Danielle sighed with relief. Once she was still for a few minutes, the baby kicked. That happened often. It told her he or she was awake, at least. She reached out for Alex and placed his hand near the top of her belly. He hadn’t felt his child move yet.

“Something wrong?” Alex moved closer and kissed her forehead. “Your stomach hurt?”

She shook her head. “Wanted the baby to kick you.”

“Oh.”

He sat in a chair and directed his full attention to his child. Since the first kick, he had been dying to feel it. If he never felt his child move, it would be sad. Never holding him would be worse. He laid his head on her belly and exhaled loudly.
I love you, my sweet child
.

Danielle sensed his fear. She ran her fingers through his hair. “I’m in good hands now.”

Alex nodded. “I know. Just listening to the baby.” He could almost hear the heartbeat. His other arm wrapped around the lower half of her abdomen and cradled his child. “He’s getting so big.”

“They said it’s a boy?” Marie asked as she poked her head in.

With a sigh, Alex replied, “No. I just don’t know what else to say yet.”

“Can we come in?” Marie’s eyes widened, hopeful.

Alex waved a hand toward them. “Come on in.”

Marie pulled a chair to the other side of the bed. “How you guys doing?” She laid a hand on Danielle’s shoulder.

“I’m OK,” Danielle replied.

Logan came in as well but stood behind Marie, so as to not be in the way. He watched Alex and hoped he didn’t break down.

Danielle groaned, and everyone looked up. She moved her legs to try to alleviate the ache. Pain had shot down her back and into her thigh.

“What is it?” Alex’s hands shook, terrified. Then he glanced at the contraction monitor. Nothing. That was good. “Your back?”

Danielle nodded and bit her lip.

“How about you lay on your side. “ He looked to Marie. “Is that a good idea?”

Marie stood. “Yeah. Her left side.” They worked together to carefully turn her.

A nurse came in the room seconds later. Then she sighed. “Oh, good. I thought something happened.” She quickly adjusted the fetal monitors over her belly. “Are you uncomfortable?”

“Back hurt,” Danielle said quietly.

“Is it better now?”

Danielle smiled. “Yeah, a little.”

Alex climbed on the bed and spooned her from behind. “Can she get something for the pain?”

“Not until she’s examined.”

After he had let out a sigh, Alex lay his cheek on Danielle’s and slid his hand under her gown, and then over his baby. “OK. Is Dr. Greene coming soon?”

“Possibly. The baby she is delivering is in the final stage.” The nurse patted Danielle’s hand. “Let me know if the pain gets worse. I’ll get a doctor.”

The next hour went by slowly. Logan had turned on the television as a distraction, and it helped. A nurse came in several times to check Danielle. No change was good. The last time, she moved the heart beat monitor higher. The sounds changed.

“What was that?” Alex lifted his head and checked the monitors. The odd sound happened again. “That. Contraction?”

Danielle giggled. “No. The baby’s kicking.” She moved his hand next to the monitor. “Right here.”

With all his might, Alex begged the baby to kick him.

“You feel that?”

“No.” His face fell. “Maybe it’s too soon.” He lay back down and hugged her to hide his disappointment. Tears pooled in his eyes.
What if I never feel him, and she loses him?
He felt like it was important he have that moment. “You OK?”

She reached down and stroked his arm. “I’m fine. Tired, though.”

“Get some sleep then.” He kissed her neck. “I’ll wake you when the doc shows.”

Alex waited until he was sure she was out. Then he waved a hand at Marie. When she looked up, he took a deep breath. “Tell me they’ll be OK.”

“They will.” She grabbed his hand. “Have faith. If she goes into labor, this is the place to be.”

“But…” Alex pulled in his bottom lip and tried not to cry. “But… he won’t make it. It’s too soon.”

Marie’s eyes watered. She felt his fear. “They can… there’s a way. I’m sure of it.” She stood and kissed his forehead. “You need to relax and believe. It’ll be fine.”

* * *

By the time Dr. Greene stepped into the room, Alex had drifted off as well. She looked around the room, glad the expectant couple had support. “How long have they been sleeping?”

Marie jumped at the sound. She was in Logan’s lap, about to crash as well. “Oh, uh—a while, I think.”

Dr. Greene gently shook Alex. “I need to exam Danielle.”

Alex awoke slowly. “Huh?” Then he saw the lab coat and his eyes opened wide. “Oh. Hi, Dr. Greene.” He shifted and got to his feet. Then he carefully turned Danielle to her back. “Dr. Greene is here.”

“We’ll be in the hall again.” Marie tugged Logan out the door and closed it.

Danielle winced as she got into position. Her back and thighs still hurt. Alex gripped her hand just as Dr. Greene started the exam. She squeezed his fingers as the doctor reached deep inside her.

“Hmm.” Dr. Greene frowned. “I worried about this. Your cervix opened just a centimeter, but it could continue.” She stood and covered Danielle again. “I’d like to keep you here tonight to make sure there’s no progress.

Alex gritted his teeth and again hid his fear. “What about the pressure?”

Dr. Greene checked Danielle’s belly. “The baby is head down already. He’s probably pushing on her cervix, weakening it.”

“Oh my God,” he muttered softly.

With a smile, Dr. Greene looked at him. “Nothing to panic about. This happens sometimes. Some women go months dilated a few centimeters. If she doesn’t progress, then things should be fine.” She moved a sonogram machine closer. “Let’s take a look inside.”

Danielle clutched Alex’s hand, glad Dr. Greene wasn’t worried. Within minutes, her uterus was on the screen. Their baby appeared. The angle changed as the wand was moved. The image shook every time the baby kicked.

“Wow. Active little one.”

Alex sat on the bed and leaned closer to the screen. “He’s kicking again?”

“Yes.” Dr. Greene smiled as she got to the top of Danielle’s belly. “Strong legs. You may have another football player on your hands.” She moved to the right. “Ah, look at that.”

“What?” Alex strained to make out the grainy image. “What d’ ya see?”

With a glint in her eye, Dr. Greene’s grin widened. “Would you like to know the sex?”

“Yes!” Alex cried out, excitedly. “Um, well—do you wanna know, beautiful?” His eyes pleaded. When she smiled and nodded, he looked to the doctor. “Please tell us.”

Dr. Greene directed the wand over the baby’s genitals. “See this?” She pointed to the area.

“Kinda.” Alex squinted. Then his eyes lit up when he noticed an appendage between the baby’s legs. “A boy? That’s my son?”

“Yes.” Dr. Greene checked a few more areas, and then cleaned off Danielle’s belly. “Maybe you can take the time to think of names.” She looked down at the couple. “If all goes well, some changes will have to be made. You’ll have to be on partial bedrest. I’ll allow you to go to class. The big thing is—no sex for at least a week.”

“Oh.” Alex sighed. Then he understood why. “I’ll deal with it.” He kissed Danielle’s swollen abdomen. “A boy. We’re having a boy!” He laid his ear to her belly button and held his child again. “Hello, my son. Shit!” He felt it that time. “He kicked me!” It happened again. “Wow. So amazing.” He kissed her skin a few times. Then he leaned over and kissed her lips.

Danielle yawned. “Can I go back to sleep?”

Dr. Greene nodded. “Sure. I’ll check you again in a few hours.”

Alex hugged her belly again and closed his eyes.
Please stay in there a while longer. I wanna hold you, but it’s too soon
. He gave up the fight and let his tears flow.
Don’t let my son die. Please
.

Danielle felt tears hit her skin. She hoped they were happy tears. She knew he hid them. Her fingers again wove into his hair, to soothe him. He shuddered, and she let her hand drift to his back.

“We’ll be OK. Promise.” Her voice was soft.

Logan peeked into the room. “Is it safe?”

“Yeah.” Alex’s voice cracked, but he didn’t care. He crawled up to hold Danielle and buried his face in her hair. “I’m sorry. I can’t take it anymore.”

She held him the best she could. “I understand.” Several tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’m scared, too.” She paused and kissed his head. “We’re having a son.”

“We are.” One of his hands glided down her body to the baby again. “Our son.”

The first day back to class did not go well for Danielle. She knew something was wrong but couldn’t put her finger on it. It had been a few days since the ER visit. Alex insisted she rest afterward. It was Friday, so she said she would have the weekend to recuperate. She expected no issues. It was uncomfortable to walk. The pain in her back and thighs had not ceased. All day, she couldn’t wait to get back in bed, although she hated the confinement.

After dinner that evening, Alex, Danielle, Logan, and Marie were in the guys’ room. Since Danielle was confined to bed more often than not, Marie felt it was best they stuck together. She could tell Danielle was not herself, and that worried her. With the trial weeks away, the stress on her was great. If they lost the baby, she could possibly have a breakdown.