The Battered Heiress Blues (21 page)

Obviously, I needed to go to the hospital. After showering off and changing clothes, I called Dr. Brandon who told me that he’d meet me there. I’d thought about calling Tommy, but I really had no news to share until I was examined. While I was deciding what to do, a knock interrupted my thoughts.

“Julia, are you okay? I thought you were coming down to greet my mom.”

I opened the door. Worry must have consumed my face. Gabe stepped toward me and took my arms in his hands.

“What’s wrong?”

“Can I trust you?”

“You know you can.”

“No. I mean really trust you to keep my secrets. I hate to ask you to be my confidant because it means jeopardizing your relationship with Kate; which is already tenuous.”

“Julia. Kate was a dream- an awakening. You’ve become my family. My allegiance is to you. Your secrets are safe with me. I promise you that.”

“Could you drive me to the hospital?”

“The hospital…? Why? What’s the matter?”

“I’ve been bleeding. I’m not hurting at all, but I’m bleeding.”

He turned off the bathroom light as he pulled me into the bedroom and toward the door.

“Of course. Let’s go now. Mom can stay with Mattie.”

“What will we tell her?”

“You can trust my mom, Julia. She’s not too thrilled with Kate or Henry for that matter. We’ve adopted you. You’re part of our family whether you want to be or not.”

I smirked.

“Did you call the doctor?”

“He’s expecting us. He told me not to worry. I hate when they say that…spoken like a man who has never had a baby growing inside him.”

“Hey tiger, relax with the male bashing. Let’s focus on getting you to the hospital quickly.”

“Sirens?”

“You bet.”

We made our way downstairs and told Ms. Martin what had happened. She hugged me tightly and reminded me not to borrow trouble. Who was she kidding? Trouble always found me. I tried to keep a positive outlook for the baby’s sake and was comforted that I wasn’t hurting and the bleeding had stopped. Somehow, I figured pain would come with a miscarriage. I would be starting my third trimester soon and anyway, I felt fine.

Gabe pulled up to the emergency department and insisted on getting a wheelchair which I dismissed as ridiculous. When he disappeared into the hospital, I simply got out of the vehicle and started walking on my own. I managed to clear the sliding doors before he rolled up with the chair. His look said it all. I think he’d grown accustom to my stubborn nature. He pointed to the chair and insisted that I comply with his request. I shot him my best annoyed smile and conceded to his wishes. The nurse triaged me and took me back straight away. Gabe asked if I wanted him to remain in the waiting room, but I didn’t want to go through everything alone so he willingly accompanied me.

We waited for Dr. Brandon who arrived shortly after us. He reiterated that I shouldn’t panic and asked whether I wanted Gabe to stay for the ultrasound. I grabbed Gabe’s hand and told him to proceed with the scan. The baby’s heart was strong. We smiled at each other as the thumping sound filled the room.

“Your baby girl looks strong,” said Dr. Brandon.

“A girl,” I said delighted, squeezing Gabe’s hand tighter.

“Sorry. I forgot that you wanted it to be a surprise. It’s the late hour,” he offered apologetically.

“Why am I bleeding then?”

Dr. Brandon pushed the machine away as the nurse cleaned the gel off my abdomen. He looked serious. He looked like a killjoy- the deliverer of bad news. I wouldn’t allow my fears to trespass on this happiness. My baby girl was alive and well.

“We need to talk about something. A complication has developed.”

“What are you saying? You said she was strong. That’s why my appointments have been less often.”

“She is. I’m worried about you.”

“What does that mean?” Gabe said as he sat on the bed next to me, putting his arm around my back.

“You’ve developed a complete placenta previa. Typically, we wait to diagnose a previa, hoping that the placenta will continue to migrate up towards the fundus of the uterus, with the progression of the pregnancy, but that hasn’t happened in your case.”

“English, please.”

“Your placenta is completely covering the cervix.”

“That’s bad, then?” Gabe inquired.

“Having a vaginal delivery would be life threatening. You’ll need a C-section.”

“What did I do wrong?”

“Nothing, Julia. Your previous uterine surgery made you more susceptible to a situation like this. Your bleeding was the best possible thing that could have happened- it revealed the previa. If you went into labor on your own, the outcome would be poor. We know what we’re up against now.”

“What do I do?”

“The best case scenario would be to get you to thirty-eight weeks, but I’d be thrilled with thirty-six. We’ll be doing more ultrasounds. I’m concerned about intrauterine growth retardation which is just a fancy term for the baby’s growth lagging behind. The tech will do a biophysical profile each time you come for a scan. As far as you’re concerned, you’ll be on strict bed rest for now. That means that you can do limited walking to the bathroom and around the house, but no more. I’d like you to limit the time that you’re out of bed. As long as the baby is doing well, I won’t order complete bed rest at the hospital.”

“You might as well order complete bed rest, doc.” Gabe knew me too well.

“Very funny,” I shot back.

“I’m serious Julia. You have to do your part. Keep your stress level low. Take your blood pressure every day. As we get closer, I’ll use steroids to help mature her lungs. You’ll require a planned C-section and perhaps a transfusion.”

“And? There’s more. I can tell by your facial expressions that gloom and doom is on its way.”

“And… I must also tell you that a hysterectomy is a distinct possibility, given the complexity of your current situation and past uterine surgery. I won’t know until I open you up and see where we’re at. I just want you to be prepared.”

“Deliver my daughter in good health and I don’t care Dr. Brandon.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, but for now, strict bed rest. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Tonight was a saving grace. Go home and get to bed.”

“A saving grace,” I repeated. “I’m a lucky girl.”

“Bed,” Dr. Brandon reiterated.

“I will. Thank you for coming.”

“No problem. I’ll have my nurse call to schedule a follow up appointment. No driving, either.”

“I’ll get her there,” Gabe firmly stated.

“Then I’ll see you both in a week,” he replied as he exited the room.

My head fell on Gabe’s shoulder as he hugged me. A nurse interrupted us to take a final set of vital signs and give me my discharge papers. Gabe left to get the car as the nurse wheeled me to the emergency department entrance. I sat there thinking about what Dr. Brandon had said. Maybe this was a good thing. We were prepared now and could protect her. Bed rest was destined to get on my very last nerve, but I’d do anything to save her. I was never given that chance with Connor. This time, I had more control.

Gabe played the cheerleader during our trip back to the house, telling me that everything was going to be okay and reminding me how strong her heart was beating. I didn’t share his enthusiastic attitude, but I was happy that this was a treatable condition. Gabe had called his mom to let her know that we were on our way home. She was waiting on the veranda as we drove up, opening the door as the car stopped.

“Let’s get you inside and up to bed. I moved Mattie to another room in case you couldn’t sleep and wanted to watch some television.”

“That was sweet of you.”

“I made some chicken soup.”

“I’ll bring it up,” Gabe said as he walked toward the kitchen. “Help her get her pajamas on, Mom.”

“I will. Take your time on the steps, Julia.”

“You all are going to kill me with kindness.”

“Don’t be silly,” she responded.

“No, really. You have to stop doting over me. We need to talk business.”

We climbed the steps slowly; more so than necessary, but I was trying to placate the help. Gabe’s mom had been a registered nurse her entire life and had only recently retired last year. She was still filling in some shifts at the hospital to supplement her income.

“What kind of business?” she asked.

“How would you feel about moving in here and taking care of me and then the baby until I’m back on my feet? I have to hire a nurse anyway so I’d rather hire you.”

“It would be my pleasure to help you, Julia, you know that, but I couldn’t accept money.”

“Why ever not? That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. If I’m going to pay someone anyway, why not you?”

“I’d feel uncomfortable being paid. I’ve grown to think of you as a daughter over these past months. You’ve done so much for Mattie. Taking care of you would be the least that I could do in return.”

We made our way into the bedroom, closing the door behind us so that I could change. Ms. Martin helped me into a pair of guest worthy pajamas that would be suitable for Gabe’s company. She tucked me into bed as our conversation continued.

“That’s bunk. I take care of Mattie because I love him. Gabe has become a great friend to me and I look up to you. I won’t shower you with money, I promise. I’ll pay the going hourly rate for a 40 hour week. No more. How does that sound? If you say no then I won’t hire anyone and I’ll be left to my own devices; which can only mean bad things for me with my stubbornness.”

“Well, when you put it like that, I have no choice but to accept your proposal.”

“Perfect. When can you start?”

Gabe walked through the door with a tray of food.

“Start what?” he asked.

“I’ve hired your mom to be my nursemaid or jailor depending on how you look at it.”

“Good. I’ll worry less,” he said.

“The only condition, Ms. Martin, is that you not sit around this house all day watching me like I’m a guppy in a fishbowl. You have to leave and do things with Mattie. I’m sure that Tommy will be torturing me with his company very soon.”

“Do you plan to tell anyone else?” Gabe inquired, with his mom elbowing him in his side to zip it.

“No. Do you all plan to tell anyone else?”

Two no’s were spoken in chorus. My secret seemed safe. Now, I would have to rely on my brother’s discretion. I was dreading the call that I knew I had to make. He’d never forgive me for keeping something like this from him and I wouldn’t dare hurt him. Gabe and his mom left the room to get settled in, closing the door behind them. I decided to call Tommy since I couldn’t sleep. Considering it was 3:45 AM, I knew he would be in bed, but I wanted to hear his voice. Tommy was always my rock.

“Hello?”

“Tommy?”

“Jewels? What’s wrong?”

“Why does something have to be wrong?”

“It’s 3:45 AM in the morning. What’s the matter?”

“Don’t freak out.”

“Nothing good ever comes from those words when you speak them.”

“It’s not altogether horrible news. I had to go to the hospital this evening. I was bleeding.”

“The baby?”

“She’s fine.”

“She?”

“Yes. Your niece is okay. I started bleeding, but it stopped.”

“What caused the bleeding?”

“I have a complete placenta previa.”

“A what?”

“My placenta grew over the cervix so the baby can’t be born in the traditional way. I’m on strict bed rest now. The doctor will deliver her by cesarean section once she’s at a viable age. We’re shooting for thirty six weeks.”

“Do you want me to hire some help for you?”

“No. Gabe’s mom is a registered nurse. She’s agreed to move in and help out until I get back on my feet.”

“I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“That’s not necessary. I’ll be bed-ridden for several weeks. You have plenty of time to sit and stare at me.”

“I’m coming.”

“Whatever- just don’t be dramatic. I’m going to be fine. You should wait a few weeks. Ms. Martin will probably need a break from me by then. You know that I don’t make a good patient.”

“Truer words have never been spoken.”

“You’re hilarious. Your talent is wasted on us sinners.”

“So I’ll come in two weeks?”

“How can you possibly get away at Christmas?”

“You let me worry about me. You have enough on your plate; what with having a child out of wedlock and complications to boot.”

“Nice. You’ll be getting coal for sure.”

“All I want for the holidays is for you to abide by Dr. Brandon’s orders. I’m scared, Julia.”

“I’ll be fine. Cover me with prayer. I’ll do my part. You have my word.”

“I’ll hold you to it.”

“Understood. Will you bring some things from my apartment?”