“Wasn’t exactly my plan. I mean, I didn’t wake up and sayyou know what? I think i’ll starve myself!”I snapped. “I have been sicker than hell. Anytime I even smelled food, I felt like throwing up.”
“I’m sorry,” Gerald said softly. “I didn’t mean to accuse you or yell at you.”
“It is what it is,” I closed my eyes and rested my head down on the pillow. Tears were building up in my eyes.
Everything was too overwhelming.
“Miss Brittain?” Doctor Carsen asked softly.
“Yes,” I said, fighting back the tears.
“We’re going to monitor you a few more hours. Your labs all came back good. It seems you were just dehydrated and lacking nutrients. I’m going to prescribe you some prenatal vitamins. Try to drink plenty of fluids. If your stomach doesn’t seem to handle food well, I recommend crackers and ginger ale.”
“You’re recommending her to drink some damn soda?” Gerald growled.
“Miss Brittain, do you want me to have him escorted out of the room?” Doctor Carsen asked with annoyance in his voice. I didn’t need to see the doctor’s face to know that he was glaring at Gerald.
“I’m not leaving her here alone,” Gerald sighed. “I’ll just sit here and be quiet. Just help her… Please.”
Gerald’s voice sounded so sincere and full of care. It hurt even more because I knew I was feeding into something that wasn’t there. Gerald was a rich man from one side of the tracks, and I was a poor country bumpkin from the other side of the tracks. Now, our fates were intertwined more than just on paper.
“Why do you keep doing this to me?” I shouted at Gerald, opening my eyes and staring at him.
“What do you mean, Kaylee?” Gerald whispered.
“I’m going to leave you two alone to talk. A nurse will be in shortly. If you have any questions, just let her know and she’ll come get me. Okay?” Doctor Carsen said. I looked at him.
“Thank you, doctor,” I smiled. He nodded his head slightly then made his way across the room and out the door. When the door closed behind him, I burst into tears.
“Kaylee!” Gerald stood up and took hold of my hand. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain? Do you want me to get the doctor? Tell me what to do. Please.”
“Why do you make me think you care about me, when you really don’t?” I sobbed, looking up at him.
“I’m not pretending to care, Kaylee,” he brought my hand up to his lips. “I tried not to. I really did,” he chuckled softly.
“Tried hard not to what?
“To care about you,” he smiled softly.
His words echoed through my mind. I felt like I was dreaming.
My heart raced. My stomach felt like it had hundreds of fluttering butterflies in the pit of it. Excitement filled me.
“You… You care about me?” I whispered.
“Yes. I care about you, Kaylee Brittain,” he chuckled. “And before you go asking, I cared about you since day one.”
“Day one?” I shrieked, making him laugh.
“Yes. Day one. Why do you think I tossed the proposal on the table?”
“Because you wanted an heir.”
“I did want an heir, but I also wanted you.”
“But I was just a stranger,” I said sheepishly. Gerald smiled then kissed my hand.
“That’s what makes it so crazy,” he sighed. “I’m not the type of guy to fall in love. Hell, I’ve never been in love until I met you.”
