Frank cooked dinner, and I relaxed in the greenhouse. I enjoyed the noise and the sound of Frank talking while he cooked. It was nice, and I felt almost normal.
The next morning, Frank and I went to the healer. I was giddy to hear something new. I felt better, and I hadn't had any bleeding. We had to have good news.
The door opened, and Anna walked in. “Well, I have good news and bad news.”
My heart sank.
“What's the good news?” Frank asked, his arms crossed as he sat next to me in a chair. I rubbed my hands over my knees, feeling my nails dig into my skin from gripping them so hard.
“You're holding strong, but you're not fully out of the woods yet. I want minimal movement still.”
I felt my shoulders fall. This wasn't the news I had thought I would be hearing. “But… I've been on bed rest for over two weeks, Anna. I'm feeling good. Doesn't that count for anything?”
Anna offered me a concerned nod. “I know. I'm not saying you're not getting better because you are. But you got knocked around, Nina, and this baby needs to stay intact. It's too young for anything to happen, and I'm trying to make sure you don't go into premature labor. We need to keep your stress level down.”
“I'm going to go stir crazy if you keep me on bed rest.”
“You can get up and move around. No heavy lifting, no long walks, and still no work. We will go another two weeks and see how you're doing then. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but you are healing slowly.”
I felt tears well up at the news. Another two weeks of being stuck inside the house. I glanced at Frank, who looked just as defeated as I felt.
The ride home was quiet, and I stared out the window. “This isn't terrible news.”
“Yeah, you're not the one confined to a bed, Frank.” The words came out harsher than I meant them to be. I was angry at myself. Angry that I was stuck at home once again.
“Nina, this is all for the baby.”
I knew that, and I knew how childish this sounded. I knew everything was to make sure this baby was okay, and I wanted that. But being stuck inside those walls alone for hours was driving me crazy. I'd been doing it for months before, and now I am right back where I was.
I looked away, knowing I was being a little selfish. I couldn't help it. I felt like I was battling this alone.
Frank was out of the house the next morning before I got up. The day was the same. I watched TV and went down the stairs for breakfast. Watched some more TV and had lunch. Kerr had stopped by and cooked me dinner since Frank was held up. I could hardly muster a thank you when he left, feeling like a prisoner.
I was sitting in bed when I heard the front door open. I knew it was Frank, and I glanced at the time and saw that it was almost ten at night.
Frank walked up the stairs and poked his head into my room. I gave him a tight smile. “You're home late.”
Frank nodded. “Yeah, it was a long day. I just wanted to see how you were doing before I turned in. Kerr came over and cooked dinner, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I believe there are leftovers in the fridge.”
Frank nodded, and the space fell quiet. I hated it. I hated how this was all messy, and it felt like we had taken five steps back rather than forward.
“Why are you avoiding me?”
Frank looked at me, confused. “What?”
“You're avoiding me again.”
Frank frowned. “I've been here with you.”
I shook my head. “Yes, but you're distancing yourself. You've been doing it since I started bed rest. You do everything, yet you're always gone. I understand you're busy, but even when you are here, it's like you're afraid everything is going to hurt me.”
I felt the irritation come to the surface, and Frank stepped into my room. “Nina, I am afraid. I'm afraid if I do anything, touch you in the wrong way, we will lose this child.”
I could see the fear in his eyes, and he ran a hand over his face. “This is my fault. If I had done a better job at protecting you, we wouldn’t be here.
I shook my head, sitting up slightly. “Frank, that's not true.”
