“Kirby’s back to work and doing much better, and Keith decided to take some time off to get out of Maine for a while. He went right to work after high school and hadn’t traveled much, so I think it’ll be good for him.”
“I agree. How about we take a little nap while our little girl snoozes?”
“Yes, please. I’m exhausted.”
“Let’s go, my love.”
* * *
“What’s wrong?” Shane McCarthy asked Katie when he found her curled on her side in bed when she should’ve been getting ready for her shift at the clinic.
“I’m not sure.”
Alarmed, Shane sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand. “Is it the baby?”
“Could be. I feel weird.”
“Let’s get you to the clinic to be checked.”
“I don’t want to be one of those pregnant ladies who runs to the doctor any time something feels slightly off.
“Why not? Who cares? No one is keeping track of how often you get checked. Let’s go.”
He helped her up and tried not to panic when she gasped and grabbed his arm. “What?”
“Dizzy.”
“Sit on the bed. I’ll get you some clothes.”
He helped her change into track pants and a sweatshirt and then walked her to the foyer to hold her winter coat for her, zipping it over the tiny hill that made up her pregnant belly. She’d been so excited to start showing. If she lost this baby, too…
That just couldn’t happen.
They made the short drive to the clinic in silence that was so unusual, it further rattled his nerves. The two of them always had something to talk about. That was one of the things he loved best about her—that they never ran out of subjects to discuss. He was never bored with her or unsettled or unhappy, except for the time after their first pregnancy had ended in miscarriage.
Then he’d been heartbroken, but they’d gotten through that together and had been so excited for this second chance.
His heart was in his throat as he drove into the clinic parking lot and parked at the main doors to walk her in.
“Hey, guys,” Victoria Stevens said as she came toward the door, wearing her coat. “I’m going to get the good coffee.” To Katie, she said, “You want a decaf?”
“She needs to be seen,” Shane said. “She woke up feeling weird.”
Victoria was immediately in professional mode, ushering Katie through the waiting room and into an exam room in the back. She helped her change into a gown while Shane stood by, feeling helpless. He took a second to text Mac to tell him he might not make it into work.
Hope everything is okay, Mac replied.
Me, too.
He knew his cryptic message would put the whole family on notice that something was up right after they’d shared their news, but he couldn’t take the time to care about that when something might be wrong with his precious wife and/or their baby.
Victoria hooked Katie up to a monitor that had the baby’s strong heartbeat echoing through the room in a matter of minutes.
“Oh, there it is,” Katie said tearfully, holding a hand out to Shane.
“Your baby looks and sounds great,” Victoria said as she completed an ultrasound and wiped the gel from Katie’s belly. “We’ll run a few tests and see if we can figure out what’s making you feel off.”
“Thanks, Vic.”
