Chapter 145
Nicol
While the police were taking my statement, Carol opened the gate. “Nicol I’m so sorry, I should have opened the gate but I had to protect the women he came for.” She said with tears in her eyes. “I understand Carol don’t worry.” “He could have killed you.” “Mam how do you know?” the police officer asked her. “I was watching it on the security feed.” “Can we have a copy of that video footage.” “I’m already ahead of you.” She gave the memory stick to the officer. “Thank you, mam.” “No problem please just lock that guy up. His wife is inside the shelter running from him she even has a protection order against him.” “Can we speak to her?” The officer asked “No you have her statement on the system.” “In that case her name and surname.” “On the memory stick.” “Thank you, mam.” “Are you done with her can I take her inside now?” “Yes, Nicol we have your number if we need you, we will call you.” “No problem thank you for coming so quickly.” “Any time Nicol.”
Carol took the one bag from me and we walked into the shelter, she locked the gate behind us “Is that what the women in here are subjected to?” “Unfortunately, yes Nicol.” I just grabbed my chest because really, I ran from a man that would have given me everything these women ran from abusive men, yes, I knew that is why these places exist it’s just so much real now. “We should get ice on those bruises.” “My boyfriend is going to have a fit when he sees this.” “I’m sure he will.” Carol said as she walked past me. “Let me go see the two pregnant ladies.” “No, you sit I’ll bring you a cup of tea and some ice for those bruises and then you can go to them.” Carol insisted. It was getting late and Nicolas will be very worried if I’m not home before him. But I wasn’t going to complain or go against what Carol said. While I was sitting in the office waiting for Carol, pregnant lady no 2, the older one came into the office. “I’m so sorry Nicol.” She said but clearly, she was crying. “You didn’t do anything.” “My name is Mia.” “Well, you didn’t do anything Mia.” “But it was my husband that strangled you.” “Please tell me you didn’t see that.” I was feeling sorry for her and I didn’t want her to see what she ran from. “I did. I heard his screaming and came to the office to make sure it was him.” “I’m sorry you had to go through that drama again Mia.” “I’m use to it, but I’m sure you are not?” “No, I’m not.” I wanted to change the mood; I wasn’t in the mood to talk about what happened so I pulled out the one bag. “I got you something.” She opens the bag and for the first time I could see a real smile on her face “No you didn’t?” She said throwing her arms around me. “Thank you thank you.” She said over and over. “No problem, go enjoy and put the others in the fridge.” “I will.” “I’ll be with you girls in a second, Carol is forcing me to put some ice on the bruises and drink some tea.” “That’s Carol for you. Can I send the other lady in for her surprise it’s going to be award walking past her with the ice cream.” “Yes, off course, maybe I can take her blood pressure while I’m sitting here.” She looked at me funny then said “I’ll call her.”
Not even 2 minutes later the younger pregnant girl walked into the office, “Nicol I heard what happened to you. Are you okay?” “I will be, thank you.” “My name is Kayla.” “Well thank you Kayla.” It was clear after what Mia’s husband did to me, I was part of the crew and they can share their names with me, they trust me now. “Kayla, I have a surprise for you.” I pulled out the bag “Some of them might be crushed.” I said feeling a bit silly that that is what I was worried about. “Thank you so much Nicol you don’t know what this means to me.” “It’s just Twinkies Kayla.” “To you maybe but to me it’s the first time someone except the shelter went out of their way for me.” “No problem, Kayla. Can you sit then we can check your blood pressure, sugar, oxygen levels and see if we can hear the baby’s heart beat.” “Yes please.” I let Kayla sit where I was sitting and took out my oximeter, blood pressure machine, glucose meter and the statoscope. Carol came walking into the office “I thought I told you to sit still and wait for your tea and the ice bags.” “I can’t sit still.” I confessed to Kayla and Carol. “Oh sweetie.” Carol took me in her arms “it’s the adrenaline. I think if you are done here, we should call your boyfriend to come and get you, I don’t want you in an Uber or even a Taxi.” “I think it’s a good idea.” You not going to fight me on this?” “No, I really need Nicolas.” “Okay now drink your tea while you are busy with her.” “I know their names Carol so you can call them by their names.” Carol smiled and walked out probable going to check on Mia.
“Okay let’s check on you.” I put the oximeter on her finger then I did her blood pressure. Everything was quiet while I did it. “Your blood pressure looks good and your oxygen levels.” “Okay.” She said, it was clear she had no clue what I was talking about, I should take this girl to a birth class or something she was clearly clueless. “Can you lift your top please, let’s listen for that heart beat.” I put the stethoscope in my ear and the other side to her stomach, I moved the statoscope until I heard the most beautiful sound there was, the baby’s heartbeat. “The heartbeat is strong Kayla there is nothing to worry about.” I took out the statoscope and put them in her ear. “Can you hear that?” I asked. I saw the tears starting to stream down her face “His okay.” “You having a boy?” “I don’t know I’m just calling the baby he; it would be weird to say it.” “It would be.” “Last thing let’s just check your sugar levels before you dive into those Twinkies.” I said smiling at her. “You’ll feel a little prick.” I prick her finger and put the blood on a little paper stick which I put in the glucose machine. Her sugar was 2 which was dangerously low. “How are you feeling Kayla.” “Okay just a bit light headed.” “Did you eat something today?” “Yes, this morning I had some cereal.” “Well please eat one of those Twinkies in fact eat more than one your sugar levels are very low. We need to get them up.” “Okay thank you Nicol I will.” “I will come and check on you guys tomorrow again. But before I leave will you send Mia in here, please.” “Yes, off course.”