180

180
Heaven knows it wasn’t from anything else. She’d flown all the way to Olkfield and all she’d seen was the airport, the city lights and the inside of Tyler's apartment. Not that she would have changed a thing. This weekend had been surreal. Perfect, just the way it was.

Lexi rubbed her back as she walked down the hall toward the dining room. Along the way her stomach cramped and she made a detour to the bathroom, only to shake her head at herself and whatever was causing the tremor in her hands. Her stress level had risen but why? A panic attack? She’d had them before, mostly in childhood, though. She stared at herself in the mirror and searched for signs of those stupid hives. Yup, there they were. What was going on?

Her stomach cramped again and she bit her lip. Had she eaten something bad? The cramps sort of indicated that, like she had an upset stomach.

“Mrs. Graham, are you okay?”

She forced a smile at the secretary. “I’m fine, Wendy. Just a stomachache.”

“Oh, I hope you don’t have that virus that’s going around. I was down all last weekend with it. Nasty stuff.”

Sweat broke out on her forehead. “Do you, um, know if Mr. Long is going to be in today?”

“It’s early yet, but I doubt it. He mentioned something about a movie with his grandson. If you’re not feeling well and need to leave, I’d be happy to keep an eye on things for you. I can call you at home if there are any problems.”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“Not at all,” the woman said with a concerned expression. “Nothing’s on the books and it’s raining so it’ll be a slow day. You go on home and take care of yourself. Would you like me to call someone to drive you?”

Lexi shook her head and shoved herself upright from where she’d stood gripping the sink. “No, thank you. I’ll be fine.”

Minutes later Lexi was on her way home, her windshield wipers and air conditioner both on high. She felt so hot. How ironic would it be to get the flu now? She made the twists and turns toward home on autopilot. Her heart pulsed in her ears and nausea threatened to overwhelm her more than once. Almost home.

She rounded the curve in the road before her house when a particularly hard cramp stabbed her from deep within. Lexi gasped, barely able to breathe for the pain, then something seemed to pop within her before hot fluid gushed between her legs. Dizzy, Lexi looked down, shocked at the bright red slowly spreading through her white linen slacks. She stared at the growing stain, uncomprehending.

Her hands on the wheel, she looked up, belatedly realizing the car was still moving and she’d gone left of center, the curve mere feet ahead. She jerked the wheel and hit the brakes, tires squealing, but it was too late. The car kept sliding out of control on the water-and-leaf-covered asphalt, spinning two full circles before she hit the deep ditch just short of her driveway.

___________

Tyler entered the conference room and wished he could remove the suit coat he was wearing. He felt hot and couldn't wait for this meeting to be over. 

The team from Sony entered the room and Tyler stepped forward to shake hands. “Well, gentlemen, shall we get started?” he indicated the chairs with a wave of his hand. “I think you’re going to like what we have to show you.”

He'd just started talking when the door opened again.

“Mr. Connelly, you have a call.”

“Cassandra, we’re in the middle of something.” Anne-Marie jerked her head toward the receptionist’s desk on the other side of the clear glass wall.“Hold all calls.”

“It’s an emergency.”

Tyler frowned, “Who is it, Cassandra?”

“Your friend, Lily. She said to interrupt you, that you’d want to take his call. She's been trying to reach you on your phone but couldn't.”

Tyler's heart stopped, then began to pound out of his chest. “Gentlemen, if you’d excuse me?”

Anne-Marie jumped to her feet. “Tyler, what are you doing? It can wait until we’re finished. This is important to the company. Cassandra, take a message.”

Tyler turned toward the table. He noted the wedding rings on several of their hands. “I see most of you are family men. I'd like to get this. I’m sure you understand.”

He made eye contact with every one of the team and gained their nods of support before ignoring Anne-Marie and leaving the room. He took the call at the receptionist’s desk. “Lily?”

“I’m sorry to call you right now. I know you're probably busy.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I got a call. State police. It was Lexi, Tyler. She hydroplaned and hit the embankment not far from her house.”

His gut knotted, his lungs refusing to work. “Is she okay? The baby?”

Silence, then Lily said, “Lexi's fine.”

Lexi. But not the baby.

“I’m sorry, Tyler. EMS was pretty clear about that, I don’t think there’s any mistake.”

Tyler closed his eyes against the burn and fought the vise closing around his chest. He hadn’t seen it, hadn’t held it, but he’d loved his baby. Now it was gone? The pain was there, sharp and deep. But it would have to wait.

“How is Lexi handling this?”

“I got there late, but the EMS guys said she was dazed and quiet. She’d hit her head and probably has a concussion. I'm headed to the hospital. When I get there, I’ll give you another call.”

“I’ll catch the next flight out.” Tyler said. 

____________

Lexi stared at Dr. Clyde and nodded her understanding at what the doctor had told her.

“Lexi, I wish you’d let someone come in to sit with you. What about your father?”

“No.” She shook her head firmly, unable to deal with anyone now. “Please, I need some time alone.”

“Your friend Lily and her husband are outside as well. They’re very worried about you.”

“I’m fine.” Lexi moved the IV lines and tried to scoot up in the bed but gave up the effort when her head and body protested with a multitude of aches and pains. “Just really sore.”

Dr. Clyde nodded. “You will be for about a week or so. You took a hard plunge into that ditch.” The doctor set the chart aside and sat on the bed at Lexi's waist. “Right now you’re probably feeling overwhelmed, maybe even a little numb, like it didn’t happen. That’s all normal and part of grief. But I want you to understand that the miscarriage wasn’t your fault.

Nothing you did made you lose the baby. Sometimes these things just happen.”