Chapter 124 124
Justin got Sherry down to the car and they were quickly whisked through the city, his driver breaking a few traffic laws while dodging taxis, cyclists and buses. Justin put his arm around Sherry’s shoulder, pulling her close. She sank against him, turned into his chest, wrapped her arm around his waist. It was the only comfort he could take in that moment. They had each other. Whatever the future held for the two of them as a couple, or the three of them as a family, they would get through it. They had to.
When they arrived at the hospital, Justin wasted no time getting Sherry through the lobby and up to the sixth floor. The nurse was waiting for them and quickly showed them back to an exam room. Sherry changed into a gown. Dr. Wright was in moments later.
“Ms. Bennet. Mr. Covington. Before I say anything, I want to tell you both to take a deep breath.” She motioned with both hands for them to calm down. “I know you’re worried, but this isn’t always a bad thing. Let’s see what’s going on.”
Sherry leaned back on the exam table and Justin took her hand. She tilted her head, looking up at him as if he held all of the answers. He’d never felt so helpless in his entire life—the two things he cherished most in the world were right here, Sherry and the baby—and there was very little he could do to truly keep them safe. How he longed to tell Sherry that everything was going to be okay and to be certain of it.
Dr. Wright wheeled back on her rolling stool. “The good news is that your cervix is closed up tight. Let’s listen to the heartbeat and make sure there’s no sign of fetal distress.”
Fetal distress. Those two words felt like a death sentence. The thought of their child in distress brought the most sickening feeling up from the depths of his gut. He hoped to hear that beautiful whoosh. Please God, let us hear the whoosh.
“Before we do this,” Dr. Wright started. “I want you both to understand that this is very early days. If the baby is in trouble, there’s not much we can do. I want to remind you that you’re both so young. You have your entire lives ahead of you. Today doesn’t have to be the end.”
Justin’s gaze dropped to meet Sherry’s. Tears streamed down her cheeks. They welled in his as well. He couldn’t even remember another time when he’d cried, but he couldn’t have stopped it if he’d wanted to. His dream of a life with Sherry could still happen, but it would be different if they lost the baby. Neither of them would ever be the same. He would still want her if the worst happened, but would she still want him?
She’d worried that he might not be around for the long haul, but the reality was that the same could be wondered about her. Without this child binding them together, and with every mistake he’d made, would she want to walk away? He couldn’t fathom how empty his life would be if that happened.
“We understand. Go ahead,” Sherry said to Dr. Wright.
Justin nodded reluctantly. “Yes. Please. Go ahead.”
The static and pops had a distinctly different tone to them this time—it was hope at odds with itself, a moment born of desperation while clinging to what you already have, not focused on what might be. He’d never piled so many wishes on a single moment before. Justin looked right into Sherry’s eyes. If they were going to receive the worst of news, they would experience the pain of that instant together. She would not be alone. Sherry clung to his hand, squeezing tight.
Static buzzed. The speaker popped. Frantic crackles echoed. And then the whoosh. Whoosh whoosh whoosh.
Sherry’s eyes sprang to life, quickly followed by her electric smile, jolting Justin back to a state where he felt as if he could breathe again. Sherry raised her head and looked down at her stomach. “The baby...”
“The heartbeat sounds perfect,” Dr. Wright said.
“Thank God.” The most profound relief Justin had ever experienced threatened to knock him flat. He closed his eyes and his shoulders dropped from the solace of that perfect sound. He leaned down and cupped Sherry’s cheek then pressed a kiss to her forehead. His lips wanted to stay there, keep contact with her warm and wonderful-smelling skin.
Dr. Wright turned off the Doppler and sat back down on her stool. Justin helped Sherry back up to sitting.
“I’d like you on bed rest for the next twenty-four hours. Take it easy. It’s very possible that this is just normal first trimester spotting.”
“Normal?” Justin asked.
“Yes, Mr. Covington. Normal. Possibly.”
He’d never quite imagined his glee at hearing that anything was normal, possibly, but there it was. He was ecstatic.
“You aren’t out of the woods. There are never any guarantees. But I’d say that everything, for the moment, looks good. Go home. Relax. Together. Dad, no going into work. Stay with her and call me if anything goes wrong.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’m not going anywhere.”
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Justin and Sherry arrived at Justin’s apartment around one, after running to Sherry’s place to get her a few things. He insisted they would be more comfortable at his place. She had to agree, and it was also much closer to the doctor’s office if they had to return. Although, as Dr. Wright had said, there wasn’t much they could do but wait for the bleeding to stop. At least they would be doing it together.
Sherry changed into pajama pants and a tank top, unfortunately finding a similar amount of blood when she used the bathroom.
“Well?” Justin asked, sounding hopeful when she walked into his bedroom.
“Still spotting. But it’s not any worse than before, so that’s good.”
It felt as though she was shouldering the weight of the moment. Intellectually, she knew she had no control over the bleeding, but it was hard not to feel responsible. Perhaps that was the burden of being the messenger. It was okay. She’d take it.
“I don’t want you to worry about it.” He pulled back the comforter and patted the bed. “Your throne, m’lady.”