Chapter SIX
“Em!” Casey cried, hurrying over to the bedside. She wrapped her arms around Emma and squeezed tight. “What’s the verdict?”
“For now, I’m okay, and Noah’s okay. Some preterm labor, but they’re able to stop it.”
Casey and Connor both exhaled noisily. “Thank goodness,” Connor said.
A nurse interrupted by coming in to administer the shot of Turbutaline. She eyed everyone before shaking her head disapprovingly. “You really shouldn’t have such a crowded room. You need rest and relaxation.”
“Please don’t make them leave. They are relaxing to me,” Emma protested.
She tsked before sticking the needle into Emma’s IV. “Dr. Pendelton won’t like all these people in here, disturbing you, and he’s about to come back in to do your ultrasound.”
“We’ll step outside for a bit,” Casey said diplomatically.
“Yeah, we don’t want to get you in trouble,” Connor agreed.
When Aidan didn’t budge, Casey shot him a look. “I’m staying with Emma and my son,” he replied tersely.
“Whatever,” she snapped before starting for the door. She and Connor were about to go out when Dr. Pendleton swept inside. They pressed themselves up against the far wall. Without a hello or an admonishment to the over-capacity room, he proceeded to do the ultrasound. Emma felt slightly comforted seeing Noah’s form on the screen. His heart rate had thankfully calmed down. “He looks like he’s planning on staying inside for awhile,” Dr. Pendleton remarked before turning off the machine.
He stood up. “While everything appears to be improving, I’m going to insist on strict bed-rest for at least the next week to two weeks. You may lie down or sit, but your feet are only to touch the ground to use the restroom. I’d advise that you use a seat in the shower, too. Is that clear?”
Emma gasped. “But my job—”
Dr. Pendleton held up a finger to silence her. “Ms. Harrison, I know it seems that since we have the situation under control at the moment that all is well, but the future stability of your pregnancy rests on the care you give yourself in the next ten days.”
“I understand,” she murmured, trying to calm the rising panic that pricked its way like needles over her body.
“As for your job, I’ll fill out the necessary paperwork for you to take a leave of absence. The most important thing right now is for you to rest and limit your stress level. We don’t want any more premature labor.”
“How long do I have to stay in the hospital?” Emma questioned, her voice wavering.
“I want to keep you over night, and then you’re free to go home. Let me go check on the status of moving you upstairs.”
After Dr. Pendleton exited the room, Emma’s emotions spiraled out of control. She tried fighting with everything in her not to totally and completely lose it at the prospect that Noah’s life might still be in danger. It was too much to bear, and she couldn’t stop the floodgates from opening. A strangled cry erupted from her lips, sending both Casey and Aidan racing forward to comfort her. Somehow Casey elbowed Aidan out of the way, blocking him from getting to her.
A frustrated grunt came from Aidan. Casey ignored him and grabbed Emma’s hand. She squeezed it tight and gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t cry, Em. It’s all going to be fine. Lots of women have to go on bed rest for a while, and then the rest of their pregnancies are completely normal.”
Between hiccupping sobs, she replied, “I hope so.”
“I know so. And I’ll take you to Grammy’s first thing in the morning, and she’ll get you through this.”
Emma shook her head as the tears slid down her cheeks. “I can’t go to Grammy’s. Granddaddy had hip replacement surgery a week ago, and she’s already ragged from taking care of him. I can’t put any more stress on her at her age.”
Aidan cleared his throat and sidestepped Casey to stand in front of Emma. “You’re coming home with me. I’m going to take care of you.”
A hiss erupted from Casey. She jerked her hand away from Emma’s to jab a finger in Aidan’s chest. “Over my dead body!”
Aidan’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”
Casey’s nostrils flared. “You’ve got to be out of your f*cking mind! You take care of her? You’re the very reason she’s in this condition.”
He winced. “With Pop’s episode, Emma’s had a lot of stress on her today as well as in the last few weeks.”
“Don’t you dare try to pawn this off on someone else!”
“Look we all know I f*cked up! Royally. Even though I’d give anything to take it back, I can’t. But I can make it right, and one way to prove to Emma how much I care about her is to take care of her when she needs me most.”
Emma sucked in a breath at Aidan’s words. She was sure one of the countless monitors she was hooked up to was about to go haywire with her accelerating heartbeat. Shock reverberated through her that he had even suggested taking care of her, least of all that he actually meant he’d do it. While deeply touched, she couldn’t imagine how her frayed nerves could allow her to be so close to him. Finally, she shook her head. “I don’t think—” she started.
His blue eyes blazed with a steely determination. “This isn’t up for discussion.”
Casey snorted. “Oh hell yes, it is up for discussion. If anyone is going to be taking care of Em, it’s me, f*ckwit!”
Aidan’s face clouded over with fury, and Emma feared he was about to truly lose his temper. His jaw clenched as he leaned closer to Casey. “You seem to forget that’s my child she’s carrying. He is my responsibility. You can sure as hell believe that nothing else matters more to me in this world than my son.”
Glaring back at him, Casey countered, “Too bad you weren’t thinking about Noah when you almost screwed that skank.”
At Aidan’s growl, Connor squeezed between them. “Okay, enough!” He shook his head. “Damn, you two have got to chill with the pissing contest about Em. Would you stop for a minute and think about how much you’re upsetting her?”
Both Aidan and Casey snapped their gaze from Connor and stared at Emma. Their attention caused her cheeks and neck to flush.
Aidan’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, Em. I don’t want to upset you. I just want…” He ran his hand through his sandy hair. “I just want you to let me take care of you and Noah.”
The sincerity in his words sent her heart fluttering again, and she hated herself for it. After nibbling on her lip, she questioned, “What about your job? You can’t possibly travel like you have been and take care of me.”
“I’ll just take a leave of absence like you are.”
Emma couldn’t help widening her eyes. “You would do that?”
“Of course I would. You need me,” Aidan said, edging closer to the bed.
“But with your position, will they even consider granting you one? I mean, it’s not like we’re married.”
Aidan shrugged. “If they don’t, then I’ll just quit. You and Noah mean more to me than a job.”
Casey crossed her arms over her chest in a huff. “And what if your libido kicks in one night after seeing some slut in a short skirt? Are you just going to run out on her again?”
“Case,” Emma pleaded at the same moment Aidan snarled, “Don’t f*cking go there!”
“I cannot believe you’re honestly considering letting him do this. He broke your heart, Em!” Casey cried, throwing her hands up in frustration.
Emma sighed. “Yes, I’m well aware of what he did. But at the moment, I don’t see any other choice but to accept what he’s proposing.” She then turned her gaze to Aidan. “My house is a wreck with the move. I’d have to stay with you.”
His beaming smile thawed a little of the remaining chill towards him in her heart. “Of course you can. I’ll put you up in my bedroom since its downstairs and the bathroom is closest.”
“Thank you. I’ll need some of my things. Casey, can you go with Aidan and help him pack up what I’ll need?”
Casey’s eyes bulged like Emma had just asked her to help Satan achieve world domination. “I can’t stand being in the same room with him, least of all help him paw through your things!”
Emma rolled her eyes. “Fine then, be an immature ass about it. I’m sure Connor will be happy to do it.”
“Sure thing, Emmie Lou,” Connor replied, stepping forward to thump Aidan’s back. From the way he winced, Emma was sure Connor had hit him a little harder than necessary.
“I appreciate that Connor,” Emma replied. Staring pointedly at Aidan, she said, “Just the essentials. I won’t be staying very long.”
The corners of Aidan’s lip curled into a self-satisfied smirk. “We’ll see.”
“You’re impossible,” she muttered.
“Okay, then, guess we better head out and get started. That way everything will be ready for you when they discharge you in the morning,” Connor said.
Aidan nodded. “Sounds good.”
After a long, drawn out sigh, Casey said, “Fine. I’ll go with you.”
“Seriously?” Connor and Aidan said at the same time.
“Yes,” she snapped.
Connor held his hands up. “Fine. It’s your funeral.”
“Let’s face it. Considering I’m the only one out of the three of us who has a vagina and knows what Em would want, you’re going to need me.”
With a snort, Connor said, “Yeah, well, I’ve known her longest and—”
“You’ve practically got a vagina?” Casey teased with a smile.
“Har, f*cking, har!”
Emma laughed. “Would you guys knock it off and get going?”
“Man, you’re already bossing us around,” Connor said, with a grin. He nudged Aidan. “You’re in for a fun two weeks, Slave Boy.”
Aidan chuckled. “I don’t mind. Emma can use and abuse me to her heart’s content. As long as she’s happy and healthy, I’ll do anything she pleases.”
Connor stared at Aidan for a moment and then shook his head. “Yep, you’ve got the love-bug bad, dude. Very, very bad.” He turned back to Emma and winked. “See you tomorrow, Emmie Lou.” He leaned over and gave her a hug and a kiss. Before he pulled away, he whispered in her ear. “Work him hard, Em, but give him a chance too.”
“I’ll try.”
Connor swapped places with Casey who also gave Emma a big hug. “When I’m done, I’ll come back and stay the night with you,” Casey said.
Emma shook her head. “No, no, I’ll be fine. It’s just one night. It’s not like I haven’t spent a few nights in the hospital. It’s just I’m usually on the other side of the bed.”
“Are you sure? Nate’s pulling an all nighter tonight, so I don’t mind.”
“I’m positive. You can come in the morning or to the house tomorrow.”
Casey’s body went taut at the prospect of Aidan’s house. “We’ll see.”
When Casey turned to go, she swung her massive purse around, nailing Aidan in the balls. With a groan, he doubled over, puffing out a few breaths and then sucking them in. Once he recovered, he jerked his head up. His blue eyes narrowed into slits of fury.
Casey gave him a sweet smile. “Oh, I’m so sorry. My bad.”
Aidan muttered under his breath, but he didn’t challenge Casey. “Come on,” Connor said, taking Aidan’s arm. Once Aidan and Connor had gone out the door, Emma called, “Case?”
Glancing over her shoulder, Casey said, “Yeah?”
Emma gave her a tight smile. “Be nice to him, please?”
Casey sniffed a frustrated breath. “How can you ask that of me? You know how I feel about that…douchenozzle!”
“I know, but there’s more to what happened than you understand. So give him a little bit of a break.”
Whirling around, Casey threw up her hands. “Dammit, Em, why do you have to be so nice and forgiving?”
“I didn’t say I was forgiving him. I just understand more now.” At Casey’s continued doubtful expression, Emma said, “Just trust me on this one.”
“Fine, I’ll be civil, but I can’t be nice.”
“Does civil mean you won’t nail him in the balls again?”
Casey gave an evil grin. “It means I’ll try.”
“Try hard, okay?”
She nodded.
“Thank you.”
Casey blew her a kiss before heading out the door. Throwing her head back against the pillows, Emma blew out a puff of air. Her hand went to her abdomen as she continued gazing up at the ceiling tiles. “Please God, please watch over Noah and don’t let anything bad happen to him. Nothing else in the world matters as much as delivering him healthy into this world at the right time.” Closing her eyes, Aidan’s face flashed before her, sending her eyes popping back open. “And if Aidan is truly the one, soften my heart to him…or give me a sign I should move on.”
Her prayers were interrupted by a nurse and an orderly. “Time to move you upstairs.”
The orderly brought the wheelchair over, and Emma swung her legs out of the bed. After she sat down, she smoothed the hospital gown down over her legs. They took a quick trip up the elevator to the 3rd floor. She couldn’t help but wonder which floor Patrick was on. She made a note of her room number, so she could text it to Casey…and to Aidan.
A sweet-faced middle aged nurse came in just as she was getting settled in the bed. “I’m Connie, and if you need anything, you just let me know.”
Emma smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
Once Connie and the orderly left, Emma turned on the TV to try to get her mind off of things. She was enjoying some old reruns of I Love Lucy when a gentle rapt came at the door.
“Yes?” she called, her brows furrowing at who would possibly be knocking.
It cracked open before Pesh stuck his head in. “Hey there.”
Emma inwardly groaned. He was the last person on earth she expected to see. Shooting up in the bed, she smoothed her ruffled bed hair and hoped she didn’t have leftover raccoon eyes from crying. “H-Hi.”
Wagging his finger, he made a tsking noise as he stepped into the room. “Just couldn’t let Mr. Fitzgerald be outdone, huh?”
Emma laughed. “No, I don’t suppose so.”
Motioning to the chair next to the bed, Pesh asked, “May I?”
“Sure.”
His jovial expression suddenly grew serious. “You can’t imagine how horrified I was to see your name come across the computer screen.” He shook his head. “So I was right in thinking you needed to take better care of yourself?”
“Unfortunately yes. But it’s not only today though.” Emma glanced down at the standard order hospital blanket. “The last three weeks have taken their toll, I suppose.”
“Does it have anything to do with your relationship with Mr. Fitzgerald’s son?”
Emma jerked her gaze from the blanket over to Pesh. “W-Wait, how did you…”
He gave her an understanding smile. “It’s a long story.”
“So is mine,” she replied, with a mirthless laugh. At the tension in the air, Emma desperately sought to change the subject. “I thought you had gone home for the day. When I was brought in, I was hoping you would be my doctor. Dr. Pendleton’s bedside manner is quite lacking.”
“I apologize for that.”
“It’s not your fault he’s so gruff.”
“No, but it’s my fault that you had to see him.”
“What?”
A sheepish grin curved on his lips. “You were assigned to my caseload, but I asked him to see you instead.”
Emma gasped. “But why?”
Ducking his head, Pesh replied, “Because I knew I wanted to see you personally in the future, and that would be too uncomfortable for both of us if I had to…” He drew in a sharp breath as pink tinged his tan cheeks. “Well, if I had to examine you physically.”
Understanding crashed over Emma as she thought of how thoroughly Dr. Pendleton had examined her. “Oh,” she murmured.
He leaned forward in his chair, his dark eyes taking on a pleading glint. “I don’t want you to think I’m a creep or something for wanting to get to know you better. It was Mr. Fitzgerald who first broached the subject.”
Emma widened her eyes in horror. “He actually did that? I’m going to give him a piece of my mind when we’re both better!” When his shoulders sagged in defeat, Emma felt terrible that he appeared insulted by her words. “Oh Pesh, I’m so sorry. It’s not that I wouldn’t want to go out with you.”
His dark eyes lit up with hope. “Really?”
“Yes. I just can’t believe that Patrick would do such a thing.”
“Because of what was once between you and his son?”
“Yes that and the fact he was laid up in the emergency room. It’s not the most opportune time to be playing matchmaker.”
“I guess I planted the seed when I called you beautiful.”
Emma’s cheeks warmed at his compliment. “Thank you.”
Staring down at his hands, Pesh said, “I want you to know that taking your phone number from Mr. Fitzgerald, saying that a total stranger is beautiful—that’s not who I am. I’m sure none of my colleagues would believe I had done such a thing.”
“Really?”
Pesh nodded. “The truth is I haven’t reacted to a woman like I did with you in a long, long time.”
“Oh?”
He peeked up at her through his long, dark lashes. Sorrow radiated in his eyes. “Eighteen months ago I lost my wife to an aneurysm.”
Emma gasped. “I’m so sorry.”
“You can’t imagine what a helpless feeling it is to be a physician, and you can’t save the woman you love most in the world.”
“How old was she?” Emma tentatively asked.
“Only thirty-five.”
“That’s so young.”
Pesh nodded. “Jade was adopted when she was just three. Her adoptive parents didn’t know anything about her medical history. From what I’ve been able to gather, it could have been preventable had we known the signs and symptoms of what to look for.”
At his anguished expression, Emma reached out for his hand. With a grateful smile, he slipped it into hers. “I know what it’s like to lose the love of your life.”
Pesh’s dark brows arched in surprise. “You do?”
She nodded. “Five years ago my fiancée was killed in a car accident.”
“I’m so sorry.” An awkward silence filled the room. Finally, Pesh gave a short shake of his head. “Hmm, between your lost fiancée, your breakup, and me being a widower, I suppose we would make a tragic pair, wouldn’t we?”
“People do move on,” she said softly. But when she uttered the words, she was thinking more of Aidan than of Travis. Was Pesh the sign she had prayed about? Or had everything that had been thrown at her in the last three weeks just confused her too much?
“In the eighteen months since I lost Jade, I could never imagine ever wanting to date another woman again.” He smiled at her. “Until today.”
“But why me?”
“Why not?”
“You do realize I’m six months pregnant right?”
“I’ll tell you the same thing I did Mr. Fitzgerald’s son when he mentioned it.”
Emma’s cheeks burned at the mention of Aidan. She didn’t even want to begin to imagine what the conversation had been like between Patrick, Aidan, and Pesh. Her mortification was interrupted by Pesh squeezing her hand. “The fact you’re pregnant has no bearing on how beautiful you are outwardly or the kindness that radiates from within you.”
Unblinking and not breathing, she stared at him in disbelief. How was it possible that a handsome, successful, compassionate man was interested in dating her when she was six months pregnant with another man’s child? “Pesh, I’m very grateful for your flattering compliments, but my life is so very complicated at the moment.”
“And I’m not helping matters with my amorous declarations, am I?”
She gave him a sad smile. “You’ve been through so much that you deserve true happiness. I have to be totally honest when I say I just don’t know if I have anything to give you at the moment.”
Pesh tilted his head to one side in thought. “What if we just tried getting to know one another as friends and see where it goes? I know you’re not going to be able to get out and about much in the next few weeks, so I could come and do house calls. You know, check your vitals.” He momentarily grimaced. “That sounds completely stalkerish, doesn’t it?”
“No, I—”
“It’s been so long since I was in the dating game. I’m sure I’m saying and doing everything that is a major turn-off.”
Emma gazed at his drop dead gorgeous face and wondered how he could ever turn any woman off. “I would love to have you come and check on me.”
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Really?”
She nodded. “I’m sure after a few days stuck inside, I’d love the company as well as the medical expertise.”
A pleased smile cut across Pesh’s face. “I would like that very much.”
“Me too.”
The pager on Pesh’s belt went off. “Guess that means I better head out.” He rose up from the chair. “So I look forward to seeing you sometime this week.”
“But how will you—”
Pesh held his hand up. “Mr. Fitzgerald has already taken care of that.”
Emma rolled her eyes but smiled in spite of herself. “Why am I not surprised?”
He laughed. He once again took her hand in his and then brought it to his lips. “You better promise to take very good care of yourself.”
Finding it hard to breathe, she could only murmur, “I will.”
He then turned and went to the door. Just before he slipped out of it, he gave her one last wave. Once she heard the door click shut, her head fell back against the pillows. Shaking her head, she couldn’t believe the insanity of the day’s events. If anyone had told her the day before a gorgeous man would be asking to go on a date with her, she would have told them they were out of their mind. The same could be said for everything that had transpired at dinner with Aidan from his admission about Amy to his desire for her forgiveness.
Exhausted from the day’s events, she closed her eyes and tried to block out all of her out-of-control thoughts and fears.