Page 148 of The Betrayal

“Okay, let’s get your blood pressure checked as-well as your sample.”

I shuffle out the way, not wanting to get in Kyra's way. I tap my fingers gently on my denim covered thigh to keep my mind busy. No idea why I worry when I'm in here. Always do.

“Your blood pressure is quite high, mind if I do it again?” and my ears prick at Kyra's words. I turn to face Ari and scan her face for something but I’m not sure what.

“No,” Ari says softly, as Kyra presses the button, and the band begins to inflate.

I watch as Kyra looks at the numbers and pinches her brows.

“Okay, let's give it a minute.”

“Is everything okay?” I ask, Ari stays mute.

“Arizona's blood pressure is 145/90, it's very high. I worry about pre-eclampsia. I would like to see if she has any protein in her sample, then re-do her blood pressure.”

I nod. I am trying to keep calm, I really am. Slipping my phone from my pocket, I look up at Ari and give her a reassuring smile. She smiles back, but it's forced. She's worried.

“It'll be okay,” I say softly as Kyra walks out of the office.

“Will it?” she blinks at me, waiting for me to tell her yes.

“Yes baby,” my hand is on her thigh, and I give her a gentle and reassuring squeeze. Now it was my time to calm her down.

Hate that I have lied to her.

She looks away, and I type a quick google search. Shouldn't have done that.

Definitely shouldn’t have done that.

Early delivery.

High risk of complication.

Stillbirth.

I lock my phone; fear strikes through my chest like a lightning bolt.

The door clicks and Kyra is back in the room and walking towards her desk.

“Okay, so you have protein in your urine, along with the high blood pressure...” she pauses for a moment, “I would like to do a blood test, just to see if it could be pre-eclampsia.”

Moving my hand over hers, her fingers slip through mine, and I squeeze her hand tightly. She nods, and I can see the glisten of the unshed tears in her eyes.

“It'll be okay baby,” I say again but I feel awful because I have no idea if it will be okay.

“If it is pre-eclampsia, we will monitor it. If we need to intervene, then your babies will be delivered earlier. It's a lot safer for us to do that then to let you carry to potentially full term and expose yourself and the twins to risks.”

She says nothing. Just stares ahead.

Kyra buzzes through for the nurse and the same lady toddles out with her trolley, trays and needle.

“Hello Ari, how are you?” the older woman’s voice fills the room. Ari looks up at her and smiles through the unshed tears that are threatening.

“I'm good, are you okay?” she asks as the nurse slips the needle into her skin and draws two tubes of blood.

“I am wonderful, thank you,” she nods, placing the needle down then putting a band aid over the crease of Ari's elbow.

“Good, that's good to hear,” she nods, and the nurse says goodbye before walking back out of the room.

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