Page 34 of Mia Amata

“Yes, I’ll keep an eye on her, make sure she is OK.” I tried to protest but the doctor threatened to admit me if I didn’t agree. I finally gave up. The doctor went over all the signs and symptoms to watch for, saying to wake me up every couple of hours to check on me.

I stood up to leave, Jacob wrapped my throw around me and led me out the door. He kept his arm around me, helping me into his truck, making sure I got seat belted OK. We drove in silence for a while. “Mia, are you sure you’re OK?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I am so sorry for causing you so much trouble.”

“Mia, stop that. You are no trouble. You just scared the hell out of me. What happened?” he asked.

I took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant Jacob. I climbed the ladder, reached up to use the drill, and felt dizzy. Evidently, I passed out and fell.”

Jacob was silent for a while. “You aren’t hurt? You and the baby are OK?”

“The doctor said I might be sore for a couple of days, I have a slight headache, but the baby and I are OK.”

We pulled into my driveway; Jacob shut the truck off. We sat there in silence for a couple of minutes. “What the hell were you doing on a ladder?” He seemed so angry, I cringed away from him, against the passenger door, getting as far from him as I could. I worked on unbuckling my seatbelt, getting ready to flee.

Quietly, I said, “I’m pregnant, not incapable of doing my chores.” I got the seatbelt unbuckled.

“Yes. You are pregnant. You have no reason to be on a ladder.”

I didn’t reply. I opened the door to the truck and climbed out, heading to the house. I heard Jacob close the truck door, following me to the house. Lucky welcomed me happily when I walked in. “Hey, boy,” I scratched his head, then let him outside. I followed him out, standing at the rail as he ran down into the yard. Jacob came out on the deck.

“Mia Amata,” he said, grabbing my arm. I pulled away, frightened.

“Please don’t grab me,” I said.

“I’m sorry. I won’t hurt you. I am just trying to understand what happened. What is going on?”

“What more is there to understand? The man I was involved with previously didn’t want anything to do with me when he found out I was pregnant. I am here, alone. I am trying to figure out my life.”

“Do you know how much you scared me tonight? Had something happened to you, I don’t know what I would have done.”

I looked at him confused. “Why do you care? You don’t know me.” Lucky came back up the steps, I led the way back inside the house. Jacob stayed on the deck for a couple more minutes, then followed me in. I went into the kitchen, checking the rolls and the food in the crockpot. The rolls were done, but cold. The chicken and rice was done, still hot. I looked at Jacob. “I’m sure you are hungry, the least I can do is feed you for all the trouble I’ve caused you.”

Jacob rubbed his face, tired. “Mia, you aren’t any trouble. Let me help you.”

“Just have a seat at the table, I’ve got this under control.”

Jacob washed his hands, then sat down at the table, watching me as I pulled the rolls out of the oven. I tossed the salad and added the vinaigrette, setting it on the table along with a plate of rolls. I grabbed the chicken and rice, putting that on the table too. I poured us some iced tea, then joined Jacob.

“I have to admit, this smells wonderful. Did you make all of this from scratch?” He looked impressed as I nodded.

Conversation between the two of us was difficult as we ate supper. We avoided the elephant in the room.

I really didn’t feel good, my stomach was nauseous, and my head hurt. Jacob told me about his job, he worked as a game warden and really loved what he was doing. “I grew up in the outdoors practically, always bringing home stray animals, hunting and fishing. It just seemed the right course for me to take.”

“Can it be dangerous?” I asked.

“Yes, honestly it can. I deal with hunters and poachers; you never know how they are going to respond to you. For the most part, they are decent people who make a mistake.”

“Do you carry a gun?” I looked at him, concerned.

“Yes, I do. I’ve never had to fire it except to put a hurt animal out of their misery. Most of the time I take animals to local shelters or vets to try to get them help, so they can be released back to the wild. I even have some room at my place where I can keep a couple animals from time to time, having vets come out to help me nurse them back to health.”

“Sounds like you really enjoy what you do.” I smiled at him.

“I really do. Not only do I get to help animals and the environment, but I also get to teach people. I’m up for a promotion, I’ve been working hard for it. I should know in the next couple of weeks if I get it.”

“I’m sure you will, you really seem to have a passion for what you do.” We stood up. He insisted I go rest on the couch; he would clean up supper for me. When he finished, he walked over to where I was resting.

---