Page 53 of Mine to Worship

“Am I at risk for any complications?” I ask and she takes a long breath and eyes us both with a serious expression.

“Hyperemesis gravidarum can put you at high risk of other pregnancy complications. But even under this strenuous situation, you will gain more weight, which will do both of you good.”

“How much should she gain?” Kian asks.

“Under normal circumstances, between twenty-five to thirty-five pounds. But in Ellia’s condition, the majority of her weight gain will be during the second trimester. It will increase throughout the rest of the pregnancy, about three to four pounds per month.”

“We had sex yesterday, is it because of that?” he asks, a tinge of apprehension laced in his words.

“Bleeding after sex is quite common in pregnancy.”

He eyes me as if to say we’re not having sex anymore. If I weren’t so anxious, I would have laughed.

“I would abstain from intercourse for a while,” she recommends.

Kian and I ask her a few more questions then she takes her leave.

“Thank you,” I say, and she turns to Kian and tells him, “Whatever it is, you can call.”

He nods and she leaves the room.

“I should tell them to come another time.”

“No, I am better, you’ll see. The IV will help.”

After the IV and another check up, we leave the hospital and once home, he puts me in bed, lulling me in with a massage and I fall asleep.

Chapter 22

Kian

I tuck Ellia in, swallowing down the lump in my throat. Today, I faced something worse than fear. It was terror, undiluted, sheer terror. Her sobs and the blood I spotted on the sheet put a bullet straight to my chest. Just a few drops and my rib cages cracked under the fear. Before Dr. Lopez confirmed Ellia and the baby were fine, my entire world became pitch black for a moment at the thought of losing either of them. My fingers tremble on a glass of whiskey and I sip from it. The rich flavor numbs my taste buds and I lean back on the armchair.

Abstaining from sex won’t be easy, but in comparison to the consequences of potentially losing my baby, I will do it. My baby is the only force strong enough to keep me from between my wife’s legs––my personal heaven.

My little miracle is tough, my angel is, too. They will be fine. My fingers rub my forehead when lights peek through the curtains as cars approach. Like a madman, I bolt through the door to keep them from making noise.

“What’s wrong?” Aubrey asks in a hushed tone.

“She is asleep and needs to rest.”

“What happened?” Tara asks, looking concerned.

My voice shakes when I say, “We went to the hospital today. She is having a difficult pregnancy, and we thought she was losing the baby…”

“Is she okay?” both Brandon and Tara ask, eyes round with worry.

“Yes, both of them are. Just keep quiet.”

“Man, if this is not the right time, we can come later,” Kendrick says and they all nod. I shake my head and gesture for them to get inside.

“No, Ellia wants you all here. She is better now and after some sleep, she’ll be even better.”

“We can sleep somewhere else,” Jason says.

“Get inside already, but be quiet.”

Everyone moves like ninjas as they tiptoe to their rooms. Minutes later, Kendrick and Tara come downstairs.

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