Page 96 of A Seed Of Peril

Panic rose. The beeping sped up. My heart leapt into my throat. Before I could move, someone rested their hands on my shoulder, keeping me in place.

“It’s alright,” said that sweet voice again. Looking up, I spotted Julie hovering over me. She pointed to something, and that was when I caught sight of Dominic sleeping on the long, cushioned chair for guests at the left side of the room. He, too, had a blanket draped over him.

“My son?” I asked, my voice raspy on account of my parched throat. I began to lift my right hand to rub my throat. It felt as if I swallowed tacks or something.

I blinked and tried to look away at the sudden burst of light in my eyes. Julie put her small flashlight in her coat pocket and fetched me a cup of water from the sink, walking back to the bed with it. She put her hand behind my head and helped me take a sip, the cold water refreshing.

“Vincenzo is sound asleep, just like his daddy.”

As she checked the sticky pads on my chest and checked over me as a whole, I looked again at an area across the room Julie previously pointed out to me, my eyes fixated on the bundle wrapped in a blanket wearing a blue hat.

My baby boy.

I breathed a sigh of sheer relief, keeping my focus on Vincenzo. “What happened to me?”

“You don’t remember?” Julie questioned while lifted my gown.

When I shifted my attention to Julie, I noticed my belly was still somewhat bloated. I winced slightly when she adjusted my blanket.

“It’s not surprising you don’t remember much. You had quite the ordeal.”

“It hurts,” I said mindlessly, briefly closing my eyes.

I sensed Julie step around the bed toward me, and then, I heard a click.

“I gave you some analgesia for your pain.” I felt her slide something under my left hand. Loosely clutching it, I opened my eyes, slowly looking down at what she’d given me. “Just press that button at the top whenever you feel you need some relief.”

I studied the small, gray object in my hand. With the fogginess of the waning anesthesia, my ability to focus was hindered. My body was sluggish, and my eyes were tired. It was easier to stare at the clicker in my hand than at anything or anyone else.

“You had to have emergency surgery to save yours and your son’s life.”

“A c-section?”

“No. While I did have to cut you open, you delivered your son vaginally. Thankfully, the rupture was incomplete. That’s what saved both your lives.”

Was I going to be okay? Was my son one-hundred percent okay? Rupture?

“A rupture?”

“Your uterus ruptured. We ended up having to give you a blood transfusion. It was scary for a few minutes, but like Dominic has stated before, you’re quite the fighter, Lilith.”

I suddenly stared at my fiancé, overcome with emotion. A tidal wave of sadness rushed through me, and before I knew it, I was crying. It was coming back to me: the look on his face as I delivered our son. The fear. Worry. Wondering if I’d make it through. I couldn’t remember if I said anything nasty. I hoped I didn’t, and if I did, he hopefully understood that pain made a person say crazy things.

Julie put her hand on my shoulder again.

“Oh, Lilith,” she said, her tone sympathetic. “Sometimes things happen that we have no control over, but just know you and your son are healthy and thriving. We’re all so proud of you.”

I sniffed. “Thank you.”

Just then, Dominic opened his eyes. He lazily lifted his head, clearly coming out of a heavy sleep. The second we locked eyes, it was as if any and all energy had rushed back into him. He sprang upright, flung his blanket off him, and nearly tripped over his feet running to my bedside. Julie quickly moved out of his way, standing at the foot of the bed.

Dominic scooped up my hand and smothered it with kisses, then began to do the same to my face. The sheer relief that I made it out alive was unmistakable in his eyes and features.

“Now, don’t expect her to be one hundred percent yet,” Julie innocently reminded Dominic. “She’s still fighting off the anesthesia.”

Dominic never strayed his eyes from mine. “Thank you for everything, Julie. You went above and beyond and will be rewarded substantially.”

Julie put her hand over her heart, graciously taken aback, smiling. “Thank you both for letting me be here, and I always go above and beyond for my patients.”

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