Page 39 of While We Waited

I grasp her hand and squeeze. “About what? Are you okay now?”

She places her free hand over her stomach. “I’m okay. As long as Sprog is okay, I’m okay.”

Nova is avoiding my questions about what happened. I can better ask the doctor. Doctor Allens doesn’t lie. Not even to your parents when you beg her not to tell them about your latest football injury.

“Doctor Allens, can you explain what happened?”

The doctor raises an eyebrow at Nova who sighs. “You can tell him. He’s the baby’s father, after all.”

She opens her chart. “Nova was worried she was losing the baby due to excessive bleeding.”

Panic seizes me at the thought of Nova alone and bleeding, worried she lost the baby. I don’t want her to be alone. She’s been alone too much in her life already. Not anymore. Now she has me.

“Is the baby okay?”

The doctor grins. “The baby is fine and some bleeding is normal during pregnancy.”

Nova’s cheeks darken. “I know but what’s some and what’s too much?”

“You should speak to your OB/GYN about the specifics in your case.”

“Do we have an OB/GYN?” I ask Nova.

“Yes,Ihave an OB/GYN.”

She’s cute. She thinks emphasizing the I will have an effect on me. It won’t. She won’t be going to any doctor’s appointments without me. She’s not alone. Not anymore.

“What now?” I ask Doctor Allens. “Does Nova need to spend the night at the hospital?”

She flips the chart closed. “She’s free to go home. I’ll have the nurse bring in the paperwork.”

“Thanks, Doc.”

She waves as she exits the room.

“How did you find out I’m here?” Nova asks before I have a chance to speak.

“I should have found out from you.” I need to figure out a way to ensure I’m the first person she calls.

“Answer the question.”

“Weston told me.”

She buries her face in her hands. “Weston’s a gossip. He’ll have told the entire town by now.”

I pinch her chin and tilt her face up. “There’s nothing to be ashamed about. You were worried and went to the hospital.”

“Except I was speeding and Weston pulled me over.”

“No more speeding.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

I place a hand over her stomach. “You have precious cargo on board. I don’t want you getting into an accident.”

She lets out a breath. “You’re right. But I was nervous. I didn’t want to be too late to get to the hospital.”

“You should have called me. I would have picked you up and brought you here.”

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