Page 112 of Pieces

Dr. Carter applies the gel to Daphne’s stomach. “Okay,” the nurse says, her tone warm and reassuring as she pulls on a pair of gloves. “Let’s take a look and see how everything’s going.”

My stomach sinks like a house for bricks as I watch the screen blip to life. Every second seems like a lifetime. “Now, just relax.”

Relax. The word feels foreign, and I know Daphne feels it too, by the way her hand squeezes mine. I swallow the wedge in my throat.

The transducer glides over her belly, and then suddenly—

Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.

“There’s the heartbeat,” she says. “Nice and strong.”

The sound slams into me, breaking something open in my chest. We both exhale long and deep. Tears spill over Daphne’s dark lashes and I swipe them away for her, fighting my own.

“You hear that?” I ask her. “Baby’s fine.”

She smiles through her tears. “Yeah.”

Dr. Carter’s eyes flick to the screen, then back to us. “Everything’s okay,” she says, her voice calm but careful. “Baby looks perfect. But…”

My heart drops for another time today.

“But what?” I press, my voice a little sharper than I mean.

She adjusts the angle, pointing at the grainy image. “Daphne, you have something calledplacenta previa.It means your placenta is lying low in your uterus, covering or partially covering the cervix.”

I feel Daphne stiffen beside me, her fingers going ice cold in mine. “What… what does that mean?” she whispers.

Dr. Carter’s voice stays even. “It’s not uncommon, especially at this stage. In many cases, the placenta moves up on its own as the uterus grows. But right now, it means there’s a higher risk of bleeding, especially in the third trimester.”

“So what does that mean going forward?” I ask, hoping that I get more answers in English and not just fancy medical terms. I’m a smart guy, but I have limits.

“It means that we’re going to keep a close eye on Daphne and baby. There’s a really good chance this will correct itself,” Dr Carter says. “But her blood pressure was low, and she was dehydrated today. It might be a fluke, but we don’t like to take chances. This is your body telling you to take it easy.”

“And if I feel dizzy again?” Daphne asks, chewing her lip.

“You should call me straight away. Same for any spotting or reduced movements, but I think as long as you rest and take it easy and we monitor you, everything will be fine.”

The way she says it with such certainty has me relaxing ever-so-slightly. Okay, everything is going to be fine. I have to believe that, or I might lose it completely, and Daphne needs me right now. “Thank you, Dr. Carter.”

She stands with a smile and leaves the room.

I blow out a big breath.

Daphne is staring off at nothing, her eyes unfocused. It’s like she’s here, but not really.

I reach out, letting my fingers trail along her cheek, brushing away the dampness left behind from her tears. My thumb lingers against her skin, and her eyes finally meet mine. “Hey.”

Her attention flickers to me, and she manages a small smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

Her eyes fill with tears, and I’m on her in a second, sitting on the side of the bed, pulling her into my chest. “Shh, don’t cry, baby. It’s all going to be okay.”

I hold her as she cries. Her tears soak into my shirt, each one cutting into me Seeing her break like this makes me feel like the ground’s been ripped out from under me.

“I hate this,” she whispers, her voice muffled against my chest. “I hate feeling like this. Like I’m...helpless.”

“You’re not helpless,” I murmur, stroking her hair. “You’re just dealing with a lot right now.”

She pulls back slightly, her red-rimmed eyes searching mine. “But what if something happens? What if I can’t...” Her voice cracks, and she presses her lips together, like saying it out loud would make it real.

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