Page 16 of Dex

“Lauren, I am bleeding and cramping. I need you,” I cry into the phone.

“On my way. Do not move.” She hangs up. I sit and wait for Lauren to come and get me. Turning my iPhone over and over in my hand, Dex’s face keeps running through my head. He should know about the baby. He should know if I am going to lose our child. I stare down at my phone like it has all the answers in the world, but it doesn’t. It offers me no comfort, no answers, no explanations as to why this is happening. My heart is breaking apart slowly. I am still crying when Lauren and Joe come bursting through the door. I see their faces and my own crumbles. I sob loudly against Lauren's chest as she hugs me to her.

“Ladies, we need to go now,” Joe says, with a note of authority. We both nod and we follow him out to the car. I notice that Alfie isn’t with them.

“Where’s Alfie?”

“With my mum,” Joe answers me. I nod at him. The drive to the hospital is silent, but fast. I watch as the hospital building comes into view. Joe parks the car and then hops out to help me out. Lauren follows. We rush into the maternity ward and Lauren buzzes the door.

“Can I help you?” Comes a soft voice through the speaker on the wall.

“Yes, my friend is twenty weeks pregnant and is cramping and bleeding.” I am shivering in Joe’s arms. The door buzzes and then opens. We see two nurses rush towards us with a wheelchair.

“Okay, what's your name, honey?” the nurse asks, as I sit in the wheelchair.

“Addison Cole. This is the second time this has happened.”

“Okay, let’s get you into a room and we can see what is happening with your baby.” I just nod. The pain has subsided and I am thankful for that. I just pray the bleeding has stopped. I get wheeled into a room and the nurse tells me to hop up onto the bed. The two nurses go about getting what they need and Lauren and Joe are on either side of my bed, holding my hands. Their comfort is calming my nerves some.

“I wish Dex was here,” I whisper no one in particular. A woman in a white lab coat walks into my room.

“Hello, Addison. My name is Doctor Charles and I will be seeing to you today. Can we get you into a gown?” I nod my head and grab the hem of my t-shirt, pulling it off my head when I see one of the nurses eye Joe.

“He is my brother. He can stay.” She nods and helps me into the gown before I take off my leggings and knickers. I take a quick look at the sanitary towel I used and see that there is a small amount of blood on there. My heart sinks.

“Okay, Addison, I see that you have lost a little blood, nothing to be majorly concerned over, but we are going to do an ultrasound just to see if can we figure out what is happening and check on the baby, okay? I will be right back.” The midwife checks my heart rate and blood pressure. Both are slightly elevated.

“No shit, they are elevated. Okay, I need to calm down. I will go and grab us a tea. Be right back.” Lauren doesn’t wait for us to reply before she is out the door, clearly upset with the situation. I look at Joe who just shrugs his shoulders.

“Do you honestly think I know half the shit that goes through her head half the time?”

“Good point. She is in her own little world.”

“Addy, we would like to take some blood, to rule out any infection that you might have.” I nod to the midwife. I am going to agree to everything they want to do as long as my baby is safe. I look at the table for my phone, because I know I need to phone Dex. I need to tell him and be prepared for him to hate me. I can’t see it.

“Joe, have you seen my phone?”

“Nope. Maybe you left it in the car. I will go check when Lauren comes back.”

“Thanks.” I keep my eyes fixed on the door, waiting for the Doctor to return with the ultrasound machine. I need to see my baby, I need to hear her heartbeat. They say mothers know what they are carrying and I believe I am carrying a baby girl.

I don’t know how much time passes. The door swinging open and hitting the wall shakes me from my dazed state. My heart skips a beat when I see who just came bursting through the door like a bull at a gate.

Dexter Castle.

“Addy?” His voice is a mixture of anger and hurt.

“I’m sorry.” I cover my face with my hand and sob loudly. There is no hiding it now. I think I need to take Lauren's friendship card back. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry, Dex.”

“Stop!” He storms over to the bed and cradles my face. “Look at me,” he demands. I shake my head no. I refuse to see the hate in his eyes. “Addison Cole, look at me right fucking now,” he booms. I jump and open my eyes and look at him. His face is full of hurt; the pain that I put there.

“I’m sorry,” I say again, looking deep into his eyes.

“Why? Why, didn’t you tell me? How far along are you?”

“I’m twenty weeks. I was scared that you wouldn’t want the baby. Want us. And now I may have lost her anyway.” I close my eyes and cry again. Dex pulls me tight to his chest and soothes me.

“Shh, the baby will be fine.Ourbaby will be fine. If she is anything like her mum, she is a fighter.” I can’t speak, so I nod against his chest. “Fuck,” Dex says, whilst still holding me tight to him.

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