Page 59 of Embers in Our Past

“We’re going to get you looked at, alright?” I reassure her. “I’m going with you.”

I look around me until I spot my captain.

“Hey, Cap, I’m sorry to do this, but I have to?—”

“Go, Nichols, I got you covered,” he yells to me, and I don’t hesitate. I hate leaving my guys in this position, but they seem to have it covered. I nod over to my brother and run back to Abby. My mind wouldn’t be in the right place if I stayed back.

I hop in the rig, and we’re off. I try to stay quiet beside her, but it’s hard not to check on her, making sure she’s not bleeding or injured in areas she may not be feeling due to the adrenaline coursing through her body.

Once we get to the hospital, I follow her into the emergency room, and we get transferred up to the maternity floor.

We arrive in triage, and thankfully, the floor isn’t too hectic tonight. She’s quickly hooked up to monitors, and the baby’s heartbeat is strong. It’s a relief to hear the baby’s heartbeat on the monitor, and I see the tears flow down Abby’s cheeks as she must be feeling the same relief I am.

Now I can check that off my mental list. I can see some relief on Abby’s face as well, even though she still looks a little green from whatever she’s fighting from the food she ate earlier.

A nurse comes in with an ultrasound machine, asking questions regarding the accident. Abby reaches for my hand, and it’s hard to miss the way her body tenses as she rehashes what happened. Hearing the baby’s heartbeat is reassuring, but I know so much can still be wrong. Most of all, the biggest concern after a car accident is a uterine rupture.

The nurse explains the ultrasound to us and begins imaging. Even under these tough circumstances, it’s difficult not to get excited about seeing our baby on the monitor. The baby is moving a ton, even if Abby isn’t feeling movement yet. The nurse explains everything to us as she measures the fluid and prints the images for the chart.

Once she’s finished, she tells us that she’s going to speak to the doctor on call and return shortly.

“It’s hard not to be scared. I wish I had just stayed home, Clay,” she says, regret marring her features.

“Abby, how would you have known? It could have been worse. Being dehydrated has its own list of complications too.” I need her to understand there’s no fault here.

“I’m so scared, I just want—” She’s interrupted by the doctor coming in.

“Hi, Abby, I’m Dr. Elkerela, the OB-GYN hospitalist tonight. I hear you were in an accident. I’m sorry you had to go through that,” she says as she walks over to the fetal strip to look over the monitors showing the baby’s heart rate and the contraction monitor that shows no contractions at this time.

“Well, the good news is there are no signs of a uterine rupture,” she smiles at us both, “and the baby looks great on the ultrasound. Of course, this does not mean I want you getting up and celebrating just yet.

I want you to take it easy. You need to monitor for any bleeding or cramping, and make sure you get some rest. You still suffered a trauma tonight. Now I hear you were on your way here due to some severe vomiting, is that right? Can you tell me more about that?”

I sit back and listen to Abby speak to the doctor about her symptoms relating to her food poisoning, and I’m incredibly comforted to hear she’s going to be okay. There is an immense amount of relief washing over me, knowing Abby and our baby are going to be okay. My heart feels like the bulldozer that was resting over it can be lifted slightly.

We stay at the hospital until the doctor feels comfortable enough to discharge her. After getting some IV fluids and some medication for the nausea and vomiting, Abby is feeling relief from her food poisoning as well. Before the doctor signs off for us to officially head home, I can’t hold back any longer, and I speak up.

“Dr. Elkerela, I’m sorry to bother you with yet another question, but Abby and I don’t live together, and I’m just wondering—is it safe for Abby to be alone after the accident?”

I can tell Dr. Elkerela is taken aback by my question, and her eyes volley between the two of us, while Abby looks like she might smother me with a pillow. I have no shame in my question, so I stand a little taller and throw a smug smile her way while the doctor directs the answer at both of us.

“I am not too sure I’m going to make you very happy with this response, Abby, by the look you’re giving Mr. Nichols, but I’d feel more comfortable if you weren’t alone for the next few days until you follow up with your regular OB in the office.” With that, she gives us one more curt smile and heads out.

Satisfied, I turn to grab my turnout coat, while I notice Abby stays still and is likely planning a way to murder me in my sleep.

“Looks like you just got yourself a new roomie.” I wink at her. “I’ll make sure to get my stuff into the spare room tomorrow. You won’t have to lift a finger.” I blow her a kiss.

“You know, I could ask Malloy to sleep over instead of you,” she says, and I laugh.

“Over my dead body, princess. Get dressed. I’m taking you home.”

There’s a finality to my tone. I leave no room for discussion. Abby once loved it when I took command, mostly in the bedroom, and as things started to shift during the end of our marriage, I got soft with her because I thought she was more fragile.

I guess I saw her as more breakable. Maybe that was wrong of me; I see that now. But I’m done handling her with kid gloves. I want my wife back. All she’s talked about is wanting herself back, the person she was before all the treatments started. So I’m giving her the Clay she once had as well.

CHAPTER 21

Clay

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