Page 63 of River & Crown
"I'm sorry for the mix-up," the doctor stated, looking toward Crown.
She offered him a soft smile that he scoffed at. The doctor walked over to examine me, but she didn't look at me once. For some odd reason, I felt that confirmed what I thought. I lost a baby I didn't even know about.
"Wha—" My throat burned, but that wasn't enough to stop me from speaking.
"Four, chill and let the?—"
"I'm fine," I grunted, cutting my eyes at Crown. "Wha... what happened?" I finally asked.
"Um, maybe we can clear the room and?—"
"Why, when they already know something? The first time I woke up, none of them were here, but now they are."
"We were on our way," Chosyn sobbed.
"Please, just tell me what is happening. If you're more comfortable speaking with fewer people in the room, then everyone can leave except my mom and Crown." What I said probably hurt Chosyn more than anyone else, but I didn't have time to pacify her feelings. I needed answers.
"You were in a serious accident. I'm not sure of all the details, but what I can piece together is you were driving at a very high speed."
"I was," I answered truthfully. "Look, I know all about bedside manner, and I don't really give a fuck about it right now. Just tell me why I have shooting pains whenever I move the lower half of my body."
"Okay, Mrs. Gravehart, I'll give it to you straight." She looked toward Crown, who nodded for her to go ahead. I scoffed because what I said should have been all the confirmation her ass needed.
"Why are you looking at him? He's not your daddy. You don't need his approval to tell me that I lost a fucking baby," I gritted, unable to contain myself any longer. "Matter of fact I'ma sue you and this whole fucking hospital for HIPPA violation since he isn't my husband, anyway!"
"River!" my mother scolded, but I was a little too old for the black mother squint to work.
"I-I-," the doctor looked between Crown and me, stammering her ass off. I shrugged, not giving a fuck.
"Give us a second, please," Crown stated, and she didn't waste a second leaving the room.
"Why would you send her away when?—"
Grabbing my face, Crown squeezed the fuck out of my jaw. I've seen Wolfe do this to Chosyn plenty of times and thought it was the cutest thing, but this nigga's grip felt like he was trying to rip my jaw from my face.
"See, I spoil you and let you run off at the mouth 'cause I'm in love with your stupid ass. I keep shit gentle with you to shield you from the nigga Icanbe. You must not fuck with the gentler side of me. Is that what it is, River?" His eyes were vacant, void of the love they usually housed for me.
"No," I whimpered.
"Nah, you must not 'cause ain't no way you flapped those thick ass lips to say I'm not your real husband."
"I'm... I'm... I lost a child, Cortez. What do you expect me to fucking say! I'm grieving!" I shouted, thankful he let my damn face go.
"What child, Four? You weren't pregnant." His voice softened, but that was about it. He still kept his expression blank.
"Then why does everyone look like they’re mourning?"
"Ma, go let the doctor know to come back, please," he instructed my mom, and she listened. Lakelyn Ashland didn't listen to anyone.
"Ma?" I quizzed, eyeing him.
He said nothing, leaving me to draw my own conclusion. As far as I knew, the two of them didn't talk privately or share more than a few words beyond my introduction at Chosyn and Wolfe's wedding. But him calling herMafelt a little too friendly for my liking.
"Be good," Crown lowly gritted as the doctor came in.
"I'm sure you want your rest, so I'll get right to it," the doctor nervously began. "During your crash, a piece of glass from your windshield entered your lower abdomen. Unfortunately, it caused significant trauma to your uterus, and it was ruptured by the impact. We were able to stop the bleeding and stabilize you, but because of the severity of the injury, the tissue was badly damaged. To save your life and prevent further complications, we had to remove a part of your uterus."
"Oh my god!" I cried. Why everyone wore somber faces made sense. I didn't lose a child. I lost the ability to have one.
