Page 56 of The Forsaken
“Because you’re the only one who listens,” Guy replied. “Hugh only tells me things to hear himself speak. And I can’t reveal my thoughts to Walter. It wouldn’t be fair to put him in that position.”
“What about Joan? I thought you trusted her.”
“Nurse loves me the way she’d love a little boy. She doesn’t see me as a man grown, and never will. She thinks she needs to protect me.”
“From what?”
“From you,” Guy replied just as they reached the keep.
THIRTY-FOUR
AUGUST 2014
London, England
“What’s your plan for the day?” Gabe asked Quinn as he buttoned his shirt.
She was still in bed, having slept badly again. Her conversation with Sylvia played over and over in her mind, making her wish she could just archive it somehow. She wasn’t sorry about confronting Sylvia, but the whole episode had left her rattled.
“I have an antenatal yoga class this morning, and then I’ll stop by the BBC. I never did sign that contract.”
“When is our next antenatal appointment?” Gabe asked as he ran a hand through his damp hair. Their gazes met in the mirror, and he turned to face Quinn. “Why do you look so worried? What are you not telling me?”
“Nothing. I just have a bit of a headache and my ankles are swollen.”
Gabe didn’t reply. Instead, he disappeared into the bathroom and returned with the blood pressure monitor. “Give me your arm, then.”
Quinn reluctantly held out her arm. If it were up to Gabe, he’d take her blood pressure several times a day, but worrying about it all the time actually led to a spike. Quinn felt her best when not focusing on the preeclampsia and behaving as any other pregnant woman would.
“One twenty-eight over eighty,” Gabe announced as he removed the cuff. “Your blood pressure is elevated.”
“Only just. And what do you expect after the past few days? Anyone’s blood pressure would be elevated,” Quinn replied defensively. “I’ll call the clinic and move up my appointment.”
“To tomorrow,” he said, watching her with a steely gaze.
“To tomorrow.”
“I’m ready, Daddy,” Emma called from the other room.
“So am I. Let’s go, love.”
Quinn lay back and closed her eyes but knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep. So she took a long shower and made herself a healthy breakfast before heading out to the yoga class.
She normally didn’t like yoga, but the antenatal class was different and made her feel more centered and relaxed. She’d met several other pregnant women there who were always happy to go out for a cup of tea and a chat after class. It was nice to talk to other expectant moms, since Quinn didn’t have any friends who had small children. Quinn gladly accepted the invitation to tea after the class, especially since Alison would be coming along. Alison was suffering from preeclampsia and had been diagnosed with it during her first pregnancy as well. She was happy to answer any questions Quinn had, and assured her that as soon as the baby was born, the symptoms would disappear. Alison was a week away from her due date and seemed to be feeling well, but her obstetrician had scheduled her for a cesarean.
“I would, of course, prefer a natural birth, but I’m not one for heroics,” Alison said as she sipped her Chamomile. “The only thing I care about is having a healthy baby. Everything else is secondary.”
“I admire your attitude,” Quinn said. “I think I would be really upset if I wasn’t given a choice.”
“Quinn, you of all people know how many women and children used to die in childbirth. I’m grateful there are ways to reduce the risk. I will take longer to heal after the birth and have apermanent scar, but I will walk out of that maternity ward alive, my baby in my arms. Nothing else matters.”
Quinn nodded and placed her hand over Alison’s. “Thank you, Alison. You are right. I didn’t think of it that way. I felt as if I failed somehow by allowing this condition to get the better of me.”
“Never think that. The only way you can fail is by not taking proper care of yourself. Promise you’ll come and see me once I’m back home from the hospital. I’d like us to keep in touch, Quinn.”
“I absolutely will, and I’m sure the little ones will enjoy their play dates as much as we will.”
By the time she left the tearoom and headed to Rhys’s office, she felt completely restored and was sure her blood pressure had levelled off.
