Chapter 7 #2
"What!" Amy swiveled her head to stare at Leanne.
"Here they come." Leanne grinned as the group came walking up the steps.
"As an acknowledgement for this romantic gesture, the Princess is paying for the ceremony.
The bride and groom will be changed and dressed, and cake and champagne will be on the house or the ship rather.
You all get to witness the culmination of something that started at Ellisville Elementary almost two decades ago. "
*****
"Darling, you pulled it off." Benjamin handed her a plate of frothy wedding cake. "Did you see the look on Amy's face? She was overwhelmed. And a honeymoon in Paree. That's the proverbial icing on the cake." He gave her a side hug, all the time glancing at Christos warily.
"We pulled it off. Just a tiny sip of champagne for me. My jailor is watching closely."
Benjamin laughed a little shakily, eyes flying to the still silent Christos.
"I'm sure he's doing his best to look out for you."
"You're sucking up. Go away."
Bending to kiss her on the cheek, he hurried off.
"Don't even think of saying anything about the tiny bit of champagne I sucked down." She warned when he rose.
His brows lifted. "I was just going to add my piece to what your assistant said.
Very well done. Tasteful and romantic. Quite the ending for a wonderful show.
" Taking her hand, he helped her up, grinning at her confused expression.
"The only problem I had with it was that it was not us starring in that particular act. "
"A Valentine's Day proposal?" She scoffed. "In front of hundreds of people? You wouldn't dare."
"No." Hauling her into his arms, he kissed her upturned face. "My proposal will be done in private. As I have been doing for the past dozens of proposals."
"You're exaggerating."
"Perhaps. It seems that way." His eyes narrowed when she pressed a hand to her stomach.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It's just..." She bit her lip. "I feel dizzy. And nauseous."
"How long have you been this way?" He demanded as he scooped her up.
"Just now. While I was on stage."
She closed her eyes as he cursed beneath his breath.
"One day." He said harshly. "One fine day, I'm going to murder you."
"Please don't shout at me. I can't bear it right now."
"Damn you Leanne. Why?"
"Please. Just call the doctor."
*****
"She's running a temperature and spotting." Christos glared at the hapless doctor and nurse. "What's wrong and please don't tell me it's nothing to worry about."
"An infection."
"Infection?" He looked at the man in surprise. "What kind of infection?"
"Listeriosis."
"What the hell is that?"
"It's caused from food poisoning."
"Food poisoning? She drank some soup. What the hell are you talking about?"
"Any seafood today Leanne?" The doctor preferred to deal with the woman lying on the bed.
"Yes." She moaned, pressing a hand on her stomach. "Shellfish. Just a small amount." She reached for Christos' hand. "How serious is it?"
"It can be serious. We'll start you off on some antibiotics." The doctor took a chance at glancing at Christos and swallowed nervously. "But ideally, you should be in the hospital."
"Get it done. When is the next port stop?"
"In two hours."
"I'll get the pilot to meet us there. We're getting off the ship and don't even think about putting up an argument." He told her grimly. "Try and keep her and my babies alive until then." This was said as a dire warning to the medical personnel as he left the cabin to make some calls.
*****
"Darling. Any word?"
Christos felt the weariness pressing down to the bones. They had been traveling forever and even though a nurse had accompanied them, he had never been so scared in his life.
"They're running a series of tests. She was still spotting and the fever was not going down. I'm just waiting. Mother, there was no need to come, and you brought the entire family."
"Stop this nonsense, where else would we be?" Her heart turned over at the look of utter hopelessness on his face.
"I could not keep them away."
He nodded to his brothers and their wives who trooped into the private waiting room of the clinic.
His father came to sit at his opposite side with his mother on the right.
"What are they saying?"
"It's a bloody infection that could cause a lot of damage to her and the babies."
They all turned towards the door when it was pushed open.
"Well?" Shaking off his mother's hand, Christos rose. "How is she?"
"The fever is going down."
"Oh, thank the good Lord!" Mary-Ann exclaimed.
"But?" Christos had been watching the doctor's face and knew there was something more.
"Her blood pressure is still high. We're going to keep her here and run some more tests."
"And the babies?" Andreas demanded. "What about them?"
"Heartbeats are still strong. We just want to make sure it stays that way. Our main concern is Leanne."
"I want to see her."
"Of course." The doctor stepped aside for him to move past her. "I'm afraid he's the only visitor I can allow at this time."
"We'll stay here until he comes back." Mary-Ann made the decision for all of them.
*****
"I'm fine." The words burst from her as soon as he stepped into the private room.
"Are you?" He asked silkily. They had changed her clothing for a hospital gown and there were monitors beeping.
"It has nothing to do with me going back to work, so you can forget that."
"I'm not here to create an argument." Pulling a chair forward, he straddled it, arms resting on the back. "Your blood pressure is high, and your fever is still there. They're keeping you here."
"For how long?"
"For as bloody long as it takes to get you out of danger." He told her heatedly. "You don't seem to realize what's at stake here."
Her eyes flashed. "The hell I don't. I'm the one carrying three babies inside me. Not you."
"And I begged you to stay home and not go back to work."
"So you can take care of me. Well, I'm used to taking care of myself and I didn't ask for any of it."
His eyes narrowed and he felt his temper rising. "What are you saying? That you regret being pregnant?"
"I'm saying that all of this..." She waved a hand to encompass the room. "Everything. It's too much. When I'm not being sick to my stomach, I'm dizzy. When it's not that, I'm suffering from high blood pressure. It's too much and I'm frustrated. And you're always hovering around."
"I cannot do anything. Now I have to stay in a bloody clinic for God knows how long."
The silence that followed was fraught with tension and stretched out long enough to have her nerves screaming.
"Do you want to get rid of our babies, Leanne?" The question was asked in a silky voice that did not fool her one bit.
"It's too late for that, isn't it?" The minute the words were out of her mouth, she wished she could take them back. The slash of pain that crossed his face was indescribable and had her feeling like crap.
"I didn't mean..."
"I need some air." Lurching to his feet, he slammed the chair back into place and left the room.
"How's she?" His mother cornered him as soon as he rounded the hallway.
"She's in rare form." He said bitterly. "She blames everything on me."
"The doctors said we can go in and see her for five minutes."
"I'll be in my car."
"Darling..."
"Please mother, I need to be alone."
She watched as he strode off, shoulders hunched.
"Where's Christos?"
Mary-Ann crossed the room with her daughters-in-law behind her.
"We have five minutes and then we need to leave you to get some rest. My son stormed out, said he needed to be alone." She sat on the side of the bed. "My dear, I cannot imagine what you're going through. None of us can. We're used to carrying one baby at a time."
Tears flooded her eyes. "I took my frustration out on him."
"Emotions are running high." Lilly came over to rub her arm. "He's scared and so are you."
"But you need each other right now." Lori piped in sitting on the end of the bed.
"I cussed out Andreas when I was in my first trimester and cried a hell of a lot. I felt sorry for myself and blamed him for everything."
"We've all been there honey." Grace picked up the glass of water and brought it to her. "The crazy hormones and everything that goes with carrying humans inside you."
"But you have to find a way to be united." Mary-Ann told her.
"You're right and so is he." Taking a sip of water, she sniffed. "I accused him of always hovering when I should be grateful I have a guy who's constantly there for me."
Mary-Ann rubbed her hand. "He's hurting and as much as I would like to fix the hurt, you're the one who's going to have to attend to him. He needs you every bit as you need him."
"I know." She sighed. "Can you get him back in here, please?"
"In a minute. We want to stay until our five minutes are up."
*****
"Hi." She lifted a hand as soon as he came into the room. "I just want to say that I was a bitch."
"And?"
He stopped just short of the bed, staring at her, his hands shoved into the pockets of his trousers.
Okay, she thought. He was not about to make it easy for her.
"And I want to apologize. I'm sorry."
"And?"
She bristled. "Want me to go on my knees?"
"That would be a miracle." He unbent enough to sit on the edge of the bed. "You can start by marrying me."
"I..."
"No more excuses Leanne. It's time."