Chapter Twenty-One
Oswald
Now that I had a part-time worker at the library, thanks to the increased budget, I was able to take Wednesday afternoons off in addition to my two regular days off. It was a blessing now that I was wide as the broad side of a school bus and my visits with the healer were every other week.
Greg never missed an appointment.
I walked out of the library after saying goodbye to Flint. He was one of those free souls who only worked to pay the bills and lived cheaply so that he had more time to do things he loved. I envied his way of life sometimes. He read at least two books a day.
The patrons loved him.
“Good afternoon, love,” Greg greeted me outside the library with a small container in his hands.
“I was hoping you’d meet me here. What is this?” I took the container from him. I had a hint it was a snack, a healthy snack. My alpha was a stickler for balance.
“You already know what it is.”
“I do. Thank you.”
While we walked to the healer’s office, I ate my food. A small almond butter and guava jam sandwich on fresh bread. A few carrot sticks and cheese stick. Every day, the snacks were different but always delicious. Now that Greg had a kitchen, he was unstoppable in the best way possible.
“Are you nervous this time?” He took my hand after I finished the snack. I had been anxious about the healer visits, but over time, I’d learned that they were for my good. No judgment about my once-a-week coffees or the occasional bear claw from the bakery.
Quinn provided me and Greg with support and care. There was a reason people came from counties and states over to see him. But he held blocks of time for Oliver Creek residents. This town’s residents wove together for each other. It was my favorite part of being a part of it.
That, and it was the place where I’d met my one and only mate.
“It’s getting better. I’m nervous something is wrong with me or the baby, but that has nothing to do with the healer and more about my fear. I suppose by the last visit, I’ll be anxiety-free.”
He tightened his hold on me. “Good. By the next baby, you’ll be a pro.”
I stopped in my tracks. “Next baby? Let me get this one birthed before we talk about more, please.”
The wait at the healer’s office wasn’t long, and everyone in the waiting room was from the town. We were escorted back soon, and my temp and blood pressure taken.
The nurse tilted his head to the side and checked something on the computer. “Have you had any swelling, Oswald?”
Before I could answer, he pulled up the bottoms of my pants. He inspected my ankles and pressed his thumb into my shin. An indentation formed and, when he pulled back, it stayed depressed.
Greg and I shared a look.
“How long have you been swelling like this?” the nurse asked.
“A week or so. I put my feet up at night but it’s not always gone by the morning.”
He nodded and typed some things into the computer. “Let’s let Quinn have a look at you. You’ve only got about a month left.”
Quinn came in soon after and looked at things.
He sat down on the stool, and my stomach dropped.
This wasn’t going to be good news. “So we have a few things going on here. One, your blood pressure is higher than I like to see. It’s been creeping up for a month now, but we’re in really elevated territory right now.
Two, you are swelling pretty badly.” He checked my legs again and nodded, clearly agreeing with whatever the nurse typed into my file.
“What do we do? Is this dangerous? For Oswald? For the baby?”
Greg’s deep concern was palpable in his voice. It struck a chord with my fox. He didn’t like any of this.
Quinn exhaled and smiled softly. “Here’s the truth.
The blood pressure is a big concern. The swelling is part of that.
I know you’ve opened the library, and it’s incredible what you’ve done for the community, but is there a way you can take off for the rest of the pregnancy? If not, can you lessen your hours?”
I sighed. “I can speak to the mayor and try.”
He nodded. “That would be best. I’m not saying you need to be on bed rest yet, but we need to get these things under control.”
“What else can we do?” Greg asked. He already had his phone out, ready to take notes. Goddess, I loved him.
“Lots of water. Reduce sodium. It is high in highly processed foods so you have to watch it. Feet elevated above the head as much as possible. Reduce stress.”
“Easy as that?” I asked.
Quinn chuckled. “Yes. But it looks like you have good support, and I know you can do this. One more month, give or take a week. And I want you to come in three times a week for blood pressure checkups until the birth. Let’s get on top of this situation, okay?”
We left the healer and I was a bit defeated. Once we got home, Greg led me to the couch and propped my legs up on pillows.
“Are you worried?” I asked.
“No. We’re going to do everything to keep you and our cub safe. Your career and the time you work is totally up to you, but I’d like you to call the mayor or Troy and find out if taking a leave is an option. Maybe Flint can pick up extra hours.”
“I don’t know if I can completely take a leave, Greg.”
He kneeled beside the couch and leaned forward, resting his forehead against mine. “Oswald, please, omega. This is your health and the health of our baby we are talking about.”
He was right. There had to be someone else that could fill in. Someone. I could do some things from home on my laptop.
“You’re right. I’m going to take a quick nap and then call them, okay?”
My alpha nodded. “Everything is going to be okay. I know it.”