Chapter 10 #2
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Better. Please don’t worry.”
It was impossible not to. She looked like she’d been sick with the flu for days on end. Tess sat on the other side of the bed, biting her lower lip.
“Laney, can you tell us what’s going on?” I was proud of how calm I sounded.
“Sure. First of all, I’m not the doctor treating her. One of our ob-gyns is in charge. I asked for permission to come here and brief you. They are still running tests, but the problem is her blood pressure. It’s common in pregnancies, though it usually happens in the first trimester.”
“Why are you running more tests?” Rob asked.
“It’s the easiest way to rule out certain things.”
“What exactly are you trying to rule out?” he went on.
“Preeclampsia or placenta previa. There was no bleeding, which is an excellent sign, but I can’t say for sure?—”
“Maybe another doctor can tell us for sure!” Rob boomed.
“Rob!” I said sharply. “You can’t talk like that.”
Laney just shook her head, smiling. “Don’t worry, I know it’s a difficult time. I promise you all that neither Skye nor Jonas are in danger.”
There was a pause, and then Tess asked, “How do you know his name is Jonas?”
“From me,” I said. I’d told her that in Rome.
Tess and Skye exchanged glances. Rob just seemed confused. I was mesmerized that nothing seemed to tone down my sisters’ perception.
“In any case, the doctor said she will prescribe bed rest for the next two months,” Laney added.
“What?” Skye exclaimed. “You didn’t tell me that in the ER.”
The corners of Laney’s mouth tilted up. “Well, no. I thought it might be best to wait until your family was with you. Isabelle painted a very vivid picture of each member of the family. Look, high blood pressure in the third trimester can be dangerous. Reducing movement will help a lot.”
“There’s a difference between bed rest and reducing movement,” Skye said, pushing herself up on both elbows. “Last time I was at my ob-gyn, she didn’t mention that.”
“Well, first step in managing blood pressure is slowing down activity. If that doesn’t help sufficiently, then bed rest is in order.”
“Skye, we’ll be okay,” Rob said sternly. “It’s just for a few months.”
“In bed?”
This was so typical of my sister. Once she was out of immediate danger, she felt like Wonder Woman again.
Rob glared at her. “Yes! I’ll chain you to it if you fight me on this.” My sisters were both a force of nature, and it took someone equally stubborn to reason with them.
“I like you even more, Rob,” I said jovially. Now that I knew they were not in immediate danger, I could go back to diffusing tension and cracking jokes.
“Look, I know it’s not easy, but it’s really the best you can do for you and your son for the next two months,” Laney said.
Skye’s demeanor changed instantly. Her eyes softened. I was impressed by Laney’s ability to sum up the most important facts in one sentence.
I had no doubt it was partly due to her experience as a doctor, but from my time with her in Rome, I knew that she was also a perceptive person.
“On to the next point, I’d like you to stay overnight, Skye.”
The defeated expression on my sister’s face made it clear that this was news to her, but that she wasn’t about to fight it.
Rob and Laney were doing an excellent job with Skye. I’d expected to have to do some legwork to convince her to take it easy today, aided by Tess as well.
It seemed my brotherly input wasn’t necessary where Skye was concerned. Tess, on the other hand, was awfully quiet. She alternated between picking invisible lint from Skye’s cover and smoothing our sister’s hair.
“Cole, can I talk to you?” Laney asked, pointing to the corridor.
“Sure.”
I followed her out of the room.
“I’m going to exchange shifts with a colleague. She’ll do the weekend, and I’ll take tonight instead.”
“Why?”
“I thought you’d feel more comfortable if I was on shift while Skye was here.
Since I’m a general surgery resident, I’m usually not on the obstetrics floor, but I’ve asked for permission to check on Skye,” she said.
I had no idea how she’d guessed that I’d feel more relieved if she was around my sister, but I was deeply grateful for it.
“You’re right. I would be more comfortable,” I said. “But won’t you be exhausted?”
“I will. But then I have my free day tomorrow instead of Sunday. It’s up to you to make sure I relax, Mr. Winchester.” Her tone was exaggeratedly formal, but she flashed me a sly grin.
“I like your thinking. And you can count on me.” My tone was equally formal, even as I tilted closer, adding, “What’s your stance on PDAs, Ms. Smith?”
“Huh?” Her brows knitted together.
“I want so fucking badly to kiss you.”
“Cole. Not in front of my colleagues,” she said in a whisper.
“A private room, then.”
She closed her eyes, as if needing all her concentration to figure this out. When she opened her eyes, they were full of mischief, but also regret. “There is no lounge on this floor.”
I just needed the contact—her soft mouth, her hot body against mine, but I understood that Laney had to maintain her professionalism.
“You know, this is the first time I regret not knowing where every service room of the hospital is.”
“Want to go search for it together?” I was only half joking.
Laney laughed, shaking her head. “Go back to your sister. I only pulled you out here to discuss the overnight shift.”
The mention of Skye brought me back to the issue at hand.
“You’re not sugarcoating it for us, right?” I asked, suddenly fearing she was just trying to appease us.
She shook her head. “Doctors don’t do that. I just told you all the information I have.”
“And you don’t have an inkling as to what the tests will show?”
Again, she shook her head. “Speculations don’t help.”
She took my hands in hers. Granted, it wasn’t the deep and dirty kiss I was imagining, but I was startled at how much her touch soothed me.
“I promise we’ll take care of her. I have to go, but I’ll be back later.” She took a step back, reluctantly, then turned around.
“Find out where those service rooms are,” I called after her. She just looked at me over her shoulder, smiling. I knew firsthand how tired she’d been yesterday evening, how much she needed this night of sleep. Yet she was willing to work tonight just to put me at ease.
I wasn’t ashamed to admit that in the past, I’d never given any thought to anything except compatibility in the sack. Now, I wanted to discover every way Laney and I fit together. Ever since our first dinner, something about her just called to me.
After seeing her today with Skye and the rest of my family, I was looking forward to every moment with her. Tomorrow, she was all mine.