30. Emma
30
EMMA
The sterile white walls swim into focus, the harsh fluorescent light making my eyelids heavy. A dull ache throbs behind my eyes, and the scratchy fabric of the hospital gown does nothing to soothe the chills that rack my body. Memories flood back—the crowded wedding reception, the wave of dizziness, and then…nothing. I must have fainted.
The door creaks open, and a tall figure in blue scrubs strides into the room. A wave of anxiety washes over me, but as the figure approaches, recognition dawns.
“Dr. Miller?” I croak, my voice hoarse and unfamiliar.
He stops at the foot of the bed, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “Emma. Good to see you awake. How are you feeling?”
“A bit…out of it,” I admit, wincing as I try to sit up, the movement sending a jolt of pain through my head.
Dr. Miller moves forward, placing a hand on my shoulder to help me sit. “Easy there,” he cautions. “Let's have a look.”
The next few minutes are a blur of routine questions—when did I last eat something solid, have I been feeling overly stressed lately, any unusual pain or changes with my body. I answer to the best of my ability, my mind still fuzzy and disoriented.
Finally, he finishes taking my vitals, his brow furrowed in thought. “Alright, Emma,” he begins, his voice serious. “We ran a few tests while you were unconscious, and I think I have a good idea of what caused your fainting.”
My heart hammers against my ribs, a sudden surge of panic clawing at my throat. “What is it?” I whisper, barely daring to breathe.
Dr. Miller reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper, a heavy silence hanging in the air as he unfolds it. “Emma,” he says softly, his gaze fixed on the document, “it appears you were experiencing a great deal of stress, coupled with… Well, let's just say your body wasn't getting the fuel it needed.”
His words are cryptic, but a sliver of hope worms its way through the panic. “Do you mean…food poisoning?” I venture.
He chuckles, a warm, reassuring sound. “No, Emma. Not food poisoning.”
He takes a deep breath and looks at me directly. “The tests indicate…you're pregnant.”
The world seems to tilt on its axis. Pregnant? The word echoes in my mind, a foreign concept that feels both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. I gasp, shaking my head in denial.
“No,” I whisper, the word barely a squeak. “It can't be.”
Dr. Miller's expression softens. “The tests are conclusive, Emma. You're about two weeks along.”
My hand flies to my stomach, a sense of overwhelming disbelief washing over me. Two weeks. A life growing inside me, a tiny spark of potential waiting to bloom. Tears well up in my eyes, a mixture of emotions swirling within me—joy, fear, uncertainty.
“Does Liam know?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Dr. Miller shakes his head. “I haven't had a chance to speak to him yet. He was here all night, though. Seemed pretty worried about you.” He gestures toward the door. “He was sleeping on the bench out there until he had to get back to work this morning.”
A pang of guilt shoots through me. Liam, in his concern, spent his night on an uncomfortable hospital bench, all because of me. He deserves to know. He deserves to be a part of this.
But a primal instinct to protect the fragile hope blooming within me takes over. “Please,” I plead, my voice trembling. “Don't tell him…yet.”
Dr. Miller raises an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. “Emma, are you sure? He has a right to know?—“
“I know,” I interrupt, tears spilling down my cheeks. “But…I just need some time. Time to process this, time to figure things out.”
Dr. Miller sighs, but his gaze softens with understanding. “Alright, Emma,” he concedes. “Your privacy is important. I can't say anything to Liam…or anyone, unless you instruct me to.”
Relief floods through me, a temporary reprieve in the whirlwind of emotions. There is so much to consider—my career, Liam, how this will change everything. But for now, I just need a moment to breathe, a moment to grasp the life-altering news before me.
The door swings open with a flourish, and a wave of familiar faces floods the room. Damon bursts in first, his face etched with worry, followed by Ethan, a mischievous grin plastered across his face, and June, her eyes wide with concern.
“Em!” June shrieks, rushing toward me and engulfing me in a hug that would pop my stitches if I had any. Ethan follows suit, wrapping his small arms around me in a tight squeeze. Damon lingers by the door, a relieved smile playing on his lips.
“There she is!” Ethan exclaims, pulling back to examine me with wide, curious eyes. “Are you okay, Aunt Emma? Did they poke you with lots of scary needles?”
I chuckle, a wave of warmth washing over me at their presence. “Hey there, squirt,” I ruffle his hair playfully. “Yes, lots of needles, but nothing a brave adventurer like me couldn't handle.”
June, ever the doting friend, fusses over me next. “Emma, honey, you had us worried sick! What happened?”
“Just a little stress, that's all,” I reassure her, trying to downplay the seriousness of the situation. “All part of the wedding craziness, right?”
Damon chuckles, a knowing glint in his eyes. “Wedding craziness, huh? Well, you certainly managed to steal the spotlight, even if unintentionally.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, a flicker of unease creeping in. Have they figured something out?
“Our wedding will now be famous for your dramatic fainting spell,” he says with a grin.
“And Liam going crazy when you fainted.” June giggles, her hand flying to her mouth. “Oh, Em, you wouldn't believe it! Liam practically carried you out of the venue like a damsel in distress. He wouldn't let anyone else touch you, and then insisted on coming to the hospital in the ambulance, holding your hand all the way.” She leans closer. “Damon even tells me he cried and prayed on the way here.”
Images of Liam's frantic face, his panicked pleas echoing in the ambulance, flash before my eyes. My cheeks burn with a mixture of embarrassment and a strange, fluttering sensation deep in my chest.
That was just his guilty conscience. All day yesterday I’d been worried every time he walked toward me that he was going to end everything officially and demand we tell the truth. As much as I’m hurt by his words the other night, I’m not ready to do that yet. I know it makes me pathetic, but I’m not ready to let him go…not yet.
Oblivious to the undercurrent of emotions, June continues to pipe up, “That's so romantic, Em! Just like in the movies!” She adds a wink at the end of her words.
Suddenly, a nagging thought strikes me. “Speaking of romantic things,” I say, changing the subject, “when are you lovebirds jetting off on your romantic getaway?”
June and Damon exchange peculiar looks. June stammers, “Well, Em, about that…”
“What is it?” I press, my brow furrowing in confusion.
Damon coughs uncomfortably. “June and I thought…maybe now isn't the best time for a honeymoon.”
“Why not?” I ask, genuinely confused.
June clears her throat, her cheeks flushed a delicate pink. “Well, honey,” she begins, “with you being…well, in this condition…”
My head snaps up, a cold dread slithering down my spine. “What condition?” I echo, my voice barely a whisper.
“You’re obviously not feeling?—”
Shaking my head, I refuse their concern. “I’m fine. Dr. Miller said I can leave, and you two better go home and pack your bags. I’m going home to help you with that.”
They look at each other before turning back to me. “You’re sure you’re okay?” Damon asks.
“I’m perfect, brother. I’ll feel better when I don’t ruin your honeymoon the way I ruined the reception.”
“You didn’t ruin anything, Em,” June mumbles, a bright smile on her face. “Let’s go home, right?”
“Yeah. You guys give me a minute.”
About an hour later, I’m walking down the hospital hallway with my family. As we walk toward the exit, Damon asks, “Have you seen Liam since last night?”
“Yes.” I lie, trying to keep my voice steady. “We saw each other first thing this morning.”
“Uncle Liam is here?” Ethan looks up at me. “Can we see him now?”
“No, sweetheart.” I blurt out quickly. I can’t face Liam just yet. “He’s probably too busy, sweetheart. He’s had to let go of a lot of work because of me. We’ll see him later.”
“Pity,” June sighs, her eyes bright with mischief. “I’d have loved to tease him about being all romantic yesterday.”
Before I can respond, Damon clears his throat, his gaze flickering between me and June. “So,” he begins, a hint of seriousness in his voice, “is there something you want to tell us about you and Liam, Em? Something we should know?”
My heart hammers against my ribs. Their concerned yet knowing expressions force me on the defensive. “No, Damon,” I stammer, shaking my head vehemently. “Everything's…fine. We're very okay, remember?”
Damon's gaze holds mine for a beat longer, his expression unreadable. Just as I start to squirm under his scrutiny, he finally breaks into a smile.
“Alright, alright,” he chuckles, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Just looking out for my little sis. But seriously, if there's anything going on, you know you can tell me, right?”
“Of course,” I murmur, a wave of relief washing over me. I still am not ready to face the truth, especially not with them here.
He gives me a look of disbelief, but I quickly walk toward the hospital door, an anxious feeling growing in my chest. I need to leave before Liam sees me. I need time to think, to process everything. As we step outside, I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. The revelation of my pregnancy looms over me, and I know I can't hide from it forever. But for now, I need to gather my thoughts and figure out what to do next.
I hear the floorboards creak softly outside. Laughter, the clinking of suitcases, and snippets of conversation float toward my room.
Inside my room, I sit on the edge of my bed, holding the test results in my trembling hands. The flimsy paper slip feels heavy, the words “positive pregnancy test” stark against the sterile white background. The words blur as I blink away the tears.
Two weeks. These two tiny weeks have now irrevocably altered the course of my life…forever!
How could this be happening?
A dry sob escapes my lips, morphing into a shaky, hysterical laugh that echoes eerily off the walls of my room.
It feels like a mixture of joy and terror threatens to tear me apart. For years, I’ve dreamt of this —falling in love and having a child with the man I love. But fate has played a cruel joke on me, delivering my wishes in the worst possible way.
Now I have a man I love without the joy of building a life with the man. I have to choose either to abort the baby or to feel the pitter-patter of tiny feet and the overwhelming love that comes with motherhood mixed with heart-breaking excruciating pain every time I stare at our baby, which of course I’ll be raising alone.
Yeah. Fate does have a cruel sense of humor.
I sigh, my thoughts turning to Jacob Miller. How long will Dr. Miller keep the secret? Days? Hours? When Liam finally finds out, it won’t be pretty. He’ll be furious. He’ll probably throw those “I told you so's” my way, remind me that this was why he was mad and say we should have been meticulous with taking precautions, and then when he calms down, the inevitable pressure to “take care of it” might follow.
The thought makes my stomach churn, but I know one thing for certain: I’m keeping this child. I will love this baby with all my heart, even if its father can’t.
Liam Miller is the only man I’ve ever truly loved, and I know I’ll never love another the way I love him. It’s probably why I never married all these years. My love came late, and it came wrong, but it came all the same. And now, it has brought this new life with it.
A sharp jolt from the bed startles me. My phone, abandoned on the dresser, buzzes impatiently. Liam. A knot tightens in my stomach. Has Dr. Miller already spilled the beans? No, the man is honorable. He’ll keep his promise for as long as possible.
Swiping the call button to decline, I ignore the pang of guilt that flares briefly. I’m not ready for the conversation, not yet. The notification bar buzzes again—a text from Liam. He wants to see me, wants to know why I left the hospital without saying goodbye.
I let out a humorless chuckle. Leaving is precisely the point. To avoid the tangled mess of emotions churning within me, to buy myself some time to process this bombshell life has dropped at my doorstep.
I bury my face in my hands, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on me. What am I going to do? Suddenly, I hear Ethan’s voice calling from downstairs.
“Auntie Emma! Mom and Dad want to see you!”
I wipe my eyes and take a deep breath. I can’t let them see me like this. I clear my throat and practice a smile in the mirror before climbing off the bed. I have to face my family and pretend everything is okay, even though my world is crashing down around me.
As I descend the stairs, the voices of June, Damon, and Ethan fill the house. They’re excited, preparing for their honeymoon trip. I can’t let my problems overshadow their happiness. I force a smile as I reach the bottom of the stairs and join them in the living room.
June looks up and smiles warmly. “There she is! How are you feeling, Emma?”
I manage a smile. “I’m fine, just a bit tired.”
Damon steps forward, concern in his eyes. “Are you sure? You gave us quite a scare yesterday.”
“I’m sure,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. “Dr. Miller said it was just stress. I’ve been overworking myself with the wedding preparations. Now I can rest, and I’ll rest better with y’all out of my hair.”
Ethan rushes over and hugs me tightly. “I’m glad you’re okay, Auntie Emma.”
I hug him back, feeling a pang of guilt for hiding the truth from them. “I’m okay, buddy. Don’t worry about me.”
June and Damon exchange a look, and I can tell they’re still concerned. “We were just about to head out to the hotel,” June says, her tone hesitant. “The flight’s early tomorrow. But we can postpone the trip if you need us here.”
I shake my head firmly. “No, you two need this time together, with Ethan as well. I’ll be fine. Really.”
Damon frowns. “Are you sure? We don’t want to leave you if you’re not feeling well.”
“I’m sure,” I insist. “Go and enjoy your honeymoon. You both deserve it.”
June steps forward and hugs me. “Thank you, Emma. We’ll call and check in on you as soon as we can.”
I nod, trying to keep my emotions in check. “Have a great time, you two. And take lots of pictures.”
As they gather their bags and head for the door, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of loss. I’ve always been the strong one, the one who takes care of everyone else. But now, I’m the one who needs support, and I don’t know how to ask for it.
Ethan lingers behind, looking up at me with wide eyes. “Auntie Emma, I’ll miss you.”
I kneel to his level and ruffle his hair. “I’ll be fine, Ethan. Don’t worry about me. Go have fun with Dad and Mom.”
He nods, but I can see the doubt in his eyes. “Okay. I love you, Auntie Emma.”
“I love you too, buddy.” I give him one last hug before he runs off to join his parents.
As the door closes behind them, the silence of the house is deafening. I stand in the empty living room, the weight of my situation pressing down on me. I look at the test results in my hand and feel a surge of determination. I may not have all the answers, but I know one thing: I will do whatever it takes to protect my child and give them the best life possible.
I head back to my room and sit on the bed, my mind racing with thoughts of the future. I don’t know how Liam will react when he finds out, but I can’t worry about that now. My priority is this baby and making sure they come into this world safe and loved.
I pick up my phone and see another message from Liam, asking if we can talk. I hesitate for a moment before typing out a response: “Not now. I need some time.”
I hit send and set the phone aside, leaning back against the pillows. My thoughts drift to the future, to the challenges and joys that lie ahead. I don’t know what’s in store for me, but I do know one thing: I will face it all with strength and courage for the sake of my child and the love I hold in my heart.
As I lie here, the weight of the situation starts to lift, replaced by a sense of determination. I will get through this, one step at a time. And no matter what happens, I will always have the love and support of my family.
I’ll have that when I finally get the strength to tell them the truth.