CHAPTER NINE
I think it’s not too much to ask for an unlimited supply of sour worms. If your brother takes from my stash again, I can’t promise his safety.
~Text from Kinsley to Emmett~
Kinsley
It’s been almost a week since Emmett proposed, and the planning wheels are already in motion.
I don’t want something super fancy, just a small wedding with family and a reception with good food for everyone.
Tomorrow we are having a barbecue at the clubhouse.
Dad got Anna and Ma involved, and they are handling the food.
Ada has been in touch and is helping too.
The families are going to meet and help us plan everything, since we are in a bit of a time crunch after I decided we should get married before our little one is born.
It’s Friday, which means I have a light student load at work, with most students not seeking tutoring help on the day before their weekend. It means today is a catch-up-on-paperwork day for me.
I’m enjoying my third cup of mint tea at my desk when my cell phone rings. It’s Doctor Hargrave’s office.
“Hello?”
“Kinsley, this is Doctor Hargrave. I’m calling to ask you to come into my office today. I got all your test results and would like to discuss them with you.”
A pit of worry immediately takes hold in my stomach. “You can’t just tell me over the phone?” She didn’t do this with the last round of blood tests.
Doctor Hargrave answers me in a way I know she’s trying to make me feel at ease, but it doesn’t help at all.
“I ask this of almost all my patients when they are this far along. Sometimes the results leave moms-to-be with a lot more questions, so I like to give them a face-to-face. Your baby is fine and healthy.” I tell her I’ll be there as soon as I get off work this afternoon.
As soon as we hang up, I text Emmett. I don’t call him because I know he could be busy and not able to answer right away, but he texts back almost immediately.
Me: Hey. I just got a call from the doctor’s office, and they want me to come into the office today to get my test results.
Future Hubby: Did she say why she wanted you to come in?
Me: No, but it can’t be good, can it? She said the baby is healthy, but then what could it be?
Future Hubby: Don’t borrow trouble, sweetheart. It could just be something small, but she wants to go over them with you. What time are you going? I’ll meet you there.
Me: You’re working. That’s important.
Future Hubby: Nothing is more important than you and our family. What time, Kinsley?
Me: I’m gonna head over as soon as I’m off work. I don’t have any after-school students today, so I’ll probably leave right at 2:30.
Future Hubby: I’ll meet you there. It’s you and me together. You said yes, so you’ve got me for the rest of our lives.
Me: Gonna make me cry, but thank you for saying you’ll meet me. I love you.
Future Hubby: Love you more.
I’m not sure how I’m supposed to concentrate for the rest of the day.
All I can think about are the worst-case scenarios.
I mean, I would think that if it required me to be on bed rest, she would have told me right then and there, so that eliminates a few things.
Could it be gestational diabetes? I would give up sugar if I needed to.
Could it be high blood pressure? I mean, she said the baby is fine, so it’s got to be an issue with me, right?
I rub my bump. “We’re gonna talk to the doctor today, little one.
You’re gonna be just fine. Daddy and Mommy are going to make sure of it. ”
***********
As soon as the school bell rings to signal the end of the day, I grab my stuff and head out. I’m pretty proud I actually made it through the whole day without taking off to the doctor’s hours earlier. My patience won out, though I’m a bundle of nerves.
I make the quick drive over to the hospital and pull into the parking lot on the office side of the building.
I find a spot and park. A vehicle pulls in next to me but I don’t pay much attention until there’s a knock on the door, which has me jumping out of my skin.
Emmett is standing outside. I open the door, and he leans in to give me a kiss.
“Tell me you were paying attention when you drove here from the school and that you just went off to your own little world once you parked.” I glare at him as I get out.
“Yes, I was paying attention to driving. I was just thinking because I thought I had a few minutes before you would get here since I left work the second the bell rang.”
He kisses my temple and takes my hand. “Come on, let’s go.
I know you’ve thought about a million and one things it could be, and I’m sure you Googled more than is necessary about things it’s not.
” The man acts like he knows me or something.
He helps me up the steps to the door because I swear my bump has doubled in size this week.
Okay, maybe not doubled, but there’s definitely no doubt now when someone looks at me that I’m pregnant.
Makes me a little less stable on stairs because, let’s be honest, I’ve always been a bit of a klutz on them before I was unbalanced by our little girl.
We check in at the front desk, and the receptionist tells me that someone will be out to get us shortly.
Emmett leads me over to a couple of empty chairs in the seating area.
As we sit down, a thought comes to me. “How did you get off for this? You were supposed to work till six today.” Emmett, who hasn’t let go of my hand, squeezes it and looks at me as he answers.
“I was talking to the chief when Jason and Thomas came in. Jason was off and volunteered to pick up his grandkids, and Thomas said he would work the rest of my shift. They’re both dads and understand the importance of being here for appointments.
I may have to work next Saturday for a few hours so Thomas can go to one of his kids' games, but he’ll let me know for sure.
” I’m gonna have to make them some cookies or something.
“Your coworkers are really nice to be willing to do that for us.”
Emmett is stopped from responding by my name being called out.
“Kinsley?” I’m surprised it’s Doctor Hargrave herself coming out to get us.
We both follow her back. She doesn’t lead us to an exam room, but to her office.
As she opens the door, she gestures to two chairs.
“Have a seat, you two. I’m glad you were both able to come today. ”
As soon as we sit down, I can’t hold it in anymore. “You’re sure my baby’s okay? Did I do something wrong? Do I need to stop eating my craving for peanut butter, jelly, and ham sandwiches?”
Doctor Hargrave leans forward in her seat and reaches over to touch my hand.
“Kinsley, like I said on the phone, your baby is fine and developing right on schedule. She’s a healthy one and seems to be doing quite well.
” She leans back and opens the file on her desk.
She looks at the paperwork and looks back up at me.
“When you were in here last week, I had Darius take enough blood for some additional tests. Tests that I felt were warranted after your ultrasound. I consulted with my colleagues to make sure I was correct about what the results were showing me, and they agreed. I saw what looked like a mass on the ultrasound, so I looked more than I normally would and captured more images than I gave you. Blood tests confirmed it. Kinsley, you have a mass on your ovaries. I’m almost certain it’s cancer.
Normally, I wouldn’t even bring up that word till I was one hundred percent sure, but we’re dealing with some different circumstances when it comes to doing the final test to confirm it is cancer. ”
I couldn’t have heard her right, could I? There’s no way the universe would do that to me, would they? Emmett finds his voice while mine is still lost in denial. “How…how do we find out for certain, and what’s the next step? You said the baby is okay. Will this mass affect it in any way?”
Doctor Hargrave answers his questions. “First, we do an MRI to confirm its size. That is not harmful to the baby at all. The mass doesn’t look like it’s invading her space at all, so that is the current concern to watch for.”
Emmett
I can’t believe what the doctor is telling us.
Kinsley seems to be in shock and unable to speak.
I need answers. I look at the doctor and ask a question that concerns me greatly.
“Okay, so we get the MRI and then what?” The doctor sighs, and that can’t be a good thing.
“Well, normally, when this is discovered and it is earlier in the pregnancy, we do surgery to remove the mass. However, that is usually before a woman is twenty weeks along. Kinsley is twenty-two weeks, closer to twenty-three. We can talk about that option, but it—” Kinsley interrupts the doctor.
“No.” I look over at her and try to read her face.
“No surgery. No chemo or radiation or anything that can hurt the baby till after she’s born.
I won’t put her in any danger.” I squeeze Kinsley’s hand and look back at the doctor.
“What’s the danger of her not doing anything till the baby is born?
Can she carry to term? Is there anything we can do right now? ”