36. Chapter 36
Aspen
While I may not be as in tune with the world and everyone around me like my dear Rhett is, I still have two eyes in my head and a vibe radar that is beeping off the tracks every time Rhett is out late.
He’s up to something. And being that I’m in an empty bed, that means he’s already started his day and is out the door.
He came in late last night, which woke me up, and then I had a hard time getting back to sleep because trying to get comfortable at night with a giant basketball growing out of you is next to impossible.
My eyeballs feel scratchy, and a dull ache pounds at my skull, but even with that, there is an excitement buzzing through me.
It’s baby shower day. A whole day full of the people I love, snacks that don’t have to be full of nutritional value, fizzy drinks, and most importantly, presents.
While they are not exactly presents for me, they are for dear baby boy, and since he is a part of me, it counts.
My phone buzzes, and I see my mom’s name come across the screen. “Hello, mother dearest.”
“How is my favorite daughter doing?” By the perk of her voice, I think she might be as excited as I am for today.
“She has a headache and has a desperate need for caffeine, which she cannot have, so I’ve been better. The baby shower should cure me.”
“How about you get ready as quick as you can and I’ll take you out for breakfast. I’ll swing you back by the house after so you can get party-ready.”
My heart warms with that. She knows me so damn well. It’s very true that to be known is to be loved. “I would need final touches, you know me so well.”
“Almost like I made you myself.” Her joke causes laughter to bubble up out of both of us.
“I’ll be at your house in twenty minutes.
Get out of bed.” The line goes dead, and I wonder if my mom has a sixth sense when it comes to her kids.
It’s the only way to explain how she would know that I’d still be in bed.
The next hour is spent laughing and filling my belly. My mom drops me back off at my front door with a promise to be back in two hours to pick me up for my party.
Though the headache hasn’t gone away, a full belly of food does make me feel immensely better.
When I step through the front door, I am greeted by my favorite man in the world holding a bouquet of blue flowers. “So, I know guys aren’t typically allowed at showers, but I couldn’t miss the chance of showering my girl with gifts.
My heart feels as if it has grown wings and has taken flight. His face is stretched in a grin. His dark hair is brushed back, giving me a perfect view of those brown eyes. I am so lost in everything that he is and I never want to find my way out.
“Well, you know I love surprises,” I say coyly.
He holds out the flowers, and I take a deep inhale. The sweet smell of the roses invading my senses. “They’re your first surprise. But I think you will like your second one better.”
“You’re something else.” I walk to the kitchen and set them down.
He follows, taking my hand and guiding me down the hall and to the door that will be our baby boy’s room, very very soon. “Go in.”
When I walk in, tears fill my eyes. Because the last thing on our must-have list was a crib. And there one sits. Painted a beautiful baby blue color, almost the color of a robin's egg. It’s draped with a white crocheted blanket over the side.
I walk up and run my hands over the smooth wood grain. Already imagining the times I’ll be picking up our baby boy. Laying him down for naps. Every piece of me is ready for that. Ready to be a mom. Ready for our boy to be here. “It’s perfect,” I whisper as a tear streaks down my cheek.
“That better be a happy tear,” Rhett says, stepping into my space and turning my body into him. He gently puts his finger under my chin, angling my face up to meet his gaze.
“The happiest. Where did you find it?” I ask, looking back to the crib.
“I made it.”
I pull back, shocked silence hanging between us. “When did you have the time to build a crib?”
“I made time.”
It hits me then. Where he’s been going all these nights. He’s been working hard, making sure he’s ready for this baby. Making sure we’re ready. “I don’t know what to say other than I love you. This baby boy is so lucky that you’re his dad. I just know he is going to love you as much as I do.”
Happiness overflows from me in the form of more tears.
“I love you and I love our family. You guys are my dream come true,” he says as he pulls me into his arms and I sink into his embrace.
My mom and I step into her house, and my jaw hits the floor. Streamers hang from every surface. Bright blue balloons hang everywhere. It looks perfect. Almost like a Pinterest board. Next to the fireplace is a balloon arch with a sign “Welcome Baby Rivers” hanging from it.
The decorations are one thing, but the people in the room are so much more important.
Ava, Willow, my friends from work all stand with big smiles on their faces.
But the best one of them all is Rhett in the corner, quiet and arms crossed, but I know that look.
When he looks at me like that, it feels like sunshine is beaming down on me.
I’m very glad he broke the no boys at baby shower rule he insisted was a thing.
“I’m glad we get to do this for you,” my mom says, pulling me in for a hug.
“I heard you enjoyed your surprise this morning. You sure got one hell of a guy.” She pulls me back and looks at me, her small tear streaming down her face that doesn’t come from sadness. It’s happy. She knows her baby is safe.
“He’s…everything.” It’s the only way to describe it.
My stomach growls and my mom turns to the crowd. “The guest of honor has requested food, specifically not vegetables, though. So, let’s get her a plate.”
That specific instruction makes me laugh; guess I have been complaining about Rhett’s healthy eating protocol a bit too much.
With a baby strapped to her chest, Ava comes up to hug me. “I’m so excited to get to do the mom thing with you. And continue on a second generation of a mishmashed family.”
Pulling her in for a hug around baby Grace, I say, “I’m glad, too.
Though, I am glad you got to do it first and work out some of the kinks before I jumped in.
” I laugh; the pressure of it makes my dull headache throb.
“I really need to get some water; I haven’t had enough and my headache is getting worse. ”
“On it.” She darts through the room to the kitchen counter where Mom has jugs of iced tea, water and lemonade out.
My favorite charge nurse who retired last year is the next one to greet me. “Pretty girl, I am so happy for you.” Her joy was never tampered with by all her years of medicine, and I hope that I can be that happy spot later on in my career, too, like she was for me.
“Margie, thank you. I am so glad you could make it. This whole day is a wonderful surprise, but seeing you is a cherry on top.”
“Wouldn’t miss it, I’m going to go swoop by the other girls, see what hot hospital gossip i’ve missed this last year.” She grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze before walking away.
After taking a round through the guests, I finally get my food and drink and start to feel a little better. Probably because I finally get to plant my ass in a chair and open presents. We didn’t even get around to making a registry, but I do feel like baby items are pretty standard.
“Alrighty, I'm already willing to bet this will be Aspen's favorite part.” My mom comes around, bringing a handful of gifts with her.
She has a chair pulled out to be front and center and has piled gifts on the coffee table.
“It will be, but I am equally as happy about seeing all of you, I am so grateful you guys took the time out to come celebrate the new addition!”
“We know you love us. Now show us the goods,” Margie hollers out, glad to see it’s not just staff meetings she likes to make a statement at.
“If you insist,” I say as I pull the first gift into my lap. Ripping off the paper, I see a pack of baby onesies, socks, and beanies. “Oh, yes! Never can have enough clothes.”
I go through the stack feeling a bit more exhausted with each one. I don’t know what's wrong with me, this is usually the type of thing I live for, you know, being showered with gifts and surrounded by my friends. My headache has made a comeback, and everything feels so damn hazy.
When gifts finish, I plaster a smile on my face, not wanting to be rude. “Thank you guys so much for all the gifts. Rhett will be busy for the next week carting them home.”
Rhett, who has tried very hard to stay out of sight, probably because he wants me to enjoy my moment, comes up to me next to the chair.
“Looks like we won’t need to go to Target again after all,” he jokes, and I want to laugh, but I feel like I can’t.
I blink at him a couple of times and do my best to smile, but something is wrong.
“Are you okay?” he asks, worry lacing his tone.
“I…I think something’s wrong.” I don’t want to ruin the fun of this day, but I feel more awful by the minute. The rush of exhaustion came out of nowhere. I should be riding a high, not wanting to curl up on the couch.
He grabs my hand and turns around, eyes scanning the room. “Is Ava still here?”
“Yeah, I’m right here.” I try to follow where her voice was coming from, but the movement makes my head swim.
“Something is wrong.” Rhett's face is flooded with panic and fear, which makes me feel about one hundred times worse. What if this isn’t just a headache?
“Aspen, can you tell me what’s wrong?” she asks, squatting down in front of me.
“Headache, foggy and dizzy.” I list off.
Whipping her head to face Rhett, she asks, “She has preeclampsia, right?”
“Yeah, we’ve been monitoring her blood pressures and everything has been fine.”
“I think you need to get her to a hospital pretty quickly. We don’t see this a lot in the ER here, but I think you should be safe and get her checked out.”
“What’s wrong?” My mom joins the crew around me.
“I’m not sure, but I think her pre-eclampsia is getting worse,” Rhett says. “I need to get her to the hospital. Can you help me get her up and to the truck?”
“Of course. Come on, honey.” My mom grabs my arm and helps me to my feet.
If I thought the dizziness was bad sitting, this feels so much worse. A wave of nausea washes over me and I about lose it.
“We’ll get you better, honey,” Rhett says, his eyes scanning over my face and then taking inventory of everything else. “I’m going to carry her.”
Within seconds, I am scooped up into his arms and he is running.
“Rhett, can you walk? This is making me nauseous. It’s okay,” I say. The bright light from outside is not helping one bit.
“I’m coming with you,” my mom says as she opens Rhett’s truck door and loads me inside.
“Of course.”
I sit quietly, panic slowly coursing through me. I’ve been totally fine up until this point. What the hell is wrong with me? I know in my gut what’s happening. It’s getting worse. And the only way to make preeclampsia go away is to get this baby out.