Chapter 7
"Are you sure?" Eliza could scarcely breathe as she stared at the doctor seated across from her. "I'm pregnant?"
Dr. Forsythe pleated his fingers on top of his desk and leaned forward, a smile on his face.
He and his team had taken a special interest in this beautiful young woman's case, and it was not only because she was a celebrity with a powerful husband.
Eliza Bell-Copeland was the real deal. Over the past four months, dealing with her had shown them why her fans loved her so much.
She was kind and compassionate and didn't have a fake bone in her body.
They speculated that it was due to her very humble background.
"The embryo transfer was a success." He cleared his throat. "I'm surprised your husband is not with you."
"I wanted to do this alone because I want to surprise him."
"And you did not want to give him false hope," the doctor intuited.
"That too." Her golden-brown eyes searched his face. "There's something else. What is it?"
"In order to ensure success, we hedged our bets by injecting your husband's sperm into several of your eggs."
"Of course."
He took another breath. "Which means there might be more than two that were viable."
Her hand flew to her chest. "You mean..."
"You might be looking at triplets or even quadruplets.
" He took another deep breath. "I don't have to tell you how difficult this is going to be or how taxing.
" Leaning forward, he pinned her with an intense stare.
"I want to prepare you for what is to come.
We will be monitoring you very closely, of course, but over the next few months, it will be rough. "
"I've been reading up on multiples..." She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I was daring to hope for triplets, but four babies..." She shook her head. "I have no idea how my husband will take that news. Four will mean a C-section and a hell of a lot of complications."
The doctor nodded. "It's a high-risk pregnancy, and you might not be able to carry all of the embryos to full term.
I hope you're prepared for everything that's about to happen.
There will be unbelievable stress on your body.
" His eyes flickered over her slender frame, and he felt a frisson of fear for her.
"There's a fear of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and postpartum hemorrhage. "
"And the bad news?"
He laughed, his face relaxing at her droll remark and attempt at humor.
"I'm just preparing you, Eliza. Your husband all but threatened me..."
"I berated him for being such a bully." She took a deep breath. "If anything happens to me, he'll never forgive me." She looked at him squarely. "You think I'm being foolish to put my life at risk like this."
"I think you're a brave young woman who wants something so badly, you're prepared to do anything to accomplish it."
She nodded gratefully. "He won't think so. He's agreed to come on board under extreme duress, but this is going to send him over the edge."
She sighed, pressing a hand to her flat stomach.
"I've read up on all the risks and complications.
I know that things can go wrong, but I'm prepared to go through with it.
I want to be a mother, Dr. Forsythe. It's my greatest desire other than being a wife to my husband.
A lot of women in my line of work would scoff at the lengths I'm willing to go through to make it happen, or the fact that I want 'to put myself out. '"
She made air quotes with her fingers. "But I want to.
My mother abandoned me without a backward glance and never came back for me.
I know a therapist would have a field day diving into the reason behind this, but I know it has nothing to do with what they call abandonment issues.
I just think that I will make a very good mother, and if four babies is what I get... "
She blew out a breath. "Then so be it. I just want to convince Samuel that this is going to be a walk in the park."
"Only it won't be," Dr. Forsythe reminded her with a gentle smile.
"I admire you, my dear. I've watched your performance on the small screen for years and admired your tremendous acting skills.
The way you draw people in with your credible performance is certainly a gift from God.
I also understand your need to want a family.
"But this won't be easy. The next few months will test your faith and your spirit.
It will also put a strain on your marriage.
Your hormones will veer crazily over the months, and at the end of about four to five months, you will be required to be on bed rest. Your activities will be curtailed.
There is also the possibility of depression.
" He held up a hand when she opened her mouth to speak.
"I'm just laying down the facts as they present themselves. I want you to be prepared."
"I intend to be."
"And your husband?" he asked frankly. "When he first came here, he was very reluctant to even talk about the process."
She linked her hands together, expression pensive.
After the trip back from the cottage, things had been better between them.
They spent as much time as possible together, and she had traveled with him to Europe to scout out locations for a period piece he was interested in producing.
They had ended up staying in a delightful villa in a little fishing village in France.
They were in a very good place, and she hated to lose that.
But this was going to change everything. She felt it in her bones.
"I'll deal with my husband."
She prepared for his arrival. The housekeeper had prepared his favorite, filet mignon with fresh garden salad and baked potatoes.
She had picked up dessert, a delicate and sumptuous raspberry soufflé that had been personally prepared by a top pastry chef at one of Kelly's restaurants.
She had also chosen the wine to go with the meal.
She was told she could have one glass, and it would not affect the fetuses.
She had showered and changed into a slinky black robe that clung to her body in all the right places. Her hair was brushed until it hung past her shoulders and down her back in gentle curling waves. And she was wearing her signature scent. It was a seduction scene to which she had added candles.
They were dining in front of the fireplace. There was a hint of spring in the air, but the stubborn winter was still trying to hold on to the very end.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped back to examine the table before wandering over to stare at herself in the mirror. She did not look any different from when she last gazed at her reflection this morning. Of course, it was too early to tell that she was carrying.
Putting her hand flat on her stomach, she imagined herself six months in. She was pregnant. Finally, something was happening. Her dream was about to materialize.
She would give her husband the family he wanted, the family they both wanted. She was just going to have to convince him that all would be well.
A jolt went straight through her when she heard the ping, indicating that the front doors were being opened.
He had mentioned a meeting with the director and several members of the cast, and he would be a little late coming home.
She had told him they were having the meal inside their bedroom.
He had started doing that, informing her when he was going to be late, and he was sure to make it home every night.
Their marriage was better now, and she wanted it to stay that way. "Please, God," she whispered.
She stood right by the mantel, her hands clasped behind her back as she waited for him to enter the room.
He looked tired, she thought with a pang.
He had taken off his outer jacket downstairs, and the sleeves of his sweater were rolled up over his forearms. His hair was mussed as if he had been running his fingers through it.
She knew he was having some difficulties with the cast and crew and hoped desperately that she would be able to change his mood with the news.
"Hi. What..." His deep voice trailed off as he took in her appearance.
"Hi." Her smile came hesitantly and had him wondering.
"What's this?" He waved a hand to encompass the table setting and the way she was dressed.
"You sounded a little stressed and harried over the phone. I just thought I would be the perfect wife and give you a treat. Do you need to take a shower?"
"Give me five minutes."
"Go ahead. I'll pour the wine in the meantime."
His silver eyes studied her for a few seconds before he nodded and made his way toward the bathroom.
So far, so good, she mused as she popped the cork and poured the wine.
By the time he was back, a towel slung low around his waist and hair still damp from his shower, she had the wine ready.
Waiting until he had pulled on comfortable sweats and an old T-shirt, Eliza handed him the glass of wine before taking her seat.
"How was your day?"
He decided to humor her even though he knew something was up.
"Busy. Thanks." He took the plate she had dished out for him and sniffed appreciatively. "The female character is being replaced."
Her brows lifted. "I thought Melanie was perfect for the character. What happened?"
"She refuses to follow direction and is making the other cast members uncomfortable.
She's also making impossible demands. I warned her twice already and told her three strikes, and she's out.
" He took a sip of his wine. "It's put us in a hell of a spot to find her replacement, but I think we have.
" He eyed her speculatively. "I almost called to persuade you to come back to work. "
"You think I would be right for the part?"
"You would be perfect," he averred. "But you've made up your mind, and I'm not going to be the one to get you to change it."
"That's good." She trailed a finger over the narrow stem of the glass.