Memories of the night Tony died threatened to surround him, but he shook them off, though the effort was great. Nikki needed him functioning, not wallowing in guilt.
“It wouldn’t have changed anything even if you were there,” Janine said.
When had he become such an easy read? “I know you mean well, but leave it alone,” he muttered.
Before she responded, the doctor came through the double doors. Because the waiting room was empty, the young-looking intern didn’t have to look for. “Are you relatives of Nicole’s?” he asked.
“Yes. How is she?” Janine asked.
“She’s fine. Resting more comfortably. I wouldn’t call it a false alarm, but she’s in no immediate danger of losing the baby.”
Thank God. Kevin didn’t know how many chances he’d been allotted in this lifetime, but he wasn’t about to waste this one. “Can we see her?”
He nodded. “I’m going to keep her overnight for continued fetal monitoring and then if things are still status quo in the morning, she can go home.” He jotted some notes down on a metal clipboard before glancing back at Kevin. “She needs to see her regular ob/gyn but until then there are going to be some restrictions—at least until we’re certain the pregnancy will hold.”
“What kind of restrictions?” Kevin asked. “And for how long?”
“Bed rest to start. The rest is up to her primary care physician. So make sure she sees her doctor.”
Kevin nodded. He didn’t need to hear any more.
What came next was between him and Nikki.
* * *
Nikki watched the green line on the screen that monitored the baby’s heartbeat and any possible contractions she might have. So far, steady and straight; no mountains signaling a potential problem.
She glanced at the beige walls and peeling paint. She hated hospitals—both their bland look and the sterile smell because they reminded her of the night Tony died. But at least she hadn’t suffered another loss this time. She’d been off her feet for a few hours and the pain had begun to subside.
This whole experience seemed so surreal. Then again, the last three months had brought so many changes, she had entered a new world. She supposed she’d better get used to change, because on the heels of the doctor’s reassurance had come his warnings and restrictions. She lay her head back against the pillow and closed her eyes, exhaustion overtaking her.
When she woke again, Kevin was sitting in a chair beside the bed, but his upper body lay forward, his head resting on the mattress beside her. She curled her fingers into the palm of her hand in an effort to resist the urge to run her hands through his hair and reassure him.
She was the one who needed reassurance, and badly. She could rely on him—Nikki knew that now. But relying on him would take her on that slippery slope toward falling in love again. And that she couldn’t allow.
He stirred and jumped up in his seat, as if realizing he’d fallen asleep on the job, she thought wryly.
He met her gaze. “At least you’re smiling. I hope that means you’re feeling okay.”
She nodded. “Better than last night.”
“You scared me to death.” He met her gaze, his dark eyes shadowed from lack of sleep.
She forced a laugh. “Yeah, well, I scared myself pretty good too. But the doctor says it’s not uncommon. That not all cramping leads to...” She shook her head, unable to say the word aloud. She hadn’t realized how much she wanted this baby until she thought she might lose it.
The ambulance ride to the hospital had been the scariest and loneliest few minutes of her life. And considering all that had gone on lately, Nikki knew that was saying a lot.
He grabbed her hand and held on tight. His touch was warm and reassuring on one level, and sizzling and electric on another. Seconds passed when no words were necessary. The connection between them wasn’t just sexual, but basic. They were two people who shared an important bond. One, Nikki was beginning to realize, that could never be broken.
The notion scared her.
“They’re discharging you this morning.” Kevin shattered the silence first.
She nodded.
“You’re coming home with me.”
Hadn’t she known that silence was golden? “I’m tired. Too tired to argue with you and that’s where this is leading. So...”