“Reed will be happy, I’m sure. He’ll be understanding no matter what happens.” I wanted to believe that, but Gavin hadn’t wanted children, and though Reed seemed a little more open to the idea, the two of us also hadn’t talked about it. I knew he’d do the right thing and take care of me if I was, and he’d provide for our child. But with our relationship so new, it might be too much for him.
I placed my hand on my tummy and closed my eyes as the nurse came back into the room. I opened my eyes and could tell by the look on her face on that she knew my results. “The doctor is on her way, and she’s seen the X-rays. She’s also got your results, so she’ll discuss those with you.”
I opened my mouth to beg her for the results when a short, curly-haired blonde walked into the room with a white coat and comfortable shoes. She pulled up a stool and lowered herself into it and wheeled it right in front of me. “I’m Dr. Jenson, I guess you’ve been on pins and needles, but I’m going to start with what you came in here for. The good news is there are no broken bones, but there are a couple of torn ligaments. Because of the severity, you’ll have to wear a boot for a couple of weeks, but the good news is, I don’t th
ink you’ll need any surgery. I’m going to recommend something for pain, which leads me to my next diagnosis.” She scratched her head and took a deep breath. “I’m assuming that since you came in here for an ankle that you weren’t expecting to be expecting, correct?”
“I’m pregnant?” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
“Yeah, and by the looks of it, you’re still early, but you need to find yourself an obstetrician and seek care immediately.”
“Are you okay, Bella?” Kayla twisted her hands in front of her and chewed her lip.
“I’m fine. I’ll call Reed as soon as we’re out of here.”
“Reed is the father, I assume?” The doctor scribbled into my file and then passed the papers off to the nurse who whispered her congratulations as she hurried out of the room.
“Yes. It’s a bit of a surprise.”
“Well, congratulations, Bella. Tell Reed the same and stay off that ankle.” The doctor left, and I sat in a daze thinking about what I would tell Reed.
After giving me some more instructions and fitting me with my boot, the nurse got us out of there wheeling me down in a chair so that I wouldn’t have to use my new crutches the whole way.
“I’ll be out of work for a week. I can’t run the shop like this or travel to the sales.” Things were sinking in as I thought out loud as I got into the car.
“You are dating a wealthy man—scratch that, you’re carrying his child. I think a little time off work and fewer dollars are going to be okay. I’ll be shocked if he lets you keep working.”
“Let’s me? I think you sent the women’s movement back like fifty years with that comment. I’m going to work and if I choose not to it will my doing and not because he made me.” My tone was a little uglier than I expected.
“Whatever, all I’m saying is, why worry about it? You’ll be fine. They baby will be fine.”
“The baby?” I put my hand over my stomach as tears pooled in my eyes. “I can’t tell Reed over the phone. I’ll tell him when he gets here tomorrow.”
I just wish I knew how he’d react.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - REED
I had sped to the airport and couldn’t wait for the flight to be over so I could get to Bella. The window of opportunity was closing in fast, and I would have to take another approach soon. My first step was buying her house and getting her set up so we’d have more privacy.
I longed for the times we’d be together and hoped that before long we’d be together all the time. I had considered a ring but thought it might be a bit soon to ask her. That was something that could wait, but not too long if it’s what it would take to make me a father.
I arrived at Bella’s house, eager to see the place fully furnished and try out the new bed. We’d been using a blow-up mattress the past couple of times I’d been over, but the bed I’d custom-ordered had arrived the day before with a few other things. Bella had been tired when I called the night before and knowing she’d had a rough one, I encouraged her to go to sleep. She’d had the sniffles and been so zoned out, that I was worried she’d come down with a cold or the damned summer flu.
I put my key in the door and went inside, but Bella wasn’t there to greet me. “Bella?” I threw down my keys and went to the kitchen, but she wasn’t there either. Wondering if she was sick, I headed to the bedroom, but then when I saw that the bed was not assembled, I turned around and found her tucked in and sound asleep on the sofa.
She looked so peaceful and beautiful that I walked across the room and knelt at her side. I pushed her hair away from her face; her face was flushed, her lips appearing much darker than usual. I leaned in and kissed her forehead, and she stirred, pulling her arms up to stretch and yawn.
“Reed?” she said in a sleepy voice.
“Yeah, did you forget I was coming today? It’s after six. Are you hungry?” She pushed the blanket off of her and confusion creased my brow.
“What’s that?” I examined her foot which was stuck inside a medical boot.
“It’s fine. It’s nothing.” She waved her hand like she didn’t want me to make a big deal of it, but I was growing angrier by the minute wondering why she hadn’t told me.
“What happened to you and when? Why haven’t you told me?” I tried to keep my cool, but that wasn’t my strong suit.
“Stop yelling at me.” She gave me a hard glare and took a deep breath. “I was helping the delivery men into the house and stepped on the stoop wrong. I twisted my ankle, and it’s sprained.”