“All right, I’ll be right back,” he says, racing from the room.
It still feels like a knife is stabbing me as I rock back and forth.Please, please, please let my baby be okay, I plead to God. Less than a minute passes before Poppy is next to me, frantic.
“Cici, what’s happening?”
“I’m not sure, but something’s wrong. It felt like something tore when I reached for the papers. I’m freaking out.” I look over with tears about to fall.
“Don’t panic. I’m sure everything’s fine. I’ll drive you in, and we’ll call on the way.” She stands and asks Matt, who’s completely lost, “Will you help me get her to the car?”
“Yeah, absolutely.” He lowers. “Can you stand, or do you want me to carry you?”
I groan at the thought of Matt carrying me out of the office for everyone to gawk at. “Help me up first.”
He maneuvers under my arm and lifts slightly, only to hear me gasp halfway up. Mortification it is. “Never mind. Can you carry me?”
“Of course. I’ll be as gentle as possible, okay?” he assures before grabbing under my knees and hefting me into his arms. My body being folded seems to keep the pain at bay.
“Thank you, this is better,” I say to ease his obvious distress.
“Matt, I need to grab our purses. I’ll hurry and meet you at my car.” She starts to leave, but Matt’s voice stops her in her tracks.
“Poppy, wait. I’ll drive so you can sit in the back with Cici.”
She looks at me in question, knowing he’ll find out about the baby if he drives us. But right now, I don’t care. I’d rather have her beside me like he suggested, and it was bound to come out soon anyway. I nod.
“Okay. I’ll be right there,” she says before rushing out.
We field questions the whole way until he’s opening the door to his truck and sliding me into the back seat. I’m doing okay as long as I stay hunched and minimize my movement, other than my mind running through all the possibilities of what could be happening—none of them good. Seconds later, Poppy climbs in, and Matt pulls out of the parking lot.
I curl into Poppy. “I’m scared. What if—”
“Sssh. Think positive. Let’s not jump to conclusions. How about we call your doctor and tell her we’re on our way?” She squeezes me and rubs my arm, holding me against her. They answer quickly, and I listen as she tells the office what’s happening. After a few times back and forth, she hangs up.
“Okay, they said L&D will admit you, and Dr. Bell will meet us. Try to stay calm. It’s better for….” She pauses, looking stricken as she glances toward the front seat.
“The baby?” Matt finishes her sentence, continuing, “I know what L&D is. Labor and delivery?”
We make eye contact in the rearview mirror, but I can’t tell where his thoughts are.
“Yeah,” I admit.
He sighs. “Was that the reason for your friends-only spiel?”
“No, I had no idea I was pregnant then,” I say and shrug. “But I suppose in a way, since the dad was the reason.”
He looks concerned. “Should you be calling him?”
“He doesn’t know,” Poppy intervenes. She’s still unhappy that I haven’t told Eli.
Matt immediately appears angry. “How far along are you?” The accusation is loud and clear.
“Don’t judge me,” I snap. “It’s complicated.”
He immediately backtracks. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to. It’s just that I’d be pissed if a woman kept that from me.”
“I will tell him. It just hasn’t been the right time. Plus, I’ve been coming to terms with it myself. I’m five months.”
He blows out a breath. “Wow. I can’t believe you’ve been able to hide it. And everything is good? Well, until this?”
