“Going to set up the conference room. You didn’t respond, but I sent an e-mail when I got home to let everyone know about the staff meeting at seven.”
“Thanks for that, Brian,” she said, and fixed her coffee. Back in her office she started gathering her items and had to run tothe bathroom. She was surprised that her period was flowing so heavily, she’d never had that many cramps or a heavy flow ever. When she finally entered the conference room, everyone was there. Because she was the boss and she’d worked with everyone for three years or more, she looked at Brian, and said, “Cover your ears.”
He frowned, but did, and Addy looked at the seven women around the table. “Forgive me, but it’s that time of the month and I’m having terrible cramps. Does anyone have something for them?” Beth stood and hurried out and was back in less than a minute. “My doctor recommends this. As you know, I get terrible cramps every month.” She handed her the bottle and after reading the directions she took two. Thanking they should be okay because they were over-the-counter and not prescriptions.
They had their meeting that lasted almost six hours, and Addy was getting frustrated about how many times she had to run to the bathroom. As the meeting broke up, she stood and had to grab the table.
“Addy, you okay?”
“I don’t...” That was all she got out before she passed out and hit her head on the conference table on the way down. Everyone was so shocked, they couldn’t get to her before she toppled over.
Addy woke and looked around in confusion. The first person she saw was Brian. “Where am I?”
“At the hospital. You passed out at the office. Hit your head and we called 9-1-1.” He sat on the side of the bed and took her hand in his. “The doctor will be in soon. How do you feel?”
“Like crap.” She leaned back on the pillows and frowned. “Ouch.”
“You hit pretty hard. You have a bruise and a couple of stitches.” When she reached up, he held her hand. “Sorry, ten stitches.”
“That’s a hell of a lot more than a couple.” Addy laughed and placed her hands over her stomach. “God, can you get the nurse or doctor and have them give me something for these damn cramps?” As she said that the door opened and a doctor and nurse walked in.
“Mrs. Murphy? I’m Dr. Baker. How are you feeling?”
“Like crap,” Addy said, and held still while the nurse took her vitals.
The doctor chuckled, and said, “At least you’re honest. I heard you tell your husband as we walked in that you have cramps.”
“Sorry, I’m not her husband. She’s not my type.” He grinned when Addy barked out a laugh. “I’m her business partner.”
“Do you want us to call your husband?”
“No, we’re going through a divorce,” Addy said quietly.
“Oh, um. Then, what I have to tell you might make this harder. Do you want anyone else here with you?”
“No, Brian’s been with me for four years. We talk about everything, you can talk in front of him.”
“Okay, there’s no way to sugarcoat this, but you’ve had a miscarriage. Or rather, you’re in the middle of having one. If you don’t pass the fetus naturally, we’ll have to take it, but it would be with a D & C.”
“Oh, Addy,” Brian said, and actually began crying.
“How far along was I?”
“When was your last period? Based on the last time you had intercourse?”
“The last time I had sex with my husband was May thirteenth. It was the morning of the Anderson wedding.” She looked at Brian for confirmation.
“That was May fifteenth.” He agreed as he wiped away his tears, and straightened his spine. Right then and there he made a vow to be strong for his boss, friend, and business partner.He wouldn’t fall apart because he knew she was going to need someone to lean on as she went through this mess, and he wanted to be that person for her. He might be gay, but that didn’t mean Addy couldn’t rely on him.
“Oh, so May fifteenth. My last period was only eight days before that. I’ve been with my husband and only my husband sexually for the last seven years.”
“So, that would have been fourteen weeks ago, maybe fifteen. You’re three almost four months pregnant.”
“Can you stop the miscarriage?”
“Unfortunately, no. I take it you wanted a child?”
“We weren’t actively trying to get pregnant, if it happened, it happened. But, yeah, we decided that it was time. But now...” She let her words trail off and lay back and let the tears silently run down her face. She looked away from everyone and was glad no one tried to talk to her and hold her hand. She finally ended up rolling over and curling into the fetal position and cried. She cried for the loss of her child, the loss of her marriage, and the loss of the only man she had ever loved.
