He walked over to perch on the side of the cot, his florid face softened as he took Leanne's hand in his large one. "I know this is a scary time for you, but I give you my word that we will be taking the very best care of you." He looked over at Christos. "That is of course, if you're planning on staying with us."
Feeling a little steadier by the man's word and his gentle touch, Leanne nodded. "Of course, I'm staying. There's something else I need to ask." She looked over at Christos before averting her gaze. "Is there a possibility--" She took a deep breath. "What if I don't want to -- to -- carry the pregnancy?"
She heard his indrawn breath but did not look at him. "I'm not saying I don't want to, but what if I decide that I want to -- you know--"
"Terminate the pregnancy?"
Leanne nodded at Dr. Friedmann.
"It would be doable, but certainly risky."
"Could you give us a minute?" The cold authoritative command was not questioned.
Giving her hand a squeeze, Dr. Friedmann rose and headed towards the door with Dr. Henderson following.
"Don't start with me." Leanne began, refusing to feel guilty.
"Are you really planning on terminating the pregnancy?" He stood where he was, not certain he would not do something he would regret if he got any closer.
"Did you hear!" She hissed. "Three babies Christos. Three!" She held up three fingers. "Bad enough carrying one, but three. I'm going to be sick as a dog the entire time and there will forever be risks. I'm going to blow up like a balloon and what if one or two of them died? What then?"
"You're borrowing trouble--"
"Damn you! You're not the one who will be going through the worry, the raging hormones, not to mention the hypertension and diabetes. I will be practically bed ridden. And I can forget about working. There's no way I can be up and about doing what I do, going through the hectic pace while carrying multiples. I will be out of work."
"Only until you have the babies." He moved then, crossing the room to sit on the edge of the bed. "I have money. My family have the resources capable of getting you the best care. Doctors who can come and do home visits. A nurse if you want one -- anything."
He took her hand, lacing their fingers. "And I promise I will be there every step of the way."
"That's not enough. You don't understand, I'm scared down to my bone. Three babies--" She shook her head. "I cannot do this, I -- I need to go home and just go to bed. I'm not feeling well. I-- I have to go home."
"All right. All right." He wished he could get through to her but had a feeling this was not the time to push. "I'll go and talk to the doctors while you get dressed. Unless you want my help."
"No."
He rose and could not resist the urge to push back tendrils of hair off her forehead.
"We're going to be fine." He assured her quietly.
When she did not respond, he turned and left the room.
She sat there, her heart pounding and the sickness roiling inside her stomach. If she thought about it, she was going to weep, and this was not the place for it. She would wait until she was in the privacy of her home.
*****
"You don't have to stay." He had insisted on driving behind her.
"I know that." He waited until she opened the front door before helping her off with her jacket. Shrugging out of his, he hung them both up on the neatly carved coat tree just inside the doorway.
"How about some tea?"
So, her emotional meltdown was going to have to wait a few minutes, she thought impatiently.
"I'm not just going to turn around and go back to the clinic to have an abortion, if that's what you're afraid of."
"Tea and crackers." She watched in teeth gritting frustration as he headed for the kitchen.
Okay, fine. Making sure the door was secured, she made her way upstairs. She was proud of her little house, with its hard wood floors and wide windows. The place had come up for purchase a year ago and she had jumped at it.
