Page 53 of Daigo

Her bravado lasted until she reached home. May had arrived with cool weather and lots of rain. She had been going for walks as far as she could without letting herself become fatigued, but now that would be taken away from her. So would the pleasure of seeing the rooms come alive at their new place.

A landscaper had been hired to continue working on the grounds, and the nurseries were coming along nicely. She supposed she was going to have to be content with video calls from now on.

And climbing the stairs was becoming a chore that she wasn't certain she could handle. Determined to go to their bedroom under her own steam, she dragged herself up the steps, hand pressing on the banister.

"Don't!" She shrugged off his hand as he attempted to assist her. But of course, she was ignored.

"You're infuriatingly stubborn." His voice was grim. He had seen the effort she was making to pretend she was all right. "Are you in pain?" He kept his arm around her waist and helped her up the stairs.

"I'm fine."

"Where does it hurt, Shelby-Anne?" Shoving the bedroom door open, he guided her in and over to the bed.

"Nowhere." She sighed at the determined look on his handsome face. He wasn't going to let up until she confessed. "My back and my ankles. It's nothing-"

She broke off when he hunkered down and eased off her sandals. Hissing out a breath, he ran his fingers gently over the swollen area and felt her wince.

"You didn't say anything to Dr. Middleton."

"It's nothing."

"Why?" he demanded. "What the hell are you trying to prove?"

"That there's no need for any fuss. Oh!" She clamped her teeth on her bottom lip as he continued to probe the area. "So much for your bedside manner," she hissed.

"I'm not a bloody doctor," he said furiously. "We were just at the clinic, and you should have said something." Rising, he pushed her back onto the pillows.

"Hey!"

"Shut the hell up!" His eyes blazed with fury. "I've had it up to here with your damn pride." He demonstrated by slicing a hand across his throat. "I'm going to get warm towels for your ankles." Before she could say anything, he turned and went into the bathroom.

Leaning her head back on the pillows, she closed her eyes and felt the ache in her back increasing.

"Please don't do this to me," she whispered, rubbing her hand in circles over her belly. "Please. Just give Mama a break." She straightened up when he came back into the room bearing a wash pan that had steam coming from it.

Sitting on the side of the bed, he lifted her feet onto his lap. Squeezing the water from the washcloths, he placed one on her left ankle and the other on her right, wrapping them around lightly.

"How does that feel?" he asked gently.

"Like heaven." She closed her eyes and settled back. "You'd make a good doctor."

"I doubt that. What's wrong?" he asked sharply.

"Nothing-"

"Shelby-Anne."

"My back. It's hurting," she whispered.

"Turn on your side."

"What-"

"Do it!"

She shifted awkwardly until her back was to him. Reaching for the bottle of baby oil, he poured some into his palm and rubbed it in. Lifting her dress, he started to massage the oil into her skin slowly, fingers pressing down gently. Shelby felt the tension easing almost immediately.

"How's that?"