I was wheeled into a room with two beds but they assured me that I would have the room to myself, considering our status. Random nurses kept passing by my door, all gawking in my room to get a look at Ryan.
Ryan pulled the guest chair over to the side of my bed and took my hand in his. “Honey, what happened?”
I swallowed hard, trying to remember the details of the last few hours. “I was leaving for the airport; I came down the alley. Just as I was ready to cross Mulberry, I saw Angelica sitting in her car.”
“What? Are you telling me she’s out of jail?” His voice bellowed his anger.
“Yeah. She was sitting in her Plymouth. I was terrified.” My lips trembled. I felt like crying.
“She was on the other side of Mulberry where she always parks. Just when I got to the edge of the alley she pulled up to the stop sign. I thought she was going to run me down.” I scratched my fat lip. “I ran across the street. I was so stupid. I was watching her instead of looking where I was going.”
Ryan softly kissed my cheek. “I love you so much.”
“I probably look horrible.” I wanted him to stop staring at me for a minute. I attempted to place my new blue cast over my eyes. “Ow,” I cried out.
Pain immediately shot into my shoulder when I moved my arm, forcing me to remember additional parts of the accident.
“You were hit by a car! I don’t care how you look. I’m just glad you’re alive.”
I tried to smile. “Do I look like you did when you fought those bad guys?” I held the ice pack closer to my lip.
He smiled and nodded. “Yeah! Just a little! But your makeup looks real.” He trailed his finger over my cheek.
Of course we weren’t alone for long. Two young nurses came into my room, smiling frantically at the sight of Ryan.
“Hi there! My name is Kerry,” a slender brunette wearing bright purple scrubs announced. “This is Natalie. We’ll be taking care of you tonight.”
Natalie was busy writing their names and the date on the dry erase board on my wall.
While they tended to me, Ryan was off in the corner, making phone calls. He called his parents and spoke to his father. His parents were going to take the first available flight out.
I heard two men speaking briefly outside my door. Then a man in a suit knocked on my door and allowed himself entry.
“Ms. Mitchell, I’m Walter Krause, Hospital Administrator. How are you feeling?”
I was hit by a car. How do you think I’m feeling? This was just like the stupid questions that Ryan got asked every time he had to do an interview.
“I’ve been better,” I muttered, looking at the IV that they inconveniently stuck in the top of my hand.
“Yes, well, I want to let you know that we will do our best to provide you with privacy while you are a patient here, but I hope you understand that we cannot guarantee policing all the corridors.”
There was nothing in place to prevent any stranger from walking into the hospital and into my room.
My eyes flickered back to Ryan as he ended his call quickly.
“Mr. Krause, Ryan Christensen.” Ryan held out his hand. “I have hired private security for Taryn. You’ll inform me directly of any considerations or difficulties during her stay. I do not want you or any other member of your staff to concern her with those details. She needs to rest and heal.”
“Of course, Mr. Christensen. That’s why I’m here. Perhaps we can speak privately in my office.”
“I trust your staff will comply with the medical privacy act?” Ryan stressed.
“Yes, of course. However we are only governed to keeping her medical condition and records private. I will instruct the staff on proper conduct,”
Mr. Krause said.
“I’ll be contacting my Publicist to release a formal statement to the media. No other statements are to be made by any member of this hospital without consulting with me first. Is that clear?” Ryan’s authoritative tone made me grin.
“Yes. I understand. Would you like to take a few moments to come to my office?”
“Thank you but no, not at this time. Mike?” Ryan called out.
Mike, Ryan’s bodyguard, came into my room.
“Mr. Krause, was it? This is my security manager, Mike Murphy. He will be handling all security matters.” The two men shook hands.
“I don’t want any reporters or photographers on this floor. There will be a security team posted outside her door at all times. We can have a discussion later or you can speak to Mr. Murphy directly for any security matters. Right now my priority is her.” Ryan rubbed his hand across my head.
“Very well. We can talk later. If there’s anything else you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Mr. Krause seemed a bit perturbed with the way Ryan just handled him. I didn’t care. I loved Ryan’s “no bullshit” take charge attitude. It was one of the qualities that I loved the most about him.
Ryan barely nodded at Mr. Krause. He was stroking my hair, totally focused on me. The nurses were still waiting inside my room - for what, I didn’t know.
“We’re just going to check the fetal heartbeat again,” one of the nurses informed.
She rolled up my hospital gown and pressed the microphone thing into my bruised stomach. Soon we were able to hear the whoosh-whoosh noise of our baby’s heartbeat again.
Ryan smiled gloriously and kissed my forehead tenderly.
“That’s our baby in there!” he whispered his happiness privately in my ear. “I love you so much.”
I was elated that he was fine with me being pregnant; he was actually beyond fine with it. I was able to relax and not worry; it made all the pain seem worthwhile. I smiled back at him with pure joy and love in my heart. He was going to be a father; I was going to be a mother. His blue-eyed baby was growing inside me.
I felt the nurse wiggle the microphone when the whooshing noise ceased; my attention immediately turned to her. The two nurses were looking at each other; neither of them looked happy. One of the nurses quickly darted out of the room.
My smile faded and a sharp pain stabbed me in the bellybutton. I felt wetness gush between my legs. Pain rocketed into my chest from my bruised ribs when I tried to sit up. I panted in and out hoping that shallow breaths would help me manage the pain.
“Something’s wrong. I feel like something just popped,” I breathed out at the nurse. I wanted to know what was wet between my legs. I tried to grab the top of the bed sheet so I could get my hand underneath it, but the stupid IV sticking out of my hand caught the bedrail. I felt the tube that was stuck in my vein poke me. “Ow!” I squeezed my eyes from the discomfort.