Chapter 20
Jade
Siempre, Mi Amor
I gently rubbed my fingers through Reid’s hair, careful not to wake him. He’d been at my bedside all night, and it showed with the dark circles under his eyes. I’d been awake for at least an hour already, but I couldn’t bring myself to wake Reid up just yet.
I turned and looked up at the fetal monitor, watching the screen as it changed with rhythmic beating of our little girl’s heart.
She’s safe, I reminded myself, trying not to get emotional. Again.
Yesterday had been a nightmare, and admittedly I’d been feeling like something bad was going to happen for almost two weeks. I was lucky, and so was my baby, because it could have been so much worse. I rubbed my belly, overwhelmed with gratitude that we didn’t lose her. The thought alone was crippling.
When Dr. Burke told us we were going to be okay, I’d cried harder, only because the relief itself was paralyzing. I could feel Reid’s distress in the rigid way he carried me to the car, and then into the hospital, but if it weren’t for his determination, and steely calm exterior, I’m not sure what I would’ve done. He never left my side, not once, and he was the one holding me together until our daughter’s heartbeat pierced the silence in the room.
Reid stirred under my hand, and I looked at him just as his green eyes opened. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the light, and then took my hand from his head and kissed my palm.
“Hey sleepyhead.” I gave him a soft half-smile.
“Hi,” he murmured, his voice thick with sleep. “How long have you been up?”
“Not long,” I replied, tracing his unshaven jaw with my fingertips. “I didn’t want to wake you. You must be exhausted.”
He slowly righted himself, stretching his neck this way and that, and stood up. He leaned over, and pressed his lips on mine. It was soft, and gentle, and said I’m so glad you’re okay. My heart rate monitor picked up pace, and my thighs involuntarily rubbed together.
Good Lord, what a time to be turned on!
Reid chuckled, and pulled away, his green eyes so much lighter than they had been the night before. “Someone’s happy to see me.”
“Always.” I grinned.
Just then an older, plumpish maternity nurse with cropped grey hair walked in and cleared her throat. “Mr. Cole,” she admonished. “Could you please excuse us? I need to check Ms. Matthews’ vitals.”
I scowled at her. She’d come in only an hour ago to check on me and when she’d tried to wake Reid up I told her to leave him alone. She wasn’t impressed with me, and quickly left after telling me she would come back.
And here she was.
Oh the fucking joy.
“He can stay,” I told her. “I don’t have anything he hasn’t seen before.”
I could feel Reid laughing next to me – the shit – but didn’t take my eyes off the grumpy nurse. Stupid woman. Reid was intimately familiar with my body, how else did she think I got pregnant?
After another stare off, the nurse simply huffed, and walked over to where the fetal monitor was standing. She checked the papers, made some notes on her clipboard, and then put surgical gloves on her hands.
“I’m going to check your cervix,” she said, lifting the blanket at the end of the bed. I scooted lower, and had to resist the urge to kick her in the face when she abruptly parted my legs.
I squeezed my eyes closed when her man-hands poked around, wincing because she was a little on the rough side.
“Are you trying to make me give birth?” I snapped.
She ignored me, and when she was satisfied, I felt her hand disappear. She snapped her gloves off, and disposed of them before making another note on my chart.
“No dilation,” she commented. “That’s very good. Your heart rate is normal, save for the excitement,” - she glared at Reid – “and your baby’s heart rate is strong. Also good. I should remind you that once you’re back home, and on bed rest, you are to abstain from all sexual activity until your baby is born.” She looked at us pointedly, and then added, “Dr. Burke will be here shortly to check on you. I’ll have another nurse bring you some breakfast.”
I sagged against the bed, and Reid covered my legs as the nurse left.
“No sex?” I repeated, my brows knitted. “How am I going to manage that?”
“That’s my line,” laughed Reid. He sat back down on the chair, still in yesterday’s clothes, and brought his face to my belly. “Hi baby girl, it’s your Daddy. We want you to know how happy we are that you’re okay. Just a few more weeks and you’ll be here, so try not to drive Mommy too crazy, okay?” He kissed the bump over my hospital gown – nasty fucking thing – and smiled wide when he felt her kick in response.
“She knows your voice,” I remarked. “She moves almost every time you talk.”
He stared at my stomach in awe, and I swore I would never tire of that look.
“You should go home, and take a shower,” I said. “Maybe even catch a few hours’ sleep?”
Reid made a show of sniffing his shirt, and then asked, “Do I stink?”
“No,” I giggled. “It might just make you feel better.”
“I’ll leave when your parents get here,” he replied. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”
His expression turned impassive, and I knew what he was referring to. He was worried that Stella would show up to finish what she’d started yesterday, and so was I, but I doubted she would be that brazen.
“Did you guys find her?” I asked, referring to the Hobbit bitch. Although after yesterday, she became Psycho Hobbit. With a hashtag.
Reid shook his head. “No, but my Dad’s taking care of it. You won’t have to worry about her again. I promise.”
His eyes, filled with guilt and sincerity, flashed with anger and resoluteness.
“It’s not your fault,” I told him gently, making sure he knew I didn’t blame him. “She’s crazy, and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“She shouldn’t have gone near you,” he said angrily. I took both his hands in mine, and placed them over our baby.
“We’re fine, Reid. It’s not like we knew she was a damn psycho. And I don’t want you blaming yourself, okay?”
He stared at me for a moment, and soon his face softened. “God, I was so scared, Jade.”
“I know,” I whispered. “Me too.”
Dr. Burke interrupted us, and a small part of me was grateful. The last thing I wanted to do was to rehash everything that had happened yesterday when I needed to stay calm and rested, at least until I was past the forty-eight hour danger mark.
“How are my two favorite patients this morning?” Asked Dr. Burke. It was the first time I’d seen her dressed casually, and idly wondered if she’d come in just to check on me.
“We’re good,” I replied with a smile. “The grumpy nurse was in here about fifteen minutes ago to check my vitals.”
Reid snorted beside me, and realized what I’d said.
“Grumpy nurse?” Dr. Burke raised a brow.
My cheeks heated. “Sorry, that was rude... but she was grumpy, and I thought she was trying to make me give birth when she checked to see if I’m dilated. If she’d pushed any harder this kid would have slid right out.”