Home Free

The ultrasound technician entered the room, startling me out of my mental fog.  I gave her a weak wave, not trusting myself to speak yet.  She flashed a warm smile.

"Well, Miss Bradley, let's get a look at that baby!" her voice was very cheerful and upbeat.  Surely if the doctor expected me to receive bad news, the tech would be using a more somber tone, right?

The technician applied the gel to my belly and pelvic region.  I waited patiently and silently as she moved the wand around.  I was too afraid to look at her or the screen.  I knew that detecting even the slightest frown or scowl would lead to me panicking.  I simply shut my eyes and focused on my breathing.

Finally, she spoke.
"The fetal heartbeat is strong and completely within the normal range.  Everything is measuring right on track.  I know you took a pretty severe fall.  What most people don't realize is that the womb is pretty resilient.  Everything is fairly cushioned and designed to keep the baby safe and protected.  I can understand your concerns after such an event, but the baby is just fine.  Would you like to hear the heartbeat?"

I was so overwhelmed by relief and happiness that all I could do was nod.  The pain in my ribs and collarbone ceased to exist in that moment.  The tech reached for the fetal Doppler, smiling broadly. My baby girl's heartbeat was the sweetest song I'd ever heard.


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"Emma, oh, thank god you're okay!" Kate squeezed my hand.  She'd initially leaned in for a hug before realizing how much it would probably hurt me. She looked rough; dark circles were prominent below her eyes and her hair was a tangled mess.  It was obvious she'd barely slept, if at all.

"They wouldn't let me in to see you last night, I'm so sorry I wasn't here.  Eric called me from your phone while you were being rushed here in an ambulance.  I was so worried!" tears welled up in her eyes and I felt my own eyes tear up in return.

"It's okay, really.  I know they wouldn't let you in.  Does Eric still have my phone?  My purse is here but my phone isn't.  I need to call work and tell them what happened." I didn't reveal the fact that I also didn't trust Eric not to go through my phone and further invade my privacy.

"No, no, I have it.  And I already called your job.  Richard was freaking out when I told him.  He wants you to call his cell when you're feeling up to it." Richard was one of my direct supervisors at work.  He was a wonderful man to work for, although a little eccentric at times.  I felt guilty knowing how worried he must have been.

"Thanks for doing that.  Richard would probably be freaking out even more if they thought I was a no-call, no-show!" I laughed, wincing at the pain in my ribs.  One downside to being pregnant is the lack of painkillers I could take, but I'd endure pain ten times stronger to keep my baby girl safe.

"You are okay, right?" Kate asked, biting her lower lip like she often did when she was upset. "I mean, I know you're getting released, but is everything okay? Like, no permanent damage?"

I nodded, "I'm fine, seriously.  Everything kinda hurts but me and baby are okay."

"I'm so glad," she breathed.

Just then, a nurse came in to give the all-clear for me to be released.  I couldn't wait to get home.


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"Are you serious?  I will kill him, I swear to god!" Kate raged.

She'd brought me home to my apartment to help me settle in on the couch.  Rob had offered to grab some essentials at the store for me and would be coming by later.  I had just taken the time to fill Kate in on what exactly had gone down with Eric and what had happened before my tumble down the stairs.  She'd listened in stony eyed silence as I told her everything, from the snooping to his parting comment to me.

"This is all his fault!  If hadn't been a nosy, insufferable ass, none of this would've happened.  You could've broken your neck and died and it would have been completely his fault.  I hope he feels like shit right now!" Kate's tirade continued.

"I know, I know.  But the doctors think my lack of eating enough on top of the stress is what caused me to faint.  Yes, it is his fault I was in that emotional state, but honestly, it's not like he pushed me." I hoped to calm her down before she ran off and strangled Eric or ran him over with her car.

"Still, I hate him.  If I ever see him, I will punch him right in the dick!"

I fought hard not to laugh, knowing how much it would make my ribs ache.  Finally, Kate laughed, too.  She's fiercely protective of the people she loves and she certainly has a fiery temper at times.

"Okay, okay.  Maybe I won't punch him, but I hope he never shows his face around here," she conceded.

"Ughh, don't even worry about that.  That dude will not be part of my life, I promise you that."

"Good!  Who knows, maybe now that waiter guy is out of the picture, you and Rob will fall in loooove," she teased, smirking.  We had been over the whole strictly friends thing so many times that now she treated it as a game.  She would find some random little thing at least once a day that she could twist around to mean that Rob and I were destined to be together.  I usually blew off her comments, knowing she didn't mean it.  This time, though, I decided to tease her back

 As deadpan as possible, I proclaimed, "You know what?  You are absolutely right.  I am in love with Rob."

She stared at me, mouth partially open, "You are?"

Struggling to keep up the charade, I nodded.

"Yep.  I wanna shout it from the rooftop.  You hear that, world?  Kate was totally right.  I'm desperately in love with Rob and I want the world to know it!" I yelled the last part as loudly as I could with my diminished lung capacity thanks to my aching ribs, grinning like a fool.

Kate realized immediately that I was being obnoxious and making fun of her.  Just as she took in a breath to respond, there was a quiet knock at the door.