CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“Mr. Fitzgerald, Ms. Murray on line two,” Mica announced in a very calm voice.

Both Curry and Darius’s laughter ceased. There would be only one reason Cherish was calling Curry instead of Darius. Something was wrong with Darbi. Curry’s shaky hand reached for the telephone.

“W-what is it, Cherish?” Curry choked the words out, hoping against hope.

“We’re on our way to the hospital,” Cherish reported in her soothing voice. “Darbi’s bleeding and Shelby wants to check it out. You want me to call you when we find out what’s going on?”

“Hell, no! I’m on my way,” Curry said as he rose, patting his pocket for his car keys. “I’ll meet you there.” Curry slammed the phone down. He looked straight into Darius’s questioning face and said, “Cherish is taking Darbi to the hospital.” He walked out of his office with Darius right on his heels.

“Curry, I’ll drive you.”

“No, Dare. I’ll be fine.” He knew he had to be emotionally strong, but all he wanted to do was scream how unfair it was to his new wife. He had known it would be a difficult pregnancy for Darbi, but had hoped they wouldn’t have to face problems so soon.

Darius grabbed Curry’s arm, making his brother-in-law look him in the face. “Look, man, you’re trembling already. The last thing we need is for you to be in a car accident.” Darius stared at him as tears rolled down Curry’s face. “Come on, Curry. It’s probably nothing,” Darius said, trying to ease the pain Curry was feeling.

Curry knew that wasn’t so.

* * *

By the time Cherish arrived at the hospital, Darbi was semi-conscious in the passenger seat. The bottom part of her maternity blouse was now stained with blood. Cherish reached over, grabbing Darbi’s hand, silently willing her friend to hold on to life.

The attendants immediately took Darbi inside the hospital. One of the transporters told Cherish to wait in the maternity waiting room on the third floor. She opened her mouth to object, but the transporters were already gone. Cherish was forced to wait alone.

Time ticked by slowly. Cherish sat quietly in the uncomfortable chair waiting for Shelby to appear and tell her it was nothing and Darbi could go home. But over an hour passed and Shelby still did not appear. Neither had Curry or Darius. Cherish felt alone and scared, much like the day her mother died.

Her mind casually floated to that morning’s conversation. Darius not proposing didn’t seem so important now. All that really mattered was that Darbi was okay and she had not miscarried.

“Cherish?” A husky voice interrupted her feelings of guilt.

Cherish’s eyes found the source of the masculine voice. A young man stood at the entrance to the waiting room. “Yes?” This was not going to be good!

“Please follow me.” The tall attendant began walking toward the elevators. “Dr. Allen will meet you on the third floor, room 317.” He punched the elevator button for her as she stepped inside.

“What’s wrong with my friend?” Cherish wanted information.

“I’m sure Dr. Allen will have all the answers you need, ma’am.” The elevator door closed.

Cherish did not like the answer she had gotten. This was the classic the-doctor-should-tell-you news. Darbi had been admitted and had a room in the hospital. It could only get worse. She took a deep breath and tried to slow her heartbeat. Be strong, Cherish. Darbi was only six months along, too soon to give birth to a healthy baby. Cherish composed herself to look like a ray of sunshine, so she could face Darbi. Losing it emotionally was not an option.

She walked into the room and breathed a sigh of relief. Darbi was lying in bed asleep. The monitors beeped quietly. Cherish laughed as she saw the baby moving around on the screen. She noticed Shelby sitting in a chair making notes in Darbi’s chart. “Shelby?”

“Hi, Cherish.” Shelby stood and walked to her friend.

“What’s wrong?” Cherish hoped her friend didn’t distort the truth for her benefit. “The real story.”

“Okay, Cherish, this is the story. This is very active baby. So needless to say, it moves around a lot. When the baby does rest, it is resting in the one place it shouldn’t.”

Cherish knew exactly which area Shelby meant. Darbi complained every time the baby got near that incision. “What can be done? You can’t control where the baby turns, can you?”

“Up to a point, yes.” Shelby smiled, attempting to soften the blow. “If it gets worse, I can slow the baby’s movements down. But that would be a last resort. I don’t know if Curry could handle that. I need to talk to him as soon as he gets here.”

Curry walked into the room, followed by Darius. “Why do you need to talk to me? What’s wrong?” He walked over to his sleeping wife. Concern for Darbi blocked out every other sound in the room, including Shelby’s voice.

Darbi looked so helpless attached to monitors, wires, and IVs. He just wanted her to be safe. Who knew something that started out as a phenomenal mistake would make him love her more each minute?

Shelby walked over to him, gently touching his arm. “Curry, this should really be discussed with just you and Darbi.”

“You can discuss it here.” Curry glanced around the room. “We’re family.”

Shelby glanced from the sleeping woman to Curry, to Darius and finally to Cherish. “Okay, here’s what’s wrong.” She described the movements of the baby and how those movements were affecting Darbi. “There are some options.”

“Such as?” Darius asked, not liking the doctor’s cold, clinical tone.

“Well,” Shelby began, “she’ll need to be on bed rest for a few weeks. I mean strict. That means no unnecessary walking, and definitely no driving. I want her in bed as much as possible. If she does walk anywhere, she’ll need to wear a support belt. This belt will take some of the pressure off the wound and won’t make her sick. Hopefully, that will keep her out of the hospital until delivery time.” Shelby’s dark brown eyes stared directly at Curry as she said the next sentence. “Sexual relations will need to cease until after the birth.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize…” Curry sputtered, feeling that he was being accused of some horrible deed before a Senate committee.

“I know, Curry. I’m not saying that is the problem; I just want to take every precaution possible to keep her well. I’m sure we all would like her to deliver as close to term as possible. Agreed?”

Three heads nodded in agreement.

“Good. She’ll be in here a few days. Her temperature is a little high right now but the bleeding has stopped. Luckily this time was not like the first time.” Shelby walked toward the door, then turned and faced the men. “Cherish reacted very quickly and accurately. She probably saved her from a long hospital stay.” She left the room.

Cherish sat in the chair and took a deep breath. I’ll be an emotional wreck by the time that kid gets here. She felt Darius walking toward her. He tried to comfort her, but she shrank away from his touch. “Don’t touch me!” She tried to compose herself.

Darius stared at Cherish as she wiped her eyes. “What?”

“Oh, nothing, Darius. I’m sorry.” She caressed his arm softly. “I was very frightened earlier.” Her eyes went to Curry as he stood by the bed holding Darbi’s hand. Why did she feel jealous at the sight of him caring for his wife? Stop it, Cherish! Darbi’s health is in jeopardy and you’re pouting!

Curry absentmindedly caressed his wife’s tummy, feeling his son or daughter kicking his hand. He took a deep breath and took out his organizer.

Darius knew Curry’s dilemma. He had a solution that would help everyone involved, but didn’t want Curry to think he was trying to take over his role of husband and provider.

Darius looked to Cherish for some support, but she seemed to be battling something of her own. “Curry, what are you doing?”

“Seeing what I can rearrange so that I can be here with Darbi.” Curry tapped the small display screen, muttering to himself.

“Any luck?” Darius knew Curry had several important meetings next week. They both did. The Senate campaign was in full swing. Time off was a luxury that neither man could afford at that moment.

“No. I’ve got a meeting Friday and it can’t be cancelled. They postponed it for me once and it wouldn’t look good for me to cancel again. It’s the Board of Directors, and it’s about the advertising budget for next year.”

“I think I have a solution,” Darius started cautiously.

Curry looked at his friend. “I’ve thought about hiring a nurse or a maid. Where did you find Mrs. Collins?”

Darius shook his head. “It took weeks and countless interviews to find Mrs. Collins,” Darius stated in his no-nonsense voice. “You don’t have weeks. Why don’t you guys just stay at the house until she gets off bed rest? Mrs. Collins could take care of her during the day, so you can concentrate on the Senate campaign.”

Curry shook his head. “I don’t know about that, Dare.”

Darius pleaded his case to his friend. “It will be fine. The nurse can take care of her and Dad will be there. You have some really big meetings coming up, and you can’t afford to be distracted worrying about Darbi. And I can’t be distracted being worried about you. We both need to be focused on the campaign. This way we won’t be worried about her care.”

“Darius, I don’t think it’s fair to you. You have given up so much in the last year. Plus, we’d be cluttering up your house.”

“Curry, you’re my best friend and that’s my sister. I want her to be well. I also want my niece or nephew to get here as healthy as possible. So you can live with me for a few weeks.”

“I’ll see what Darbi says. Although it seems the best solution, I’ll still need to clear it with her. She’s been a little touchy lately.”

Darius laughed. Curry had indeed changed.

Hours later, Darbi opened her eyes and focused on the overhead lights. The beeping noise beside her attracted her attention. She rubbed her stomach, smiling at the sensation of kicking. The baby was going to be just fine, she mused.

Curry slept slumped in the chair. He looked like an angel. An angel who desperately needed a shave. The door opened and Darius and Cherish walked in. Darbi put her finger against her mouth, signaling them to be quiet. But it was too late; Curry had already opened his eyes.

Curry stood and stretched. “Hey, you’re up. How do you feel?” His eyes glanced at the monitors. As if on cue, he watched his son or daughter turn over and then turn again.

“Dizzy,” she whispered, trying to focus on her husband. His face kept going in and out of focus. She decided to watch the lights above him to steady herself and gripped the bedrails for support.

“Shelby says you lost some blood and you have a fever.” Curry held her hand, caressing it gently.

Darius walked to his sister’s bed and looked at the monitor before he spoke. “Shelby wants you on restricted bed rest. So I suggested to Curry you guys could live with me for a while. Before you say no, just think about it. Mrs. Collins could look after you while we’re at work. So, what do you think?”

Darbi caressed her tummy with her free hand. “That sounds fine.”

Darius and Curry exchanged shocked glances. Darbi had agreed too fast.

“What gives?” Darius asked as he noticed beads of perspiration across her forehead.

Darbi smiled feebly. The room had tilted. She wondered why Darius and Curry were standing on their heads. Everything looked darker. “Well, when you’re bleeding, dizzy and threatening a miscarriage, independence doesn’t seem so important anymore. I want a healthy baby.”

Darius smiled and rubbed Darbi’s hand. “You’re hot!” He automatically felt her cheeks. “You’re burning up! I’ll get the nurse.” He was out the door before Darbi could stop him.

Cherish shook her head in disbelief. Darius was going to be a nervous wreck by the time that kid got there. She turned her attention to Curry and Darbi and watched enviously as Curry helped Darbi drink a glass of water. Cherish marveled at how much Curry had changed in the last few months. She only hoped that Darius’s change was coming.

Soon Darius returned with the nurse. She took Darbi’s temperature and shook her head. “Okay, Mrs. Fitzgerald, your fever has increased. Dr. Allen wants you to take this. It’s mild, it won’t hurt the baby and it will help break your fever.” She injected the medicine into the IV.

Darbi reacted to the medicine and was soon asleep. Cherish wondered how close to the due date Darbi would deliver. Curry sat by the bed watching Darbi sleep. Cherish stood and walked toward him. “Curry, why don’t you and Darius go home? I’ll stay with her tonight.”

“No, Cherish. You’ve done more than your share.

I’ll stay.”

“Curry, go home. I know you have a meeting coming up. I’ll call you if anything changes.”

Curry didn’t move from his chair. Cherish stared at Darius until he made eye contact with her. Darius took the unspoken hint. “Come on, Curry. You won’t do her any good if you are too tired.”

Reluctantly, Curry agreed. After the men left, Cherish settled in the chair and watched her friend sleep. She thought of Darius; his not proposing didn’t seem so important now. Her friend lying in the hospital bed was what was more important. Cherish fell asleep to the quiet hum of the machines.

Later that night, Cherish heard the door open. She assumed it was the night nurse making her rounds, but it was Darius. He walked into the room dressed in sweats and tennis shoes. She just couldn’t get used to this relaxed Darius. “What are you doing here this late? It’s after three in the morning.” Cherish whispered so as not to wake Darbi.

Darius sat down in a chair across the room. “I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I would come up here and relieve you for a little while.”

“That’s okay, Darius. I don’t mind staying with her. She’s my friend and I want to help.”

“No, Cherish. Go home.” He glanced at the machines. “I never realized how those machines keep track of her every breath. Amazing,” Darius said, purely in awe of medical science.

“Darius, I have a flexible schedule, you don’t. Curry doesn’t. I’m working on Sunshine’s dress and I can do that here. I don’t mind.”

Darius stood and walked over to Cherish. “Okay, Cherish,” he agreed, seeing that he had a stubborn woman on his hands. “We can both stay. I’ll just leave early enough to change clothes for work.”

Cherish nodded, enjoying the company. Her shoulders felt lighter with Darius there to share the burden of watching his sister. “Okay. How’s Curry?”

“Confused. He knows he has some really important meetings coming up and he wants to be here twenty-four hours a day. He knows he can’t do both.” Darius walked back to the chair he had vacated, and then moved it closer to Cherish. As he sat down, he noticed one of those monitors started beeping faster. A few minutes later it slowed down. He caressed Cherish’s soft hand and then held it, closing his eyes and falling asleep.

* * *

The next morning, Cherish woke with a smile on her face. She’d snuggled against Darius’s strong chest during the night and felt safe. Glancing at her watch, she woke Darius. He had just enough time to go home, shower, dress and drive to work.

“I enjoyed last night, Cherish.” He kissed her and prepared to leave.

After he left, Cherish watched Darbi sleep. She stood and leaned over the bed to get a better look at her godchild on the computer screen. She rubbed Darbi’s arm, noticing she was still quite warm. The opening of the door alerted Cherish to an incoming nurse. But as she turned toward the door, she smiled as Shelby instead walked into the room.

“Hi, Cherish. How did our patient do last night? Where is her husband?” Shelby grabbed Darbi’s chart and began making notes.

“She did pretty well. One of those machines sped up, then it slowed back down. I sent Curry home last night. I wanted to stay with her.”

Shelby looked at the machines and pushed the button for the nurse. “Do you remember which one? She still feels a bit warm. Did she wake up last night?”

“No, she never did. She tossed and turned a little, but that’s it. Why does she still have a fever?”

“Because the medicine I prescribed is very mild. I have to break her fever in stages. But it appears to have increased since last night. It’s nearing the 103 mark. I’ll have to increase the dosage so I can break her fever. She’ll make it, Cherish. Don’t worry. Why don’t you go home and get some rest?”

Cherish shook her head. “I promised Curry that I would stay. He has a big presentation today.”

Shelby opened her mouth, but nothing came out. The nurse walked in. “Yes, Dr. Allen?” The nurse stood waiting for instructions.

“Increase Mrs. Fitzgerald’s dosage by 25 cc, per four hours, until her fever breaks. Could you get one of the transporters to find Ms. Murray a bed to sleep in? She will be staying with her friend. Make sure that she is not bothered by the other staff. If anyone has a problem with it they can come and see me.”

“Yes, Dr. Allen. Right away.” The nurse backed out of the room.

“Wow, Shelby. I’m impressed.”

“Well, when you get the rep of a ball buster, you get results. I think most of the male doctors fear me. It’s actually kind of funny.”

“Thanks, Shelby, for everything you’ve done for her. I know it was beyond the call of being her doctor.”

“Cherish, you’re my friend. And I have come to think of Darbi as a friend as well.”