Girl in a Hoodie: Where the Future Lies

Chapter 18

James's POV:

"Baby seems to be okay, perfectly healthy, nothing I'm too worried about. Have you been granted any specific medication just to make sure that nothing happens and we can take precautions? Most times where vanishing twin syndrome has occurred, parents find it more reassuring to be on medications in order to be sure about their baby being okay," the nurse tells us, taking the probe off of Riley's stomach and putting it away before taking a tissue to wipe the gel off. When done, the nurse takes her gloves off before sliding her chair across the room and placing her foot on top of the pedal and throwing the pair in the bin. Ri sits back up and then shakes her head.

"No, I don't think I was given any," she says. 

"Oh, okay, that's no problem dear. If you want, I can just give you some antibiotics that you will have to take three times a week, technically every other day," she suggests but in a way which is between friendly and forceful so not to be a question.

"Okay, thank you," Riley answers. She folds her legs over the edge of the bed so that they were hanging and she was facing me. A light smile crosses her lips and I smile back at her, rubbing her knee.

"Yeah, no problem, so if you just take this," she hands me a white receipt which had a few writings in it but in a cursive piece of writing which I couldn't exactly read but I have no doubt Riley would be able to, "and then go to the chemist and show them it, they should have it on their system and I'll just type that on the computer now."

"Okay, is that all?" she asks. The nurse smiles and nods.

"Yes, it is. I shouldn't really need to see you until around six weeks time before your baby is due," she tells us. Riley stands up off of the bed as I get off the chair.

"Okay, thank you," we both say at the same time. The nurse smiles at us as we walk out of the door and walk past the hospital waiting room before going outside and making our way to the car.

"I'm not ready for this," Riley says suddenly as soon as we've sat in the car and put our seatbelts on. I look at her feeling concerned as she looks at me. "I'm not ready to go into labour soon or to be a mother. I just won't be able to handle it all. I've never been able to handle anything well so what makes anyone think that I'll be able to do this, because I can't. I know that I'll struggle and that there's no getting out of it, I just can't do it by myself, James," she rambles, allowing a tear to drop. I sigh, reaching over and wrapping my arms tightly around her body, holding her close to me.

"You're not alone, Riles. I'm right here and whenever you need to talk I'll always be here to listen. I'm not going anywhere, babe, you know that and I'll always be there to help you. You're not going to fail as a mother at all and I don't know where that came from, considering you already are one to Leila. Even if she isn't here physically, she's still there and you know that. You'll be amazing as a mum, don't worry," I soothe. She continues to sob and sniffle before pulling back but still keeping her eyes on me.

"I love you, James," she says. I nod.

"I love you too, Ri. You know I do."

...

After work later that evening, I arrive home at around eight o'clock which wasn't too bad. I hadn't really done much and just had to read few a couple of things and do some paperwork, however, it took longer for me to get through it all because I'm not amazing at organising after all.

Entering the house, I shut the door behind me before turning around and seeing Riley sat at the kitchen island with a pile of books and her laptop in front of her. She lifts her head up at the sound of the door shutting and then smiles at me softly. "Hey, babe," I say, greeting her with a kiss upon walking over to where she was. She sighs when I pull away and I raise an eyebrow. "You okay?"