TIFFIN 3

73

"Oh god!" 

I stared at the blood that had pooled at my feet. It had been such a shock to my system that my brain hadn't comprehended what happened.

Was this normal? 

I was nearly seven months along and things had been going fine, hadn't they?

Hero hadn't left my side and nothing had alerted me that... oh no.

The spotting. 

Hero raced to where I stood in the kitchen, his eyes drawn to the red spot on the floor. 

"What the-? Hospital, right? We need to get you to the hospital! Fuck!" 

He didn't waste any time; he dropped the paperwork he'd been sifting through and carefully placed me in the Ford Capri. He raced like a mad man to the nearest hospital, the whites of his knuckles appearing. 

Was he mad? 

When we screeched in front of the entrance, he hurried me inside, screaming at the top of his lungs: 

"PREGNANT WIFE! HELP PRONTO!" 

I wasn't sure if it was due to the manic expression on his face or the fact the receptionist knew that we were Tiffin's, but a wheelchair materialized before I could blink. 

As soon we were placed in a nearby room, I was able to relax on the padded recliner, though Hero was on the edge of his seat, eyeing the closed door like it was a curse. 

He repeated: "Hurry the fuck up," like it was a mantra. 

It made me nervous. 

When the doctor sauntered in, I could tell he wanted to rush her, but refrained. I was glad. I recognized her gorgeous satin skin from last time. She knew what she was doing. 

"So," she began, "the nurses tell me that you believe you've been spotting?" 

I was about to answer, but my impatient husband interrupted. 

"She's fucking bleeding to death!" 

The doctor cleared her throat. 

"I'm sorry. I don't believe we've met. Mr...?" 

Hero glowered. 

"Tiffin. Can we get this show on the road, now?" 

With a confused look from the doctor, I knew I had no choice but to fess up. 

"This is... um... my husband..."

The doctor looked as if she wanted to say more, but instead decided to tread lightly. 

"Well, Mr. Tiffin, it's nice to finally meet you. You haven't been here for most of the check-ups, but I'll be glad to assure you everything will be fine. Let me just perform a few tests." 

The next few moments were awkward, with my legs thrust in the air. I blushed. I was sure I wasn't the only one thinking about the other instances I'd be in this position. 

I did my best not to focus on what the doctor was sticking up my vagina. I felt a few pinches and I knew if I caught sight of some large pieces of metal, I'd pass out.

Luckily Hero didn't show any sign of wariness. 

When she was finished, she typed a few things into her computer and returned with a sample. 

"As I suspected, Mrs. Tiffin, your baby is completely fine. You're just spotting, which is normal. Though I must ask; are you resting much?"

I shook my head, not remembering directions to do so the last few times I'd visited. 

The doctor simply laughed. 

"Well, seeing as the little bugger needs a bit more stretching room in there, I think you may need to go on maternity leave." 

Before she could say much else, Hero spoke again. 

"Can stress cause this?" 

She nodded. 

"Ah, yes. Mrs. Tiffin. How are your stress levels?"

"Oh, I..." I paused thinking this though.

Of course, I'd had months of stress during Hero's departure, but none of that was relevant.

I hadn't bled to this magnitude...

"We have a court date in a day or two," I spat out without any thought, "I think my little girl can feel it coming."

The doctor grinned widely. 

"I wouldn't doubt it. I'll go get some medicine to help with your blood pressure, then you're free to go."

As the door closed behind her and we were alone again, Hero knelt down to rest his head in my lap. 

"What is it?" I demanded. 

When he lifted his eyes, they were wet and red-rimmed. 

"After I finally got you back, I thought I was going to lose you."

What? 

"Hero... honey... it's not like I would have died over a-" 

He then stared at me with a more serious expression. 

"It's not that. What if you had lost our baby?" 

This got me thinking; did he believe I would have left him as he did to me if I had lost our girl?