The Woman He Married

27. A Dog Yourself

"May I know which room is Ruth Harpers in?"

Zane paced down the hallway while glancing at every room number until he got to Ruth's ward. He stood in front of the door for a while, bracing himself to face the woman again. It has been two weeks since the last time they'd met and Zane hadn't look for her. Not even once because he didn't have the reason to. He got a text from Ruth that morning and she told him that she had fainted. She said she was in the hospital at the moment, so Zane decided to check on the woman who was carrying his child. He wanted to make sure that everything was okay since they've agreed to raise the child together, but separately.

And he has yet to say anything to Mae about the situation, either.

"Hey," he greeted as he entered the room after the nurse walked out. Ruth smiled at him and nodded.

"You came."

"Of course," Zane hummed, "How are you?" He glanced at her baby bump and was relieved that she seemed fine. "What happened?"

"I was at the grocery store and I don't know what happened but I was dizzy. I blacked out and woke up here," Ruth told him.

"The baby's fine?"

"Yes," she stroked her belly gently. "You didn't have to come. You were at work, right?"

"Uh..." Zane glanced at his watch, "Lunch break."

"Oh, right..." Ruth hummed. She took a deep breath and exhaled, "They said my blood sugar was low, but I'll be fine."

"You should've been fine, Ruth. Did you skip your meals?"

"No, I've been eating..." she trailed off, then shrugged, "...well."

"I'm not buying that," Zane hummed. He looked at her belly, "I'm sorry... How far along are you?"

"Thirteen weeks," Ruth told him. "And my pregnancy cravings are kind of raging lately."

"Have you been listening to your cravings?"

"When I have the energy to get off the bed, yes."

"See, that's why I don't trust you when you said you're eating well," Zane rolled his eyes. He glanced at his watch again, "What are your cravings? I'll try my best to do a quick run and get everything possible before I go back to the office."

"Um..." Ruth pondered. "Avocado shake, hamburger, and a banana bread. Maybe some pickles."

"Okay, I'll--"

"Good afternoon, Ms. Harpers. How are we doing today?" Her doctor walked in with a small smile and checked her papers. She then glanced at Zane and then fixed her gaze on Ruth, "You've been ignoring my advise, I see."

"I'm sorry," Ruth muttered.

The doctor sighed, "This is your third time here this month, and make sure it's the last time because I don't want to keep telling you to get enough rest, and refrain from practicing extreme diet. You're almost malnourished at this rate, Ms. Harpers. Be careful."

"Extreme diet?" Zane frowned. He looked at Ruth in disbelief and she just gave him a look which told him she would explain the situation but after the doctor left. Zane stepped aside and listened closely as the doctor kept repeating 'rest and eat healthy foods' like some kind of mantra to Ruth, probably with hopes that she would remember it well.

After the doctor had left, Zane fixed his gaze on her, asking her for explanations without saying a word.

"I don't like the way the scale looks lately," Ruth pointed out, "I feel fat and ugly, okay? Like, nobody wants me because I'm constantly eating and gaining weight."