fated love

Chapter eleven

Shawn

Two months have passed. In those two months Beth has moved in, helping Abbigail with the pregnancy. Also in these past two months, Abbigail has formed a noticeable bump and no longer suffers from nausea or dizziness. Last week I had my cast removed and today I was able to return to work. 

I enter the kitchen, wearing my uniform with a bulletproof vest under my shirt. Beth was cooking breakfast and Abbigail was picking grapes from the fruit bowl. I give them both a kiss and Abbigail feels for my vest. She sighs in relief when she feels it. Tears fill her eyes and she asks in a choked whisper, "You wore it?"

"Of course I did, I promised you I would," I say in a soothing tone and give her a kiss on her forehead. "I'd do anything for either of you, you just need to ask."

"Can you come home safe, especially when you're in this uniform," Abbigail asks in a choked whisper. 

"I promise to try my best," I say softly and give her a kiss. 

"Can you bring home a pregnancy test," Beth asks in a choked whisper and I turn to look at her. "I'm two weeks late, I'm never late. I don't even remember getting my period last month either."

I take her in my arms and rub her back in comfort. "Listen to me Beth," I say in a soothing whisper and she nods against my chest. "If you are pregnant, I will take care of you. I will find a bigger place for us if I have to."

"Thank you Shawn," Beth chokes with relief. 

"You're welcome," I say softly and kiss her forehead. "I want you two to call me if anything goes wrong while I'm at work. This weekend we'll get a guard dog for the two of you when I'm not home."

"I'm gonna pass out," Beth says in a breathy tone and collapses in my arms. 

"Shawn," Abbigail asks in a worried tone.
 
"I think she's okay, but I'm going to call an ambulance to be sure. Can you call my captain please," I ask in a calm tone.

I was already calling and checking her pulse, it was slightly elevated. I explain to the operator what happened and that Beth could possibly be pregnant. Abbigail was calling my sister, the only other person outside the house who knew our agreement. She wanted someone to keep her company if I had to take Beth in.

Annie showed up as the ambulance did. Beth was still unconscious and I was getting worried. My sister gave me a sympathetic look as I went with Beth in the ambulance. I held her hand while the paramedic checked her vitals. 

"Her vitals seem normal," the female paramedic says softly and I nod lightly with tears in my eyes. "You said it was possible she could be pregnant. Do you know about how long?"

"Six maybe eight weeks," I say quietly. "Before she collapsed she said she was two weeks late, but as she thought about it, she's not sure if she got it last month or not."

"You two seem close," she says in sympathy, motioning to her hand in mine. 

"She's my blind fiancee's cousin. She lost her mother and daughter two months ago and had a one night stand around the time of the losses," I say quietly, going with the story we agreed to tell if people asked questions. Annie knew the truth, but she was helping keep our secret. "She's living with us so she wasn't alone."

She nods with sympathy and looks at Beth. "She's lucky to have such a supportive family."

"Shawn," Beth asks in a wavering whisper, squeezing my hand. 

"I'm here. We're in an ambulance," I say in a soothing whisper and she relaxes. "I'm not going anywhere okay."

She nods weakly and holds onto my hand. We soon arrive at the hospital and I don't leave Beth's side. No one bothered to stop me while I was in uniform. A nurse took a blood sample when it was mentioned that Beth might be pregnant. I sat in a chair beside her bed and texted Annie an update.