Falling into Place - Forbidden Heart Series

22| Momentary Euphoria

"Wait. . . what the hell is a Glucose Challenge Test?"

Ryan reached for my hand and squeezed it a little more than gently. It was more like a "behave, Dani." warning.

"Forgive her, Dr. Ross. There was a . . . pie incident earlier today and she's a little grumpy."

"I'm not grumpy!" Okay, maybe I was grumpy, but right now I didn't care. I looked back at the OB. "I'm sorry, Dr. Ross. I didn't mean to ask like that. It's just that when you mention running a test for the baby, I get a little panicky."

Dr. Ross was one of the OB-GYNs on the east coast. People came from all over to see her. When Ryan and I first found out we were pregnant, he was dead-set on finding only the best for me and our baby. I didn't blame him. Even though the situation was completely different for Lanie and Ayden, I saw how scared they were when they almost lost little Nate. I never wanted to go through anything like that with our baby. I couldn't.

Ryan mentioned once or two that my overwhelming fear could cripple me if I wasn't careful. I made him buy me all the books he could find on pregnancy and what to expect-and what could go wrong.

It was only fuel for the fire of my paranoia.

"It's really okay," Dr. Ross said with a smile. "It's all apart of pregnancy. And believe me, I've seen it all."

At about five-foot-five, Dr. Ross was a slender brunette with dark brown eyes. She had an oval face with high cheek bones that made her absolutely gorgeous. Good thing I trusted Ryan and knew how committed to me he was.

I was never really the jealous type before him. And even though I trusted him, I didn't miss how some women looked at him.

"Now," she started to explain, "the Glucose Challenge Screening Test is to see if there is a risk of gestational diabetes. Basically we want to see how your body processes sugar. There is no cause for alarm. We do it with all pregnant mothers."

I squeezed Ryan's hand so tight I was surprised I didn't break my bones. "What is the test? How -- how does it work?"

Dr. Ross rolled over the small chair and took a seat. "We will give you a sugary drink, similar to Gatorade, and you will drink it. You wait one hour. Then we will take a little blood sample and run the test. Nothing scary."

"Says you." I mumbled under my breath.

Lately, everything was scaring me. I was scared for the baby. I was scared for Ryan and the new friendship with his parents. I was scared for my body. Everything.

"And after the test," she continued. "We can do an ultrasound and find out the sex!"

Now that made me smile. I nodded, exhaling a deep breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Okay, Dr. Ross. I'm ready."

She excused herself before getting whatever she needed to run the test. I looked over to Ryan who had a comforting smile on his face.

"That smile isn't going to fool me, Ry. You're just as scared as I am. I can see it in your eyes."

He reached over and brushed his fingers through my hair. God. I loved when he did that. I loved when he touched me-even something as simple as a brush of his skin against mine. The feel of his fingers on my skin always seemed to soothe me. It leveled me.

It was strange, actually. I've never realized just how opposite he and I were until I got pregnant. Whenever I got stressed or worried, he seemed to always to be able to calm me down. When I would freak out over something, he remained cool and collected. I don't think I've ever seen him lose it.