Ryan's POV
I knew today was going to be difficult for Abi, her dad was her everything. And not to mention all the added pressure from the extra security threats and then finding out she was pregnant on top of all that. I guess it didn't come as a surprise when she collapsed in front of the church.
Abi's face was pale and her breathing shallow, I crouched in front of her and made sure she was okay "You okay baby?" Abi nodded, but it wasn't until she tried to stand that I realised how lost she was. She just looked up at me with tears in her eyes "I can't be here" she sniffed "I have to go now" she tried to stand again but her feet wouldn't work "Ry" I could she was fighting tears so I pulled her into my arms and helped her walk outside. As soon as we got into the church yard Cameras flashed uncontrollably "ABI, RYAN" voices called out from behind the flashes.
"Shit" I exhale as I look around, there is nowhere for us to go, we can't go back inside the church and now we have no escape route "Come on" I pull Abi back inside the Church foyer and look around at the flashes "Do you feel okay now?" I asked her and she nods gently.
"Yeah" she replies in barely even a whisper "I'm sorry"
"For what?" Her apology had confused me a little.
"For dragging you into this crazy world" she replied avoiding my gaze "Ryan can we leave?"
"Anything you want" I knew now something was very wrong "I'll go and tell your family"
"No lets just go, now, please Ryan" she pleads and I nod "Leroy left the car over there" I nod and she grabs my hand as we walk towards the car park, reporters and photographers follow us all the way to the car. I unlock the doors as we approached.
"Shall I take you to the cemetery?" I ask and her reply leaves me speechless.
"No, I can't watch them put him in the ground" she sniffs loudly "And then covering him with dirt, I just can't do it Ryan"
"Hey it's okay" I pull her close to me and kiss her temple, leading her through the madness"You don't have to do anything you don't feel comfortable with, your mom will understand"
"I don't mean to be crazy and irrational Ry, I just wish I knew what to do...my whole world is spinning, first my dad, then Lex and now all of this" I wasn't sure what Abi was getting at and neither was she. I could tell from her body language she was getting a little disorientated.
"Abi you okay?" I ask and she nodded a little before collapsing in my arms "ABI" I called out and suddenly the reporters rushed forwards "Shit"
"GET BACK" Leroy's voice bellowed through the crowds and he rushed towards us pushing the reporters back to give us enough room to get Abi to the car "What's happened?"
"I don't really know, she just collapsed" I replied, Abi was I my arms now her head rested against my chest. I put her inside the back of the black Range Rover and ran around to the other back door. Leroy had agreed to drive. Abi was still barely concious when I sat beside her in the back of the car, she seemed to be drifting in and out "Abi, Baby" I tried to reach her but she seemed in a daze.
××
After almost 30 minutes a doctor finally came back to see us, he had taken a blood and urine test "Mrs Tedder?" The doctor said as he re-entred the room. I was perched on the end of Abi's bed. Abi nodded and sat upright a little more "Hello my name is Doctor Roberts, I am the duty doctor. Now Mrs Tedder we have your results back and they show that you are pregnant which I know you're already aware of, but I'm afraid they show a few worrying factors also. You are incredibly anemic and have a high level of protein in your urine
"What does that mean?" Abi frowned, and reached out for my hand again.
"That paired with the fainting and palpitations and shortness of breath, we are concerned the symptoms could be related to a heart condition called Peripartum Cardiomyopathy"
"What's that?" I ask and the doctor rests his hands on the metal bar at the end of Abi's bed.
"It's a rare type of heart failure which occurs during pregnancy, which weakens the heart muscle and the heart then becomes enlarged..." I look over at Abi and she looks genuinely horrified "We would like to do an ECG"
"Yeah" Abi nods and half smiles at me "If your diagnosis is correct, what happens then?"
"Well then we would need to discuss the options you have?" He explains, I can see Abi is looking worried now.
"Which are?" She asks and I can't help worrying about what Doctor Roberts will say next.
"Depending on the severity of your condition, then we might consider a termination as an option" The doctor sighed and I watched Abi's eyes sink "This is only on worse cases Mrs Tedder, there is a strong possiblity we can manage your condition with the right medication"
"And what about the baby?" Abi looked at me and smiled weakly.
"Your condition shouldn't effect your baby directly" The doctor looked at me and I couldn't help thinking maybe he was just trying to reassure Abi.
×-×-×
It wasn't too long a wait before we had the results back from the ECG and unfortunately the doctor was right Abi's symptoms were linked to a heart condition.
"I'm afraid it's very serious Mr Tedder" I had managed to collar the doctor and speak to him while Abi was sleeping. I knew he wasn't being straight with us so I confronted him "You're wife has one of the worst cases of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy, that I've ever seen. It's possibly linked to the drug abuse however it can't be proven"
"So what happens now, what's your advice?" I plead and he looks at me with a grim expression on his face.
"Honestly my advice is that you speak with Mrs Tedder again. I'm afraid I genuinely believe a termination is the only way you can guarantee her survival"
He rung these words again cut me open, after hearing Abi's reaction to this suggestion. I had never felt so frustrated "I'm very sorry Mr Tedder but if Abigail does continue with the pregnancy then there is a good chance she could suffer a cardiac arrest before she has even gotten anywhere near full term"
A.N
Hello my lovelies, the video above has nothing what so ever to do with this story or chapter. I just saw it earlier today and it made my heart smile so I wanted to share it with you all immediately :)
Love to you all Nikki xxxx
