Irrevocably Yours

Hiding No More

This chapter touches on the reality of working on a maternity unit. It's not always rainbows and flowers. There's also sadness and tears. And we as the front line nurses are affected wether we show it or not. If this subject offends some, I apologize. If you have questions though, please don't hesitate to ask. Thanks and enjoy!
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DING! DING! DING! DING! Wow! When it rains it really pours! This is the fifth emergency bell tonight and it's only halfway through the shift. Maine ran to the room where the bell was coming from and so did a few of the staff. Whenever an emergency bell comes on, whoever among the staff is free would run to help out. Not walk, not jog, but run! Maine jogs as her form of exercise so she's not a couch potato but tonight, it has been a bit difficult for her to keep up with all these running around on the unit. It's just a typical busy shift at SMH FBU. It wouldn't be a big deal, however, in the last couple of weeks, Maine has been increasingly short of breath doing more than normal activities. Oh she knows it's because she's now on her 2nd trimester of her pregnancy. She experienced the same when she was pregnant with Sebastian.

As Maine was running to the emergency, she spied RJ coming the other way also heading to the same emergency. This was the first time they worked together after they got engaged. Most of the time, RJ's on call schedule happens to be the exact opposite of Maine's set schedule. This was a good thing. She hasn't told her co workers or her manager yet of her pregnancy nor her engagement because frankly, it's none of their business. Well maybe the pregnancy part is a little bit their business cause they do have to find a replacement for her when she goes on maternity leave. But the engagement? Definitely not their business! That she's engaged to be married to the most sought after doctor of the unit and she's carrying their second child? Pfft! No big deal! Yeah right!

They've also been very busy at home with the wedding planning and all. They both agreed not to have a big celebration. Just family and intimate friends. RJ was willing to wait until the baby is born but Maine absolutely refused. She wants to be married before she gives birth (which is as soon as possible) to which RJ was readily agreeable. They have agreed on the date of October 24 which is 5 weeks away. The good thing about all this is that everyone in the family, well the women anyway, have taken on a task each to lessen the stress on Maine. She still got the final say but the rest of them were all doing the leg work. Even Nicki who is 32 weeks pregnant has a job to do. Maine actually didn't want Nicki to be involved but her sister says otherwise. They also have finally finished the process of changing Sebastian's last name from Mendoza to Faulkerson, so all is well.

As RJ spotted Maine running, he stopped in his tracks. For a minute he forgot where he was and was about to admonish Maine but luckily she already caught herself and slowed down. RJ truly does admire Maine and her work ethics. He's heard nothing but good things about his future wife eversince he started working here. These past few days though, he's witnessed how work is slowly draining the energy out of her. Granted she's pregnant and already on her 2nd trimester but his instinct is still to care for her first and the rest be damned. He has been contemplating on asking her to stop working and just stay at home for now (God knows he can afford it) but knowing Maine, she would absolutely refuse. She doesn't call herself independent for nothing. Such is the dilemma for a man like him. A man whose first instinct is to protect the woman he loves. To ease the tiredness out of her eyes. To give her the world, even the moon and the stars. Oh to be rid of that dilemma.

Maine noticed RJ staring at her or perhaps into space because when she took a few steps towards him, he didn't move at all.

"Dr. Faulkerson, you're staring" she whispered when she was close enough. Maine's scent brought RJ back to the present. They were about to step inside the room with the emergency bell when everyone started piling out. Murmurs of 'false alarm' and 'all is well' could be heard. RJ deliberately waited until the rest of the staff slowly dispersed before he approached Maine. He hates it! He hates it that he can't proclaim to the world (or their workplace anyway) how much love he has for his woman. Don't get him wrong, he respects Maine's decision to keep their relationship classified for now because it's really no one's business, but it doesn't mean he has to like it.