Making My Way to You

Chapter 25

Delilah felt a rush of fluid down her legs and she knew. "No." She whispered. "This is not happening."

"What?" Caroline looked at her as she made a right turn into the hospital parking lot. "What is it?"

"I'm losing this baby, Car.... this isn't happening." Delilah was crying. The pain was horrible. She cradled her belly. "Please. No. This can't be happening."

"You don't know that..." Caroline jumped out and ran around to help Delilah. "You don't know what's happening."

"I'm bleeding." Delilah sobbed. "I can feel it."

Nurses were standing at the desk when they walked through. "Can we help you?"

"My sister in law.... she's pregnant. She's bleeding and cramping."

Instinctively one of the nurses grabbed a wheelchair. "How far along?"

"About 11 weeks." Delilah cried.

"We need to get you to an ultrasound."

"What do I do?"

"Call Cole. Car.. I need him."

After the ultra sound things were a blur. Delilah's blood pressure crashed. Cole barely made it before they rushed her in for a D & C.  He was pacing the hallway with Luke when the doctor came out of the OR. "How is she?"

"She's fine. She's going to be moved to recovery in a few minutes."

"What happened? Why did she lose the baby?"

"Cole, Lila suffered a placental abruption."

Cole was clueless and looked from Luke back to Dr. Jameson. "What does that mean?"

"It means the placenta detached from the utueran wall.  It caused her to start hemorrhaging and the fetus to not have any oxygen. I am so sorry, Cole. There was nothing that could have been done."

He felt his knees start to give out as Luke caught him. "Thank you, Dr."

Thirty minutes later they let him back to see his wife. She looked pale against the stark white sheets of the hospital bed. Tears filled his eyes as he took her hand and brushed hair back from her forehead. He pressed a kiss to her skin. "I'm so sorry, baby." He whispered. "So sorry."

He collapsed into a chair beside her bed and bowed his head.  He tried not to cry but this wasn't fair. First his dad and now their baby. Their future.  He knew Delilah was already in love with the life they had created that had been growing inside of her. A life made out of love for each other. He should have been there. He should have been home more.

He felt her shift. "Cole?" She said opening her eyes.

He lifted his head to see her looking at him. "I'm right here, darlin."

Pain shot through her lower half and he saw the shock cross her face. "What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

"I remember being at lunch with Caroline...then pain..." She placed her hand on her belly. "The baby....Cole, what happened to our baby? Is he ok?"

Cole swallowed hard. "Sweetheart...."

"No! No...." Tears fell down her face. "He's not gone...."

Cole closed his eyes against her tears and sobs. "I am so sorry, baby. God, I'm sorry." He climbed onto the bed with her and held her tight as she cried for the tiny baby they lost. She cried herself back to sleep and he untangled himself from her.

Luke was in the waiting room when he came out. He punched the wall. "Fuck!"

His brother in law wrapped his arms around him. "Let it out."

"How could this have happened?" Cole cried against Luke's shoulder. "This isn't fair. She doesn't deserve this pain, Luke...."

"I know. I know." Luke sighed. "Mama and daddy are on their way from Georgia."

"You should have seen the look on her face, Luke. I had to tell her our baby was gone. She just cried. And all I could do was hold her. I feel so damn helpless."

Delilah was in the hospital for two more days before they released her to go home. Cole cancelled all his appearances for next two weeks. He needed to be with his wife. She needed him. She cried for a week straight before she finally made peace. Or so she had thought. Her heart ached for that baby. She knew it was a boy. Deep down she knew they were going to have a son. And she had wanted to name him Rylan Keith after his dad.  She knew Cole was hurting too. He would hold her and tell her how much he loved her. He never let her forget how much he wanted her and needed her.

She shook her head and put the pork chops in the oven. Even now, seven weeks after the miscarriage he made sure she knew.

Cole came down the stairs and saw her staring into space. He knew what she was thinking about. His heart tightened. She was thinking about their son. The baby they lost too soon.  He crossed the room and kissed her hair. "You need any help?"

"Can you get the plates from the cabinet?"

"Sure."Dinner was spent catching up on the tour news and how the album was done. He helped her clean up the kitchen. "You wanna spend Christmas here?"

"Yes. The house is finished and I honestly..." She looked at him as he stoked the fire. "I just want to be home."

"Ok. Thanksgiving in Georgia and Christmas here." He kissed her forehead as he sat back down beside on the couch.

"I have a doctors appointment next week." She said quietly.

"Ok. Do you want me to go with you?"

"No." She shook her head. "I'll be ok."

"Are you sure? Because I can have Kerri clear my schedule...."

"You're sweet..." She reached over and cupped his face. "But I'll be fine."

"Just let me know if you change your mind." He took a pull from his bottle.

"I will." She sipped her wine. "I promise."