The Save Game

Chapter 15

"Go ahead and put this on." The nurse handed Allison a pink and white hospital gown as Sal walked into the room. "I'm going to go pull up your chart and let the doctor know that you're being admitted and then I'll be back."

Sal gave her a thankful smile as she walked out the room and pulled the door closed behind her.

Allison held the hospital gown close to her body and looked at Sal.

"I can turn around or leave or whatever you need me to do." He hadn't seen Allison's naked body for months and didn't want her to feel uncomfortable.

"No. It's fine. I'm just....it's just that....I'm nervous." She sat on the edge of the bed, and looked down at the floor.

Sal walked to her and kneeled in front of her, taking one of her hands in his.

"Everything is going to be fine. You're going to be an amazing mother." He leaned in closer so that she would have to look him in the eyes. "We're going to do this together. It's me and you against the world, remember?"

Allison nodded, the relief that she felt clearly written across her face. "Guess I better put this on." She held the gown up.

Sal stood, giving her space to change.

Allison laid the gown on the bed before pulling her top over her head. Her pregnant stomach was on full display. Sal was overcome with emotions. That was his child that she protected with her body. The child that she fought so hard to have, even when she thought she didn't deserve the chance. He couldn't control the urge to touch her, so he stepped forward again.

"Beautiful." Sal whispered, as his hands gently trailed over her skin. "You're giving me such a precious gift." He wiped a happy tear from his cheek and then bent forward to kiss her stomach.

He felt her stomach tighten and Allison grabbed one of his shoulders.

"Contraction." She said through gritted teeth.

Sal straightened and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned into him, resting her forehead against his chest. Gently, Sal rocked from side to side until the contraction ended. Allison took the time before the next contraction to remove the rest of her clothes and put the gown on.

"Tie me?" She asked Sal, turning around to expose her back to him.

"With that view, I feel like I should be trying to get this off of you instead of putting it on." He took hold of the strings, tying each section closed.

"You're the kind of boyfriend every pregnant woman should have." Allison said as she turned to face him.

"Fiance'." Sal said, reaching for her left hand and holding up the ring on her finger. "I'm going to marry you, Allison." He assured her.

Allison wanted to say something. To tell her she knew they would be married one day, but the pain from losing Paul was so raw and fresh that she couldn't.

"I know that right now your emotions are deep on both sides of the fence, and that's okay. Let's just have a healthy baby. We can worry about saying I Do much later down the road." Sal took her hand, kissing the ring.

She nodded and sat on the the edge of the bed again.

"I know the sex of the baby, but you don't." She ran her hand over her stomach. "Do you want to know?" She looked up at him.

"I went about this relationship all wrong. I should have been here for you. No matter what, I should have been at every appointment." Sal ran a hand through his hair and turned toward the window. "I'm sorry about that, Allison." He walked to the window, watching as the people hustled through the city. "I want to wait. I want you to keep the secret a little longer. I'll find out soon enough. For now, you're the one who should know."