Happily Ever After?? (Third in the Through The Dark And Free series)

Chapter 11

Julie squeezed her lips together and scrunched her eyebrows. It was the only way she could stop herself from sobbing. This news hit her like a ton of bricks. It was not something she would have even considered happening. She had faithfully taken those pills because of this exact reason. And she was still a nurse. She wasn't working as one currently, but she still renewed her license because the practical side of her needed something to fall back on. And it seemed the longer life went on the more she thought she would have to go back to it. And now this. A baby. She wasn't ready for a baby. "Harry." Julie said with a shaky breath. "I'm sorry. Maybe they're wrong. It's all my fault. I'm so sorry."

"No. Don't do that." Harry took a deep breath. He couldn't believe this was happening. He was as shocked as she was. But he didn't blame her. "It's not your fault."

"I should have known. I should have been more careful." Julie put her face in her hands. "They have to be wrong. I'm so sorry."

Harry felt her pain and immediately stepped closer and took her hands from her face and held them. He sat down next to her. "Stop apologizing. Please." He looked at her hands and then at her face. "I'm shocked, too. A million things are running through my head, too. But I don't blame you. Baby, please believe that."

"This can't be happening." Julie started to get anxious. She couldn't wrap her head around this at all. "I'm having a nightmare, right? I'm going to wake up soon, right?"

"No, baby. This is real. We will figure this out. Just please, relax a little, ok. Getting worked up isn't going to help things. Stay calm, for me, ok?" Harry looked at the door when the doctor knocked, but he didn't get up this time. He knew his girlfriend, and if he walked away from her now, her mind would go into overdrive, wondering what he was thinking. He kept holding one of her hands when she took the meds that Mrs. Mansfield held out to her.

"Looks like the fluids are almost done." Dr. Mansfield handed Harry two scripts. "These are the antibiotics for the UTI she has. She doesn't need them until tomorrow evening. We are giving her a dose through her IV now, and what she took by mouth was a prenatal vitamin. I also gave you a script for that until she can get in to see her OB. It could change, but for now this will be good."

Harry looked down at Julie who had dropped her chin back to her chest and closed her eyes. If she was going to freak out, then he would have to be the one who didn't. At least not yet. "Thank you, Doctor. For everything." He reached over and shook his hand.

"Just make sure you keep fluids in her as much as possible. Ginger ale and crackers could help. Best to eat a little something before trying to get out of bed in the morning or after you've been lying down awhile." Mrs. Mansfield added. "I've done this before. It does get better." She smiled at Julie as she unhooked the IV and removed it from Julie's arm. She saw the look at Julie's face and immediately felt a little heart broken. Julie had not been expecting this result, and it showed. Hopefully, the fear she could feel exuding from Julie would dissipate over time. "Ok, you're all set." Mrs. Mansfield took the tray to get rid of all the supplies.

Julie looked down at the bandage on her arm. Pregnant. She was growing a baby inside her and had been for weeks. She would turn 28 in a couple of weeks. It wasn't like she was too young, but she was just starting to finally get control of some of her life, and accept that Harry and she were going to be more than just dating. And now, they had a baby coming. No. She couldn't be a mother. What if the kid ended up as messed up as she was? She looked over at Harry talking to Dr. Mansfield, and he looked as pale as she felt. She saw Harry walking towards her, but when he spoke, he sounded really far away. She felt like she'd fallen into deep water and was peering up at Harry who was on the surface.  His words seemed muffled to her ears.