Contractual Obligations: Closing The Deal *B2*

Chapter 18

ೋღ♥ღೋChapter 18 ೋღ♥ღೋ

Natalie was feeling cagey. She needed to get out of the house. She'd finally stopped working at the diner. The bigger she got, the harder it was to stand on her feet all day. She was in her eighth month of pregnancy when Michael convinced her to stay home.

He spent morning until late at night hammering out details and business. She rarely saw him until he was climbing into bed, and she was groggy and half asleep by the time he got there.

Filling her days became about flipping through magazines and channel surfing. It was fun for about two days, and then boredom kicked in. She had to go out. This was going to drive her crazy, sitting here doing nothing.

Natalie decided on a trip to one of the museums. There were plenty to visit, and while she might not have it in her to stand for long bouts of times, with benches she'd just take breaks along the way. It's not like she was unable to function!

Deciding on the American Museum of Natural History, Natalie hailed a cab, and watched people scuttling up and down the sidewalks as the yellow car made its way to 79th Street. Getting out, she thanked the driver, tipping him, and then wandered inside. Paying her twenty-two dollars felt like a luxury. Sure money wasn't as tight as it was the last few months, but she was still aware how broke they had become. It could happen again. Twenty dollars used to mean nothing to her, and yet a few months ago it became more than she could afford to spend on a leisurely day trip.

Lingering through the museum while taking in the exhibits and displays, Natalie immersed herself in the scenery. It was a nice day and she felt relaxed, though her feet were a little tender from her added pregnancy weight. Smiling, she waved to the security guard as he greeted her at the exit. She was lost in thought, thinking about some of the things she'd seen, and was on her way out of the building to get a cab. With one false step, she tumbled and fell down the stairs.

A security guard rushed to her side, calling for help. "Ma'am, are you okay? I have somebody coming to help." He shifted her so she was leaning against him, and brought her to a nearby bench.

"I'm so embarrassed," she flushed, feeling like a klutz. Her hands instinctively went to her stomach. "Oh my god, the baby." Her skin went pale, color draining from her face.

"I have someone coming." He soothed as the panic started to rise within her.

"My baby," she mumbled.

Her ankle was swelling, having twisted it on the way down, but there was no movement from within. Her baby was still. Please be okay, she prayed.

When the medic showed up, they recommended she go get checked out to make sure everything was okay. They brought her to the hospital, and her doctor would be notified. She sat there, feeling foolish and frightened. She needed to pay better attention to where she was going. What if something happened?

It felt like forever before they called her back. After triaging, she wasn't the top priority. She was simply a fall, when there were people with limbs half hanging off. On listening, they heard the baby's heartbeat, and with a sigh, she finally relaxed. With a recommendation to see her doctor and get an ultrasound over in imaging, one floor up, they sent her on her way after wrapping her ankle. They didn't have the free bed or time to do the ultrasound down in the ER right now. It was too busy.

Natalie spent the day waiting in another chair, in another waiting room at the hospital. When Michael showed up, he leaned in, hugging her. "Are you okay? Is the baby?"

She nodded. "They heard the heartbeat. I'm waiting for an ultrasound. They'll send the results to my doctor, and give me peace of mind that everything is okay."