If heart ache was a physical pain, I could face it.

Part Fifteen

Roxie’s POV

“So what’s going on with Max and Charly then?” I ask Jess and Sophie, wanting to know if they were as suspicious as I am.

“Nothing.” Sophie replies, looking confused. “Why would you think something was?” I roll my eyes at her.

“You do realise they spent all of the night he got back in his room together? I heard them when I went to the loo.”

“Aww that’s great! They deserve to be happy together.” Jess smiles as me, and I have to agree with her, it is great.

“Really?” Sophie asks. “I’m happy for them; I mean we always knew that she liked Max.”

“Yeah, and it’s the chance of a fresh start that he really needs too.” I agree.

Anne’s POV

As I wake up I reach across the bed and am confused to find Tom’s side of the bed empty.  Opening my eyes I notice a note and I pick it up to read it.

I know you’re not okay, you’re worrying me babe, but you were so tired last night I let it go. I’ve gone to town to get a pregnancy test, and when I’m back we can see if you’re going to be a mummy!

Love you babe xxx

Crap. I throw the note back onto the bed and begin rushing around the room to get ready. Yes I’m not okay, no I’m not pregnant. But Tom’s right I really need to know what it is. But I can’t worry him anymore. I’ll go to the hospital while he’s out and then by the time we’re both home I’ll have our answer and we can relax again. There’s no point making him worry when the test comes back negative.

Grabbing my coat I leave the house. I debate texting Tom to tell him I’ve gone, but I don’t want to lie to him and I can’t tell him the truth it will just cause him to worry more. No I have to do this on my own.

Charly’s POV

“Have you talked to Max yet?” Sophie asks, while coming and sitting on my bed.

“No I haven’t.” I reply looking down at my hands while playing with my fingers.

“Well you need to soon, the girls are getting suspicious, Roxie heard the two of you the other night, and you want have an answer for them when they ask you what’s going on.”

“I can’t talk to him. What if he tells me it was a mistake? I can’t deal with that.” How stupid am I? Saying I can’t cope with a kiss and then getting blown off, after everything Max has been through. Yet I still can’t bring myself to talk to him.  Without saying anymore, which I’m glad off Sophie pulls me into a hug.

“It’ll be okay. Trust me.”

Anne’s POV

Two hours and four missed calls from Tom later I’m still stuck in the hospital waiting room.

“Anne?” A doctor calls, he motions for me to follow him into his room as I stand up. Feeling butterflies in my stomach I have to try hard to convince myself to follow him and not run back out the way I came. Do I really want to know what’s wrong with me? “Please have a seat.” Too late now. I do as instructed and then begin to talk about the way I have been feeling over the past couple of weeks, while the doctor watches me intently, taking notes. “I know you have taken a few shop brought test already, but depending on how far your pregnancy is, they may not be able to detect it. So I’d like to do another one here before continuing with anything else. If you’d like to urinate in this for me, we can do it when you get back.” Feeling self conscious I walk into the loo and pee in the little container he handed me. Walking back into the room I feel myself blush as I hand it back over to him. Placing the stick part way into the container he turns back to me. “Your symptoms are common for pregnancy, and as this is the most common diagnosis I’d say that you are pregnant. When is your period due or have you missed one already? I blush again; I really don’t feel comfortable talking about things like this to an older man.

“I’m due next week.”

“In that case, it is unusual for you to be displaying these signs this early on, but no unheard off. However it is too early for shop brought tests to be able to detect the chemicals in your urine that confirm you are pregnant.” I let out a lungful of air I didn’t realise I was holding. I could still be pregnant? There might not be anything wrong with me?

“So the test has come back negative. I’d like to carry out a few more tests now if you don’t mind. I shake my head at him feeling my hope disappear. Maybe not then.

“This is to take your blood pressure” he says, while wrapping some material around my arm, “and this will take your heart rate”; he places a clip onto my finger.  “They’re both a little high.” He mutters to himself minuets later, while picking up another medical instrument. “Turn towards the door please.” He places what I realise now is a thermometer into my ear, and seconds later I hear it beep once. “That’s high too. I’d like to take a blood test.” Blood test? I swallow once and start to panic slightly at the thought of needles. I should have stayed at home. I’m sure I’m fine; I’m just wasting everyone’s time. “Relax your hand for me.” He says before proceeding to stick the needle into the back of my hand. I wince slightly as he does and watch wide eyed as he starts taking my blood. “I know it looks like a lot, but believe me it’s not. And I need this much as I’d like to carry out more than one test.” After taking more blood and removing the needle from my hand he beings to tidy up around me.

“Can I go home now?” I ask, feeling relieved that for now at least it’s over.

“No, I’m afraid not, depending on the outcome I’d like to speak to you as soon as I get the results.”

“Oh.” I say, beginning to worry again. That can’t be good, can it? “What do you think it is?” I ask unsure of if I really want to know.

“I’d prefer not to say at this moment in time. If you’d like to go back through to the waiting room, I’ll call you through when I get the results.” I stand up and begin walking slowly to the door, trying to take everything in. He’s acting like it’s serious but surely it can’t be. Right? I’m just about to open the door as the Doctor’s voice stops me.

“And Anne, maybe you’d like to call someone to be here with you when you get the results?” He smiles at me sympathetically. And it’s right then that I know this is bad. Really bad. He doesn’t think I can handle it on my own.  Walking back into the waiting room in a daze I notice that my phone has started ringing again. I debate whether or not to answer it, I mean I should probably take the Doctors advice and tell Tom to come, but I can’t put him through this worry as well. No. I have to do this on my own.