Worth the Wait

Part 12 - Shell Shocked

Part 12 - Shell Shocked

Rose’s POV

        It’s been a month since Justin’s accident, and Beth is still a nervous wreck. He finally came out of a coma, but was still having trouble moving around. The doctor’s all said it was completely normal to come out okay from a spinal injury and have a lack of motor skills, but that didn’t satisfy Beth. The wedding plans had been put on hold on her end, and I took up most of the work. I was meeting with the wedding planner for her and tying up loose ends.  

        Justin was currently going through physical therapy to re-learn how to walk and such. He was making pretty good progress, but wasn’t going to stop until he could walk perfectly again. His goal was to be able to walk on his own by the time the wedding came along. He was bound and determined to be able to dance with his wife at the reception, and I gotta admit, I admired his zeal.  

        The store has been running pretty smoothly, and I’ve got Beth’s sister working here full time now. She just finished her current semester college, and makes a great addition to the place. We wouldn’t have been able to make it through this last month without her.  

        I’ve been working like a mad woman on my designs. Sleep hasn’t come easily lately, and when I do get sleep, a certain face haunts my dreams. I’ve been feeling nauseous almost all the time lately. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment scheduled for next week, but I’m a little worried. My mom offered to come down and stay with me, but I told her not to worry. The last thing she needs is to come and take care of me when I’m probably fine anyways. I’d tell Beth, but she has enough to worry about with Justin being in the rehabilitation center.

        Christine has been calling me almost daily now. At first, she was really persistent to get me to come back, but then her phone calls soon turned into her telling me about Trevor. They’ve been going steady for about a month now, and I couldn’t be happier for them. She’s finishing school this spring, and should be graduating just after Beth’s wedding. Beth asked her to be a bridesmaid, so Christine has been helping me with the  planning too. She’s actually going to fly down here in a few months to help with the final arrangements.

* * *

        A week later, I found myself walking into my doctor’s office. She was a sweet old woman who had graying hair and wore thick-rimmed glasses. She may have looked old, but she was a fiery spirit who loved to laugh. She always could tell when I felt blue, and every now and then, she’d act as my surrogate mother and let me vent my problems.  

        “What seems to be the trouble Rose?” she asked me as she was walking into my room. “You’re early for your scheduled appointment.”

        “I haven’t been feeling too swell lately, and I don’t think it’s the flu. I’ve been feeling this way for about three weeks now, and I just wanted to come in and check with you,” I said.  

        “Of course dearie. First answer me some questions,” she answered, readjusting her glasses on the bridge of her nose.

        She asked me all sorts of questions, ranging from when I first noticed it, to how often I feel sick, etc.  After she was done interrogating me, she took a blood sample and asked me to come back in a few days to see how the tests went. I complied, and scheduled another appointment with the receptionist out in front. I kept my mental fingers crossed that everything would be okay as I headed back to my Jeep.

* * * 

        “Why didn’t you tell me!” Beth shouted at me. I decided to pay Justin a visit since I was in the area, and Beth was now fuming at me for not telling her that I was sick. “I would’ve gone with you!”

        “Why? It’s not that important. It’s probably just a bug or something. I’ll be fine,” I said. She had a skeptical look on her face as she crossed her arms. “Besides,” I added, “you have a lot on your plate to begin with. I didn’t want to burden you with my issues too.”

        That seemed to thaw her out and she threw her arms around me for a big squeeze. “Hun, you know I’m always there for you,” she whispered before pulling away. “And besides, anything’s better than hanging around this old lug.” She gestured with her thumb at Justin who was in the process of walking along a bar in the corner of the room.

        “Hey!” he argued. “I never said you had to stay around here.” They both started laughing at each other, and I felt a little out of the loop. Justin seemed to notice and stopped briefly to explain. “See, Beth and I have been going back and forth on this subject for over two weeks now. I keep telling her to leave and go out to get away for a while, but she refuses. So she really is kidding when she says that.”

        “He’s right. I haven’t been able to leave his side at all. I love him too much, and this accident has done nothing but strengthen our relationship.” She walked over to him and gave him a kiss on the lips. “Now get back to work mister. I’m not dancing with you in a wheelchair.”

        He smiled. “Yes ma’am.”

* * *

        Three days later, Beth and I walked back into the doctor’s office. She insisted on coming with me this time as, if for nothing else, moral support. She kept her hand wrapped around mine in the waiting room and, ignoring the stares from other people, whispered words of encouragement in my ear.  

        “It’ll be okay sweetie. No matter what she says, we’ll get through it.”

        I was extremely relieved that she decided on coming with. The nerves began to worsen this morning, and I could barely keep the kettle steady as I poured my morning tea. Beth came over first thing in the morning, and basically helped me get ready for the day. She then drove me here, and continued to soothe me.

        My name was called and I looked gravely at Beth. “Come Rose, everything’s going to be okay,” she said quietly. She gently tugged my arm up and we made our way to the room they opened for us. I sat down slowly on the bed, and Beth took a seat in the plastic chair next to me. She kept rubbing my arm, trying to calm me down. I could barely hear anything with the pounding in my ears. I tried so hard to get my nerves under control, but they just wouldn’t listen. Call it women’s intuition, but I knew something wasn’t right.

        Not five minutes later, the doctor walked in and gave me a big smile. “Hey Rose, how you feeling today?”

        “Well, not so great to be honest,” I answered. “I was sick again this morning, but now I feel fine.”

        “Ah,” she said. “I see.”

        My nerves got the best of me and I couldn’t hold it any longer. “What is it doc?  Please tell me,” I begged. Beth squeezed my arm in support.

        She opened the file she carried in with her. “Well Ms. Rose, it seems you’ve got a case of common morning sickness.”

        I froze, my mouth hanging wide open. “W-w-what?” I stuttered.

        “Congratulations Rose, you’re going to b--” I didn’t hear the rest of what she said as my whole world went black.