PRETTYMUCH a Lie [n.m]

Ninety-One

Nick

The next thing I knew, we were driving ourselves to the hospital. Amelia's dad knew about her feet swelling and thought it was just the pregnancy and her adding too much onto her plate, but there were a few other setbacks that were a bit weird.

While Amelia was changing, he asked if we had felt the baby move today, and I told him the truth. We hadn't, and he didn't kick yesterday either. From that point on, Mr. Parker was quiet and basically speeding us to the hospital. I didn't really know what was happening, but I absolutely did not have a good feeling about it. I tried to keep Amelia's nerves as calm as possible on the ride to the hospital, but honestly, I was just as scared as she was. I knew what this could mean although I didn't want to accept it. I just wanted everything to be okay.

Once we got to the hospital, Mr. Parker checked us in and told us to wait a few minutes.

"Nick," Amelia whispered to me as we sat down in the waiting area.

Her face was flushed with red and she looked on the verge of tears.

"It's going to be okay," I said and slowly lifted my arm and placed it around her shoulders, squeezing lightly.

"I don't think he-"

I stopped her before she could say anything else.

"Don't," I whispered and rubbed my thumb in circles on her shoulder.

She let out a sigh and began to watch the waiting room TV. Pitch Perfect was on, that was one of Amelia's favorite movies.

Right when I thought she was beginning to calm down and get her mind off of this mess for a minute, a nurse came around the corner and told us to follow her to a room. I helped Amelia up and held her hand nervously as we followed the nurse down the hall and into a room.

We left everyone else at the party and told them we would let them know what was happening, I mean, we didn't even know ourselves. It was Christmas Eve and here we were at the hospital. We got Amelia changed and situated in the room and her father came back in with his scrubs on.

"Dad, can you turn the TV to the channel that was on in the waiting room?" she asked in a low tone.

"She really likes that movie, and it might calm her nerves a bit more, you know?" I added on hoping he would change it.

"Of course baby," he said, giving her a small smile and stepping into the hall to get a nurse.

The nurse came in and changed the TV for Amelia shortly after.

I followed the nurse out and pulled Mr. Parker to the side.

"So, I'm a bit confused. What exactly do you think is wrong?" I asked him in a hushed tone.

"Nick, I would rather wait until after the ultrasound is done so I will know for sure before I freak you out," he said while he looked me dead in the eyes.

"No. Tell me. It's alright if you want to spare Amelia's feelings right now, but I need to know. I need to know for my sake and for hers," I huffed out nervously, my voice cracking slightly.

He scratched at his beard and looked me up and down before sighing and giving me a small nod. 

"Nick, normally swollen feet and high blood pressure are normal in pregnancy, up to a certain point. You have to keep your eye on them and I believe that we have been. But her other symptoms and especially not feeling the baby move at all in the past two days since he has been so active lately is really bad," he explained.

"So?" I gave him a confused look.

I knew what he was going to say, but I didn't want to believe it, I wanted to hear him say it. I wanted it to be false. I wanted him to be wrong.

"I need to make sure he is still alive, Nick," he sighed clearly not wanting to state the obvious.

My stomach hollowed out to his words.

"Well," I stumbled.

I just didn't know what to say, hearing that out loud just hurt.

"Where the hell is this Ultrasound machine?" he shouted down the hall and began to walk toward the front desk.

I stood there for a minute trying to regain control of my nerves before I entered the room again. I opened the door quietly before walking in on the most precious sight. Amelia was humming the tune of 'Flashlight' from the movie Pitch Perfect while rubbing her stomach in circles.

"It normally soothes him when I sing to him," she sniffed not taking her eyes off of her stomach once.

I realized she was holding back tears as she continued to rub her stomach.

"Baby," I sighed while walking over to her and sitting down.

I took her hand in mine and kissed it.

"It's going to be okay." I bent over and rested my forehead on her hand and closed my eyes saying a quick prayer.

I didn't even know if I believed me anymore.

"Okay, we finally found a machine. Let's see this sweet baby," the nurse said as she walked in with Mr. Parker behind her.

He had a serious expression plastered across his face until he came into view with Amelia to which he lightened it up. It felt like forever before the nurse finally touched the ultrasound stick to Amelia's belly.

"Okay," she hummed while sliding it through the gel as we anxiously searched the screen.

We saw a baby in there, but there was no sound.

"That's him isn't it?" Amelia spoke.

I noticed her grip on my hand was as tight as she's ever held it.

"Yes baby," Mr. Parker answered.

"Why can't we hear anything?" she sniffled while scrunching her face with worry.

"Let me see," Mr. Parker took the instrument from the nurse and mimicked her same motions.

Still no noise.

"Amelia, baby. I'm so sorry," he choked out making my face heat up and my stomach feel like it was going to overdose on nausea.

Happy late Halloween and Day of the Dead!

I'm thinking about leaving this book here and working on the sequel.....??

Follow me on here to keep up with updates for the sequel and new books! @tayloradurden :)

I won't be mean and leave it here but the book will be ending in the next few chapters :(

But yes SEQUEL!

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-Tay