The Best Years

19

"Holland, what are you still doing here? Your appointment with the midwife is in like half an hour if you don't leave you're going to be late." Lexi scolded, headed in Holland's direction as she spoke.

"I'm procrastinating. Obviously." Holland replied with a quick roll of her eyes, as if her motive should have been obvious. Perhaps she was right and it should have been but Lexi was having none of it.

"Holls, go home. I'm banning you."

"You can't ban me, it's my gym." Holland chortled.

"Too bad. I just did." Lexi replied immediately. "You just got out of the hospital, you have a new foster kid. Go to your appointment and then go home. Your plate is full, Holls, and this is one thing I can take off of it."

"Yeah, but the girls—" "Will be fine." Lexi finished for her. "I got this, Holls. Go enjoy your husband, your kid, and the last few weeks of your pregnancy."

Holland opened her mouth as if to argue but seemed to think better of it and closed it. Giving a small nod she grabbed her bag off the bench. "You'll call me if you need me, right?" She asked.

"Promise."

Holland gave a small nod in reply, her eyes drifting around the gym as if to take it all in before she hoisted her bag on to her shoulder and headed for the exit. She knew Lexi was probably right and she did need some time to adjust to all of the changes and prepare for the baby, but that didn't make the gym an easier to walk away from.

She flung her bag into the backseat of her Escalade and made the drive over to her midwife's office. Calum's Range Rover idled in a parking spot and she pulled in beside him. He stepped from his SUV and opened her door after killing the engine.

"Hi gorgeous." He said, greeting her with a kiss, his arm sliding around her back as he steered them towards the entrance to the birth center.

Natalie, their midwife, greeted them and got them settled in an exam room.

"You guys are getting so close. Holland you're technically full term now so be on the lookout for any possible signs of labor. I know we've talked about the Braxton HIcks you've been experiencing but if those begin to increase in frequency or strength just give me a call, okay?"

Holland nodded and was helped to a sitting position then given a paper towel to rid her stomach of the ultrasound gel.

"Now, Holland." Natalie said, her tone suddenly serious. "I know your medical history and I know you were hospitalized last week for dehydration and malnutrition."

Holland's cheeks reddened in embarrassment.

"In order to be a candidate for the home birth you want we need to see the rest of the pregnancy through with no further complications. Any more fainting spells or signs of distress by you or baby and I'm going to switch gears and have us plan for you to deliver at the hospital. My other conditions to move forward with the birth plan as written are that you follow you nutritionist dietary recommendations, Calum or another person should be with you for all meals until the baby is born to help hold you accountable, rest as much and as often as possible, and finally I would also recommend that all scales be removed from your home for now."

Holland stared back at the woman, a bit shell shocked as she absorbed all that had been said before she nodded, her mind only half registering the rest of what Natalie told them before they were dismissed.

Calum's fingers, rough and worn from his bass, wound through hers as he held her hand back to their cars.

"You okay?" He asked her softly, turning her so that she faced him and his hand lifted to brush a stray hair from her face back behind her ear.