It was around 9:15 the next morning when she made it over to the lab she had cleared an hour and a half and Gail had reassured her that she would cover anything that came up after checking in at the desk she sat there waiting for Tom to show up she started to feel a little nervous if her instinct were right and she had this condition it would change the next five months of her life, if not the rest of her life.
"Hey, you made it?" she told him as he walked up to where she was sitting.
"Hey, sweetheart I told you I would be here."
"I know Tom but something could have came up." she told him as they both turned to the sound of her name being called.
"Christina Wakefield." the nurse called out as she stood at the desk. Christina and Tom both made it to their feet and walked toward the open door.
"This way please" she told them as they all walked through the door headed for the back. "Please have a seat" she asked them as she walked over to the fridge to grab a bottle of the glucose drink "Mrs. Wakefield would you like cola, orange, or lime?"
"I'll have the orange please thank you."
"Here you go I need you to drink it all with in five minutes, and then in an hour we'll take a blood sample and send the results over to Dr. Hays."
"Ok here goes." Christina said as she started to drink the sugar solution." as she sat there doing her best to hold it down.
"Are you ok sweetheart?"
"not really I think I'm going to be sick, I don't want to have to do this again, hey you in there if you don't want to have to come back and do this again don't make mommy sick," she told him as she sat back in the chair holding her head back with one hand on her showing belly.
"Your doing good Chris if you can hold it down a few more minutes you should be ok." he told her as he sat there holding her hand.
About thirty minutes had passed since she had drunk the solution and the feeling to throw up was starting to pass.
"How are you feeling now sweetheart?"
"Better the nausea feeling has passed I think,"
"Good you only have about thirty minute's left." he told her as his pager started to go off.
"Are you going to see who that is, it could be important?"
"Its not."
"How do you know? Babe you don't have to stay with me the only thing left is for me to have my blood drown." she told him as they sat there.
"Christina I told you I wasn't going anywhere until you were done."
"Ok fine I'm sorry."
"How is your stomach feeling now?"
"I'm fine, just wanting this to be over with that's all."
"It will be soon you only have about fifteen minutes left."
"good." she said as they sat there talking for the next fifteen minutes about any and everything until they both turned at the sound of her name being called again by the same nurse as before.
"Christina Wakefield."
"I'm right here" she told her as she made it to her feet and headed over to the open door, she followed the nurse back and took a seat in the chair as Tom stood inside the doorway with his hands in his pockets. As she sat there and let the lab tech drew her blood she turned to Tom.
"You know this is your entire fault."
"How is it my fault?" he asked as he starting laughing and the lab tech just shook his head.
"Dr. Wakefield it will be your fault until she has that baby, take it from me I have three and it was always my fault." the tech told him as Christina looked back over at Tom and smiled.
"Ok Mrs. Wakefield were all done, your doctor will call you with your results."
"Thank you." she told him as she stood up rolling down her sleeve over the band-aid and they both headed for exit door. "Tom, are you going to answer that now?" she asked as she heard his phone ring for the third time.
"Yes Christina I will." he told her as he took his phone from his belt "Wakefield." he answered as they walked down the hall, "Dr. Kent was covering for me,… fine I'll be right there." he told the caller as he hung up.
"Is something wrong Tom?"
"Nothing for you to worry about but I need to go handle this, are you going back to your office?"
"No, not right now I'm going to head to the ER then back to my office."
"Ok sweetheart, I'll see you later." he said as he gave her a hug and kissed her on the forehead. "I love you Christina." he told her as he smiled and started to back up walking away.
"You better after all of this." she told him smiling back at him. "And Tom I love you too." she told him as she walked in the opposite direction.
She made it back over to the ER to check on a few things and to see if Gail or Bobbie needed anything before going back to her office to try and get some of her reports and paperwork done.
"Hey you, how did your appointment go?"
"Well I didn't throw up that sugar solution so; so far so good."
"So now it's just a waiting game?"
"Yeah it is and you know how I hate waiting."
"Christina don't start worrying yourself to much."
"I know Bobbie but its hard not to, this wait is going to kill me."
"I know Chrissie, so do you and Tom know what you guys want? Do you want to know what you're having?" she asked trying to take her mind off the test.
"Right now a healthy baby, and no we haven't talked about it."
"Christina you're going to be fine."
"I know I'm just trying to wrap my head around all this." she told her as another nurse handed her a clipboard with some forms to look over.
"So have you guys started on the baby's room yet?" and before she could answer they both turned to the sound of the page coming over the loud speaker "Christina Hawthorne you have a call on line 3 Christina Hawthorne line 3 please."
"not yet Camille is going to clean out the room next week." she told her as she walked around the desk, "who could be calling me on the hospital phone" she asked as she picked up the phone to see who it was, "this is Christina Hawthorne." she said as she answered the phone, "yes good morning Mr. Friendly how are you today." she said as she listened intently for a moment at what the man on the other end was telling her, "I'm sorry but I don't have that file in front of me right now can I get back to you?" she said as made murmuring reassurances into the phone. "Yes sir I understand that but…" she nodded her head some more as she continued to listen to the man speak. "Yes I'll take care of it I'm headed to my office as soon as I hang up with you; yes I will, I'll make sure it gets taken care of today good bye Mr. Friendly yes sir you have a good day too."
"What was that about?"
"Nothing, hey I'll talk with you later." she replied as she headed out of the ER for the nearest elevator. As she made it back to her office to take care of the problem she was having with Mr. Friendly her office phone started to ring. "This is Christina." she answered in a tired voice as she riffled through the files on her desk looking for Mr. Friendly's, "okay I'm sorry can you run that by me one more time?" she asked as she took a seat behind her desk as she listened more carefully this time at what the woman was saying. "Okay I can fax you that information." she told her as she ran her free hand across her face. "Your welcome, I'll have it to you before five, you too good bye." she told her as she hung up the phone and ran her hands once again over her face before she continued to try and solve the other problem she was having, as she found the file she started to make a few phone calls to take care of the situation, after spending the next two hours on the phone she finishing up and called Mr. Friendly back to let him know that she had taken care of the problem, she hung up the phone and made it to her feet head for the cafeteria as she walked out of the door she sent a text to Bobbie to meet her there.
"Has anyone seen Ray and Candy?" Kelly asked as she approached the table where Christina and Bobbie were sitting, with tray in hand and stomach grumbling.
"Not since this morning why?" Bobbie asked as she looked over at Christina sipping on her juice.
"Darn it!" Kelly said as she sat down at the table.
"What's the matter Kelly?"
"Oh nothing I just grabbed peach yogurt instead of strawberry that's all." she told them as Ray and Candy finally showed up at the table.
"Why the long face Kelly?" Ray asked as he took a seat next to her.
"It's nothing she just grabbed the wrong kind of yogurt, she wanted strawberry instead of peach Christina said as she started eating on the sandwich that was sitting in front of her.
"Here I'll Trade you," Ray offered.
"Thanks Ray," dropping her cup of yogurt onto the others nurses tray and grabbing the other in return. "By the way, has anyone noticed that other than when she's with a patient, Dr. Marshall seems to be a little I don't know distracted?"
Bobbie nodded her head in agreement as she grabbed her juice off the table. "No doubt about it I think she's got herself a new man." and they all turned in the direction of Ray.
"Okay why are you guys staring at me? I don't know anything about it she's not even talking to me unless she has to."
"Who's got a new man?" Dr. Wakefield asked as he passed the table pivoted and came around to where Christina was sitting.
"There talking about Dr. Marshall." Christina told him as he pulled up a chair next to her.
"Well good for her, about time some taped that," and no sooner did he say it all eyes were on Ray once again.
"Okay why are you guys staring at Ray?" Tom asked as everyone but Tom and Ray started laughing.
"Tom, don't tell me you didn't know?" Bobbie asked as they all looked at him in amazement.
"Know what?" he laughed in a smile and looked at Christina.
"Okay to my husband defense you all know that Tom doesn't listen to hospital gossip."
"Okay what am I missing?"
"Sweetie Ray and Brenda had a thing."
"When was this Ray? And where the hell was I when this was going on?"
"Sweetie" Christina patted him on the leg and shook her head slightly for him not to ask too many questions seeing the stressed look on Rays face. Dr. Wakefield looked at her and said nothing more. "okay guys lets leave Ray alone she told them as they all notice Dr. Marshall walk into the cafeteria headed there way.
"Brenda how are you? Pull up a seat." Tom asked her.
"Don't mind if I do." she told him as she turned and pulled up a chair.
"Ouch!"
"Tom are you ok?" Bobbie asked with a little laughter in her voice and now with all eyes on him.
"Yeah I'm fine." he told her as he looked over at Christina with a why did you do that look.
"So Dr. Marshall how is that patient of you're the little boy from this morning?"
"He doing ok Kelly."
"What patient are you guys talking about?" Tom ask as he looked at Christina then over at Brenda.
"It was just a diabetes case a young boy, Sammy will be fine he'll live a full and uninterrupted life as long as he and his mother follow orders and she doesn't let him go on any more sugar binges."
"That's easier said then done isn't it?" Kelly asked. "How do you ask a five year old not to have sugar he doesn't understand what's going on with his body.
"Excuse me." Christina said as she got up from the table and walked off.
"Christina." Tom called after her before getting to his feet. "Sorry everyone I need to go check on her." Tom told them as he followed her out of the room.
"Did I say something wrong?" Brenda asked as she turned and watched them leave.
"no Dr. Marshall their just going through some things your case just kind of hit a nerve that's all, well I think its time for all of us to get back to work." Bobbie told them as she made it to her feet and picking up the tray she and Christina had.
"Christina can you please wait up?"
"I'm fine Tom."
"Your not fine Christina." he told her as he caught up with her. "Your scared baby and so am I."
"It's the waiting Tom." she told him as the tears started to run down her face and she took notice that Erin was standing a few feet away from them watching. "Can I help you? This is a private conversation." she told her in a tearful voice as she looked over his shoulder at her.
"I'm sorry Christina…I" and she paused as Tom started to speak.
He turned and looked over his shoulder to see who she was talking to "Erin what… what the hell do you want?" he asked her as he stood there holding on to Christina.
"Look I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt you but Tom your not answering your pages or your phone Morrissey sent me to look for you, you're late for the two o'clock meeting."
"I'm sorry for snapping at you and thank you I'm own my way," he told her as he looked back at Christina, "are you going to be ok Chris?"
"I'll be fine Tom just go to your meeting, we'll talk later."
"Are you sure your fine?"
"Yes I'm fine." she told him with a reassuring smile. "I'll see you later, I love you."
"I love you too." he told her in a smile as he started to walk off. As Christina made it back to the ER, she stood at the nurse's desk talking with Gail when they both saw Bobbie entering the room.
"Hey do you know what's going on with Dr. Clare? She seems so sad lately."
"She going through a divorce."
"I didn't know that"
"She probably just doesn't want to be idle hospital gossip," Christina pointed out. "Hell I know I don't like it, I know how she feels, how would you like to have the details of your life announced over the loud speaker?"
"Come on Chrissie it's not that bad."
"The hell if its not, you cant even have a private conversation with your husband in this place without someone staring you down."
"Christina are you ok?" Gail asked as she took notice at the expression on her face after making the statement.
"Yeah, Christina because clearly something is wrong." and after a moment of silence, Christina looked at the two women sighed and walked away. "Well, that didn't go the way I had expected." she told Gail as she snapped the chart she was working on closed and put it back in the slot. As Christina made it back to her office to try and get some of her paperwork done but she couldn't seem to concentrate so she laid her head on her desk for a few seconds until her office phone started to ring, as she picked up the receiver "this is Christina," she answered and she snapped her head up at the sound of the voice on the other end, it came as a surprise. "Amanda how are you?" she asked as she sat back in her chair, this would teach her to answer a call without looking at the caller ID first but that was something she never did on her office phone Amanda was the last person that she had expected to call her on her office phone or so she thought.
"I'm fine dear and how are you?"
Feeling a little reluctant to answer the question Christina took a deep breath "I'm good thank you for asking, what do I owe the pleasure of this call?" she asked, she hadn't talked to Amanda in over a year, Amanda had decided to move to New York after the closing of Richmond Trinity but she kept a small apartment for when she came to town every three to four months, it was one of the reason that Camille had stayed with Suzanne and her mother when they went on their mini honeymoon.
"I would like to come by the house and see my granddaughter if that's possible?"
"You're in Richmond?" Christina asked in a frown and a surprising voice knowing this wasn't the best time for her to visit.
"Yes dear didn't you get my email I sent you a few days ago?"
"Sorry Amanda I haven't checked my email in a few days and you can see Camille anytime you want I have never kept you from your granddaughter."
"I know that Christina, and thank you dear, what time would be a good time to stop by."
Again feeling a little reluctant to answer the questions Christina took another deep breath and thought to herself "damn it! Can this day get any worst, this was so not the best time for her to find out that she was married and carrying Tom's child but there was no way around it now."
"Umm…I really don't know Amanda have you tried calling Camille?"
"Not yet do you know what time you will be home?"
"I'm not sure but I should be home by 6:30 so she should be there by then."
"Then I will stop by around seven is that ok with you?"
"Yes Amanda that will be fine." she said putting the pen that she had been playing with nervously in her hand down on the desk.
"So I'll see you at seven o'clock dear maybe we can all have dinner out some where maybe French or Italian."
"We'll see when you get to the house."
"Okay dear Now, I must be off I have a few things to do before I come over bye dear."
"Okay Amanda I'll see..." and the phone went dead before she could get out the rest of what she was saying; she sat there and dropped her head back on the desk with the receiver still in her hand.
"Hey are you ok?" the voice asked that was standing in the doorway watching her for a few seconds before making his way into the room.
"No I'm not that was Amanda, she stopping by the house tonight at seven Tom."
"Okay so what's the problem?"
"Seriously Tom, she doesn't know about our marriage or this baby or at least I don't think she does this is not the time for her to find out."
"Well when did you want her to find out when our kids were grown and on there way to college?"
"Yes… yes that would be the perfect time for her to find out."
"Come on Chris babe you have to be realistic."
"I know Tom, I just…"
"You just what sweetheart?"
"Tom I don't know if you knew but Amanda and Michael thought we were having an affair all those years ago and now were married and I'm having our baby I just don't think I can deal with her right now with everything going on I don't need the added stress."
"Christina I understand and babe I will be there with you but I think we should get this over with you can do this Chris and you can do it without getting stressed."
"I don't know how but okay maybe your right but if this starts to go south you're going to pay for it because Camille can just tell her I'm sick, that I'm not feeling well it's not totally a lie because I don't feel good."
"Come on Chris you can do this, babe come here." he told her as he pulled her from the chair and into his arms. "I know today has been a rough day for you and I'm sorry sweetheart."
"yes it has been but I'm okay, oh Amanda said something about going out to eat I'm not really up for it I told her we'll see, Tom I need to finish up here I just need to go home and rest a bit before dealing with her."
"Okay check your sick calls and I'll go check a few things and get my stuff then we can head home."
"Thank you sweetie."
"See you in the ER in about thirty minutes?"
"yeah." she told him as he kissed her on the forehead and left the room. She sat at her desk and checked the sick calls there were only four so that wasn't to bad it only took her twenty of the thirty minutes to find replacements to cover the night shift as she hung up with the last call she grabbed her things and headed for the ER.
"Hey you are you leaving?"
"Yeah I'm not feeling well and I have to deal with my x-mother in law tonight."
"OMG! Is Amanda in town?"
"Yeah, she's stopping by the house tonight."
"Does she know about…?"
"She will before the night is over."
"Are you ready to go?" Tom asked as he approached the nurse's desk.
"Yeah I am, hey Bobbie I'll see you later."
"Call me if it gets to messy."
"I will." she started laughing as Tom took her by the hand and started pulling her toward the double doors of the ER.
As they took the twenty minute ride home she hardly said a word as he pulled up into the driveway he turned off the car and looked at her, "Chris, everything is going to be fine stop worrying so much."
"you know what your right," she told him as she got out of the car and headed for the front door, as she walked into the house with Tom right behind her she kicked off her shoes and tossed her keys onto the side table as she walked over to the sofa and collapsed on it as she called out to Camille letting her know that they were home as she sat there she was getting her mind set for the endless question that Amanda was going to have for them but right now what she really needed was a long soak in a hot bath she thought to herself as Tom took a seat next to her on the sofa.
"Hey Tom, mom did you call me?"
"Hey Camille, how was your day?"
"Yeah sweetie I was just telling you we were home, but did your grandmother call you?"
"Yeah she did she told me she's stopping by tonight, so I guess tonight is the night she finds out about you, Tom and the baby?"
"Yeah it looks that way." she told her in a sigh and made it to her feet.
"Where are you going Chris?"
"I need to take a hot bath," she told him as she turned and headed for the bedroom.
"Do you think that's a good idea?" he asked as he got up and followed her into the bedroom,
"Yes I do the doctor didn't say I couldn't take a bath." she told him as she went over to the dresser and grabbed a few things.
"I know but I'll feel better if you took a shower." he told her as he gave her his puppy dog face.
"Tom stop don't look at me with that face…fine ok just stop looking at me that way, you know you really don't play fair first the whole kiss thing to get your way now this puppy dog look, what's next?"
"Now if I tell you all my tricks they won't work," he laughed and kissed her on the forehead.
"Okay I see so you're just going to pull them out as you need them."
"Umm…something like that."
"Well just to let you know I have a few tricks of my own."
"I just bet you do." he told her as they both started laughing.
"You better go take your shower Amanda will be here soon."
"See why did you have to go and remind me of that." she told him as she pushed away from his grip and headed for the shower. After about twenty minutes she emerged from the bathroom and started to get dressed.
"Hey sweetheart are you ok in here?" he asked as he walked into the bedroom closing the door behind him.
"Yeah I'm good why?"
"So is that what you're going to wear?"
"What's wrong with what I have on there sweats and besides I'm comfortable."
"Now you know you can't wear that to dinner." he told as he sat on the edge of the bed watching her.
"now you know as well as I do that were not going to dinner after she takes one look at me," she told him as he just sat there looking at her nodding his head, "Tom don't give me that look again, fine I'll put on some uncomfortable clothes just for you."
"Thank you sweetheart."
"What ever you're going to pay for this."
"Yeah I know," he told her as he stood up and they both turned as they heard the doorbell ring.
"I got it." Camille yelled out."
"okay are you ready for this?" he asked as he stood in front of her with his hands on her shoulders doing his best to reassure her that everything was going to be ok.
"As ready as I'm going to be." she told him as she turned toward the door.
"Hey grandma how are you? How's New York?
"It good dear, how have you been."
"I've been good."
"Where is your mother?"
"Umm…she in her bedroom she'll be out in just a minute, better yet let me go check on her."
"Why do you need to check on her is she sick or something?"
"Well she wasn't feeling to well a few hours ago so." she told her as she walked down the hallway to her parents room and knocked on the door. "Mom grandma here."
"Okay Camille I'll be out in just a second."
"Okay."
"Okay lets just do this." she told him as she headed for the door.
"Grandma please have a seat."
"So Camille where do you want to eat tonight? And how is school this is your last year have you thought about what you want to do?"
"Umm… I don't care just nothing spicy if mom it coming and school is ok and yes I have thought about what I want to do." she told her as Christina and Tom entered the room.
"Wait why no spicy food? Your mom loves spicy fo…." she started to say as she turned around and saw Christina and Tom standing there.
"Hello Amanda how are you?"
"Umm…apparently not as well as you dear, how far along are you?"
"Umm…about four months."
"I see and I take it that you Tom are the father?"
"Yes Amanda I am." he said as he stood there with his arms wrapped around Christina's belly.
"I knew all along that you and Tom were having an affair, I told Michael that this was going on all the rumors that were going around the hospital were true.
"no Amanda they weren't, I wasn't having an affair with Tom back then but like you said, it didn't stop you from whispering in his ear that I was, regardless if it was true or not, you were the cause of a lot of are fights."
"you can't blame me for your fights with Michael Christina."
"I can if you were whispering lies in his ear, look Amanda I don't want to fight with you I have had a long day and I don't need this and I'm tired."
"Well I'm sorry dear but it is hard for me to believe that you and Tom weren't having an affair seeing is that your having his child and I guess next your going to tell me that you married him."
"Oh my God it's been three years Amanda me and Tom didn't get involved until this last year, and you know what your right Tom is my husband."
"ok and you really want me to believe that in the past year you and Tom just started seeing each other, Christina your four months pregnant there is no way, what, you dated for what a day a day and a half then you decided to get married and have a child with him, and that there was no other involvement between the two of you in the past, do I look that stupid to you dear?"
"Do you really want me to answer that question Amanda? Because I can and what I do with my personal life, my life period is my business it's none of your damn concern, all you need to know is that I didn't cheat on Michael I was true to my marriage even after."
"Mom, grandma please stop it."
"after what Christina?"
"okay I have heard enough this is upsetting you and you need to relax, Amanda it was nice seeing you again but I'm taking my wife out of here, Camille if you need us call me on my cell." he told them as got Christina's coat and they left the house.
"Camille why didnt you tell me?"
"it wasn't my place to tell you grandma and what difference does it make Tom makes her happy and she him he loves her and I don't believe that my mom would ever cheat on my dad either, even after they decided to get a divorce yeah she spent a lot of time at the hospital and she still does but I have seen how hard she works there so no I don't believe that her and Tom were seeing each other back then."
"divorce? What are you talking about Camille?"
"so I guess dad didn't tell you everything did he."
"he asked mom and mom asked him one just before."
"how do you know all this Camille?"
"Dad told me that they still loved each other and me but it was time that they went there separate ways and then he got sick and she still stayed with him and loved him more then anything and you come in her and give her a hard time grandma I don't have a problem with her loving Tom and I don't think dad does either he would want her to be happy and Tom does that I would hope that you would want the same thing for her."
"I hear you Camille and I'm sorry so when did you grow up? When did you get so smart? So I guess I owe your mother an apology" she asked as she smiled and pulled her into a huge hug.
"and yeah grandma I really think you do and can you please keep the whole I know about the divorce thing to yourself mom doesn't know that I know."
"yes Camille we can keep that between us."
"thanks grandma."
"are you calmed down now?"
"yeah Tom I'm fine but that woman God how do I let her get to me so easy?"
"Christina can I ask you something?"
"yeah babe what is it?" she turned in her seat and looked at him with a smile.
"what did you mean when you said you were true to your marriage even after."
She looked at him laid her head against the back of the seat and sighed "before Michael got sick we filed for divorce we were having so many problems in our marriage and we both thought it was time that we went our separate ways."
He looked at her and turned away "so that's what he meant when he said you knew didn't you." he muttered up under his breath as she sat there looking at him in an odd way.
"what is it babe? What did you say?"
"nothing Chris are you ready to head back?"
"can we get something to eat first?"
"of course we can baby, what would you like?"
"a steak sub with a strawberry milkshake please." she said in a smile as she laid her head back into the head rest again.
"well I guess your mother isn't coming back anytime soon?"
"Tom probable took her to get something to eat by now and I'm not really up for going out to a sit down restaurant right now grandma."
"we don't have to sweetheart we can order something in if you like."
"yes I think that would be good I'll get the menus." she told her as she went into the kitchen. They ordered food and sat there talking until it arrived they were sitting at the dining room table just finished up with there food when Christina and Tom returned home.
"Amanda I see your still here." Christina said as she walked through the door handing Tom her coat to hang up as she walked over and took a seat on the sofa.
"yes dear I am, Christina I would like to talk to you alone if I can please?" she asked as she walked over to where she was sitting.
"not if your going to upset her again." he told her as he stood there with his hands in his pockets "Amanda I wont have it, its not good for her or our baby."
"I wont upset her I promise Tom."
"Tom its ok."
"are you sure Christina?"
"yeah I am."
"ok I'll be in the bedroom call me if you need me."
"I'll be in my room to mom."
"ok guys thanks, ok Amanda what is it?"
"Christina I'm sorry, I am so sorry it was never my intention to come over here and upset you, I was just a little blindsided and surprised to find out that you and Tom where married and expecting a child."
"I understand that and I'm sorry maybe I… no I should have said something this afternoon when we talked but Amanda you have judged me and my intention since the day you meet me and I'm just tired of it, and I wont justify my action or relationship to Tom to you, we're family and we'll always be family you can be apart of it if you want to or not, you are always welcome anytime you want but I wont be disrespected and I wont disrespect you, I put up with a lot through out the years and I wont do it any more and just to reassure you I never broke my vows to Michael."
"I believe you Christina and I'm sorry that I accused you and Tom of having an affair off of pure rumor and speculation and yes I want to be apart of this family you and Camille are all I have." she told her in a smile.
"well me and Camille are not the only ones you have Amanda you have this baby," she told her as she grabbed her hand and placed it on her showing belly. "and you Tom if you want we all love you." she told her in a smile and a hug.
"I do want that thank you Christina."
To be continued…