Thank you all! Enjoy!
Chapter 8
"Mrs. Bates," the doctor said, smiling, as he entered the hospital room. Anna sat herself up slightly, holding on tightly to John's hand. She'd been in the hospital for nearly eighteen hours now and was finally feeling like herself. "We've finally gotten that blood sugar under control. You had us worried there for a while."
"What happened?" Anna asked. She looked to her husband, who looked as though he had aged five years overnight. She hated that she had worried him so much.
"You have Type 1 diabetes, Mrs. Bates."
Anna furrowed her brows. "I thought that Type 1 diabetes happened to children."
"We do most often see it happen in children, but it can sometimes show up later in life."
"I thought you said she had gestational diabetes," John interrupted, clearly confused.
The doctor nodded, grabbing his seat and pulling it forward.
"It was what we suspected. But we now know it to be Type 1."
"What does this mean for the babies? For me?" Anna was so confused.
"It can be managed," the doctor quickly assured her. "You'll need to be on a strict diet and check your sugars multiple times a day. You will also need insulin. Pregnancy can complicate things. We will need to check you weekly to see if your insulin dosage is working well or if it needs to be adjusted. I want to keep you here for observation for a few days to keep an eye out on you and the babies. Over this time, we will discuss all you need to know for both you and your babies to stay healthy. Do you have any questions for me?"
Anna had several, but none of them seemed to be able to escape her lips, so instead she shook her head. She would be able to ask them later when she was less overwhelmed. The doctor stood and told them goodbye, before exiting the hospital room.
Taking in a deep breath, Anna glanced at her husband. He was barely holding it together. Anna shook her head, reaching out to touch his cheek.
"John…." It was then that he burst into tears, wrapping his arms around her neck.
"I was so worried," he admitted into her hair.
"I'm alright now," Anna tried to soothe, running her hand up and down his back. "I'm here." She held him for a bit longer as he cried, before he sat up and rested his forehead against hers.
"I…." He sat further up. "They made me sign papers….I….I didn't want to, but I couldn't lose you."
"Papers?" Then John explained about their concern of Anna and the babies not making it and the hard choice he had to make. "Oh." Anna fell back against her pillows.
"Please don't be angry with me," John pleaded, grasping at her hands.
"I…I'm not angry," Anna whispered, her chest feeling heavier. It hit her suddenly then just how terrifying and scary things had been while she was out of it. She could have lost her babies. She pulled one of her hands away from John's and rested it on her belly. "I…I would have done the same thing if it were the other way around….not that it would ever be like that."
"I had to, for Jack." Anna nodded. She swallowed hard.
It was now her turn to cry. What if she had lost her babies? What if they hadn't been able to save her? What if she hadn't been able to see Jack or John again? The tears spilled down her cheeks.
John brought his hands up to cup her face.
"You're alright now. Our babies are alright too. And we're going to follow whatever instructions the doctors give us. I will be watching you like a hawk."
At that, Anna chuckled slightly.
"I know you will."
"We're going to be okay, my darling. This was a scare, but it could have been much worse."
He bent forward and gave her a loving kiss.
"I am so glad you're alright."
"Me too."
"Now," John said, sitting up and dropping his hands from her face. "You must call Mary. She was here for several hours last night. She's worried about you. I know it'll make her feel better to hear from you."
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"You're not allowed to frighten me like that ever again, do you understand?" Mary exclaimed, as she walked into Anna's hospital room. John only got up from his chair and excused himself, leaving Mary and Anna alone. Anna laughed.
"Nice to see you too, Mary."
Mary sighed, claiming the seat where John had been sitting.
"It's so nice to see you looking perkier and awake. Do you feel better?"
"Much," Anna replied.
"Thank god," Mary breathed. "What did the doctor's say caused all of this?"
Anna told her friend about her new diagnosis and how she would still need to stay in the hospital for a few days. Mary pursed her lips tightly.
"That is terrifying, Anna. I'm so glad they figured it out and that you are alright now."
"Me too," Anna agreed.
"Are you up to hearing about my latest drama?" Mary really wanted Anna's perspective on all that had happened with her sister and the list.
"Yes, please distract me from all of this."
"Carlisle gave Edith the list of names."
"From the book?" Anna asked.
"Yes. That bastard knew how Edith and I don't get along and that she has her magazine; he sent her the list as his warning to me."
"She published it?!" Anna gasped. Mary shook her head.
"No, no she didn't publish it. She's not that cruel, at least not in her older age," Mary had to add. She remembered when Edith told the whole school about finding her making out with Matthew behind the bleachers.
"You're both nicer to one another now that you're grown with children," Anna pointedly told her, making Mary roll her eyes. Anna had always wanted Mary to be the bigger person and often told her how her reactions were too much. Sometimes, Anna could be too kind.
"Whatever," Mary replied, brushing her hand in the air. "Edith took that information and ran straight to Mama and Papa. She told them that I slept with Kemal Pamuk."
Anna's face went through a myriad of emotions and Mary had a hard time reading what Anna was thinking. She was sure she was about to stand up for Edith's antics.
"Don't even think about making excuses…" But before Mary could finished, Anna interrupted.
"That bitch!"
Mary laughed, so taken aback by Anna's anger and strong words. She couldn't remember ever hearing Anna calling someone a name. But Anna was seething.
"That wasn't her secret to share," Anna growled. Mary should have known that Anna would be fiercely protective in this regard. Anna had always been like a sister to Mary, but this particular situation was too close to Anna's own past for it not to trigger her, as well.
"No," Mary agreed. "It wasn't. But…well, she and I had a row. I told her what really happened and I think, well, I think she feels badly about it now. She told Mama the truth about what happened, trying to make it right and she gave me the list of names."
"Good, she should feel badly about it. She should have come to you when she got that list," Anna was still upset. It did help to make Mary feel less upset about the whole situation, seeing that she had someone else outside of Matthew in her corner.
"I agree. I….Richard still says that he'll do something with the information soon if I don't give him what he wants. But then what will he ask for next? And how do I know someone else won't get their hands on it. It's a whole mess, Anna. I really wish that I could stuff it all away. I don't want anyone learning the truth."
"I know you don't," Anna sympathized. "I couldn't imagine…if someone knew about what happened with my stepfather and threatened to put it out there for everyone to see." Mary watched as Anna physically shuddered at the thought. Her hand came to rest on Anna's upper arm.
"Don't get yourself too upset, Anna. You're still ill. I'll be alright," Mary tried to sound sure of it. "I don't need you worrying about me on top of everything else. You and these babies just need to make it through your pregnancy safely, alright?"
"We will."
"You better, or else you'll have me to deal with."
Anna laughed. "I'm going to do whatever I need to do to stay healthy."
"Good."
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The past couple of days with Anna in the hospital left John running the restaurant and keeping Jack all by himself. He was thankful for all the help he had with both Ivy and Alfred, as well as their other workers. He was especially thankful since Jack was extra clingy with Anna's disappearance. He wanted John to hold him at all times, which was why his knee was protesting against every step he took. But he held onto him anyway. His son needed him. He wasn't used to being away from Anna this long and John would give him the comfort of holding him while he could.
He adjusted Jack on his hip and grabbed his cane with his other hand. They were going to open shortly and he needed to change the sign at the front of the shop.
The moment he turned the lock the door opened to reveal a shorter, but older woman. She glanced right up at John and then to Jack, giving a solemn smile.
"Are you Mr. Bates?"
"I am," John cautiously replied, taking a step back. "May I help you?"
"Might I speak to your wife, Anna, please?"
"She's not here. Who are you?" John was growing annoyed by this woman's presence. They knew most of their guests who came often to the restaurant. He was trying to figure out how Anna knew her and he didn't. The two of them were rarely not together.
"I am Millie, Sandra's friend."
It clicked then. John's face grew grim. Now Anna's mother had her friend trying to make Anna change her mind. He shifted Jack.
"He's such a beautiful boy, just like Sandra said he was." John suddenly felt extra protective of his son. He placed him down next to him and pointed to the kitchens.
"Go and help Alfred with sorting the sauces." Jack didn't seem pleased about this, but he also seemed to understand that this was nonnegotiable and did as he was told. John was glad. Jack could throw a decent tantrum when he didn't get what he wanted.
"My wife isn't here, Millie, and I would appreciate it if you didn't come by later."
"Oh, I know. I know this is a tough time," Millie nodded her head. "I know how close Anna is with her mother, Sandra, and how hard this must be for her. Sandra always told me how close she and her daughter were. She enjoyed all the special things they did and she especially loved that boy."
"What….?" John was confused. What alternate reality was Sandra living in?
"But I know Anna must be so sad. I only came to offer my condolences. Sandra was a wonderful woman, great mother. She will be missed."
"Sandra died?" John asked, his throat growing dry.
"Yes, heart attack just the other day. Surely you knew?"
"I…" John only nodded. "It's just still a shock." He decided it would be best to pretend he knew, quicker to get this lady out of his restaurant.
"I'm sure it is. Please give Anna my condolences. Have a nice day."
John feebly nodded and then sighed when the bell rang, showing that Millie was gone. He didn't know how he was going to tell Anna that her mother was dead. His hand came up to run over his face.
He would have to wait until she was back home and settled. The last thing she needed was anything to upset her while they worked on getting her ready to come home.
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Mary settled on the couch and found her eyes drawn to the folded up paper that she knew as the list of names. She had originally decided not to look at it. She didn't want to know. But now she found that she had to know how many names were on this list. How many women had Kemal Pamuk assaulted?
She sighed, pulling the paper from the table beside her. Slowly, almost as though it might bite, she unfolded it. Her eyes quickly scanned over the list, her heart skipping in her chest. It was so long, much longer than she could have expected. Right in the middle was her name, in bold and highlighted.
"That bastard," Mary swore under her breath. Of course Richard would make sure her name stood out for when he handed it to Edith. But her eyes were then drawn down to the last name on the list.
Mabel Lane Fox. Mary's heart skipped a beat. Next to Mabel's name was a question mark and a circle around it. Was Mabel the one who found Pamuk dead in her bed the next morning? And what did Tony Gillingham think about all of this?
To be continued...