Chapter 40

Wheeler/Linka

She was busy with pile of papers, files and loads of emails on her computer when she saw her cell phone flashing as "My Yankee.". She forgot her phone on the silent tone since she was in the hospital, then when she got to work, she left her phone and her purse on her desk and got busy with the human resources department to adjust her maternity leave three days forward.

"Hey Yankee," she puts her hand on her forehead, trying to ease the dizziness she's starting to feel.

"ohh finally ,Lin, why don't you answer? You made me worry that something might have happened to you in the hospital or in the street." Wheeler was talking nervously

"I'm sorry Wheeler, I forgot my phone was on mute since I was in the hospital."

"Well, what did the doctor tell you, are you and the baby okay?"

Linka wanted to take her phone and talk in a more private place than the office where her colleagues are, but she remembered the doctor's advice to her about complete rest and stay in bed, she replied in a low voice, "Well, she told me I had amniotic fluid leakage, and... I should rest completely at home and lie in bed." Linka gave him half the information just so he wouldn't worry any more, she didn't tell him about the serious complications that might arise if the leakage continued.

"Then why did you go to work, Lin?"

"I have advanced my vacation forward three more days. There is a lot of work to be done before I start my vacation."

"Oh, for God's sake, Babe, hell with the work, we're talking about yours and our baby's health now, why don't you let Gi or Karen do the rest of the work?"

"Wheeler, it's my job and I'm the department supervisor. They'll fire me if I don't finish work before my leave."

"Oh good" He couldn't argue with her any more, he knew how serious she was about her work but he couldn't help but worry.

"We'll be fine, I promise, I may be late for work today."

"Call me when you're done, I'll come pick you up. Ok?"

"I will, I love you bye"

"I love you too, babe, bye"

"Well, are they okay?" Kwami asked Wheeler after he hung up with Linka. While he driving the squad car.

"Yes, I think so. She said she had a leak in something I forgot the name of. The important thing is that she should rest from now on."

"Leak! You mean that fluid around the baby, where he swims for nine months and then breaks before birth?"

"Yeah, I think it's the one."

"But, how can this not be dangerous? Without this liquid, the baby would not be able to survive, right?"

"Well, I don't know... but she said she's fine."

"Did she literally tell you she's fine?"

"No, she said she should rest completely in bed."

"I guess she didn't give you all the news, my friend."

"What are you talking about man, Linka doesn't hide anything from me... almost... since we started dating and started open up to each other."

"She's also very smart, and she knows you're silently worrying about her."

"Kwami stop, don't make me worry again, when I get her home tonight I'll talk to her again about it."

When their morning shift was over, Wheeler went to the supermarket, as Linka told him, and bought her the list she had sent him two days ago. Yogurt of different flavors she likes. She doesn't like the damn calcium pills so she drinks fresh milk. He must buy a lot of that. And a lot of vegetables and fruits, as advised by the doctor, her desire to eat chicken has not changed, he can buy it in reasonable quantities , but he does not like the smell of fish in the apartment, even though he likes the taste of fish, so he prefers to buy it fresh from any restaurant if she wants to, Despite her big baby bump, and her unwillingness to eat sweets, but he loves to pamper his girl from time to time, he bought her some bars of chocolate, and ice cream, and of course he couldn't resist the hamburger and steaks, so he bought himself some too, then rewarded himself with potato chips And buttered popcorn as a supportive and loving boyfriend.

He loves it so much when she takes a vacation, sit at home enjoying each other's company, laughing and arguing and making love to each other, he couldn't wait to sit with her in their apartment and eagerly waiting for their baby to come, after he bought the things from the groceries, she called him to tell him she is about to She finish her work, and she is not able to drive because she is so tired

"Ok babe, I'll be there in time."

When he arrived at the building of the company where she work, he sent her a message, "I'm down babe waiting for you, do you need me to go up there and help you with anything?"

She sent him "Help me with what Yankee?" carry my burs?"

"Maybe, or maybe I'll carry you."

When she appeared in front of him from the exit door, she looked very tired, she had spent three hours beyond her regular working hours. Wheeler noticed that she was walking very slowly, he remembered what Kwame had said and feels so worried" Hey babe, are you okay? You look tired"

"Da, I'm tired Yankee, but I'll be fine, I can't believe tomorrow's my last day of work and then I'm going to rest in bed, ooh, I want to sleep, it's good that I'm done with all the baby shopping, all I have to prepare the hospital's bag, and then I'm just going to lie down and wait for our baby to start kicking to get out" She said as she makes the seat backward.

"Since you mentioned the hospital babe, do you still feel some leakage of the fluid you told me the name of? The one that surrounds the baby" He was trying to ask her in ordinary way to hide his concern from her

"Nyet, So far I haven't felt anything, I think that's good"

"Yes I think that good ….but babe …what if more of it leaks out, did you ask the doctor if this a problem?" This was the question that worried Wheeler.

"Well …Wheeler, the truth is ….yes that could be a serious problem. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier but I was so busy in the office, and there is no privacy there to go through this subject, but Gi heard me anyway."Linka didn't want to tell him, but she knew she had to tell him eventually." If the fluid continues to leak, I will probably need to take some injections in the womb to replace the lost fluid, I actually took one today, and I have to drink a lot of water, I have to go every few days to check with the doctor about the quantity of fluid, and if the water and injection solution doesn't work, they will..."

"They will what babe?" Wheeler said worriedly

"They will give me an early caesarean delivery."

"But,… this is crazy, you are didn't complete your eighth month yet !" He can't believe what she just told him

"Wheeler, he wouldn't be able to live in my womb without the amniotic fluid, this can be so dangers to him ... all I have to do now is keep him inside for as long as possible, every day counts." She said nervously, her eyes started to water and her voice trembled

"Well, don't worry Babe, I'm sure you and the baby will be fine, believe me, he'll try to stay inside you as long as he can, he'll complete his nine months in side you , you will see." Wheeler was worried, but as always he wanted to cheer her up, he said as he tenderly squeezed her hand.

"How did you know that?"

"He's just like me, he wants to stay near your heart as long as possible." winking at her

"Oh Wheeler, that's so sweet." She said, Then Wheeler raised her hands and kissed it.

"Do you want me to order a delivery for you from any restaurant?"

"Oh no Yankee, Gi has been feeding me all the time, she put a big bottle of water on my desk after what heard about the baby, she ordered me lunch with lots of veggies."

"She's a good friend of yours. Have you arranged a baby shower with her? You were telling me about that two days ago."

"Wow, you've been such a good listener lately, that's weird, because I told you that while you were watching TV."

"Babe, I hear with my ears, not with my eyes".

"I've given Gi all the authorities to throw the baby shower party the way she wants it, I'm too tired, I can't do it, I'll go with my big bump and sit on the sofa like I was one of the invited , and All what I have to do is receiving the gifts".

"I think that's the best thing you can do, you deserve a rest, babe, let Gi do the party stuff."

"When he got home, Wheeler offered Linka to carry her from the car door to the bed, but she refused, as she did not like to appear weak in front of any neighbors who might see her. After Wheeler insisted, he carried her from the elevator to their bed.

"Do you want me to get you something, babe? Before I go and get the groceries out of the car."

"Just a water bottle." When he nodded to go get water for her, she grabbed him by the hand, "Wheeler, there's something else I'd like to tell you."

"What is it?" he get worried again.

"The doc told me that I should abstain completely from sex, until after the birth."

"Ok". He was smiling

"That's it, aren't you upset? We won't be able to make love until about three months from now"

"So what…Babe, do you think I'm a dick? You think that the sex is all I think about? How do you think I spent six years trying to win your heart? "I've been keeping myself for you, so that you would trust me , to let you know how much I love you, and that sex is not the only thing I think of, and besides, we have to do that now, you are about to give me the greatest and most beautiful gift of my life." When she heard his words she grabbed him by the neck and kissed him a long lovely kiss, when they parted, she looked into his eyes, "I love you, Wheeler."

"I love you too, babe."

After Wheeler had brought the groceries and put them in their places, he spent on that more than half an hour, when he returned to their bedroom and found Linka asleep like an angel, with her wide blue dress, her hair scattered around her face and on her shoulders, he really wished that The baby would be a girl and she will as beautiful as her mother. He covered her well, took the bottle from her hands and put it on the edge of the table, then kissed her forehead , whispered in her ear, "Good night, Babe." He lay next to her on the bed, and meditated on her beauty, not knowing why he felt so longing for her, as if he had not seen her for a month, even though she was in front of him daily, he wished to stay near her like this forever "I can stay like this and look at you for the rest of my life, love"

Dylan was in his car watching the building as Greg had ordered him months ago, when Dylan's phone rang. "Yes, Mr. Greg."

"Where are you?"

"I am watching the girl at the door of her house, as she commanded me."

"Come to my office, there's no need to watch her from now on."

"Okay, I'm coming, sir."

When Dylan hung up, Greg looked back at the last report that had been sent to him today, He knew about her critical situation, and read exactly what the doctor had told her to do.

Linka woke up before Wheeler, she intended not to wake him, she knows that her car is in the parking lot of her company, so she decides to take a taxi to work today, but after she got ready, Wheeler opened his eyes and looked at her, "Good morning babe, why didn't you wake me up?"

"Good morning Yankee, I didn't want to bother you, I know your shift today is evening with Kwame, so I was thinking to let you have some rest."

"Who's going to drive you? Did you forget your car isn't here?" He got out of bed and put on his shirt and trousers that were lying on the edge of the bed

"No, I didn't forget, I was going to go by taxi." She sat on the edge of the bed and put her hands behind her to support her back

"Not when I'm around, just give me about five minutes to get ready, I'll drive you to work and then I will go back to sleep." He goes to the bathroom quickly to washes his face and teeth

"Wheeler, I think I'll go in my car after work to the doctor today." She raises her voice so that Wheeler can hear her in the bathroom

"For the baby? Is there anything new? Are you okay?" he is speaking from inside the bathroom

"It's a slight leak, I just want to go and check."

"Oh Linka, why do you have to go to work today, let someone else finish things, see what happens to you when you overburdening yourself?" As he came out of the bathroom, he dried his face with a towel, looking at her in annoyance

"Wheeler it's only a slight leak, I told you I have to go by myself to get the work on hold, it's my last day then I will come and rest and I will never move"

"Promise me"

"I promise you"

"Good, then let's go." He carried her up and took her to the apartment door, although she was laughing and saying, "Put me down, Yankee."

In her work she was sitting most of the time, and if she needed anything, and if she needs anything Gi and Karen would help her, Gi would bring her all the papers she ask , helping her with the work she required and Karen brought her some chopped fruits and order her a chicken salad for lunch, Linka finished her work early More than she expected, when she came out of the office it was six afternoon, she was expecting to stay until at least eight in the evening, but when she got close to her car to open the door, she noticed that there were two flat tires, "Oh boshy moy" she was very tired, and she feels heavy due to her weight, she grabbed her mobile I called Wheeler.

"Hey babe"

"Yankee, are you close to my work place?" She said as she got out of the parking lot and headed to the sidewalk

"No, I just received a call now for a problem that occurred in a store in one of the malls."

"Okay, just to let you know, I finished all my pending work, I'm going to take a taxi to go to the doctor."

"Taxi! Why? What about your car?"

"There are two flat tires in my car, okay I have to go" as she waves her hands for an oncoming taxi

"No, Linka, don't go, I'll pick you up, just wait ten minutes, I promise it won't be long." Wheeler doesn't know why he said that, he just feels weird, and he can't explain why.

"Wheeler I'm tired, I don't want to go back to the office, I also want to go check on the baby, I felt a little leakage again a while ago, I'll talk to you shortly, I have another line" She gets in the taxi and gives him the name of the hospital she is going to, her manager was on The other line, he wants to ask her about some things that she finished, when she closed with her manager, she called wheeler again.

The driver was listening to her conversation in all its details, he is looking at her through the mirrors in front of him, he was wearing a hat and sunglasses, even though the sun was about to set, he was wearing a scarf that covers his neck and part of his jaw and his lips, he hears what she was saying

"Yes, Wheeler, no leakage is not a lot, but I think the injection will be good for the baby, no I'll be fine, you can come to pick me up from the hospital when I'm done talking to you, ok I will call you when I reach the hospital, hey... Sorry, this is not the hospital route... I'll call you later Wheeler."

"I know, madam, but my son is ill, I will just stop to give the medicine to my wife at home and then I will drive you to the hospital, my house is only two streets away, I promise you will not be late."

"ok ", Linka was busy checking the messages on her mobile , she didn't care much that he parked the car between two buildings, and the road was completely clear of pedestrians

the driver got out of the care, and suddenly when she was sending some massages someone opened her door, and grabbed her hard, trying to put a wet towel over her nose and mouth, Linka screamed, and tried to hit the driver, but her weight and strength at that stage of pregnancy did not help her, After desperate attempts to resist and kick, he managed to put the towel on her mouth harshly, suddenly everything in front of her disappeared and she could no longer feel what was around her.