Thanks to Justice237 and CharlieSMarts12 for reviewing. '
Guess what guys? I finished another story. The one I now finished was "stranger defended" and was quite slow and boring to write. Yet I wanted to finish it and then when I was, I found a way that turned the two last chapters into one and then I wrote it… And it's done. Finally! So that's another story down and more time to write this.
"Kenny." Dr. Tricia had met us the first thing when I and Mike came to the hospital so less than an hour afterwards she was starting to be finished with tests, check- ups and at last an ultrasound with a transducer towards my belly. "There's nothing wrong."
She moved the plastic transducer slightly to the side of my belly and pointed to where I could see Little Boo's heart beating. I could feel tears rising in my eyes and annoyingly wiped them away with my hand.
"But I was just so sure. I had a feeling and… and I was sick…"
"Do you remember how much you got sick in the beginning of the pregnancy?" She lifted the transducer and hung it on the side of the ultrasound screen. "And I know that feeling perfectly well believe me. There were complications and my Olivia was born prematurely, then when I was having Jack I was running in and out of the emergency room every other day because I kept thinking something would go wrong. But no… he was born a week later than he was due and nowadays they are both perfectly healthy kids. Just like this little guy will be."
"Well…" Mike hadn't said anything at all for a while, when I couldn't figure anything he squeezed my hand and with his other hand reached out and wiped a tear that was rolling down my cheek. "Is that relief?" I nodded, then shrugged. Relief, exhaustion, all at once. And Mike seemed to know what I was thinking while I leaned back. "It's okay now Ken. You just relax."
"I'm sorry to break it to you. But you my lady. Are never going to relax ever again. And you're not going to want to do it either." Dr. Tricia blinked at me. "You'll know what I mean when the baby is born. Now... We have drawn some blood just to be sure and the tests should be back by the morning. Your blood pressure and vitals are perfectly normal and on the ultrasound picture I can see nothing wrong. We'll keep you here overnight for those test answers to come back but I can't see a reason to believe they're going to show something we don't want to see."
"But that mother's instinct."
"That mother's instinct can be wrong… And if one thing goes wrong it can feel like loads of other things should go wrong too." Dr. Tricia pulled off the blood pressure cuff she had put around my arm. "And my brother told me you called him earlier today. So I guess that is one thing that went very wrong."
I didn't know what I was supposed to answer to that. If I was supposed to just agree or say something about Ashley or say anything.
So I just didn't say anything at all for a moment and tried to figure something at all. So at last I tried to figure something out of what I had wanted to say to Matt Dunn earlier today. He was her brother after all. If Matt had ended up adopting little Boo it would have made Dr. Tricia his aunt.
"Your brother did seem nice when I met him…. But on the other hand Ashley did too but… Well you know. But… If you want to tell him… Tell him that… That I think this happened for a reason. And… I'm sure that whatever will happen in the future. He does seem like a great person and I do believe he's going to end up happy… Except, don't tell him that because that would make me sound crazy." A small smile finally formed on Dr. Tricia's lips and I just had to continue. "…I do though… After meeting him and I liked him but… I just thought I should… Is he okay?"
"I'm not supposed to talk about relationships in my private life with patients. "
You have got to be kidding me. What did you do when you introduced me and your brother to each other from the start?
"But I guess I blew that at the moment I let you call me by first name anyway. And you…" She pointed to Mike who sat next to me on my other side holding my hand. "Are not mu patients so if anyone asks we'll just pretend I was talking to you all along… My brother is… a strong person after all… Now… Last time I saw him he was wondering if maybe he should check up if he can foster an older kid. A child old enough to tell him- or- herself if there's anything wrong with what he's doing. And maybe get some practice before he actually turns to adopting a baby again." Dr. Tricia still didn't look at me. "I just… I know you think that my brother's story with little Boo is finished. But my brother wouldn't ever do something like Ashley just did… He's the best uncle to my Jack and Olivia if that helps…"
"It doesn't… and please don't. Just don't."
I could feel I was supposed to be angry, that I was supposed to actually feel she was kind of using me to get something for herself and her brother. But I wasn't angry. And maybe a part of that came from seeing the look in her eyes…
She just looked kind of broken.
"I'm sorry… I'll stop now. I have to go home now, but I'll tell them- the people here to give you the news as soon as possible. But my next shift starts the day after tomorrow. But still, you know you can call me at any time." She stood up. "So if there's anything at all…"
I nodded, and in the corner of my eye I could see Mike doing the same. I turned my head and looked at him. He had worried when we came here too, supported me to walk and looked up at Dr. Tricia with fear and worry shining from his eyes.
Mike really didn't get a smidge of everything of what he deserved for doing the job he did.
"That's it." Dr. Tricia stood up to leave. "You can stay if you want Mike. But what goes for you Kenny you just need some sleep."
"Ugh. I slept for hours not long ago. How much can a person sleep?"
"A pregnant person?" Dr. Tricia smirked slightly but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "A whole lot. I'm going now but this hospital is full of people who wants to help you if you need it…" She rubbed my shoulder while she stood up and then turned her back.
"Dr. Tricia?" It slipped out before I could stop it at all. She stopped on her way by the curtain that hung around me and turned towards me again. "It isn't going to change anything. But I did appreciate that at least he gave it… gave me a thought. And even if it didn't work I guess… Just tell him thanks from me will you?"
"I'll make sure I do that."
With a smile, that still never reached her eyes Dr. Tricia turned around again and left, and disappeared out of my sight. Mike, still by my side ran his hand over my forehead and down my red hair.
"I know you're feeling if I have a temperature Mike. Yes, I know it's a parent's secret but it's not exactly a secret since everyone knows it… And I'm feeling better now and I'm actually starting to relax. I know you were working for the rest of the evening. But then I… you know. And you've been here with me for ages. But I'm not a baby and I don't need you here. You can go."
"Well. If you're sure."
Mike leaned over and kissed my forehead, then took his jacket and stood up… I didn't want to keep him here but still I had changed my mind and realized I didn't want to go at the exact moment the words had passed my lips.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Try and get some sleep now."
"Mike?" Before he had taken two steps at all I had called out for him, with a tired smile he turned again, just like Dr. Tricia had done just a little while ago. "Can I change my mind and tell you that I want you to stay?"
Mike's smile grew a bit bigger but the look in his eyes was still tired and distressed when he came to sit down next to me again.
"Of course you can. Don't worry Ken. You are one of my kids and I am here right now and I will not be going anywhere… just try to relax." He took my hand again and rubbed it with his thumb. "I promise you I'm not going anywhere."
Being as big as I was by now it was hard for me to find a comfortable position on the bed. But somehow I must have done anyway, because with Mike's hand still holding mine and despite all sleeping earlier today, I drifted off and fell asleep.
The last thing I knew before that was the feeling of worry running off me and disappearing.
As she had predicted I didn't have the time to meet Dr. Tricia anymore before I left the hospital. But of course, or maybe not we would meet again. And it did start a couple of days later when it was almost bedtime and Mike came knocking on my and Minnie's bedroom door.
"Listen Kenny…" He started with a frown in his forehead. "You don't have to say this is okay and I think it's very important you say what you think. But Matthew Dunn is after fostering a child and your care worker just called… He wants to do something like Jess and Jake did the other week and just come here and meet you and see who he can get along with. But if you don't want him to come here after… you know… what's been going on. He can go to another care home or something."
"He can come here. If he wants to. I promise. It's okay."
Mike smiled slightly, but it didn't reach his eyes. And so he closed the door behind him when he walked out of the room and wished us goodnight. I on the other hand, leaned back against the wall put my head in my hands with my palms towards my forehead and sighed deeply.
"Why do you say it's okay when it still makes you sad? Mike wouldn't get angry if you said it wasn't okay you know."
"I know that Minnie. But it's nice of you to remind me still… It's just that… I don't know really. But I think that Mr. Dunn is really a good guy. And I think he really wants to foster or adopt a child of any age and I think that he's going to be the greatest dad. With or without another dad."
"Another dad?" Minnie asked in confusion. "Shouldn't it be a mum? Shouldn't Mr. Dunn have a wife?"
"Well… a couple can be a girl and a boy. But some girls fall in love with girls, some boys fall in love with boys. And Mr. Dunn is a man who falls in love with other men. And there are some different kinds of it like if you can fall in love with both or if you're a girl that feels you're a boy or the other way around… it's called some different things. And the thing is some people do think it's very, very wrong. And some people don't even think it's real."
I had never gotten why people would think any sexualities or genders were wrong somehow. And on the look on Minnie's face she probably thought about the same.
"So… it's falling in love…" It was almost like I could see how Minnie's wondering thoughts were going back and forth behind her forehead. "And it's girls and boys… Why wouldn't it be real?" I just shrugged. "And why are there people who doesn't even like it?" I shrugged again, Minnie hugged Lamby close as if it helped her think and turned her head from looking at me to just look straight ahead. But I was pretty sure she was far gone into her own thoughts.
I thought back to the curly- haired Ashley that I'd met what felt like a million years ago. And then the bigger Matt and his kind eyes and nervous smile.
After that, now Ashley had shown his true colors. But there was something within me, maybe or maybe not it had to do with Dr. Tricia. That knew that Matthew Dunn was something completely different. And I knew I couldn't know if for sure before I'd actually gotten to know him and he'd shown himself and his ways.
But how I was going to see that after all of this- I did not know.
Random fact
So… as you probably get I did realize that there are loads of children at Ashdene Ridge right now and I'm trying to get rid of some kids to make space for the rest and make sure all characters left gets their moment in the story. I'm sorry if there's anyone who sent in a character that barely got any lines at all. But there don't seem to be many people still reading this story though…
Please review, this story is so close to 100 reviews now.