Chapter 62
Alex calls Maranda to let her know she'll be a few hours late for work since she has to go for a postpartum checkup and Phoebe needs her vaccination. Maranda gave the green light and said it's fine she just has to provide a note from the doctor as proof. Alex lingered in bed a little while longer listening to her husband's snores, before getting up to check on her daughter. She was still asleep so she went ahead and got undressed ready to take a shower.
She was barely inside when Ryan entered the bathroom yawning knocking on the glass and showing her the phone in his hand. "What is it?" Alex asked not sure what's going on. "Caleb wants to speak to you." Ryan said handing the phone to her. "Why?" Alex questioned but Ryan shrugged walking back out towards the bedroom and Alex heard him flop back onto the bed.
"Hello?" She greeted waiting for Caleb to respond. "Alex, Shelby's locked herself in the bathroom and refuses to come out. She's been crying in there for almost an hour but won't talk to me and I don't know what else to do. Also, I need to get to work and I didn't have time to shower yet since my wife won't open the door." Caleb rambled not giving Alex a chance to ask any questions.
Alex laughs at the last statement he made. "All right calm down, you can come over and take a shower here. I'll finish up and be over in about an hour. Is that okay with you?" Alex suggested not knowing why her friend is acting so strange or what is going on with her. "Thank you, I'm really worried about her, Alex." Caleb concluded before dropping the call. She walked into the bedroom and placed the phone on Ryan's bedside table, seeing him sprawled out on his stomach across the bed. Alex returned to the shower that has been running for a few minutes and gets in. Through the steamy glass she could make out Ryan's silhouette as he came to a halt in front of the mirror.
Alex turned off the water and got out. Ryan standing with his back turned towards her with shaving cream on his face, as they made eye contact in the mirror. "Is everything all right? Caleb sounded weird." Ryan stated as he started to shave the side of his face. "He's worried about Shelby. She lcked herself in the bathroom and has been in there for some time refusing to open the door or to tell him what's going on." Alex answered still looking in the mirror as she dried herself with the towel and got changed in her robe. "I'll go over there after I took Phoebe to the doctor." Alex said. Ryan turned around to face her when she mentioned the doctor. "Why? Is she sick? What's wrong with her? She seemed fine last night and she only woke up once for a diaper change." He rambled and Alex stopped him placing a hand gently on his chest. "Hey, she's fine. She just needs to be vaccinated today." Alex looked at the changing expression on his face now that he knows nothing is wrong with her. "But they're going to hurt her. I hate needles but she's a baby it's going to be even worse for her." Ryan said looking at Alex. "Yeah, but it's one of those things that has to be done. There's no way around it." Alex stood up on her toes kissing the side of his face that he had just shaved and walked back into the bedroom to get dressed.
After Alex was dressed and made the bed she walked over to the crib, to get Phebe ready for the day. "Good morning baby girl." Alex greeted. She was laying in her crib entangling her hands together and looked up when she heard her mother's voice, giving her a lopsided smile. Alex's heart melted when she saw that smile. "Aaauuwww, come here you beautiful girl." Alex picked her up and kissed her.
After Alex gave her her bottle she went downstairs and laid her on the play mat in the living room, packing her bag for day care. She usually does it the night before but was too tired last night when they got back. She just hope she remembers everything. Once that was done se switched on the kettle taking out two coffee mugs when Ryan came from the bedroom, heading to Phoebe where she laid on the floor to pick her up. He showered her with kisses, she grabs a fistful of his shirt fabric and lays her head on his shoulder. Alex was looking at the boiling kettle, mind drifting to her friend when Ryan's voice made her jump. "Are you okay?" He asked looking over to where she stood at the kitchen counter. "Yeah, just worried about Shelby. Do you think her parents are back?" Alex thought out loud. "I don't know what's going on, so don't jump the gun. I'm sure she'll tell you what's up." Ryan answered. "Yeah, you're probably right." Alex walks over to the couch with two coffee cups placing them on the table in front of them. She takes a seat next to Ryan, closest to Phoebe wiping her drooling mouth as she started cooing coos.
"You're two months old today Pheebs!" Ryan announced seeing the date in the corner of the TV on the news channel. He positioned her so he could look in her eyes. She was dressed in a bright pink t shirt with white sleeves and the words I love mummy on the front and a black leggings. Kicking her little legs as she looked between her parents, not knowing what the big fuss is all about, but smiled at them regardless accompanied by some cooing. Alex's smile broadens as she looks at her daughter's progress. "Stop being so cute." Ryan said kissing her chubby cheeks.
They watched some of the news highlights when Alex informed him that Caleb is coming over for a shower since Shelby won't come out of their bathroom. "We'll both probably be late for work, that's if she decides to come in today." Alex said leaning over to give Ryan a kiss before leaving, but Phoebe interfered taking a fistful of her mother's locks and pulling it refusing to let go, ending the kiss her parents shared abruptly.
"Okay munchkin, we get the message." Ryan laughed helping Alex loosen their baby's tiny fingers one by one so she can let go of the hair. Alex smiles kissing Phoebe's hand once it's free and gets up to grab their stuff so they can get going.
At Shelby and Caleb's place, Alex carried Phoebe in one arm, knocked on the door a few times but no one answered. She turned the door knob and found it unlocked letting herself in. She walked through the quiet apartment and found Caleb sitting with his back against the bathroom door in the hallway. Once he saw Alex he got up. "Hey, thanks for coming." Caleb said when he acknowledged her presence and got to his feet. "No problem, what's going on?" Alex asked and Caleb shrugged. "I wish I knew, we didn't have a fight or nothing bad happened that I know I know of." He ruffled Phoebe's hair, grabbing his back to get ready at his friend's house.
Alex knocked on the door softly. "Shell, honey. What's going on?" Alex asked. She knew Shelby was in there because she heard her sniffling. "Nothing." Comes Shelby's muffled reply from the other side of the door. "No, if it was nothing you wouldn't be crying." Alex stated. "Shelby please open the door." Alex pleaded. The door opened slightly. Shelby stood in the doorway. Red puffy eyes from all the crying, but a small smile appeared on her mouth when she saw Phoebe in her mother's arms.
"Come on, go take a long bath, I'll make you something to eat ten we can talk about this." Alex suggested but Shelby shook her head. "I'm not going to work today. You should get going or you're going to be late." Shelby said looking at her friend. "Maranda knows I told her I'll be late I have to take Phoebe to the doctor and I need to be there for a check up." Alex explained where they still stood in the bathroom door. "I'm not going anywhere unless you're with me." Alex said and moved towards the kitchen to make Shelby some breakfast.
In the kitchen Alex saw Caleb went to work on breakfast and left a note on the counter telling Shelby that he is worried about her and that she must at last try to eat something. She re heated the bacon and eggs and popped two slices of toast in the toaster, taking a seat on the couch waiting for her friend to come out of the bathroom. Talking to Phoebe in the meantime.
"The nurse is going to give you an injection today." Alex told Phoebe who kicked out her little legs as she laid on her back on her mom's stretched out legs. "And I'm gonna try my best not to cry while they give you the shot." Alex said rubbing her tummy. Phoebe looking at her mom hands grasped together, making cute cooing noises.
After a while Shelby came downstairs showered and dressed for work. "Caleb left your food on the counter with a note." Alex informed. Shelby read the note but didn't eat. "Why aren't you eating?" Alex asked concerned about her friend's wellbeing. "I'm not hungry." She said. "Let's go get you and phoebe to the doctor." Shelby proposed holding the door open so they can exit.
In the car Alex looks over at her best friend not saying a word. "Shelby what's going on? You're really worrying me." Alex looked over at her as she came to a halt at the red traffic light. "It's nothing I just don't feel well. And I don't want to talk about it." Shelby dismissed not making eye contact. "Have you been to a doctor?" Alex asked but Shelby didn't respond just stared straight ahead into the road. "Shell come on talk to me you know you can trust me." Alex tried again. "I said I don't want to talk about it Alex so drop it." Shelby said looking over at Alex sternly. Alex nodded her head and they drive to the doctor's office in silence.
Shelby decided to get out and go into the office with the two of them. In the waiting area the receptionist tells them to take a seat and that the nurse will be with them in a few minutes. They get called and Alex gets up with Phoebe, Shelby remain seated. "You can come with if you want." The nurse told the blond and she gets up walking into the room with her friend. "All right. Hello Phoebe Grace. How are you doing?" The nurse asks and Phoebe looks up at her with blue eyes. "Come on, let's see how much you weigh first." The nurse takes Phoebe from her mother and walks over to weigh the little girl. After everything was done and she filled out a few things in Phoebe's file she went over to the cabinet, retrieving a needle wrapped in plastic and the fluid they'll inject her with. Alex winced for Phoebe's part when it became reality that they're about to inject her baby. Shelby stood in the far corner of the room and haven't moved since. She prepped Phoebe's thigh where the needle will be inserted and placed her on her stomach. "Okay Phoebe it's going to be over before you know it." The nurse said as she injected Phoebe who started wailing when the needle entered her flesh. Alex tried to soothe her but it didn't help. She laid on the bed crying and kicking her little legs out. "I'm sorry. Now you don't like me anymore hey." They nurse said as she put Phoebe's leggings back on, handing her to her mother as she discarded the needle. "I'm sorry Mrs Booth, you probably dislike me for doing that too." The nurse smiled and gave Alex's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "It's all done, bub. You're gonna be fine." Alex said kissing her head. "You can give her to me while you go see Dr Roberts." Shelby said holding out her hands to take the baby. "Are you sure?" She asked the blond who nodded and smiled.
Alex entered Dr Roberts' office and waited for her to show up. Her brown hair was loose again thrown over her shoulders in her white coat and the stethoscope around her neck. "Hi Alex. How has motherhood been treating you?" Dr Roberts asked her patient. "It's been a roller coaster ride, but I wouldn't change it for anything." Alex smiled at the doctor. "Enjoy every moment of it they tend to grow up much quicker than we think." Dr Roberts said and motioned for Alex to get on the bed. Dr Roberts did some physical examinations feeling her abdomen, weighed and checked her blood pressure and asked a few questions while writing things down in Alex's file as she went along. The doctor asked various questions ranging from pain or discomfort she might had and whether she's still experiencing bleeding on occasion and how the breast feeding is going.
"All right your healing is going well no tenderness other than your breasts which is normal. Have you and your husband had any intercourse since your daughter's birth?" Dr Roberts asked and Alex shook her head. "No, I'm kind of scared not knowing what to expect or if it'll be the same as before I gave birth." Alex explained carefully the doctor nodding her head in agreement. "All right, well that is entirely up to the two of you. Have you resumed birth control?" Dr Roberts asked to which Alex shook her head again. "I'd like to use the pill again I feel like that has worked out the best for me in the past." Alex said and the doctor told her about when she can start taking it and how long it's going to take before the pill takes effect on her body again. After some more information and questions Dr Roberts gave her another date for her last check up and she thanked her, leaving the room to find Shelby and Phoebe in the waiting area.
They stop by the day care and Alex informs Marci that Phoebe has been vaccinated today in case she might be fidgety during the day. And if Marci notices anything unusual she must call. Marci reassured her that they'll be fine she shouldn't worry.
In the car on the way to the office Alex still wasn't sure if Shelby wanted to talk and she decided it's best to not force her. So they drove with the radio on for a while. "I'm pregnant." Shelby broke the silence looking at her best friend. She showed Alex the three home tests she did and all three were positive. "What am I gonna do, Alex?" Shelby whispered and Alex looked over at her. "You're gonna have a baby Shelby. That's what you're going to do." Alex smiled at her. "Is that what you've been so upset about this morning?" Alex asked and she nodded he head. "What if Caleb doesn't want kids. What if this was too soon? I don't know how to be a mother." Shelby ranted but Alex stopped her. "Hey breathe. Do you think Ran and I knew what we were doing those first few days when Phoebe came home? We had no idea, but we learned. Yes it's tough it's really not easy but it is so worth it honey. And you're going to be an amazing mother, and I'm sure Caleb want some juniors running around." Alex reassured her and Shelby gave her a small smile. "When we get to the office you're going to get something to eat. And no coffee." Alex smiled at her and she nodded. "Congratulations, weirdo!" They hugged as the pulled up to the office and walked inside.
Hey guys! In some of the previous reviews one of you asked if there is a possibility for Shelby to get pregnant, there it is hope it wasn't too much of a disappointment. I feel like I had to cut the chapter here since it would've been too long to continue and add the case in here that I'm working on right now, hope you understand. Thanks for the read and I hope you enjoy. Lovies-S.