Denise had just got home from running a few errands when she heard her phone ring. She put her keys and purse down and ran to grab it. Quickly she looked at the caller ID. It was the doctor's office.
"Hello," she said getting slightly nervous.
"Hello Denise? This is Nancy from Dr. Willis' office. We have your test results." She sounded cheery.
Denise was nauseous and somewhat shaky with nervousness. "Are they okay?" she asked quietly.
"Yes, Denise. Everything looks fine. You wanted to know the gender?"
Denise replied that she did but it was to be kept a secret from Frank at all costs.
"Congratulations, Denise you are having a healthy baby girl," Nancy informed her. "And don't worry, we can keep it from Frank as long as he wants us to do so."
"Thank you, he wants it to be a surprise," Denise said smiling; she was thrilled to be having a baby girl, and a healthy one to boot.
"We will see you next Tuesday for your next appointment," Nancy confirmed before ending the call.
Denise was so excited she went straight to the kitchen and began cooking a fancy dinner for her and Frank. She couldn't wait to tell him the results of the amnio, he was going to be thrilled and relieved.
While she was cooking she heard Frank's old truck pull into the driveway. He was early. She smiled to herself and continued to prepare dinner.
Frank called out to her. "Dee, you here?"
"In the kitchen, honey," she said trying to keep the excitement out of her voice as not to give it away just yet.
He came in the kitchen and saw her cooking a roasted chicken. "Dee, what is all this?" he asked her coming up behind her. She turned around and kissed him, "Oh, nothing; just your favorite meal in the entire world," she says laughing.
"It's not Sunday," Frank chuckled. "You sure you're feeling up to this?"
She smiled "Yes honey, I feel great actually," she told him. "Go shower and relax for a little while, food still has a while to go then we can eat," she told him.
"I think I'm going to lie down," Frank said running his hand over her belly. "I've got a headache."
"Okay, want me to bring you some aspirin, or something for it?" she asked becoming concerned. Frank wasn't prone to headaches.
"I'm fine, sweetheart," Frank assured her and went to their room for a nap.
She continued to cook, but in the back of her mind she couldn't help but worry about him, "I hope he is okay," she said to herself.
Denise was in the middle of chopping vegetables when the phone rang. "Colonel Sherwood's residence."
"Hi, Mrs. Sherwood? This is Sergeant Hendrix. I wanted to call and make sure the Colonel made it home okay and see how he was feeling now."
"He's fine, he's napping," Denise replied. "I'll let him know you called. Was there any reason he'd not have made it home all right?
"General Holden sent him home when he had to stop on the 5 mile trail," Sergeant Hendrix told her.
"Did General Holden say why he stopped?" Denise asked.
"Said he felt strange, complained of chest pain and headache," the young man replied feeling as if he'd said too much.
Denise felt her stomach drop to her toes. "Thank you," Denise said and hung up the phone. She took a deep breath and called Michael.
"General Holden," Michael said answering his cell phone.
"Tell me about what happened with Frank today," Denise demanded without preamble.
"Oh hey Denise, well he was feeling a little under the weather is all," he said trying not to worry her. He didn't want to stress her and the baby out by telling her the whole story unless he had to do.
"Sergeant Hendrix told me about a headache and chest pains," Denise admitted. "Try again."
Michael sighed. "Denise I'm sure it's nothing. Don't go getting stressed on me. Frank will be fine, he just needs to rest , not to mention if you worry, he will have my head and Hendrix's ass," he said laughing trying to lighten up the tension.
"Michael, Frank is 42 years old. If he's having cardiac warning signs I need to know," Denise told him firmly
"Okay, he was having some chest pain," Michael said giving in to her pressure. "But I'm sure it's nothing" he added quickly.
"Was he short of breath? How long did the symptoms last? Was he checked at Mercer? Did he tell you not to tell me?" Denise asked firing one question on top of another.
"Whoa Denise, slow down. Yeah, he was having some shortness of breath, but it only lasted for a few minutes and he wouldn't let us take him to Mercer he said he was fine. Yes, he didn't want you to know, but only because he didn't want you to worry."
"Well, I'm worried. Michael, I know this is your post, but Frank is my husband and I only want to say this one time. You are not to tell him that I know thing one about what he experienced today. If he knows I have a clue he'll hide things from me that I'd otherwise notice, things that might save his life if you are wrong and this is a warning sign of something bigger. Am I clear?" Denise asked doing a good imitation of a senior Army officer.
"Yes Denise," he told her, he knew she was just trying to protect her husband. He had heard that same tone from his own wife, more than once.
Denise filed all of the information she heard into her brain and went back to fixing dinner. As she set their table and prepared to serve the meal she heard Frank come from the bedroom and enter the kitchen. "Sleep well?" she asked him. "I hope Sergeant Hendrix's call didn't disturb you."
Frank looked at her. "No, I didn't even hear the phone ring. What did he want?" he asked her hoping she didn't know about what happened earlier.
"Wanted to make sure you got home okay since you had such a bad headache," Denise replied. "Feel better?"
"Yeah, I think it was just stress," he lied; the truth was he felt horrible, his head was still throbbing and his chest was hurting a little.
"I'm glad," Denise said. "Have a seat dinner is ready and I have a surprise."
"Okay," he said smiling already wondering what she was up to and hoping it didn't cost him too much money.
Denise served the supper and made sure Frank had everything he needed before finally telling him the news. "Dr. Willis' office called today. The amnio results came in," she began trying to look serious.
He looked at her nervously "Are they okay?" he asked and waited anxiously for her to answer him.
"They are perfect. We are going to have a perfectly healthy little one this Fall," Denise beamed. "I was so relieved to hear that. Isn't that wonderful news?"
"Oh Dee, that is great, I am so relieved, I can't wait to meet the little one," he told her smiling brightly; he took her hand and kissed it from across the table.
"When do you want to tell Jeremy? He's due for a phone call soon," Denise asked. "That is the next hurdle I'm worrying over, and of course Lamaze."
"We can tell him whenever you're ready, Baby. It's up to you, and don't worry I'm sure he will be absolutely thrilled," he told her trying to make her stop worrying. "As for Lamaze, I'll be right there with you."
They continued to eat their meal except Frank toyed with his food more than eating it. Still he managed to keep up a decent conversation with Denise about the newest trainees at the jump tower.
"Are you okay, Honey? You have hardly eaten anything, is something wrong?" she asked him, thinking now that he had lied to her when he said he was fine.
"I'm just tired, Denise," Frank fibbed. "Really it's okay. When is your next…" He paused and shook his head. "When is your next appointment?"
She looked at him worried "Tuesday. Frank, are you sure you are okay? You look pale," she asked trying to get him to admit he was sick.
"I'm tired," Frank replied again, only this time he snapped at her. "I'd like to help you put all this away and lie down with my wife, that's all I would really like to do tonight, but not if you keep asking me if I feel okay every five seconds."
She looked at him with tears in her eyes, between worrying over him, being pregnant and his snapping at her she couldn't help but be emotional. "Okay I'm sorry, I'm just worried about you," she told him in a shaky voice, trying not to breakdown.
"I know, but don't worry," Frank said gently. "I'm okay. Let's get this cleaned up and we can watch that movie you like about the daughter getting married."
"Okay," she said turning toward the sink and wiping at the tears that had fallen from her eyes.
They went to bed early and Frank felt better by the time they turned to lights out and went to sleep.
A few hours later Denise woke up when she heard a strange noise. She sat up and nudged Frank, "Frank. Frank!"
Frank jerked awake "Dee, what is it? Are you okay?" he asked still half asleep.
"I heard something. A noise," she whispered trying not to be frightened. They were on post for Heaven's sake.
"It's okay, honey, let me go check it out," he said getting out of bed to go investigate the noise that had scared his wife.
Frank took his side arm and slowly went to investigate. When he approached the kitchen he saw a figure moving towards the bedrooms. "Don't move another muscle," Frank warned. "State your business."
"Whoa dad it's me," Jeremy said coming into the light where his dad could see him. He was holding his hands up in mock surrender and laughing.
Frank dropped the gun and put his hand over his heart. "God, Jeremy. You scared the daylights out of your mother. Dee, come here." Frank called over his shoulder moving to embrace his son and welcome him home. "How you been? You okay?"
"Yeah, Dad I'm fine sorry for scaring you and mom," he said just as Denise slowly crept into the kitchen carrying a baseball bat.
She smiled when she saw him and rushing toward him to hug him taking no measures to hide her baby bulge in her excitement. She didn't even stop to notice how hard Frank was breathing or how red his cheeks were.
"Oh Jeremy, it's so good to see you! How are you honey? How long are you here for?" She asked in a rush as she hugged him tight.
"I'm good, mom. I'm here ten days," Jeremy replied hugging his mother but watching is father. "You okay, Dad?"
Frank didn't reply, he was having trouble breathing.
"Frank what's wrong?" Denise asked but again he gave no reply just grabbed the counter, gasping for breath and holding his chest.
Denise ran towards Frank and slid an arm around his waist. "Jeremy, get me an aspirin and call the medics," Denise ordered trying to get Frank to lie down on the floor. "Frank, try to breathe slowly. Can you speak?"
"I'm sorry Dee," he said still gasping and clutching his chest
"Oh God, Jeremy, where is that aspirin? And make that call now, he might be having a heart attack," she shouted as if volume would make Jeremy move faster. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Frank, just stay with me, try to breathe honey," she told him trying to stay calm.
Jeremy gave his mother the aspirin which she helped Frank take while loosening his pajama pants. Inside a few minutes the medics were at their house administering oxygen and taking blood pressure readings. "His pressure is sky high, 195 over 110."
Denise relinquished Frank to the medics and instinctively reached to pull Jeremy close to her side with one hand while unconsciously protecting the unborn baby with the other by placing her hand on her bump. "It's going to be okay," she whispered to both her children. "Right, Sweetie?" she asked Jeremy looking for his clarification.
"Yeah Mom, everything will be fine," he told her He pointed to her bulge, "So how far along are you?" he said smiling at her.
"19 weeks," she replied beaming looking down at her expanding belly. "We were going to tell you the next time you called."
"Wow Mom, when did you find out?" he asked shocked that she had been pregnant this long and he hadn't got a chance to talk to her to hear the news.
"A few days after you went back," she told him. "Are you happy?" She was worried he'd be upset with her.
"Yeah Mom, I am, I'm shocked but I'm happy," he said hugging her. "When are you due? Do you know what it's going to be?" he asked in a rush from excitement.
"I'm due November 11th and I'm having a girl," she told him, relieved that he was happy about this. "Don't tell your father, he wants to be surprised when she comes."
"Sure, Mom. Go put on something warmer than that and let's go be with Dad," Jeremy suggested. "I'll call Mrs. Holden to meet us."
Denise smiled and went to pull on her US Army Spouse T-shirt and a new pair of maternity jeans while Jeremy phoned Claudia Joy to have her meet them at the hospital.
A half hour later Denise was being escorted to Frank's ER cubicle where he was lying face up with his eyes closed. There were two IVs in his arms and a blood pressure cuff on his upper arm measuring his pressure at ten minute intervals. He had EKG leads attached to his chest and legs and Denise was relieved to see his heart rate was steady and strong. She sat beside him and touched his hand, "Frank? Are you awake?"
He stirred and squeezed her hand. "Hey, Beautiful. I'm sorry for scaring you." He didn't sound like himself; his voice was so weak and raspy.
"You look so tired, Frank," Denise said rubbing her hand over his as she held onto him. "Why didn't you tell me how sick you were feeling?"
"I didn't want to worry you sweetheart," he replied kissing her hand.
"Well, you did that, Soldier," Denise said gently. "The doctor doesn't think it was a heart attack, but you are going to need to rest a lot in the next few days. I don't want to hear any arguments, you are staying in bed with your feet up and I am taking care of you. That is how it should have been all along anyway."
Denise put her hand on her belly just then and sat up stock straight.
"Dee, are you okay?" he asked trying to get up to help her.
"Stay still," she ordered and stood up. "Give me your hand." Denise took his hand and placed it on her belly. At first he didn't realize what she wanted him to do, but after a minute he felt it, like tiny pulses from inside of her tummy. He'd never felt that before and the experience touched him in a deeper way that he'd ever have imagined.
"Oh my God, is she kicking?" he asked her amazed by what was happening.
"I don't know if that is a kick or a punch, but it's the strongest it's been so far," Denise told him. "The amnio told us if she is actually a she or if she is a he, are you sure you don't want to know?"
"Yeah, I'm sure I still want it to be a surprise," he told her smiling, knowing she was dying to tell him what their little bundle of joy was.
"Okay, have it your way," she said smiling wryly. "The doctors want you to stay overnight and they don't want me to stay because of the pregnancy, so if it's okay Jeremy will take me home then he'll come back to sit with you, unless you want me, and then it'll take a Delta unit to make me move. You want me, say the word."
"No Honey, you go home and get some rest. I will see you tomorrow," he told her smiling lovingly. "I love you." He kissed her then let her go.
"I love you too. See you tomorrow," she said then left the room to go home and try to get the image of Frank in pain and gasping for air out of her mind.