Chapter 12
Miracle
It didn't take long to be discharged from the ER. The Doctor was shocked by my quick progress saying he had never seen a patient jump back up so quickly. I just smiled and signed my discharge papers. He did order me to stay home for three days just in case there was a setback. He also asked me to remember to follow up with my own Doctor.
Once I was discharged I walked out of the hospital. I would have to catch a taxi since Edward brought me here. He never came back to the hospital. I won't say I wasn't surprised that he didn't. He probably felt obligated since I did pass out. He probably never had any intention of coming back anyways. He had no ties to me, well he obviously did now but he wasn't aware of that though. As I waited for a cab I felt the hairs on my back stand up. Lately, I had been feeling like someone was watching me. I know it could be my imagination but I also had to remember there was a killer out there targeting women with brown hair and eyes.
I glanced around but found no one suspicious looking. When I finally was able to get a taxi I sighed in relief. I was tired now. I kept getting my sleep interrupted by the nurse when she would come in and check my vitals. Funny, this must be a pregnancy symptom since I usually run off a few hours of sleep. I asked the taxi driver to drop me off a little ways down the street from where my apartment was.
If I was being followed, I didn't want to lead them back to my home. It was still early in the morning so not many people were moving about so it should be easy to spot someone. I walked towards my building glancing around. There was a couple dressed in sports gear running down the track that is near my home but other than that it was eerily silent. By the time I reached my building I felt silly at how I was acting and shrugged it off.
I gave a head nod to the security guard that my building has. "Miss. Swan!" He seemed relieved.
"Jerry," I said, not understanding why he looked so concerned.
"You are alright," he said.
"Yeah, Jerry, I am." We usually shot the shit with each other but he seemed much more concerned than usual.
"Good, I was worried especially when your boyfriend carried you out of here." I looked at him confused. Jerry and another guy I think Carl was his name worked the shifts here in the building. Jerry was pretty big on security so how he managed to listen to some stranger was beyond me.
"He had brought you flowers a few weeks ago, but you weren't home so I placed them at your door. Funny though I didn't see him go up yesterday to visit you." Jerry had been taking precautions with me since I was leading the case with the women. He didn't know any details of the case but he seemed to be extra cautious when it came to me.
"Is everything alright?" he asked. "You seem to be home fast for someone who has just passed out."
"I'm fine, Jerry, just tired. I'm going to head on up," I said, moving towards the elevator. That was awkward to say the least.
Once I opened my door, I quickly locked it back in place. My paranoia was getting the best of me. I searched every room in my apartment making sure nothing was out of place or no one was there before I could relax. Once I thoroughly searched, I stripped off my clothes in the bathroom. I needed a hot shower. I haven't had one since the sickness became bad two days ago. The water felt amazing running over my aching muscles. I had thrown up so much that I had an ache in my ribs and back. After I washed my hair and rinsed, I stepped out and put the towel around my body. I slowly made my way into my bedroom and slipped on some shorts and a long sleeve t-shirt. I patted my hair with the towel and then brushed it. I didn't feel like drying it and just let it dry naturally. I sat on my bed wondering if I should make myself something to eat. I was hungry but also afraid of getting sick again. I made my way into the kitchen and made some homemade chicken noodle soup in the instant pot. It would take a few minutes to cook so I sat at my kitchen table and waited.
A baby. I could not believe it. However the time frame seemed weird, I wasn't an expert, but four weeks seemed a little too early to be sick, right? I think I was in shock earlier that I didn't ask those questions when I should have. I needed to definitely ask them but hearing someone tell you that you're pregnant when you never thought you would hear that. Well I still didn't have words to describe the feeling.
I called my Doctor's office and scheduled an appointment. I needed to be 100% sure I was. I mean I knew I was but I needed to know more details than what the ER Doctor had given me. I was to come in next week. I really didn't want to wait that long but it would be here before I knew it.
I started to smile, the one thing I never thought would happen in the world is most definitely happening. I was thankful but it was a bad time. I was on the most harrowing case and was getting nowhere with it. Granted, I could give it to someone else but I had so many people counting on me. Not to mention who the baby's father was. Shit! I was currently carrying a past suspect's child. What's worse is that I didn't know how to tell him I was carrying his child. He deserved a right to know right? I mean, I honestly didn't know what was up with him coming to my house late last night, carrying me to the hospital and telling them he was my boyfriend. He hadn't made contact with me since the flowers. Granted it wasn't exactly contact, but it was the only thing since that night.
I found Edward attractive, of course I did, what woman wouldn't? He was sexy as hell and very good in bed. Did that warrant anything? I still remember him getting angry when I asked why he wanted to stay. Why? His sudden appearance yesterday still had me confused.
I felt a chill in the air and shivered. I was going to put on a pair of yoga pants when I heard knocking at my door. Was it him? Jerry? Again I wasn't expecting anyone. I grabbed my gun from the nearby table and slowly made my way to the door. Checking through the peephole I saw bronze hair. Shit! What was he doing here? The knocking became louder and then I resigned myself to answer it. Once the door was opened, Edward strolled past me as I shut the door behind him.
"Well, come on in then," I said.
He turned to face me and he looked pissed. That's when I really looked at him, his nostrils were flared, his hair pulled every which way. Had something happened? "Are you okay?" He stared at me, not as pissed as before but still perturbed. His eyes roamed up and down my body and I suddenly felt uncomfortable under his gaze. He acted like he was searching for something. It didn't make any sense since I felt uncomfortable when the man saw me naked not too long ago. Maybe because I was shit-faced drunk then.
"Am I okay?" he said sarcastically. "Am I okay?" He started pacing my living room floor but he never took his eyes off of me. "I went back to the hospital to check on you and they said you had been released!"
I was confused. Why would he return to the hospital? Had I been wrong earlier about him feeling obligated?
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said, confused
"You weren't supposed to leave alone, Bella, I told you I was coming back!" he yelled and then I started feeling all that anger that I felt not too long ago when I was pissed at people trying to control my life.
"I don't have to answer to you, Edward." He turned towards me with a menacing glare on his face. It reminded me of that day in his office. It scared me a little but I wouldn't let him get to me.
"There's a serial killer on the loose targeting women that look like you and you left the hospital alone," he said as he towered over me. I didn't cower under his gaze, I stood strong on my own.
"I'm alone all the time, I've been alone. I don't know why that's suddenly an issue and besides I can handle myself," I said as I crossed my arms.
He smirked and I wanted to slap him in the face but I was used to this. Every man in my life thought they could tell me what to do and control me. The thing is my father raised me to be my own person and not take shit from
anyone. It was one of the things I was grateful for that I took from him.
"It was a stupid thing to do," he said as he crossed his arms challenging me to disagree. I could see from his viewpoint it was stupid. I was sick, I passed out, however he thought it was from sickness. I wonder how he would feel when he found out when I left I wasn't entirely alone.
"What are you doing here, Mr. Cullen?" Attempting to change the subject because I wasn't going to agree that it wasn't stupid. I must have caught him off guard because he looked put off by what I said.
"Mr. Cullen?" He had a slight smirk. "I thought after what happened between us we were on a first name basis," he grinned, obviously cocky.
"What happened that night?" I said as if it didn't mean anything to me and if I thought I caught him off guard before then I definitely did now.
"Yes, that night. He said through clenched teeth.
"What about it?" That night was amazing from what I can remember. I was drunk but I do remember having sex with him and how it felt with him being inside me.
He didn't answer me but he came close and of course since he was very close my nipples were instantly hard. I don't know if he knew but he managed to smirk at me. He moved my hair behind my shoulders. I felt my body become heated and instantly I became wet for him. It aggravated me to no end that he was always able to get that reaction out of me. I heard a beeping and suddenly pulled out from beside him.
I walked to the kitchen, knowing what the beep was. My soup was done, and I quickly released the pressure. I closed my eyes and let out a breath before opening them. I jumped forgetting for a moment I wasn't the only one in the apartment as I felt someone beside me.
"Gosh! I didn't even hear you!" I grabbed my chest. God, he was so quiet.
"Relax," he grinned. "Sit down and I'll make you a bowl." I nodded. Just wanting to have a few moments to myself I let him make me one.
What the fuck was going on with me? I had been deathly sick and now I was horny? I didn't know if I liked being around Edward Cullen. He did things to me and it felt like I wasn't in control of my body. I turned to look at him. He had taken off the long coat he was wearing. Underneath that he was wearing a suit underneath and I swear it didn't help my situation. He took off his suit coat and rolled his sleeves to his elbows.
He placed a steaming bowl in front of me and then he sat down across the table from me. I took sips trying not to look at him. It was a failure of course because his shiny emeralds always drew me in. I noticed they were extra shiny tonight and I didn't even know how that was possible. I also noticed he had his hands in front of him.
"You could've made yourself a bowl," I said, not liking that he wasn't eating as well.
He shook his head, " I already ate." He said with a sly smirk. It was so quick I barely saw it. Hmm odd.
I continued to eat, still feeling weird that he hadn't told me the reason why he was here. It just seemed odd for him to show up when he did. I was almost done with my soup when I heard him speak.
"Isabella," he started. "I wanted to explain the way I left things. I had an emergency at my father's house to attend to that night we had sex." He shifted in the chair. "It wasn't how I wanted to leave but I had no choice."
"Oh, well it's fine." I mean what else was I supposed to say? I don't think he liked my answer.
"It's not fine, you deserved better than that," he said and I nodded. I thought I did but on the other hand it was less awkward.
I finished my soup and was about to get up to take it to the sink when he was beside me with his hand out for it. I was taken aback as I barely heard him walk over here. I gave it to him and he put it in the sink. He then came back to the table and helped me up from it. We stared at each other. "I need to put away the leftovers," I said. I was starting to feel heated again and I moved from the table only to slip in the process.
I waited to hit the floor but I felt strong arms catch me. "Whoa, there," he said as he picked me up in his arms and carried me to the couch. "I'll do it, okay?" I nodded but it didn't mean I liked it. He walked away leaving me there as he went to the kitchen. I pulled a blanket over me and laid back some on the couch. It must not have taken Edward long because he was suddenly back in front of me.
"Cold?" He gestured to the blanket I had covered up with. I nodded. It was odd that I was cold, I'm usually sweating nonstop. He sat on the other end of the couch and looked like he was thinking of something.
"Is your father okay?" I asked, trying to break up the silence. He looked at me,
it seemed he was having a battle with himself. "I'm sorry you don't have to say anything."
"No, it's fine," he said but somehow it seemed that it was hard for him to say it. We sat in silence after that, the only sound in the room was our breathing. "He's dying," Edward said with no emotion and his face set in stone.
I sat all the way up and put my hand on his before quickly pulling away. His hands were icy and he quickly rubbed them together before giving me a smile.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything," I started before he cut me off.
"It's fine, we're not close but I feel like I have a duty to be there for him when he needs it, " Edward said, annoyed. I nodded. I felt that honestly because my egg donor was the same way or was.
"I thought he was about to pass so I stayed in Chicago for the next week. I sent flowers here after getting my secretary to get your address." He picked up where he left off earlier. He gave me a smirk. I wondered how he knew where I lived but I'm sure it wasn't hard. "It pays to know the right people," he finished and I don't know how I felt about that. "She was also able to get your number but I didn't want to freak you out so I didn't call."
"I actually wasn't sure if you were still in Chicago or if you had come back here. It didn't matter though since I had to fly out to California to handle some shit. I only arrived back in town yesterday," he explained.
I looked at him, I mean really looked at him. "You came back into town yesterday and you came here?" He nodded, not even hiding it.
"Like I said, I feel bad and…," he stopped before getting super close to my face. "I can't stop thinking about you."
My heart went wild at the admission. "What?" I choked out. He had to be lying, there is no way.
"Too much?" he said not even concerned. He was back to his cocky self. "Isabella, I'm not dumb I know you're attracted to me as well. Come on, don't lie," he said as he pulled me up from the couch.
"Don't be so cocky," I said, not even denying it. He gave me a grin and kissed me. I kissed him back before pulling away.
"So I take it that means yes?" he said. Did he come over here for a booty call?
"I'll admit, I am sexually attracted," I said as he came back to kiss me. He grinned before moving to take my shirt off. The moment it came off and he attacked my neck I was hit with a cold reminder.
"Stop," I croaked out and he did but I couldn't see his face. He looked at me with a confused look. "Isabella, I'm sorry if I took this too far. I shouldn't have done this, you're still recovering." I waved him off and he quit talking. I couldn't have sex with him again, not without him knowing first.
"I have to tell you something." I managed to say. My heart was pounding and I could hear it in my ears. I crossed my arms over my bra feeling exposed. He handed me my shirt back and I quickly slipped it on. I didn't know how to approach this subject because I never thought I would be in this position. Oh come on Bella, I gave myself a pep talk, you are a fucking bad ass bitch, come on.
"Edward, the truth is…," I gasped, feeling nauseous again. This time it wasn't from the baby in my stomach it was my nerves. "I'm pregnant," I croaked.
Silence. We both stared at each other, his face never showed anything for me to go on. I hated that he gave me nothing. I mean I made a living from reading faces.
"I know it must seem like a shock." I had to laugh at myself. I was still amazed by it. "I just want you to know, I didn't plan this," I said lamely. "I was told I could never get pregnant." Nothing. It was still silent.
I sat back down on the couch not trusting my wobbly legs. "I'm keeping the baby," I declared, nothing could make me not want to have this child. "I have money, I would be able to support it without you."
He then turned towards me quickly and his face changed to anger.
"Without me?" he said. I was caught off guard by that.
"Well, I'm just saying, if it's not something you want…," I trailed off. It wasn't like we were in a relationship or anything. We had sex and it seemed like we were going to have sex again but I probably just nipped that in the bud after my revelation. "I'm just telling you that I'm going to have this baby."
He nodded, "as you should." It was rather odd that he wasn't voicing his concerns. He didn't even look frightened by my admission. "Have you made a Doctor's appointment?" he asked. "If not I know of some damn fine doctors."
"I actually have a Doctor's appointment next week. I've been with her for years."
He had his hands in his pockets. His face never wavering, "The same Doctor that said you can never have children?" he said with his eyebrow raised.
I stood up ready to defend my Doctor. "She did say it would be a 1% chance," I said lamely and he smirked.
"Touche." He walked towards me stopping in front of me. God, he was beautiful and I just wanted to touch his hair for some reason. He looked at me questionly "May I?" he asked. I now looked at him in confusion. What was he asking permission for?
"Um, may you what?"
He offered me a smile. "This." He then palmed my stomach. I noticed his hand wasn't icy like before but was very warm to touch. We looked into each other's eyes and it seemed like he wanted to kiss me but then I heard his phone ring. His expression changed and he seemed mad again. "Excuse me."
He walked away speaking in whispers. Since he now had touched my stomach it felt odd like there was something missing. I noticed he was pulling his hair now and cursing. He yelled something in a different language before ending the call. He came towards me again.
"I'm sorry about that but I need to leave," he said as he went to pull his coat back on.
"It's fine."
He then stopped and made his way back to me. "No, it's not."
Feeling awkward I reached out and touched his hair. He had it sticking up each way after pulling at it. He let me do it, closing his eyes in the process and moaned.
It felt like a moment between two people who were a couple. The opposite of what we were. I let go of his hair and he opened his eyes. He stared at me with intensity before giving me a kiss on my forehead.
He then moved from me and made his way to the door. "I don't know how long I'll be gone. I have to travel back to Chicago." He then took something out of his wallet and handed it to me. It was a business card and he also scribbled something on the back of it.
"My work number is on there so you can be sent to me directly. I also put my personal number on the back." He handed it to me and I took it slowly. "I would like to know how your Doctor's appointment goes."
I was taken aback by that. He did? He didn't seem the type to… I shook my head. I didn't need to judge on appearances.
"Um sure," I squeaked out, taking the card from him. He offered me a smile and turned to leave my apartment.
Once the door was shut, I locked it back again and quickly looked down at the card. Edward Cullen CEO/Owner of Cullen Inc. it said. I pulled out my phone and put in his work number and cell. I can't believe all that just happened. Edward came here and now he knows he is going to be a father.
After getting in bed that night, I had vivid dreams, dreams that I didn't enjoy. There were bodies lying in the street, blood everywhere and a baby sitting on top of them.
*** ONE WEEK LATER*****
"I'll have to use the internal ultrasound since it may be too early to bring it up on the external one," Dr. Maria Keener said. I have been seeing her since I started my menstrual cycle as a teen. Instead of the radiologist, Dr. Keener wanted to personally do my ultrasound. Probably because after my blood work came back saying I was indeed pregnant she needed to see for herself.
After she inserted the wand in me which was a little uncomfortable, her face was trained on the screen. I yawned, I hadn't been sleeping very well and the sickness had started coming back but not as bad as before.
"Well, it's not every day I get proven wrong. Granted, I did say you had a 1% chance," she laughed and turned the screen back to me. There on the screen was a little blob. It looked like a bean with a tail. "There's your baby." I looked at it, it was tiny but it was mine. "Want to hear the heartbeat?" she asked and I quickly nodded. I couldn't help but cry as the rapid heartbeat filled the room. After she took a few pictures, she then turned the screen back to her. Her eyebrow scrunched in confusion. "Are you sure about the dates? It's been 5 weeks since intercourse?" she asked me. I nodded and wondered why she would think I had it wrong. I even remember the ER Doctor looking at me in confusion because of my symptoms.
"It's just that this fetus is 8 weeks old," the Doctor said and then it was my turn to look at her with an eyebrow raised. "It's just either the dates are wrong or the baby is measuring differently. It's something we will need to keep an eye on." My heart dropped. Was there something wrong with my baby? I felt her move the wand around to a different area. Her face had a confused look. She was starting to make me worried.
"What, Doc?" I tried to ask calmly.
"I'm just amazed, your ovaries still look the same. Bella, this Is truly a miracle," she marveled as she pulled the wand out of me. She handed me the pictures and I smiled looking at them. "Make an appointment for three weeks instead of four," she advised and I nodded. "I'll let you get cleaned up," she said as she left the room.
This was starting to feel real now. There was an actual human being inside of me. I rose up from the bed like a chair and put my clothes back on. After making my next appointment and leaving the Doctor's office, I headed for my SUV. I closed the door and noticed I couldn't keep the smile off my face. I pulled out my phone, debating on whether to call or text Edward. He wanted to know how it went but I'm so out of the game I didn't know how this worked.
After a few minutes, I decided to text. He could be busy or at home and I didn't know if he was with someone or could be doing something. It was Edward Cullen freaking CEO!
B: I just left my Doctor's appointment. Everything looks good. Baby is due in October. Hope all is well.'
I hit send thinking that sounded cheesy.
I ran by my office to pick up some files on the first three girls. I was going to go over everything I could to try to find more links and maybe visit family members. When I got back to my car, my phone beeped. My heart started to beat real fast and I wasn't sure why.
E: That's great news. I would like to meet up when I'm back in town to talk. Hope you are feeling better.
I wonder what he wanted to talk about? I wasn't going to reply to that message because I didn't know what to say. I'm educated, crafty and don't take shit from no one. But men whom I'm attracted to are a different story.
As I made my way up the stairs to my apartment there was something sitting by my door. I pulled my gun out, wondering if the killer had found out where I lived and left a nasty surprise. As I got closer, I noticed it was a baby bed. I put my gun away and picked up the bassinet-like baby bed. When I was inside I put it down and took the card out of it.
" I'm in" -E
Oh boy.