Chapter 7: Bed Rest

The days following Abby's trip to the hospital were a blur of tests, appointments, and whispered conversations between doctors and nurses. They couldn't pinpoint exactly what had caused the pain, but the diagnosis was clear—Abby needed to rest. She was placed on bed rest, and the world outside seemed to stop moving, leaving her alone in the quiet of her grandmother's house with nothing but her thoughts and the steady rhythm of her heart to accompany her.

Her doctor had given her a simple directive: No stress. No heavy lifting. No exertion. It seemed simple enough, but as Abby lay in the bed she'd spent so many childhood summers in, it felt like an impossible task. She wasn't used to being still, to letting others take care of her. She had always been the one to take charge, to keep things moving, to handle everything and everyone else.

But not now.

Now, everything felt fragile. Her body, once strong and capable, was a stranger to her, one that she wasn't sure how to trust. The pregnancy—unexpected, yes, but cherished—was still so new. And the weight of Carter's illness, the uncertainty of his treatments, added a layer of complexity she wasn't sure how to manage.

But rest was what the doctors ordered. So rest she did, although it wasn't easy.

Each morning, Gammy would bring her breakfast—scrambled eggs, toast with jam, and a steaming mug of tea—and would sit with her, talking about everything and nothing. It was a soothing ritual, the comfort of family around her, but Abby's mind was often elsewhere. She would watch out the window, staring at the slow, steady pace of the world moving outside while she stayed inside, tethered by her body's limits.

As the days passed, Abby began to feel like she was in a suspended state, neither here nor there, waiting for the next crisis, or for something to change, or for everything to go back to normal. But the truth was, she wasn't sure what "normal" even meant anymore.

The phone calls from Carter were a lifeline, but they only made her long for his presence even more. He sounded exhausted, the chemo treatments taking their toll, but he always asked about her. Always made sure she was okay.

But no one could be there with her all the time.

And that night, alone in the stillness of Gammy's house, Abby began to feel it again. A tightening in her belly, subtle at first, then building with an intensity that made her sit up in bed, gripping the blankets tightly. This wasn't like the earlier cramps. This was different. It felt... rhythmic.

Abby took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The last few days had been uneventful, the pain from the hospital visit gone, but this? This was something else entirely.

Another wave of tightening washed over her, and she let out a shaky breath. This wasn't just discomfort. This was pain.

She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was late—too late to bother anyone—but Abby's heart was beginning to race. She could feel her body responding, each contraction intensifying with a sharp, insistent pressure that made it hard to think clearly.

I need to call Carter, she thought, but her hands trembled too much to dial his number. He was still at the hospital. Even if he wasn't there, he wouldn't be able to make it in time.

She tried to steady her breathing, but it was becoming difficult. The pain was growing more intense, and she found herself gripping the sides of the bed, her knuckles white. Another wave hit, and this time it took her breath away. She couldn't sit still anymore. The pain was too much.

She needed help, but no one was around. Mark and Elizabeth weren't answering their phones. Gammy was fast asleep in the room down the hall, unaware of what was happening. Abby's pulse quickened as she realized, with a sickening sense of clarity, that she was alone. The house was quiet except for the sound of her own breath, heavy and labored.

This isn't how it was supposed to happen.

Another contraction hit, even sharper than the last, and this time Abby couldn't help the cry that slipped from her lips. She tried to breathe through it, but the pain was relentless, coming in waves that seemed to crash over her like a tide. The room felt smaller, suffocating. The walls seemed to close in on her as her body betrayed her, forcing her into a state of fear and confusion.

She clutched the phone, her hands slick with sweat, trying to dial Carter again. But her vision blurred, and the pain... it wouldn't stop.

I'm not ready for this, she thought desperately.

Abby gritted her teeth and tried to focus, pushing past the pain to remind herself that she needed to stay calm. She couldn't lose control. Not now. Not when the baby needed her to stay strong.

She somehow managed to crawl out of bed, her legs unsteady beneath her. She stumbled toward the door, but before she could reach it, another contraction gripped her, sending her to her knees on the cold floor. The pain was so overwhelming she couldn't hold back the sob that escaped her lips.

I'm not going to make it, she thought in a panicked haze.

But then, something inside her shifted. She couldn't give in. Not now.

She pulled herself up, using the wall for support, and somehow made it to the phone again. Her fingers fumbled for the number, and with a shaky breath, she finally hit dial.

Carter's phone rang, and Abby clutched the phone to her ear, fighting to keep her composure.

"Come on, come on," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible.

When Carter's voice finally answered, it was filled with concern and confusion. "Abby? What's going on? Where are you?"

"I… Carter…" She gasped for air, the pain still surging in waves. "I… I think it's happening. I'm going into labor… and I'm alone… I need you…"

His voice instantly shifted from tired and strained to frantic. "Abby! What's happening? Are you at Gammy's? Where's Mark or Elizabeth?"

"I… I don't know. I can't reach them. I need you here. Please…"

Carter's words were a blur of panic and reassurance. "I'm coming. I'm on my way right now. Just hang on, okay? Don't try to do this alone, Abs. You're not alone."

Abby's heart raced in her chest, but she tried to hold on to his voice, his words like a lifeline in the chaos. She could hear the desperation in his tone, and it made her want to hold on just a little longer, to keep fighting.

But as another contraction hit, her body couldn't hold on much longer. Abby sank to the floor, breathing heavily, the world spinning around her. She had never felt so vulnerable, so terrified, so alone. The baby was coming, and she didn't know if she could make it through this.

All she could do was hold on, waiting for help, praying for the strength to make it through this on her own... just a little longer.

The darkness of the night closed in around her, and Abby's world narrowed to just the sound of her breath and the rapid beat of her heart, as she waited for Carter to get to her.