High Risk

By Marie S

She’d seen Bud’s face blanch when her doctor decided to keep her overnight in the Coff’s hospital after the trauma of breaking her ankle and being stranded for half a day on the ground. Only that wasn’t why her OB doc was keeping her. Bud’s face was immovable until three words were uttered.

“High risk pregnancy.” It was best not to take extra chances.

Marie saw the momentary tic in his eye. Probably only she would have noticed. She knew he’d never leave her bedside until she was released the next morning.

She prided herself on being strong, but today was different. Marie didn’t want Bud to go anywhere. She felt extremely shaky this evening. If Ashley and Lachlan were with them it would have provided them with distraction and conversation, but both of them were adamant that they stay home with Katie Marie while Bud brought her to the hospital. They hadn’t taken the time to go find Egan or Jessica.

That left two tired and completely stressed out people staring at one another in the hospital room once she was finally settled. Thankfully she was in a private room. Marie’s leg was propped up on a pillow with a brand new cast adorning her lower leg. She had picked the color lavender. That was the only time she’d seen Bud’s mouth quirk into a tiny smile since he’d found her several hours ago.

Her ankle still hurt a lot, but it was much better now that it was splinted and had an ice pack on it. There was in IV in her arm, but the doctor promised it was temporary as long as she started taking fluids and kept them down. There was a patient tray before her. She was picking at it fitfully. It really was fairly unpalatable. It was too soon for her to have cravings…yet…

“Bud you know the ice cream shop across from my office and the hospital?”

He glanced up at her. His mind had been far away. “Ice cream? Yeah, we’ve been there.”

“Would you go get us each a milkshake? I really want a chocolate peanut butter shake.” She pushed the tray away. “I sure don’t want this.” Marie gave him a pleading look.

Bud hated when she looked at him that way. There was no way in hell he could say no. He didn’t think he should leave her alone. Look what had happened earlier.

“Maybe they could send up a milkshake from the hospital cafeteria?” He looked hopeful. Yeah, like when pigs fly.

“That won’t be good like they are from the shop next door. Please, Bud. It will only take a few minutes and you can get your favorite kind.” She smiled at him.

He opened his mouth to give another excuse, but shut it again before anything came out.

“Okay,” he grumped and lumbered to his feet. About now crawling into bed with her and sleeping sounded better than any kind of food.

“Oh, thank you, Bud.” Marie motioned for him to come over so she could give him a kiss before he left. She stroked his hand after he gave her a peck on the cheek. “I’ll see you soon, Honey.” She reluctantly let go of his hand even though she was the one sending him for the treat.

He nodded and glanced back at her as he left the room. Bud walked right out to the nurse’s station to tell them to keep an eye on her while he was gone. He’d also bring them back a tub of ice cream from the shop. It couldn’t hurt none to butter them up though most of them already knew Marie. They were treating her special which she was.

Bud hurried to the shop and put in his order. While he waited he pulled out his cell phone to update Grant on where he was and what had happened. He should call home too. He thought about calling the little one, but she would grill him so he called Curry. After Bud gave him the basics Curry sounded relieved. He was a good guy. Suddenly Curry chuckled.

“Your wife is ringing Ashley right now. She’s been fretting since the two of you left for the hospital. It will be good for her to hear Marie’s voice. Ta for calling, Bud.” They hung up.

Bud wondered if Marie would tell the little one that she was pregnant. He wasn’t so sure that Ashley hadn’t already figured it out. He headed back to Marie’s room with his arms full of ice cream and milkshakes.

He heard Marie talking as he walked into her room.

“Ok, we’ll see you tomorrow, Ashley. Give everyone my love and tell them I’m fine. Bud’s here and I’m so hungry for some ice cream.” She flashed a grin to Bud. “Oh, I hear her crying. Give her a kiss for me. Love you. Bye.” Marie turned off her phone.

“Katie Marie started to cry and Ashley said it was time to go feed her.” Bud saw the secret little smile on her face and knew that she was hoping that would be her in eight months. Bud wished she wouldn’t get too excited but it might already be too late for that. He sure as hell had heard the doctor say high risk pregnancy.

Bud nodded, but said nothing. He set the milkshakes down on her tray table.

“Did they have chocolate peanut butter?” He grinned at the hopeful child-like look on her face.

“Of course.” He handed her the milkshake and a straw which she eagerly took.

“What kind did you get?”

“Strawberry.”

“That sounds good too.” She took a sip of her milkshake and a look of pure bliss passed over her face. “Yummy. It’s so good. Thank you, Bud. I was nauseated earlier and this is just perfect.” Marie eyed his bag. “What else did you get?”

“Cookies.”

Marie grinned at him. She sometimes called him the cookie monster. Bud did like a good chocolate chip cookie.

They both sucked contently from their milkshakes for a short time.

“Bud…Ashley figured out that I’m pregnant.”

“I thought so.” Silence again.

“How are you doing with everything?”

The loaded question. Just fucking fantastic if he could sit here and drink his milkshake in silence. He’d promised her he’d try to not shut her out.

“Okay.” He fixed her with his piercing gaze. “That’s the best I can say right now.”

He saw relief on her face as she took a sip and swallowed slowly.

“Me too, Bud. Okay and still a bit shaky. I’m getting tired.” She set down her cup. “Will you sit beside me?” Before he had a chance to protest she was scooting herself to the edge of the bed including leg, pillows and ice. Bud didn’t want to hurt her by jolting her around too much, but he liked the idea of sitting next to her too.

He gingerly eased himself down next to her on the narrow hospital bed. She slid her arms around him.

“Your hands are cold, Hon. Tuck them inside my shirt.”

“Mmm, they’ll warm up quickly against your hot body. It was from the milkshake.” She grinned at him and then laid her head against his chest.

Bud wrapped his beefy arm around her shoulders and held her close. This was much better.

“Go to sleep, Marie.” He whispered to her and kissed the top of her hair. She sighed contently. After a few minutes he heard her breathing even out and Bud knew she was sleeping.

The nurse peered around the door about 20 minutes later and found the two of them asleep together. She laid the new icepack down and quietly left the room. It could wait a little while longer before she changed it. They both needed their rest and each other.