women after their twentieth week of pregnancy. It can progress to seizures, at that point it becomes eclampsia.”
The doctor turned his stern gaze on Kelly before continuing.
“You are only a hairbreadth from going into the hospital and staying there until you deliver, and unless I exact a promise from you and your husband that you’ll remain off your feet and take better care of yourself, I’ll forgo the warning and straight into the hospital you’ll go.”
“He’s not my—” she began.
“Consider it done,” Ryan smoothly interjected. “She won’t so much as lift a finger. You have my word.”
“But—”
“No buts,” the doctor said. “I don’t think you fully understand the direness of your situation. If your condition progresses, it can mean your death. Eclampsia is the second leading cause of maternal death in the U. S. and the leading cause of fetal complications. This is serious and you need to take all the necessary precautions to prevent an escalation in your condition.”
Ryan blanched, and she felt the blood drain from her own face as well.
“I can assure you, Doctor, Kelly won’t be doing anything but resting and eating from now on,” Ryan said grimly.
The doctor nodded approvingly and shook both their hands. “I’d like to see her back in a week. And if the swelling gets worse or she develops a severe headache she’s to go directly to the hospital.”
After the doctor left, Kelly sat on the exam table, stunned by the doctor’s pronouncement. Ryan slid his hand over hers and squeezed.
“I don’t want you to worry, Kelly.”
Worry? She nearly let out a hysterical laugh. Her life was a total and complete mess and she wasn’t supposed to worry. She was ready to run screaming from the building.
“Come on,” he said quietly. “Let’s go.”
She let him lead her out of the doctor’s office and to the car without protest. This couldn’t be happening to her. She sat mutely in the car as they drove away, refusing to even look at Ryan. She had no job, and now if the doctor was to be believed, she couldn’t have worked even if she hadn’t been fired. How was she going to support herself, let alone her baby? She had some savings but it was all earmarked for the baby and school.
Helplessness gripped her and she didn’t like it one bit. The shrill ring of a cell phone startled her and she looked over to see Ryan put it to his ear as he expertly weaved through traffic. Her ears perked up when she heard her name.
“We’re going by Kelly’s apartment to get her things. Book us a flight from Houston and call me back with the flight number and time. Then call over to Dr. Whitcomb’s office on Hillcrest and get Kelly’s medical report faxed to Dr. Bryant in New York. Cover for me and have Linda go over any contracts needing my signatures. I’ll be in the office in a few days.”
He ended the conversation abruptly and set the phone aside.
“What were you talking about?” Kelly said in bewilderment.
He glanced over at her, a grim expression tightening his face. “I’m taking you home.”
“Over my dead body,” she snarled. She crossed her arms over her belly and pressed her lips firmly together.
“You’re going,” he said in a tone that brooked no argument. “You need someone to take care of you since you refuse to do it yourself. Do you want to risk the baby’s health? Or yours? Give me a solution, Kelly. Prove to me that I can leave here knowing you’ll be okay.”
She stared woodenly at him. “Don’t you understand that I want nothing to do with you?”
“Oh yes, you made that clear to me when you slept with my brother. But the fact is you’re likely carrying my child—or my niece or nephew, and either way I’m not going to disappear until I know you’re both safe. You’re coming to New York with me if I have to carry you on the plane.”
“It’s not your child,” she said fiercely.
His gaze raked over her. “Whose is it then?”
“None of your business.”
There was a long silence before he finally said, “You’re going with me. I’m not just doing this for a child that may or may not be mine.”
“Why are you doing it then?” she shot back.
He ignored her and stared out the windshield, his fingers curled tight around the steering wheel.
When they arrived at her apartment, she got out of the car before he could come around for her and she hurried up the stairs. She could hear him behind her and when she tried to shut the door, he put up his hand and pushed his way inside.
“We have to talk, Kelly.”
She whirled around. “Yes, we do. You said we’d talk about the check. You were certainly willing to throw it at me when you called me a whore. I want it now and I don’t give a damn what you think about the fact I’m taking it.”
“I’m no longer offering it.”
“Oh, nice,” she said sarcastically.
“I want you to come back to New York with me.”
Her mouth fell open. “You’re insane. Why would I go anywhere with you?”
“Because you need me.”
Pain speared through her chest, robbing her of breath. “I needed you before.”
She turned away before he could respond. She framed her belly with her palms and tried not to panic.
Behind her Ryan was silent. Disturbingly so. Then when he spoke there was an odd, strained tone to his voice.
“I’m going out to have your prescriptions filled. I’ll pick us up something to eat. When I get back, I want you to be packed.”
His footsteps were heavy on the floor and then the door shut quietly behind him.
She sank onto the tattered recliner and massaged her forehead. Two days ago she had a plan. A good plan. She had everything mapped out. Today she had no job, her health was suspect and her ex-fiancé was pressuring her to go back to New York with him.
It made her cringe, but she realized she was going to have to call her mother. She’d once sworn she’d have to be dying to ever ask her mom for anything, but right now that seemed the lesser of two evils.
“What doesn’t kill me will make me stronger, right?” she muttered.
Lame. So lame.
Still, she picked up the phone, drew in a deep breath and called the last number she had for her mother. It was entirely possible Deidre no longer lived in Florida. Who really knew with her?
She’d washed her hands of Kelly the minute Kelly graduated high school and
