been in a battle. I’m just surprised it hasn’t happened to you before.’
‘It did once. But that was on base in Bamiyan. Thought I was over all that now.’ Then her reason for being here slammed into her nightmare. ‘The baby. I still can’t feel any movement. I need to find out what’s happening.’ Or not happening. Sophie’s heart slowed. This was turning out to be the day from hell.
Taking her hand in his, Cooper said, ‘I’m with you all the way.’
Together they headed inside to the receptionist who’d stood up the moment they appeared. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked.
No. My baby’s in trouble.
‘I’m Sophie Ingram. My baby’s stopped moving.’ The words gushed out at about the same rate her heart was beating. She drew a breath, dug deep for calm. Felt dizzy instead. She grabbed at Cooper’s arm for support, felt relief when he wound that strong arm around her again. She sank against him and drew from his strength.
‘We need an urgent scan,’ Cooper backed her up. ‘It’s been over an hour since Sophie felt the last movement.’
That long? Her heart slowed. Too long. Her knees knocked, and if Cooper hadn’t been holding her she’d be in a heap on the floor. Again. ‘Please, get me help,’ she begged.
Within minutes Sophie heard the wonderful sound of the security door buzzing open, allowing them access to the emergency room.
A woman in blue scrubs approached. ‘Hello, Sophie. I’m Dr Kate Wynn. I understand you haven’t felt baby move for a while. How far along are you?’
As Sophie answered the doctor’s questions they were led into a cubicle. She wanted to relax. This gripping tension would not be good for her baby. But her muscles were as tight as ever.
‘You’re doing great,’ Cooper told her quietly.
‘What if...?’
‘Let’s wait until we know what’s going on before looking for the worst-case scenario,’ he suggested with the tiniest of hitches in his voice.
‘You’re right.’ But, but what if?
Kate told them, ‘I’m getting a Doppler sent down so I can listen for a heartbeat. That way we’ll know more about what’s going on.’
Sophie wished she could feel half as relaxed and professional as Kate appeared, but today her doctoring persona had taken a hike. ‘Hurry, please,’ she whispered as Cooper helped her onto the bed.
‘What’s happened? You’ve got fresh grazes on your leg and arm.’
‘Sophie slipped on the wet path outside.’ At least he hadn’t said she’d thrown herself on the ground and put her baby at risk of being hurt. ‘I don’t think she did any damage. We are both doctors,’ he added with a grimace.
Being a doctor wasn’t helping her baby right now. ‘I’m fine, unless I’ve hurt my baby.’
Kate said, ‘I doubt it. She’s got a lot of protection surrounding her in there. Unless you landed belly first?’
‘No.’ One thing she’d done right. Twisting to land on her hip and shoulder had hurt her but protected her daughter.
The curtain opened to admit an orderly. ‘One Doppler as required.’
‘Right, let’s get started.’ Kate took the instrument and nodded to the orderly to leave.
Kick.
Sophie gasped. ‘Oh. Ow! Do that again.’
Kate looked surprised. ‘I haven’t done anything yet.’
Kick.
Sophie spread her hands over her extended stomach. ‘Cooper, put your hand there. She’s alive and kicking harder than ever.’
His large hand slid under one of hers, and his eyes filled with relief and wonder. ‘Go, girl.’ His voice cracked and he stopped talking.
‘Me? Or baby?’ she teased through the tears now clogging her throat.
‘I’ll check baby’s heart before giving you two a few minutes alone.’ Kate smiled and said moments later, ‘Listen to that. Nothing wrong with that heartbeat. Be back shortly for a full examination.’ Putting the Doppler aside, she slipped out and closed the curtains tight behind her.
Cooper’s hand splayed across Sophie’s stomach was so large, and strong, yet gentle. So right. Like he was laying a claim on her.
What?
The question screamed into her head. It was not right. Cooper didn’t have a place in her life, only that of her daughter’s. But she couldn’t push him away, liked the strength and warmth of his hand. Needed him at her side for now. Had needed him ever since she’d thought something was wrong with their baby. All her strength and determination to do everything properly had gone, leaving her like a jelly on the inside. But having Cooper at her side settled her jitters a little at least.
Reaching around his arm, she placed her hand over his. ‘She’s a busy girl in there. I’m never going to tell her to take a rest again.’
‘You probably woke her up from a lovely sleep when you dived to the ground and now she’s paying you back.’ His smile was lopsided, filled with concern as he stared at her baby bump.
That concern would be for the baby, she acknowledged to herself. Not her. He had no reason to be worried about her. Apart from her crazy reaction to a car going past, that was. She wasn’t important to him, wasn’t the love of his life. Her shoulders slumped. If only they were in love and expecting their first child, together on all fronts. Not dodging around each other, trying to get along without too many arguments.
Thinking like that was dumb. She didn’t love Cooper—never had, probably never would. Any feelings like that would be due to baby brain. Besides, it wouldn’t work if she did. He wasn’t going to fall in love with her, and a one-way relationship was as bad as her parents’ hateful one.
‘Right.’ Cooper straightened up, stepped away from the bed. ‘Let’s get you sorted and then we can go home. You look whacked.’
Thanks for the compliment.
She snatched her shirt down over baby and growled, ‘Tell Kate I’m ready.’
And stay out there so I don’t have to see you get all excited when we get to hear baby’s heartbeat again.
But she knew she could never do that. So much for keeping Cooper on the other side of the door every time she went to see the midwife. After this he was involved, and it would be petty to tell him otherwise.
Horror struck her. Did that mean he’d be there during the birth? She so wasn’t ready for that.
‘Let’s go home,’ Cooper said thirty minutes later.
Home. Yes. She needed that—somewhere to relax, unwind, forget the fears that had blitzed her today. ‘Let’s,’ she agreed.
Then
