AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I thought you didn't recognize me either. Besides, it was nothing but a wager.” He can't know how much I really cared about him then…and especially how much I still do.
“Angel, it did mean something, or we both wouldn't still feel this way.” He tries to look me in the eyes, but I keep lowering my head.
“Feel like what, Joshua? Please put me down,” I beg again.
“Yes, Joshua. Put her down,” Maya says from the doorway.
“Maya, please let me talk to her.” His voice is razor sharp, as if he's angry she interrupted us.
“No. Ana's already super stressed, and I'm worried about her. I can take care of her. You proved a long time ago you didn't care.”
“What do you mean? You said that earlier. What the bloody hell did I do?” His voice rises.
That’s when I start to cry. I just want to lie down, I don't want to deal with this right now. My nausea is getting worse, and I'm going to throw up all over him if he doesn't put me down soon. I don't want to hear him say I made something out of nothing. “I’m going to honk if you don’t put me down now, and I really don’t want to be sick all over you,” I try to demand, but I’m so weak.
“Did you ever go back to that pub again, Joshua?” Maya asks.
I don't want to hear his answer. I know that it will crush me.
“Yeah, but why does that matter?”
“I guess it doesn't. Put her down and leave.” Maya's angry now.
“Maya, please let her and I talk. This is between us.”
“Don't make me tell you again, or I'll have Duncan come up here. I just want her to calm down. Look at her.”
She points to me, and his head turns to see me silently crying.
Why can’t I be strong and demand he put me down? Why does it feel so right to be in his arms? And why does he look so confused?
“Oh, Ana, my angel, please stop crying. I keep hurting you today, and I don't mean to. I did go back, I kept looking for you.” He gently lowers me to my bed. “I found Duncan and gave him your message. We'll talk about this tomorrow. Good night, Angel. I've missed you.” He kisses my forehead and walks out.
Maya closes the door behind him, then gently removes my shoes from my feet. After she helps get me settled, she climbs into bed next to me, and I roll onto my side to face her.
“He doesn't know, Maya. What if Patrick was wrong and it wasn't him? What if Patrick was working with Jonathan? It would explain so much. That day Joshua told me he was only in town for the day. Maybe he never did go back?” I start to cry harder.
He said he missed me. If he was with someone else, how could he miss me? How can I tell him I went back so often?
“It doesn't matter, Ana. What happened at the doctor's office?” I roll away from her to the opposite side, and grab for the trashcan and proceed to vomit up my dinner.
I knew I was going to be sick. I'm just glad Joshua didn’t see my shame. Maya walks into the bathroom to get me a washcloth and a cup of water. I rinse my mouth and wipe my face as I lie back down to answer her question.
“My blood pressure was a little high, he wants to monitor it and possibly refer me to a specialist. He also wants to do the ultrasound as a precaution to measure the baby's fluid levels. Please don't worry.”
I have to appear strong so I can move into my cottage. I need my own space.
“What's the other test?” she asks
“The doctor wants to do a non-stress test to measure her movements and heart rate for a period of time. I'll also have to go in more often now.”
“I will always worry, you're my sister.”
“Not yet.” I smile at her.
She and Duncan are getting married right after the baby is born. They want her to be a part of it too. I fall asleep with Maya holding my hand just like when we were teenagers. She's the only one that knew about my feelings for Lieutenant. She's always been there for me. She thinks I was there for her, but it was always the other way around. She's my strength.
Chapter Five
