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Chapter Twenty-One
“Amelia?” Leo’s voice didn’t sound familiar, didn’t seem like it came from his body. It barely carried but she heard him. He tried again, certain the calm person he’d always been was still inside him somewhere. “H-how is this possible? I-I don’t understand. I don’t understand anything.”
Suddenly lightheaded, he stumbled forward, catching the side of the receptionist counter to hold himself up.
Baylor was beside him as he sank to the floor. “Leo, take a deep breath. Settle yourself, focus on your breathing until your brain comes back online.”
Leo closed his eyes but it felt like the room was spinning and he knew he was in danger of passing out for the first time in his life.
“Pull it together, man.” Baylor smacked his cheek lightly and then again. “Pull your shit together and get on your feet.”
Fighting for balance, Leo pulled air deep into his lungs and held it. He repeated it three times and nodded at his bodyguard. Baylor gripped his hand and pulled him off the floor but maintained a hold on Leo’s shoulder as his charge swayed.
“Leo…”
“I’m good. I’m good.”
Amelia was frozen in place, a look of sheer terror on her face. The realization snapped Leo back into the moment as nothing else could have. He rubbed his hands roughly over his face and stepped away from Baylor.
“Amelia, are you actually pregnant?” She nodded slowly. “You have our baby growing inside you?” She nodded again and twisted her hands together nervously. “How? Can you tell me how? I was there when the doctor told us what he had to do to save your life.” A shocking possibility entered his mind. “Is the baby growing in your fallopian tubes? That’s dangerous for both of you.”
“No,” she answered weakly. “It’s not that.” Leo walked toward her and she flinched nervously.
“I’d never hurt you. Never, Amelia.”
“I know. It’s just…”
Augusta said carefully, “He’s just not sure what’s happening, Amy. That’s all. His first concern is you. It will always be you.” Her mother turned to him. “It’s a miracle, Leo. Something that happens more than anyone would believe but...still rare.”
Raking his fingers through his hair, he straightened. “Alright. Tell me. Help me understand what’s happening.”
Augusta looked at Amelia who remained frozen with wide eyes. “Shall I explain?” With a nod, Amelia kept her eyes on Leo. Clearing her throat, she said, “A couple of weeks after Amy returned here, I-I asked her if I could visit. I knew why she didn’t want you in Washington but...I hoped to have some time with her to heal things between us.”
“I didn’t know you came,” Leo murmured.
“Amy had some abdominal pain, was sick for several days, and didn’t want to worry you. With the s-scar tissue from her surgery, I worried there might be a problem.” She cleared her throat. “I found a gynecologist who specializes in patients with issues outside the norm. He did a full workup.”
“He...said Amelia was pregnant.”
“Yes. We both told him it was impossible and he did a few more tests. At this point, she’s had a dozen exams and ultrasounds. There’s no doubt that Amy is pregnant with your child.”
“I still don’t understand!” Leo’s voice was semi-hysterical. “We were told...they said they took her womb. How is it possible? How is it safe?”
“As it turns out, Amy has an extremely rare condition called didelphic uterus. It was something no one ever caught because doctors don’t look for it.”
He frowned. “What does that mean?”
“She was born with two, Leo.” He stumbled back a step and Baylor braced his shoulders from behind. “Both were attached to fallopian tubes and each had their own cervix. When one was removed, the fallopian tubes simply used the other. It happened over years...a slow healing.” She inhaled carefully. “The night she was bleeding out, the doctor was focused on stopping the hemorrhaging. They removed her uterus and one of her ovaries. They never saw the other uterus because there was so much t-trauma.”
“A second uterus.”
Augusta nodded. “Had I explained, you wouldn’t have believed it. You had to see it for yourself.”
Amelia whispered, “I wanted to tell you, Leo. I did. I just...I didn’t want your worry for me to overshadow the second chance I was given.”
He frowned. “That means there’s measurable risk to your safety, to the safety of the baby. Risk you didn’t want me weighing in on. That’s why you kept it from me.” He closed his eyes and added, “You’re gambling with your life to give me a child as if that’s the only thing I want from you.”
“No, Leo. There aren’t any…”
