11: Chapter 11

RYAN

It was late. Ryan had no idea who was banging on her door, waking her from an uneasy sleep in a bed that didn’t feel familiar anymore.

She grabbed her baseball bat before going to answer it.

“Marco?” She hadn’t expected him to just show up here. Hadn’t she been clear that she wanted space?

He looked hurt and relieved at the same time. “I’ve been trying to call you for hours. Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?” He took a deep breath and pulled her in for a hug.

She could feel the tears starting again, and she pulled away, remembering with a jolt exactly why she’d wanted space. “You can’t take him away from me.”

He looked confused for a moment, then sighed and led them both inside to sit together on the couch. “I didn’t mean it like that. I would never take our child away from you. We’re a family. I’m sorry if I’ve ever said anything that made you think otherwise.

“What I meant was that don’t want to see you miss out on spending time with him. I was just agreeing with Anna that you should cut your schedule back.”

Ryan worked hard to believe him. She was tired, and scared, and everything felt difficult.

Marco pulled her into his lap. “Don’t ever scare me like that again, kitten. Even if we fight, you can’t just disappear without letting me know where you’re going.”

She tucked her face into his chest. “I didn’t mean to make you worry about him.”

He kissed the top of her head. “It wasn’t just him I was worried about.”

“I was angry with you,” she explained.

“Next time, talk to me and tell me what’s upsetting you so I can fix it.”

That sounded so…logical, when he said it like that. “I’m sorry,” she said in a small voice.

He placed one arm beneath her legs and stood up. “Let’s get you to bed.”

Ryan was half-asleep before he even made it to the bedroom, snuggling into Marco’s firm hold as he slipped her beneath the covers and then curled around her.

He’d come to get her. He was here. Maybe…maybe he really wasn’t going anywhere.

MARCO

Marco woke up before Ryan, so he ended up watching her sleep for a few minutes. She looked fragile somehow. It felt like he had to stand guard.

He managed to pull himself away when his stomach rumbled for breakfast. But after months of this house standing empty, there was nothing edible in the fridge. He decided to duck out and grab a breakfast sandwich around the corner.

Ryan was awake and on the phone when he walked back in half an hour later, so he sat quietly as she finished.

“Everything all right?” he asked, keeping his voice light.

“That was Dr. Wyatt. I’m meeting with her before my shift to discuss my work schedule.”

Marco nodded, then looked around at the half-empty house. “I didn’t know you were still paying rent on this.” He knew why she was; it was her safety net. But he didn’t like it.

He was falling for this woman; he was all in. He just wished he knew how to make her feel safe enough to commit to him that same way.

“Just having trouble giving it up,” she said, looking down at her hands.

They ate breakfast in silence. He suspected they were both still feeling a little shaky after yesterday’s drama, though he was glad at least that Ryan was going to think about reducing her hours.

“I’ll be back tonight,” she said as she pulled together her stuff for work. “I mean, I’ll be back at your—at our house. If that’s okay.”

“More than okay with me,” he said, smiling at her.

“I won’t be late,” she said, and it felt like a promise.

RYAN

Ryan made her way to Dr. Wyatt’s office for their meeting.

“Come in,” called the doctor. She was an older woman with graying hair and glasses.

“Thank you for squeezing me in,” said Ryan, taking a seat and feeling unreasonably nervous.

“It’s not a problem. What did you want to discuss?”

Ryan shifted her weight. “I’m pregnant, and I was wondering if I’d be able to cut back on my hours.”

“Congratulations!” said Dr. Wyatt, grinning. “Who is your OB?”

“Anna. She recommended that I rest more, since the baby’s a little small.”

Dr. Wyatt nodded. “I remember what it was like when I was pregnant with my children. It’s not easy to be on your feet all day. How far along are you?”

“Twenty weeks.”

Dr. Wyatt looked her over, eyes lingering on her belly. “You certainly don’t look like it.” She typed on the computer and brought up Ryan’s file. “Your blood pressure has been elevated; are you feeling all right?”

“Just a little tired,” Ryan said.

“Our jobs are stressful enough, let alone doing them while pregnant.” Dr. Wyatt paused, tapping at her lip with a pen. “I’m not happy about your blood pressure. I want you to take two weeks off, and then I’ll recheck it.

“If it’s still high, I won’t allow you back to work until after the baby is born. This is a very serious matter, and I take the health of my staff very seriously.”

Ryan stared at her boss, shocked.

Dr. Wyatt took her glasses off. “Look, when I was pregnant with my first one, my OB warned me to cut back on my hours and stress, but I didn’t. I was a young doctor; I thought I could do everything, and it almost cost me my daughter.

“I don’t ever want anyone to experience what I went through. Don’t stress if you aren’t able to come back for a while; your job will still be here for you when you are.”

“Thank you,” Ryan murmured, numb.

Dr. Wyatt smiled. “You let me know if you need anything.”

Afterward, Ryan sat in her office, making sure that all her notes were done before she sent her patient files to other doctors. She called Anna to let her know as well.

“Dr. Wyatt is very wise,” said Anna, a smile in her voice. “I’ll miss having you around at work, but you need to take care of yourself.”

Ryan sighed. “I know. I will; I promise.”