“A nap does sound pretty good to me right now” Shelby told her smiling. Samantha took her home and decided that Stephen should know about her. She was getting worried about Shelby. She seemed to have been getting worse all week. She parked at the garage to go in and see Stephen and Ryan talking to John.
“What are you doing here? I thought that you were taking Shelby shopping and then going to a movie” Stephen asked her. “We went shopping this morning but I had to take Shelby home after lunch.”
“Is she alright?” Stephen asked standing up. “I don’t know Stephen. Have you noticed how tired she has been all week? She looked so exhausted today and said she just wanted to take a nap. Has she been complaining to you about her feet hurting or anything else?” Samantha asked him. “No” Stephen said worried. “Maybe she is just tired she is pregnant” Ryan said. “Maybe Ryan is right. I remember with her mom that her feet got big but that was at the end of the pregnancy” John said concerned.
“Ryan I think I am going to call it a day” Stephen told him. “Of course I think I have one vehicle coming in this afternoon and then I am going to call it a day.”
“Call us if anything happens with Shelby” Samantha told him. “I will and good luck” he told John smiling as he ran out the door. “Good luck on what?” Samantha asked him. “I am going to ask Sara out on a date” John said looking down. “Really? That is so great” Samantha said smiling. “I better go” John told them shaking his head. A few minutes later John made it to the diner to see Sara sitting in the back looking at a book. He sighed and made his way over.
“Is this seat taken?” he asked her. “Hey John of course not have a seat” she told him. “Thanks I wanted to talk to you about something” he told her. “Alright” she told him smiling. “I was wanting to know if you’re free tonight.”
“I didn’t have anything planned.”
“Well there is the county fair going right now and I wanted to know if you wanted to join me.” Sara was absolutely shocked. “Of course” she told him. “Great I have a few things to do but I could meet you here in a few hours.”
“Sounds great” she told him. John walked to the front and winked at Haley before he left. She shook her head and smiled. She was happy that he was finally getting to know Sara. She seemed like a sweet person. Stephen made it home to see Shelby asleep on the couch. Even asleep she looked exhausted. He looked down at her feet and they looked a little swollen. They were supposed to go to the doctor on Monday to find out the sex and he was going to find out what he could do to get her feeling better. He bent down to kiss her cheek and Shelby woke up.
“Stephen?” she asked confused. “Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?”
“I feel a lot better than I did.” She looked over at the clock to see he was home two hours early. “What are you doing home so early?” she asked him. “Samantha came over after she dropped you off. She was concerned about you.”
“I am sorry you had to leave early. I just get so exhausted here lately” she said yawning. “How about I give you a foot massage.”
“That sounds like heaven” she told him grinning. Stephen massaged her feet for a while and they talked about their day. “So how are things going at the garage?” she asked him. “We were pretty busy today and then your dad came to visit.”
“How is he doing?” she asked him. “Well it looks like your match making skills are working. He was going to ask Sara out” he told her. “Really?” Shelby asked smiling. “I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens. What would you like to do for dinner?” he asked her. “Alright I know this is going to seem silly but I want to go to the fair.”
“Really?” he asked her shocked. He knew how tired she had become lately. “We don’t have to stay long but dad used to always take us and I wanted to take you last year but I was in the hospital at the time.”
“Alright we will get ready and go but if you start to feel bad at all you have to let me know.”
“I will” she said smiling. They made it to the fair and went on the Ferris wheel and ate some funnel cake. “This is so good” she said giving him a bite. “I have to say this is pretty cool. I don’t think I ever went to this when I was younger.”
“Really? Dad used to tell me it was a big deal in high school.”
“I know I think I was so busy with Lily or playing sports” he said smiling. Shelby was about to respond when she seen something that made her smile. “What is it?” Stephen asked her. “Look behind you” she told him. Stephen turned around to see John and Sara walking around holding hands. “I guess he asked her” Stephen said smiling. Do you want to go say hi? I don’t know that might make them nervous. “Do you remember when we first started to see each other?” Shelby said smiling. “Yeah you asked me to go on a hike and I was convinced you were going to break your neck” he said laughing.
“That seems so long ago” she said laughing. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love you” she told Stephen. “Not a fraction as much as I love you Shelby” he said leaning over to kiss her. Sara looked over to where they were and smiled. “What is it?” John asked her. “Look” she told him pointing at Shelby and Stephen. “Did you want to say hi?” he asked her. “No I think that they need this time alone” she told him. “So can I ask you something?”
“Sure what is it?” she asked. “Is it true that you had a crush on me in high school?”
“Oh who told you that?” she said laughing. “Stephen told me” he said blushing.
“I think every girl in school had a crush on you but you didn’t notice anyone but Hannah. I was very sorry to hear she died. We weren’t really friends in school but she always seemed so nice to everyone.”
“She was and thank you. It was a very hard battle for her but I know she is in a better place now” he told her. “So what about us?” Sara asked him. “What do you mean?”
“Do you want to date me more or was this a onetime thing?”
“How about we take it one day at a time” he told her. “I would like that” she told him. Monday morning Shelby and Stephen were a nervous wreck. “Are you ready?” Stephen asked her. “Yeah I am just so nervous” she told him. “I am too” he told her smiling. They made it to the doctor and the doctor came in.
“How are we feeling?” he asked them. “I think were both nervous” Shelby told him. “That is understandable” Doctor Rivers said. “I am also concerned about Shelby. She has been so exhausted lately and her ankles have started to swell some” Stephen told him. “Let’s take a look” he told her. He listened to her heart and frowned. He checked her feet and then went to write on the computer.
“I am a little concerned because your heartbeat was slow. I want you to take it easy and prop your feet up as often as you can. I don’t want you doing a lot of things and for now you need to come in once a week for me to check you heartbeat. I don’t want you to end up with preeclampsia” he told her. “Okay” Shelby said worried.
“Don’t look so down as long as you follow my instructions you should be fine. Now how about we go look at this baby” he told them smiling. Shelby stepped down and Stephen held her hand on the way to the ultrasound room. “This might be a little cold” the technician told her. They had smiles on their faces when they looked at the screen.
“Do you want to know the sex?” she asked them. “Yes” they both said. “Congratulations you’re having a girl” she told them.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“We’re having a girl?” Shelby asked with tears in her eyes. “Yes your baby looks very good and healthy” she told them. Shelby looked over at Stephen to see tears in his eyes as he watched their daughter on the screen. “Are you okay?” she asked him. He looked over at her and smiled. “I am great” he told her smiling tightly. They had planned to have their friends and family come over tonight to share the news. Shelby was going to make some chili since it was so cold.
“I am going to go out for some drinks for tonight. I will be back later” Stephen s
aid kissing her cheek. Shelby watched him leave and sighed. She was worried about him. He had barely spoken to her at all since they had left the hospital. She knew that this was probably hard on him. He had already lost one child and he was worried about her and the baby. It felt so good for Shelby to be able to think of their baby as a girl. She couldn’t wait to go out and shop for the baby now that she knew what it was. An hour later there was a knock on the door and Sara came in.
“Hey I hope you don’t mind if I am early. I ran into Stephen at the store and he forgot he had work to finish at the garage so he asked me to bring over the drinks.” Shelby sighed and let her in. “If you’re busy I can go” she told her. “No its not you. After we left the doctor’s office Stephen barely spoke a word to me and then he said he had to get things from the store. I am just worried about him. I think it was easier for him when he didn’t see our child on the screen.”
“I am sure it’s not easy with him loosing Timothy” Sara said. “I know I guess I am just worried that he is going to be upset about the pregnancy again.”
“I don’t think that will happen. Just give him some time” she told her. “So how are things going with my dad?” Shelby asked her. “We are taking it one day at a time but I think that it’s going well” she told her. A few hours later everyone had arrived but Stephen was still gone. Ryan came in last and came over to Shelby.
“I am sorry but Stephen told you to start without him. He said he wouldn’t make it in time.”
“Oh” Shelby said heartbroken. “Just give him some time I think this is rough on him.”
“I know and that is what worries me” she told him. “Alright Ryan told me that Stephen has to work a little later so I guess we can eat” she told them. “Not before you tell me what you’re having” John said sternly. “Come on we are dying to know” Samantha told her. “Alright I guess I shouldn’t keep you all in suspense. We are having a daughter” she told them. Everyone clapped and hollered and John came over to give her a hug. “I am so happy for you sweetheart.”
“Thanks daddy” she told him. “We can’t wait to spoil our niece” Haley said with Cody grinning. “We will have to go shopping” Samantha told her. “Thanks I am going to get the bowls and silverware ready.”
“I will go help you” Sara told her. “I am so happy for you guys. I can’t wait to spoil your child. Are you okay?” Sara asked her. “Yeah Ryan told me Stephen wasn’t going to make it to the party.”
“I am sorry but I am so happy for you two. How do you feel about having a little girl?”
“I didn’t care what I had as long as the baby was healthy. Now that I think about it as a girl it excites me that I can go shopping for little girl’s clothes and paint her room.”
“We will definitely have to go shopping soon” Sara told her. A few hours later everyone left and Shelby fell asleep on the couch waiting for Stephen.
Stephen had spent the whole afternoon thinking about the doctor’s appointment. It had not seemed real to him until he seen the tiny body on the screen. He had been so busy when he was married to Lily that he had not had time to go to appointments with her. When the doctor had said the baby was a girl he felt like he was going to lose it. The thought of this little life being a girl and his daughter almost undid him. He got to thinking about Timothy on the way home and it made him feel guilty that he was happy about having another baby. He had went by the cemetery to lay some flowers on their graves before going into work. He knew that he was worrying Shelby but he felt like he needed to get through all of this by himself. He made it home pretty late and walked inside. He seen there was a light on in the living room and he went to turn it off. When he stepped inside he seen Shelby lying on the couch with her eyes closed and tears on her cheeks. He hated it that she was upset and he caressed her cheek. Shelby opened her eyes and looked at him.
“Your home” she said worried. “I am sorry about today” he told her. “I just needed some time to myself to work things out” he told her. “I know and it’s okay but if you need to talk to me I am here” Shelby told him. “Thank you for saying that. I am alright for now I just want to take you upstairs and sleep with you in my arms” he told her. “Sounds like a good plan to me” she told him.
They walked upstairs and got ready for bed. A while later Shelby fell asleep on Stephen’s chest and he smiled down at her. He felt so lucky to have her in his life and to have this child in their life also. He was about to fall asleep when he felt a poke coming from Shelby’s stomach. He waited a minute and felt it again. He rolled Shelby over and lifted her shirt. “Hey little girl” he said caressing her stomach. “Mommy and daddy can’t wait to see you and hold you” he told her. The more he talked to her the more movement she would give. He kissed her stomach and laid back down. Shelby opened her eyes and smiled at him. “You’re going to make a great father” she told him kissing his cheek. “I hope so” he told her. “Have you thought about a name?” Stephen asked her. I have I would like to name her Hannah after my mother.”
“Alright” he said smiling. “I thought that her middle name could be Mae after my grandmother Paige. It was her middle name” she told him. “I think it’s absolutely perfect” he told her kissing her forehead.
Over the next few months Shelby had to go to the doctor every week and she was concerned that her heartrate had not gone back to normal. They had gave her medicine to help but it made her sick to her stomach and she couldn’t take it very well. Stephen was growing more concerned by the day because of how tired she was and how she didn’t look well. They had just got all of the baby furniture and clothes situated in the room last weekend and everything was ready for their baby.
“It looks perfect in here” Shelby told him hugging him. “I agree I can’t wait to bring Hannah home he said trying to be encouraging. “I have a feeling everything is going to be just fine” she told him. Tonight was Friday and Shelby was determined to make a nice dinner and for them to relax. When Stephen came home she had just taken a lasagna out of the oven and put it on the counter right before she got dizzy.
“Woah” she said hanging onto the counter. “Hey, are you okay?” Stephen asked coming over. “I don’t know I just got real dizzy all of a sudden.” Stephen felt of her pulse and it was not where it should be. “Come and sit down” he told her. “Have you been resting today?” he asked her worried. “I tried too I only got up this afternoon to get dinner ready.”
“Alright just take it easy and I will get everything on the table.” They had a nice relaxing dinner and Shelby was about to get up to get the dishes done when she collapsed to the floor. “Shelby!” Stephen yelled out to her. He got his phone and called the ambulance. As soon as they got there he went with them and locked the house up. She had still not woken up and he was worried. They arrived at the hospital and took her straight back.
“You need to stay in the waiting room until we call you back” the nurse told him. “Please just help her” he told her. “We will do all that we can do” the nurse said and rushed off.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Thirty minutes later Stephen was pacing the floor when Doctor Rivers came out. ‘Stephen” he called out to him. “How is she?” he asked worried. “I am sorry to say she has preeclampsia.”
“What do we do?” he asked worried. “Right now we are just trying to make her comfortable but if we can’t get her blood pressure down we will have to deliver the baby.”
“She is only eight months pregnant” Stephen told him. “Isn’t it too soon for that?” Stephen asked worried. “Of course we want her to keep the baby inside as long as she can but if it becomes crucial we will have to deliver. If you will follow me I will lead you to her room” he told him. Stephen followed him to the room and seen that Shelby was sleeping.
“We gave her some medicine that knocked her out. She needs all of the rest that she can get” he told him leaving the room. Stephen sighed and walked over to her. He reached down and kissed her forehead. And sat down to hold he
r hand. Stephen started to pray that everything would be alright. Meanwhile over at the diner John and Sara were having dinner when Ryan rushed in.
“What’s wrong?” John asked him. “Samantha just got a call from Stephen. Shelby fainted at the house earlier and they had to rush her to the hospital. The doctor says she has preeclampsia and they are going to have to keep her.”
“Let’s go” John told Sara. “We will be there as soon as we close” Haley told him having heard what happened. They all arrived at the hospital and went to the room. Samantha was hugging Stephen when they entered. “I am sorry I didn’t call you John I figured you would find out soon enough” Stephen told him. “What are the doctors saying?” he asked him. “They are trying to make her as comfortable as possible and are trying to make sure they try to keep her blood pressure down. If it can’t stay down with medicine they are going to have to deliver” he told him. “We will just have to pray” John told him. “That is all that I have been doing” he told him with tears in his eyes. “She is pretty out of it right now so she will probably sleep through the night” he told them. “I think I am going to stay” John told him. “I would like to also” Samantha said. “If you want I can give you a ride home Sara. I will open up the garage in the morning” Ryan told him. “Thanks man I don’t know when I will be back.”
“Don’t even worry about that. Just stay close to her” he told him. John went outside to call Paige. He knew she would be heartbroken to hear the news. “Hello?” Paige said answering. “Hey momma it’s me” he said sighing. “What is it?” Paige asked alarmed. “They are having to keep Shelby in the hospital.”
“I am on my way” she told him. Sara and Ryan said their goodbyes and left and Samantha and John stayed with them through the night. Cody and Haley had come after work and stayed a while before they went back home with a promise to come back in the morning. Later that evening Samantha called Madison and Samuel and they were going to try to get a flight out as soon as they could. The next morning John and Samantha went down for breakfast and Shelby finally woke up. Stephen was reading a magazine and Shelby looked at him confused.
The Decision Page 12