Saving Forever - Part 5 (Saving Forever #5)

by Lexy Timms

  Chapter 8

  “I’m glad to hear your flight went well.” Charity sat across from her mother-in-law and her father. She had eaten way too much food, but it had all tasted so good. They all had. Elijah had outdone himself with the barbecue and by the time they had arrived back at her dad’s place, everyone had been hungry. The aroma of barbecue and meat cooking had waffled through the sliding door and teased everyone till all they could talk about was food.

  Now everyone had eaten and were relaxing comfortably around the dinner table. Elijah got up to pour more wine into their glasses, purposely skipping over Charity’s still full glass.

  “Charity, you haven’t even touched your wine.” Her father pointed at the glass. “I picked up your favorite.”

  She stood and picked up her and Elijah’s dishes to clear away. “I think I’ll just have a tea.” She headed to the kitchen and set the plates in the dishwasher and switched the kettle on. She heard her father tell Margaret about how she was now back at med-school finishing up her residence. He laughed when he said Charity was trying to keep up with the young kids.

  Charity came back and sat down beside Elijah, who reached for her hand under the table and squeezed it. She smiled at him.

  Margaret watched their exchange. “You’re having a baby.”

  Elijah and Charity stared at her in surprise and said at the same time, “Pardon?”

  Margaret smiled, evidently amused. “Charity’s having a baby.”

  Her father nearly spilled his wine. “Impossible! She’s finishing her residence. They can plan for children in a few years.”

  Margaret rolled her eyes at Charity’s dad. “Scott, she can do both.”

  “No you can’t.” Scott turned to Elijah for help. “Explain to your mother the hours and amount of work involved.”

  Elijah leaned back in his chair. “You’re right. It is a ton of work. It’s hard enough to do without family, but to have to carry a baby.” He shook his head. “It would seem near impossible.”

  Scott clapped his hands. “See, told you, Margaret.”

  “But Charity is doing it. She’s in her second trimester. Nearly twenty weeks.” He smirked as he looked back and forth to his mother and father-in-law.”

  Charity burst out laughing. She couldn’t tell who was more surprised, her father or Elijah’s mom. “I’m sorry.” She covered her mouth with the hand not in Elijah’s. “Why do you both look so surprised?”

  Margaret spoke first. “Five months? You’re almost five months? You mean weeks, right? You are almost five weeks along?”

  “Is this some kind of prank?” Her father set his crystal wine glass on the table. “It’s impossible!”

  Charity smiled at her father. “I assure you Dad, it is very possible. No joke.”

  “You’re really pregnant?” he whispered.

  “I am.”

  “Who’s your OB?”

  “Dr. Govender.”

  “Good choice. But why the hell did you go back to the hospital to work? Once the baby’s born, you aren’t going to want to go back.”

  There was the old Dr. Scott Thompson sharing his opinion as if it was the only one that mattered.

  “Scott!” Margaret’s tone held a warning. “Don’t say another word. These kids are grown up enough to make their own decisions.”

  “Or mistakes,” Scott muttered but didn’t say anything else.

  “Times are different than they were for us. If Charity wants to finish her education and become a doctor, that is her choice to make. If I recall correctly, you were just going on and on the other day, when we were FaceTiming, about how proud you were of her. Why would that change now?”

  “Time out a minute,” Elijah interrupted. “You FaceTime?”

  “Of course.”

  “Why haven’t you ever FaceTimed me?”

  “You never gave me your iPad address? I’ve asked you and you never sent it.”

  “Oh. Okay.” Elijah shook his head.

  Margaret turned her attention back to Scott. “You should be even prouder of your daughter now. I think it’s amazing! Now I have two children to brag about and finally a grandchild!” She got up and walked around the table, putting her arms around Elijah and Charity. “Before Elijah met Charity, I was beginning to doubt I would ever have one.” She squeezed Charity’s shoulder. “Or at least one I would ever have the opportunity to meet.”

  “Mum!” Elijah looked mortified.

  She kissed the top of his head. “Oh sweetie, calm down. Charity’s the best thing that ever happened to you. We both know that.” She straightened and clapped her hands. “So what have you all done to prepare for this new arrival? Do you know what you’re having? Have you started decorating the room? Have you bought stuff? You’re going to breastfeed, I assume. What about pumping? Are your friends throwing a baby shower? Ohhh! I’d love to plan one while I’m here.”

  Charity blinked, trying to focus on the questions and pick which ones to answer. She didn’t what to say to most of them. She had the book, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” but hadn’t had time to read much. She knew the process of having a baby and giving birth but hadn’t been through it or watched anyone go through it. Elijah had suggested avoiding the maternity and birthing floor until after the baby was born. She thought it was a good idea.

  Except now she suddenly didn’t feel like she knew anything. Margaret knew more. Maybe she should do a rotation on the prenatal floor.

  Elijah must have seen her face. He chuckled and put his hand on Charity’s knee. “We’re working on sorting out the details. We haven’t done much.”

  Margaret smiled. “You were waiting for me, weren’t you? You want me to organize the nursery?” She hugged Elijah and then Charity. “That’s the nicest thing you could ever ask me to do! I would love to help!”

  Charity tried not to laugh. They hadn’t planned that at all, but she didn’t mind letting Margaret take care of the baby’s room. She had no idea what she would need. “We don’t know if the peanut is a boy or a girl yet.”

  “Are you going to find out?” Margaret went to her purse and pulled out her phone. “I’m going to start making a list! I’ll find neutral colors and bedding.” She smiled up at Charity. “I will show you everything before I buy it. You pick it out or just tell me to back off if you find I’m being all in your face.”

  Elijah chuckled. “In your face?” He glanced at Charity’s dad. “You okay with becoming a grandpa?”

  “Nobody asked me.”

  Was he serious? This had to be all about him! Charity sucked in a sharp breath, ready to ream him out.

  “I’m kidding, Charity. I was joking!” He smiled and looked around. “Your mother always wanted this house filled with children. She couldn’t have more after she had you, so she always talked about the day when this place would be filled with the pitter-patter of little feet.”

  Margaret nodded in agreement. “This house would be wonderful filled with grandbabies. We can’t sell Rapt Bach now! Those babies of yours need to see where their daddy grew up. They need to see the house their granddaddy built!”

  Elijah grinned. “Slow down, Nanny and Grandfather. It’s one baby. Not two or no intention of another one straight after.” He glanced at Charity. “Right?”

  Charity’s mood lifted. The excitement from everyone made her feel like the baby was a very welcomed addition. She had worried about the hospital and everything, they would think she was crazy. “Let’s just start with one… and go from there.” She winked slyly at Elijah and smiled when his eyes lit with a heat saved only for her.

  “You have a twenty-week scan coming up?” Charity’s dad held up his glass of wine. “Then let's cheers to new life, new beginnings and finding out if this fetus is a boy or a girl.”

  “It’s a baby,” Charity and Elijah said at the same time.

  “Do you want to find out?” Elijah asked.

  Charity shrugged. “Sure.” She felt like they had already had this conversatio
n but saying it in front of their parents seemed to make it permanent. “Let’s find out.” She held up her mug and realized it was still empty. She hadn’t poured the hot water that must have already boiled a while back. “Cheers!”

  Elijah grabbed his mother’s wine and handed it to her and then raised his own glass. They all clinked and Charity pretended to take a sip of her tea bag. “Margaret?”

  “Yes?”

  “Are you sure you don’t mind helping to do the nursery? I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed and would love to have you help me pick out what we’ll need and decorate. If the room looks a tenth of what you have done to your house, it’ll be award winning.”

  Margaret beamed. Literally beamed with excitement. “I would love to! I’ll show you designs and styles. I’m going to pay for all of it.”

  “No, you’re not, Mom.”

  She teasingly swatted Elijah on the back of his head. “Nonsense! This is my gift. I’m going to have to plan more trips here. You have three rooms in your place and one of them is an office. We’re going to need to get a bed in that room for me.”

  “Why don’t you stay here with me?” Scott suggested.

  Charity’s mouth fell open. Had he just asked her mother-in-law to stay with him in his house? Dirty old man was her first thought. Smart Dad was her second. It gave her and Elijah privacy. It would eliminate the worry of keeping Margaret entertained and then having to set up a place to sleep. And house cleaning. I wouldn’t have to worry about that.

  Everyone looked around but didn’t say anything.

  “I can help you set up the nursery… if you’d like.” Scott cleared his throat. “I’d love it if you stayed here.”

  I bet my ass you would, Elijah mouthed to Charity behind both their parent’s backs. She shushed him with a quick finger to her mouth.

  Margaret played with her perfectly styled hair. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”

  “Your bags are already here.” Her dad cleared his throat again. “You don’t even have to move them.” He glanced quickly at Charity and Elijah, not meeting either of their gazes. “There’s the guest room you freshened up in when you got here.”

  Charity pressed her lips tight together to stop any giggle from escaping. They had totally planned this out earlier. Totally.

  Chapter 9

  “Dr. Thompson-Bennet?” A small nurse scurried over to Charity, Mandy and David, the other resident working with them that morning.

  “Yes?” Charity pulled off her latex gloves and tossed them in the appropriate bin. She had just finished suturing a man’s leg. The three residents were in the Emergency room today. She checked her watch. She had her ultrasound in an hour. The past week had flown by. She smiled. Elijah’s mother hadn’t wasted any time in getting started at the house for the nursery. She had everything out, the room primed and after today would let the painters back to finish. Had it only been a week?

  The nurse cleared her throat. “I’ve admitted four new patients that need prompt care. I can’t get a hold of Dr. Thompson.”

  “He’s not in today.” She remembered Elijah saying that her father had booked a lot of days off, leaving him to carry the extra work. He wasn’t complaining, in fact, he was quite amused at how much time her father wanted to spend with his mother. She had booked her trip for three weeks and was considering adding a few more to the holiday. “Dr. Bennet is in surgery right now. What do you need?”

  “I need more doctors.” The nurse smiled, but the frustration on her face couldn’t be missed.

  Charity didn’t recognize the nurse. She glanced at her name tag. Nancy. She figured she was kind of new. “You’ve got three right here. What do you want us to do?”

  Nancy sighed with relief. “Follow me.”

  “So much for a break,” Mandy teased as she walked beside Charity.

  Nancy handed Mandy the first file. “This one needs sutures and is complaining about dizziness. I wasn’t sure how fast I could find help so I gave them all a bit of privacy.” The plaid curtains were closed around all the patients. She gave the next file to David. “This guy’s pretty big. He’s complaining about chest pain. He says it’s acid reflux, but his wife disagrees.” She stopped at the next curtain and then moved passed it when a scream of agony came out of the next patient. “Maybe you should go there first.” Nancy flipped to the bottom file. “Patient fell and hurt her shoulder.” She leaned close to Charity. “I think it might be broken.” She handed Charity the file and scampered away to the front desk where a phone started ringing.

  Charity skimmed the file. “Alright, Miss Mary.” She slipped between the closed curtains. “I’m Doctor Thompson-Bennet.” She really did need to figure something out with her name. Maybe TB? “What happened today?” She set the file down on the table beside the bed and glanced down at the patient’s shoulder. She reached out to palpate the woman’s clavicle. “Oh shit!” she hissed and stepped back.

  Miss Mary stared wide-eyed at Charity. “There is no way in hell you are touching me!” The woman’s hair had been dyed brown. The last time Charity had seen the woman her hair had been blonde, and before that red.

  “Laura?” Charity grabbed the chart and double-checked the name. Miss Mary Bernadette. She frowned. There was a restraining order against this woman. She wasn’t supposed to come anywhere near Charity or Elijah. Charity pressed her hand against her ribcage, just below her heart. This was the woman who had shot her! Different hair but same damn woman! “You can’t be here!”

  Laura glared and then scowled as she grabbed her shoulder near her neck. “Don’t you think I know that? It’s not like I drove myself. The paramedics brought me here.” Laura slumped forward and tried to swing her legs over the hospital bed. “When the hell did you become a doctor? I thought you did stupid-ass charity work, Charity Thompson.” Her eyes widened when Charity put her hands on her hips. “You’re pregnant!”

  “Watch your language.” Charity frowned, ignoring Laura’s last comment. “Stay put. I’ll find someone else to help you.” She popped her head out of the curtain. “Nancy!” she called but didn’t see the nurse anywhere.

  “You married him, didn’t you? And now you’re having his baby? Is that how you did it? You knocked yourself up just so he had to marry you?” Laura continued to ramble on incoherently, “Now you’re pretending to be a doctor. You’re going to try and kill me. That’s why I fell! The ghost pushed me and told the medics to bring me here to you.” She gasped. “You planned all of this, didn’t you? You’re the devil’s spawn! Witch!”

  Charity stared at her, her feet frozen on the spot.

  Laura lunged at her and cried out just before she fell off the bed. She dropped liked a ragdoll, having fainted from the pain.

  Charity had no choice but to assist the woman. She checked her vitals and threw the curtain open.

  A paramedic walking by heading back outside dropped beside Charity to help. “Need a little help?” he asked.

  “Thanks.” The two of them managed to turn Laura over onto her back. Charity checked her airway and palpated her shoulder. “Clavicle’s broken.”

  Nancy appeared with another nurse as if on cue. They both rushed to help as Laura came to, screaming in pain.

  Charity instructed the nurses to administer pain meds and X-Rays. The paramedic stepped out of the way and Charity followed him. “Did you bring her in?”

  He shook his head. “Three of us arrived at the same time. Sorry. She, uh, seems a bit, ah, how should I say this… Off her meds?”

  Charity smiled. “Luckily, not your problem. Thanks so much for helping me.” She looked and saw David step out of his cubicle. “David!” She hurried over to him. “I need your help.”

  “I need to get this guy in for some more tests.”

  “We have to switch patients.”

  David laughed. “I’m not taking the screaming woman. Dr. Thompson’s daughter or Dr. Bennet’s wife, either call is not going to work with me.”

  She grabbed his slee
ve. “That’s not why. The woman in there… I have a restraining order against her and is banned from this hospital. That is also by order of the court.”

  That grabbed David’s attention. “Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then why is she here?”

  Charity threw her hands up. “I don’t know! She had a different name on her file. Maybe she lied to the paramedics. Maybe she changed her name. The woman is nuts. She probably broke her clavicle just to get brought in.”

  “That seems a bit far-fetched.” David handed her his tablet. “I’ll get her sorted.”

  “She can’t stay here.” Her father would have another heart attack if he found out. She reached for her phone to call Elijah’s cell. He needed to know. Her hand was shaking so bad she dropped her phone. She dropped down to pick it up. The woman knew she was pregnant! What if she tried to stab Charity with a needle in her belly? She couldn’t dismiss any possibility. “Where’s Nancy?” She hadn’t been paying attention if Nancy had left Laura. Security needed to be contacted.

  “Who’s Nancy?” David asked, heading toward Laura’s cubicle.

  “The head nurse in Emerg.” Charity swallowed and straightened. She was a doctor first, scared woman second. “She might be with Laura. The woman’s name is not Mary Bernadette.” She dialed Elijah’s number and moved toward an empty cubicle. “That’s the woman that tried to sue the hospital.”

  David stopped walking. He spun around and whispered quietly. “The one that tried saying Dr. Bennet had sexually harassed her?”

  Charity nodded.

  “I’m not helping her. Let the woman suffer. My internship was delayed three months because of her.”

  Charity chuckled. It wasn’t funny, but somehow, it was. “You’re a doctor, David! You have to put personal opinion aside.”

  David’s eyebrows rose. “Then why aren’t you treating her?”

  “’Cause she shot me.”

  David took a step back. “What?”

  Charity put her phone to her ear when she heard Elijah’s voice. “Hello?”

  “I’m in surgery right now. My hands are inside some guy’s stomach. I didn’t mess up the ultrasound time?”