Page 48 of Marrying a Billionaire

So, she dropped her gaze as waited as Tamara boarded, and then Bert took off. Once they were far enough away, she glanced down to see Reed had not moved from his spot. She could tell his face was tilted up, watching them leave.

Now alone, a sob escaped her lips. She was losing everything. Reed. The baby. Anyone who would ever think of her as family would be out of her life in moments. And then what was she going to do?

Tamara glanced over at her. Sympathy washed over her countenance.

“It’s not too late,” she said through the headset microphone.

Lillian shook her head. “Yes it is. It’s all too late.” She wiped her tears as another contraction came. Hunching over, she breathed through the pain.

Once it was over, she swallowed. If only she could somehow breathe through the pain of a broken heart, she just might be able to survive this evening.

They landed on the helicopter pad of New York Presbyterian hospital. As soon as Bert opened the door, a stretcher appeared. Before Lillian had time to think, she was strapped to is and wheeled inside.

A nurse was shouting at her and she was trying as hard as she could to answer her questions. Thankfully, Tamara was there, spouting all the facts for her. Right now, Lillian hurt so bad, she could barely breathe.

When they got her to Labor and Delivery, the realization of what was happening settled in around her. She was going to lose a baby. Again.

She squeezed her eyes shut as she tried to push out all of her fears and calm her mind.

“How are you feeling?” a deep voice asked.

Lillian glanced up to see that a doctor had come in. He was staring at her chart and then over to her.

“How long until this is all over?” she asked. She needed an ending point, or she just might not make it through the night.

“That’s what we are going to try to avoid.” He grew silent as he studied the clipboard. “It looks like you are only a centimeter dilated, so that’s a good sign. We’ve given you some terbutaline to stop the contracts in your IV. I suspect these started because of dehydration and stress.”

She swallowed. That very well could be. She’d been so overwhelmed with what she was going to do about Reed and the baby, that she’d forgotten to take care of herself.

Another contraction came, this time calmer than the previous ones. She glanced up to see the doctor studying her.

“Are they getting easier?”

She let out a breath and nodded. “Yes.”

He smiled. “Good. The nurse will be back in to do an ultrasound so we can get an accurate due date.” He hesitated. “It says in your chart that this isn’t your first pre-term baby.”

Pain squeezed her chest as she nodded. “Yes. I had one last year.”

A knowing expression passed over his face. “I understand. We will do what we can to make sure that it won’t happen again.”

Lillian nodded as she dropped her gaze. Thankfully, Tamara came in and the doctor excused himself. She smiled over at Lillian.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, walking over and sitting on the chair next to the bed.

Tears welled up in her eyes. “What am I going to do?”

Tamara reached out and grabbed her hand. “Don’t worry. They’ll take care of you and the baby. Plus, if they do have to deliver, babies have survived at twenty-plus weeks.”

Lillian nodded. “You’re right. Positive thinking.”

There was a quiet knock on the door. Lillian turned and said, “Come in.” It must be the nurse with the ultrasound equipment. If she were honest with herself, the thought of seeing the baby excited her. Being here made this real.

“How are we feeling?” a portly nurse asked as she wheeled in an ultrasound machine. She smiled over at Lillian. “Better when I tell you that your husband is in the hall.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

Lillian’s breath caught in her throat. “What?” Reed was here? He actually came?

“Yeah. He’s right outside. I told him I’d check with you first and then let him in. Is that okay?”

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