Page 19 of Just One More Affair
“Of course. If you need anything, Fallon and I are here for you.” He paused. “I have to tell her, you know that, right?”
“Yeah. I understand. I’ll let Jared know his sister knows. Life really can change in an instant,” she said with a shake of her head.
Noah chuckled. “That it can. In your case, twice.”
She rolled her eyes, mimicking Dakota’s favorite gesture. “Let’s not go there, okay?” Charlie turned toward the kitchen. “Girls, come say bye!”
After getting her hugs, Charlie said so long to Noah and Fallon, and went downstairs to meet the Uber she’d sent for. Next stop, Jared Sterling’s place.
She sat in the back of the car in stop-and-go traffic, the movement of the vehicle combined with her morning sickness working to increase the nausea and dizziness she’d already been feeling. She texted Jared as they turned the corner on which his building was located, as he’d wanted to meet her downstairs and take her up to the apartment.
By the time the driver pulled up to the curb, she was so relieved to be getting out of the vehicle for fresh air, she thought she might cry.
Pulling herself together, she thanked the driver and exited the car. She stepped out of the vehicle as Jared walked through the doors and strode toward her.
She paused and breathed in fresh, though warm and humid, air, fighting the dizziness. Just a few more seconds and she’d be in an air-conditioned space and feel better, she assured herself.
When she recovered enough, she started toward Jared just as another wave of nausea and dizziness assaulted her, black spots circling in front of her eyes. She reached for him but stumbled and fell against his chest, Jared’s strong arms wrapping around her. Without warning, her knees buckled, before everything went black.
***
Jared watched Charlotteexit the vehicle and he strode to meet her. She paused and wobbled despite not wearing heels, so he picked up his stride to get to her faster. She suddenly reached for him, staggering and falling into him. His heart skipped a beat, grateful he was close enough to catch her.
He wrapped his arms around her and just as he thought she was safe, her knees buckled and she started to go down. He scooped her into his arms and rushed toward the building.
The doorman held open the entry and Jared strode inside, sitting down with her in his arms.
“Charlotte?” He patted her cheeks, his heart beating too fast in his chest. “Charlie.” He resorted to her nickname. Anything to wake her up. He glanced at the doorman. “Ronald, call an ambulance. Tell them she’s pregnant.”
“Yes, Mr. Sterling.”
“Charlotte,” he said again.
“No ambulance,” she said as she blinked her eyes and began to regain consciousness.
Relief filled him and he took his first full breath since watching her stumble. “Sorry, sweetheart. You fainted and you’re pregnant. That means you’re going to get checked out by a doctor.” He needed to know the baby was fine and so was she.
“They’re on their way,” Ronald said from his position behind the desk.
Given they were in New York City, the sirens sounded fairly quickly and two paramedics rushed into the lobby. They took her pulse, blood pressure, and oxygen levels before they walked out and returned with a stretcher.
“Is this really necessary?” she asked, as she was settled on the gurney.
“We want to make sure the baby is okay,” Jared said.
She placed her hand on her flat stomach. “Okay. I agree. We need to check on the baby.” She turned her head away from him.
He glanced up at the paramedics. “I’m coming with her,” he said without asking for permission, but demanding it.
“Ma’am?” They looked to Charlotte.
She nodded. “He’s concerned about his baby. Let him come.”
He narrowed his eyes. He was worried about her too. Before he could give her comment much thought, he was following the stretcher and getting into the ambulance for the ride to the hospital.
They were brought through to the ER and settled Charlotte in a room. Someone came to do intake forms, a nurse checked her vitals, and after forty minutes of uncomfortable silence because Charlotte didn’t have much to say, a doctor arrived, pushing a machine with her.
“Hello. I’m Dr. Messing, an OB-GYN. I understand you fainted. I’d like to ask you some questions, okay?”
