Page 64 of Hendrix

Her teeth sunk into her bottom lip.

“It’s okay, baby,” I assured her. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Her eyes lifted to meet mine, and my heart jerked at the anguish in them. “Anna,” I breathed. “It’s gonna be okay.”

She winced, and I felt her muscles tighten as she moaned quietly in obvious pain.

Usually, I was a problem solver, a man who could work through a problem using logic and common sense, but right then, I felt helpless because there was nothing I could do to ease her pain or her fear. I didn’t have the words she needed, especially since I was worried sick myself.

Diablo reached the medical room first and swung the door open, standing back while I carried Anna inside and gently laid her on the bed. He murmured that he’d wait outside, but I hardly registered the words.

“Can you take your pants off please?” Bones asked matter-of-factly, already the professional doctor, as he plugged the machine in and pulled it toward the bed.

Anna pushed the stretchy waistband of her jeans over her stomach and wriggled them down over her hips.

Gently, I pulled them off, quickly covering her with the sheet and taking the seat beside her, watching Bones shrug on his doctor’s coat, load a tray with equipment, and hook his stethoscope around his neck.

“Any bleeding?” he asked, his concern evident in his tone.

“I don’t think so,” Anna replied, her face paling even more.

“I’m going to examine you,” he stated. “Is that okay?”

She nodded, her eyes drifting to mine.

I took her hand, leaned toward her, and smoothed her hair back from her forehead. “That’s good, right?”

Bones carried out his examination and pulled the sheet back over Anna’s body. “Yeah, it’s a good sign. Everything with the baby feels normal, but I’m going to do another quick ultrasound to see how baby’s doing.”

“Is that safe?” I asked. “She just had one a few hours ago.”

Bones pushed the sheet back down and squeezed gel on Anna’s belly. “Two sonograms in one day is generally considered okay. There’s always a slight risk with any procedure, but in this case, the benefits far outweigh them. I’m not worried, and I’d rather take a look and see what’s going on in there than have to guess. Plus, I’m sure you and Anna want your minds put at rest, too.” He snapped a pair of medical gloves on and sterilized the wand with an antiseptic wipe before gently rolling it over Anna’s stomach, his eyes glued intently to the screen.

My stare went to the monitor, and I held my breath.

“There,” Bones announced, his finger pointing out a tiny pulsing mass. “Heartbeat’s nice and strong. Your boy’s moving around normally. Everything looks good.”

All air left my lungs, and my shoulders slumped.

“I can still feel the cramps,” Anna murmured. “Can you detect them on screen?”

Bones shook his head. “The ultrasound takes images of organs, not sensations; it’s not strong enough to pick them up, but the baby’s moving around, and the heartbeat’s strong; plus, you’re not bleeding. Your cramps don’t indicate they’re related to the pregnancy.”

“You think she’s sick?” I asked.

“Maybe you’ve picked up a stomach virus or some kind of sickness bug,” he suggested.

Suddenly, I felt Anna’s entire body still. My eyes snapped to hers. “What is it?”

“Oh my God, I should’ve known,” she cried softly. “I’m so sorry for worrying everybody. I haven’t felt this way in so long. I forgot the symptoms, and with being pregnant and all, I panicked.” She sighed, then muttered, “Iknewthat bread tasted too good to be true.”

A realization hit me, and the tables suddenly turned because right then, it was my gut clenching like a motherfucker. “You’ve eaten gluten?”

Anna’s face fell. “She told me it was gluten-free and that Carina made it fresh, so she knew it would be okay. I should’ve known, but it’s been years since I’ve eaten it. I just thought Carina was a magical being who could make gluten-free bread taste good.”

“Who?” I barked, breathing through the burn razing through my chest. “Who gave it to ya?”

Her gaze lowered.

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