Page 94 of I Heard It All Before

Asha did as she was told and laid back in the bed. The cool gel that was applied to her stomach made her jump slightly.

“You just don’t listen,” Cam fussed while shaking his head.

“Have you been having any abdominal cramps or bleeding?” the nurse asked.

“No. Why?” Asha questioned.

“What about fevers or dizziness?” the nurse inquired.

“No. Why are you asking me all these questions?” Asha wanted to know.

“Just hold tight. I’ll be right back,” the nurse said as she walked away.

“Stupid bitch act like she can’t hear.” Asha frowned.

“You look much better with your mouth closed,” Cam said in disgust. He was happy when the doctor walked into the room because he didn’t want to hear Asha’s reply.

“Ms. Dixon, how’s it going?” Asha’s doctor asked when he walked into the room.

“Fine,” Asha replied with a phony smile.

“I hear that your pressure is not too good. What have you been eating lately?” he asked her.

“Nothing really, but I told you how much I crave boiled seafood,” Asha said as she rolled her eyes at the snitching nurse.

“That is one of the worst things for you in your condition,” he clarified as he washed his hands and slipped on a pair of gloves.

Cam watched as he moved the probe all around Asha’s stomach and looked up at the monitor. He whispered something to the nurse, and she walked out of the room. She came back a few minutes later with another machine that another female nurse helped her roll in. They hooked that machine up on the other side of Asha and the baby popped up on the other screen.

“Have you been feeling the baby move lately?” the doctor questioned Asha.

“Yes. I felt him move all yesterday. What’s going on?” Asha questioned.

“We’re not detecting a heartbeat,” the doctor admitted.

“What does that mean?” Cam questioned.

“Ms. Dixon has been suffering with preeclampsia throughout her pregnancy. That’s one of the main causes of stillborn births,” the doctor noted.

“Are you trying to say that I’m carrying around a dead baby? He was just moving around yesterday,” Asha screamed as tears poured from her eyes.

“I need to get you up to labor and delivery. I’m gonna induce labor as soon as possible,” the doctor noted, still not answering Asha’s questions.

“Is my baby okay? Please tell me that my baby is okay,” Asha cried.

Cam didn’t really know how to feel and he was still shocked by it all. They had only come for a visit and everything was going wrong. The doctor had never confirmed the baby’s death, so there had to be some hope. He tried to put on a brave front for Asha, who was losing her mind, but he was scared as hell. Things were happening so fast and all he could think to do was call her mother and his. Asha was rushed to labor and delivery, and they started inducing her as soon as they had her situated in a room. They kept trying to find the baby heartbeat but, sadly, there was none.

“I can’t lose our baby Cam. I just can’t,” Asha said as she cried and prayed for God to spare their son’s life.

Cam did some praying too and he hoped that God heard him. He didn’t want Asha as a baby mama, but his son was innocent in it all. He remembered his grandmother always telling him that God always had the final say and He didn’t make mistakes. That gave him a little peace in knowing that whatever happened was for the best.

“Your mama and Kelly are on their way over here. My mama and my auntie are coming too,” Cam said as he held Asha’s hand.

“I hope you didn’t call your girlfriend. I don’t want her here Cam. This is a family matter and she’s not family,” Asha said, still being the same bitch that she’d always been.

Cam let her hand go and sat in the chair next to her bed. His mother and aunt Nadine were the first ones to arrive. Asha ignored them and didn’t open her mouth until her mother and sister-in-law got there. It took a while, but Asha was starting to feel light cramps. By five that afternoon, she was in full-blown labor and ready to deliver. Asha wanted everyone out of the room except for Cam, and they respected her wishes. Cam was sure that the entire hospital and the surrounding areas heard Asha’s screams when she gave birth to a five-pound stillborn baby boy. Cam was heartbroken, but not more than Asha. She wanted Cam to stay, but she refused to see anyone else. Demi dropped some clothes off to the hospital for him, but she wished she could have consoled her man. As much as she hated Asha, she felt bad for her too. No mother should have had to experience that kind of pain, even an evil bitch like Asha. Demi still hated her, but she had a heart.

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