Page 86 of Crashing the Altar
Face partially buried in my chest, she hummed in the affirmative.
Thomas’s face took on a look of pure concentration as he focused on counting her individual heartbeats. Eventually, he gave Penny a reassuring smile. “Sounds good. You’re doing great, Penny.”
I gave her hip a squeeze of encouragement as he moved on to wrap the blood pressure cuff around her bicep. Moving the chest piece of the stethoscope to the inside of her elbow, Thomas began pumping the bulb of the cuff, listening intently as it released.
“A touch on the high end,” he remarked. “But within the normal range.”
He put his equipment away before asking one final question. “Have you experienced any cramping?”
I held my breath, terrified out of my fucking mind, while I awaited her answer.
After a beat of silence, she shook her head. “No. Not that I can tell.”
“Good.” Thomas rose to his feet, offering her a hand up.
Once she was steady, I stood myself and looped an arm around her waist, just in case. Pretty sure the past half hour took ten years off my life.
I extended my free hand to Thomas, and we shook. “You don’t know how much I appreciate it.”
“My pleasure. Have her take it easy for a few days if you can. Just as a precaution.”
“Hear that, Lucky?” I said against her hair. “Feet up ’til we head up to Nebraska on Monday.” She opened her mouth to protest, but I cut her off before she could utter a single word. “No arguments.”
I had to bite back a smile at her cute little scowl. She was used to getting her way, especially with me.
She was going to learn fast that when it came to her and our baby, I wasn’t budging. I would do whatever it took to ensure their safety and well-being. Even if she gave me hell for it.
Nothing was more important than our little family. Nothing.
My girl was drained.
She’d passed out in the passenger seat in the ten minutes it took to drive back to the motel, and a part of me was glad. She needed the reset. Badly.
Carrying Penny into the room, I eased her unconscious form onto the bed. I wouldn’t be surprised if she slept straight through the night after the emotional toll the day had taken.
A buzzing from her handbag caught my attention. Pulling her cell out, I frowned when the Caller ID listed a local Kansas exchange.
Who would be calling her from around these parts?
Slipping out of the room, keeping the door cracked in case she woke and needed me, I answered, “Hello?”
A feminine voice replied, “Hi. I was hoping to reach Penny Sullivan?”
“This is her husband. Can I help you?”
“Yes, would you happen to know if she’s still planning to make it in for her appointment today? I called earlier to confirm but never heard back.”
“Appointment?” My voice rose in question.
“Mm-hmm. She was booked in for an ultrasound at two-thirty.”
This was the first I was hearing of it.
“Um.” I peeked through the crack in the door. Penny hadn’t moved an inch. “My apologies, miss, but I think we’re going to have to cancel.”
“Oh. Of course. I appreciate you letting me know. If you need to reschedule, feel free to give us a call.”
“Will do.”
