Page 19 of Love is a Drum Beat
“Sweetie?” his mom answered. “I’m sorry, I can’t chat right now. I was just called in to help a patient.”
“Is she here, Mom?” His mom would have at least heard if Jo Jackson was on her floor. “Jo, is she still there?”
His mom was quiet for a moment. “I can’t tell you how she’s doing, son, but yes, she’s here.”
“I need to see her.” He didn’t understand it, this draw to Jo. It had been there since the day they met in the very first Rockstars Anonymous meeting. When she’d heard he was Dax Nelson, curiosity lit in her eyes but not surprise. He knew he didn’t look like people expected the chart topper to look. He closed his eyes. “Please, Mom.”
“You, boy, are in trouble.” She let out a soft laugh. “I’ll call the desk and say you’re allowed to come up.”
“Thank you.”
“Just be careful, son.”
“I will. See you in a few.”
His mom didn’t approve of his infatuation with a girl who was pregnant with another man’s baby, but she’d never tell him that. His mom and stepdad were big on people making their own decisions.
Pushing to his feet, he walked back to the desk.
The woman sighed. “Doctor Lawrence called. You are allowed to go up.” She handed him a visitor pass that he clipped to his shirt.
“Thank you.”
As he pushed through the doors, a single thought rolled around in his brain.
I’m coming, Jo.
7
Jo
Jo had mostly avoided the hospital for the first seven months of her pregnancy, paying her doctor to come to her with the equipment she needed for appointments, but now her streak was broken.
“What do you mean I’m not having the baby?” She scowled as pain seared through her skull. “Get it out of me! I don’t want to be an alien vessel anymore. It hurts.”
Dr. Lawrence smiled like she found Jo amusing. “Jo, it’s too early. You weren’t in labor when you came in.”
“Then, what the heck was that? Doc, you mean labor is worse than that?”
“Yes.” She didn’t hold back her words. “What you experienced was only a fraction of the pain you’ll have in two months’ time when the baby wants to make an appearance.”
“You know, it’s a wonder the human race has survived this long. I’m surprised women haven’t stopped having babies. I mean, I get it, miracle of life and all. Actually, being a mom will be cool, but this… this sucks.”
Dr. Lawrence gave her a kind smile. “It will be worth it. I promise. Now, as to the problem you’re experiencing today—”
A knock on the door cut her off followed by a “Jo?”
Jo sighed. What was Dax doing here? She didn’t have the energy to deal with his brand of awkward, but she couldn’t turn him away. “Let him in.”
The doctor opened the door, and a disheveled Dax walked in, his eyes not leaving Jo. “Are you okay?”
Jo closed her eyes as the headache intensified. “I don’t know. The doc was just about to tell me if I’m dying or not.”
Doctor Lawrence gave her an indulgent smile. “You aren’t dying, but maybe we should speak alone.”
Jo waved a hand. “It’s just Da—Dillon.” She’d almost given his name away. Sure, she trusted Dr. Lawrence, but it wasn’t her secret to tell. “You can tell me.”
“Okay.” She set her clipboard on the table. “Have you ever heard of preeclampsia.”
