Page 30 of Dare to Live
The gray-haired man in scrubs waltzed up to the other side of my bed. “Lacey Maxwell.” He held out his hand. “I’m Dr. Johnson. My youngest daughter is in awe of you.” He took out a notepad and pen. “Can I get your autograph for her?”
Kade straightened, grinning.
I took the pad and pen. “Sure. What’s your daughter’s name?”
“Crystal.”
I wrote her name then scribbled my usual words. “Dare to Dream.” Then I signed my name and drew a heart.
After I handed it back to him, he glanced at Kade then me. “You seem to be doing better. But I’m going to listen to your heart and lungs.” He removed the stethoscope from around his neck. “We put a rush on your blood sample. So we should have the results within the hour.”
When he was done with his normal checks, he tapped some keys on the computer. “So far, everything seems normal, and your blood pressure has returned to normal. I suspect you were severely dehydrated. You need to get more fluids in your body.” He spoke in an even tone.
As an athlete and a healthy person, I knew that. “I’ve been drinking Gatorade and water.”
“What else can cause her to pass out like that?” Kade asked.
“A host of other things. Heart problems can affect blood pressure, diet, and possibly pregnancy.” Dr. Johnson glanced at me. “Could you be pregnant?”
I held my breath, peeking at Kade.
His mouth was hanging down to the bed. “Pregnant?” Kade set his copper gaze on me. “Are you? You were puking this morning.”
I shrugged. I didn’t feel pregnant. “I told you I was throwing up because of the food I ate for dinner.”
“Let’s wait for the blood test before we get ahead of things,” Dr. Johnson said.
I snorted. Easier said than done when it came to my gorgeous husband and me being pregnant. I could see the wheels turning in Kade’s head, and that goofy grin he was sporting was telling me he was ready to scream for joy.
In that moment, his tempered happiness was starting to rub off on me. Crap, if he was that happy, I wanted to see him like that more often. Kade was a reserved guy. He held in his feelings in public unless he was pissed off at someone. Still, he hardly wore his feelings on his sleeve. But all bets were off if Dr. Johnson confirmed I was pregnant.
Blaire stuck her head in and handed a piece of paper to Dr. Johnson. “Lacey’s blood results.”
Kade grasped my hand.
I held my breath.
Dr. Johnson scanned the sheet of paper before turning to Kade and me.
Kade’s hold on my hand grew tighter.
Dr. Johnson smiled. “Congratulations. You’re going to be parents.”
“I’m sorry,” Kade said. “Can you repeat that?”
I playfully swatted him. “We’re going to have a baby.” My tone was light and free even though a part of me was nervous as hell.
The color drained from Kade’s face, although he’d had a few minutes to take in the possibility that I could be pregnant before the nurse came in with the results. Despite that, he hadn’t lost his goofy grin. “You’re serious? Lacey is pregnant?”
Dr. Johnson nodded. “Blood tests usually don’t lie,” he said in a playful tone.
“But she’s on contraception,” Kade added, still not onboard with believing all this.
“Contraception isn’t a hundred percent foolproof,” I said as though I were the doctor.
Kade let go of my hand and stepped back from the bed, shoving his fingers through his hair.
For a split second, anxiety settled in my chest, making my heart beat erratically. He wanted a kid. He was desperate to start a family, but he wasn’t giving me a warm and fuzzy feeling. And I’d thought I would be the one to snap.
