Forever Too Far

want him to have to choose.”
         I pushed the thought away . Changing my bikini bottoms for a pair of panties, I then pulled a sundress on before quickly heading back downstairs. I would feel better after a doctor told me I was okay. Just as I reached the bottom step another pain hit me and I had to grab the railing to hold myself up. The cramping made me whimper. 
         “You okay?” the concerned tone of Dean’s voice surprised me.
         I forced a smile and nodded. “Yeah, I’m okay. I’m just going to get checked out at Harlow’s OB /GYN. I’ll be back soon. Tell Rush I’ll call him if I need to.”
         “Where’s Rush at?” Dean called out after me as I made my way to the door.
         “With Nan,” I replied, then opened the door and went to get in Harlow’s Audi convertible.
     
         Harlow hadn’t been wrong when she said that her doctor would see me right away. We had arrived and the nurse had ushered me back without asking me to fill out paperwork or even sign in.
         “I’ll wait out here,” Harlow told me.
         I was glad she wasn’t going to come back with me. I liked Harlow but we weren’t close enough for her to accompany me to an examination room just yet.
         “Go ahead and take off your bot toms. You can leave your top on. And cover up with the blanket on the table. The doctor will be in in just a moment,” the lady informed me. I nodded and thanked her. Once the door was closed behind her I went into the changing room and slipped my bottoms off.
         The red streak in my panties made me pause and take a deep breath. The terror slowly starting to invade my thoughts made breathing difficult. I stood there staring down at my panties wondering if this was normal. If this could be okay. I should have called Rush. I took a moment to pray. I didn’t do it often but right now I needed someone to protect my baby.
        After my silent plea, I stepped out of the dressing room , went over to the table and covered up my bare bottom half. A swift knock on the door then a pause before it opened made me feel marginally better. I was going to have help. This doctor would know what to do. I hoped. A much younger than I expected man walked in followed by the nurse who had brought me to the room.
         “Miss Wynn, I’m Doctor She ridan. Harlow told me that you’re experiencing cramps and you’re a long way from your doctor in Florida.”
         I nodded. “Yes, sir. I’m also bleeding a little.” The words came out in a choked sob I hadn’t been expecting.
         “There now, this could be something as simple as dehydration. Don’t worry it won’t help things,” he said as he took his seat and had me slip my feet up into the stirrups. “What are you doing so far away from home?” he asked as he started to examine me.
         “My fiancé and I are here visiting his father,” I explained and left it at that. No reason to tell the man the real reason we were here.
         “How do you know Harlow?” h e asked.
         “My fiancé’s father is Dean Finlay,” I said figuring if the man was a fan of Kiro he’d be able to figure that out easy enough.
         He paused. “Really? So this baby we’re checking on in here is Dean Finlay’s grandchild?”
         I nodded and wished he’d stop asking so many questions and get on with the exam. I needed to know my baby was okay. He seemed to get more serious about his examination.
         “I don’t want to alar m you Miss Wynn but we need to do an ultrasound to check the baby. After that, I want to monitor you and the baby for a couple of hours here in the office. This happens often. I am just taking precautions and making sure all is well. I also want you to drink some fluids for me. Melanie will bring you something to drink once we get finished with the ultrasound. We have a room in the back just for this. It has a comfortable bed. Melanie will dim the lights and play relaxing music while you rest.
         He wasn’t admitting me to the hospital. This was a good thing... right? I managed to nod again.
         “I’ll have Melanie go tell Harlow what we’re doing in case she wants to go do something else until you call her. Is that alright with you?” he asked.
         I had forgotten about Harlow. “Yes, of course. Tell her I said to leave. I’ll let her know when to come back. I don’t want her sitting here all that