Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I just hold up the toilet paper and then look down to my panties while I stupidly sit on the toilet.
His keen eyes take it all in, and when his gaze lands on my panties, he hisses through his teeth. “Shit.”
I can feel panic starting to rise, but then Bodie is gently pulling me up from the toilet. I toss the tissue in as Bodie squats to pull my panties up.
“Okay… we’re not going to panic. Dr. Anchors said some light spotting is normal in the first trimester. Is this the first time you’ve seen blood?”
I’m completely mute so I just nod.
“Okay,” he says. This time, there’s an air of calm confidence in his tone. He takes me by the elbow and leads me to the bedroom. “Here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to get dressed and drive to Dr. Anchors’ office. I’ll call on the way there.”
He releases his hold on me and starts to efficiently walk around and pick up our clothes. He hands me mine and has to give me a gentle push. “Get dressed, Rachel.”
I finally move, the urgency of the situation penetrating the fog of my panicked thoughts. I manage to get dressed. By the time I’m tying my shoe laces, Bodie’s standing by the door with his keys in his hand.
When I reach him, his hands go to my shoulders and he peers down at me. “Rachel… I’m sure everything is fine, okay?”
I nod, still not able to speak. All I can think about is China… gushing blood and horrible cramps and…
“Rachel,” Bodie says a little louder, and I blink at him. “It will be okay.”
I hear him.
I even understand him.
He’s telling me that no matter what happens, it’s going to be okay. It’s a lovely sentiment, but one that he’s so very wrong about. This is the biggest reason I’ve been so stressed about this pregnancy, because I was afraid I’d do something to ruin it.
What if this is because I went to Singapore? Or maybe it’s the way I train and workout? Maybe I’m not eating the right types of food, or what if… what if it’s because of all the fucking I’ve been doing with Bodie? We’ve been exuberant to say the least.
“You hear me?” Bodie asks, getting so close our noses are almost touching.
I finally give a tiny cough, clear the fear from my throat, and whisper, “Okay.”
“Good,” he says before leaning in and pressing his lips to my forehead. “Now let’s go see what’s happening.”
Bodie does an admirable job getting us to the doctor’s office. Even though he’s giving me an air of calm, I can tell by the way he pushes the speed limit and runs questionable yellow lights that he’s worried.
When I tell the receptionist what’s going on, we’re immediately ushered into an exam room. Within five minutes, Dr. Anchors is there.
“Rachel… Bodie,” he says as he walks in and goes straight to the sink. I’m already in a gown and on the examination table, ready to throw my feet in the stirrups. “I understand you have some spotting.”
“It was in my underwear this morning,” I say. To my embarrassment, Bodie grabs my panties from my pile of clothes and shows it to the doctor.
Dr. Anchors leans over and examines the blood while he puts gloves on. “Is that all?”
“Some on the toilet paper after I peed this morning,” I choke out. “About the same amount, I think.”
“All right, Rachel. Let’s get you in the stirrups. I’m going to have a look.” His voice is like Bodie’s. Composed. Relaxed. Positive.
It doesn’t calm me down at all, and I can feel my heartbeat ringing in my ears. My blood pressure was high when we came in, but the nurse took it again after I laid on the table, and it started to come down a little. She assured me it was probably stress.
I get in the stirrups and brace while Dr. Anchors gives me an examination. He even pulls a wand with a light attached to the table and shines it up inside. Surprisingly, he doesn’t spend a lot of time down there.
When he pulls back, he says, “I don’t see any cervical polyps, which can often be a source of spotting since they can get agitated from increased estrogen. But doesn’t mean there wasn’t one that was bleeding, but isn’t right now.”
He pulls his gloves off, and I take my feet out of the stirrups. Bodie helps me to sit up on the table.
When Dr. Anchors turns around, he asks, “Any cramping? Pain? Extra nausea?”
“No,” I say with a shake of my head. “I feel fine.”
“Well, spotting can come from many sources. It could have been from the vaginal ultrasound we did yesterday. It could come from sex, especially if it’s vigorous.”