and cry.
Why did I want to cry?
I wasn’t sure. I just had that feeling.
Maybe it was the emotions of going back home and finally telling everyone I was pregnant. Or maybe it was the middle of the night phone call from Cole… Cockhead Cole…
I took a deep breath and walked from my office to Cole’s.
He was on his phone as I entered the office.
He looked at me and held up one finger.
“Listen, Jack, it’s all worked out,” Cole said. “There’s nothing to worry about. Tell everyone to take a fucking breath. Goodbye.”
Cole slammed his phone down and then punched the phone off his desk.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked to the window.
“What do you want, Maya?”
His tone was mad. Evil.
Cockhead.
“I brought you the paperwork,” I said. “I have everything. I dug around and found emails and whatnot too.”
“You did?” Cole asked as he looked at me.
“Yeah. I figure you can show the line of communication. What was said and when and why. To show that by pulling out of that deal it saved millions instead of wasting it.”
“That’s good,” Cole said. “Maybe you should give up the writing thing and go to law school.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
I put the folder on his desk.
I waited a few seconds.
“Anything else?” Cole asked.
“Uh… I guess not.” I touched my stomach. “Do you want to talk about anything, Cole? When you left… I thought things were good. You haven’t talked about the baby…”
“We’re working,” he said. “Don’t say that too loud.”
“Right,” I said. “So, what are you doing, Cole? Setting me up to run back home for good?”
“Maya, not now,” he said.
“Of course,” I said. “Anything for you, Cole.”
I turned and made it three steps before a jolt of pain hit the right side of my back. The pain shot down my right leg and my knee bent without me telling it to.
Before I could call for help, my knee hit the floor.
My instinct to protect my belly kicked in and I turned to my right side, so I fell to my shoulder.
I groaned with pain and grabbed for my stomach.
I shut my eyes.
What was happening?
I never saw Cole move so fast in my life.
He scooped me up and carried me out of the office, screaming for someone to get us a car.
The whole thing happened in a blur.
I kept my eyes shut and tried to focus on breathing.
Before I knew it, we were in a car driving to Dr. Haime’s office.
He had called Dr. Haime in advance and he met us at his state-of-the-art office.
Cole carried me to a room where Dr. Haime greeted us without his usual smile and cheery disposition.
That’s when panic set in even more.
I started to shake and couldn’t catch my breath.
“We’re going to check everything, Maya,” Dr. Haime said. “Right now, I need to know what happened and what you’re feeling.”
I described everything the best I could, tears filling my eyes, my body in full blown panic attack mode.
Cole was at my left side and when he finally grabbed my hand and squeezed it, I was able to take a deep breath.
I looked at him and he stared intently at the ultrasound screen.
“Okay,” Dr. Haime said. “Let’s take a look and let’s run some tests here. First things first…”
I blinked away tears and watched the screen as the baby appeared.
The one tiny looking bean was far different now.
I held my breath and when I heard the sound of the baby’s heartbeat, I let out a whimpering cry of relief.
I shut my eyes and tears rolled down my cheeks.
I heard Cole let out a groaning sound.
I looked at him and he nodded.
“Okay, that’s a great thing to hear,” Dr. Haime said. “Let me just keep taking a look here and we’ll get to the bottom of this. I hope this little one isn’t eager to get out and get to work Dad… it’s way too early.”
Dr. Haime winked at Cole.
Cole laughed.
“It was just one side of my body that felt the pain,” I said.
“Okay,” Dr. Haime said. “Your job right now, Miss Maya, is to breathe. Do nothing but breathe. And remember, you’re breathing for yourself and the baby.”
Cole crouched down and whispered to me. “Just breathe, love. I told you I would never leave you alone in this.”
I nodded.
And I waited.
Dr. Haime spent the next hour running tests, asking questions, touching and poking at me.
Then he put his hand out and helped me sit up.
His left hand touched my upper back and he helped me to my