hurried her on and showed Journey where to go. “I’ll wait for you.”
After giving up her urine specimen, she returned to where Reno was waiting. “You’re still here.”
“Where else would I be?”
She hopped up on the table. “I guess we’ll know soon enough if I’m pregnant or not.”
“I already know you are.” He patted his heart. “I can feel it. In here.”
Tears formed in her eyes at his admission. “What do you want? A girl or a boy?”
His face transformed with joy at the thought. “Both. Either. I just want the two of you to be healthy and happy.”
“Me too. How about names?”
He thought a moment. “I’ll have to get it some thought. “Do you have a suggestion?”
“How about Ela, if it’s a girl?”
“Oh, I like that – maybe Cole if it’s a boy? He can be named for his uncle.”
She agreed with him. “I like both those names.”
About that time, a slight tap sounded on the door and the doctor let himself in for the examination. “Doctor Ingram here.” With that brief introduction, the middle-aged man got right down to business. After a complete check-up, he studied her chart. “While we’re waiting for the results, let’s go over a few things. I see you’ve been experiencing some morning sickness and weakness.”
“Yes, but that’s normal, isn’t it?”
“Can be. We’ll check your blood results to be sure.” He rose and pushed his glasses up on his nose. “I’ll be back with you momentarily.
Once the door closed behind him, Reno frowned. “I don’t think this man knows what he’s doing.”
“I’m sure he’s fine. Besides, don’t you have a friend who’s a doctor?”
“Domino O’Neill.”
“Good. We’ll get Domino to check me over more thoroughly. He’ll be delivering my baby, won’t he?”
Reno didn’t get a chance to reply before the doctor returned. “It seems congratulations are in order. You are indeed pregnant.” He went over the anticipated delivery date with Journey. “There are a couple of areas of concern that I’d like to go over with you, however.”
“What concerns?” Reno moved next to the doctor, trying to read his chart.
His closeness didn’t seem to faze the man. “The bloodwork shows that you’re anemic, so I’m prescribing iron in addition to your vitamins. I’m also a bit concerned with your blood sugar. We want to keep a close eye out for gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Either of those could be a serious situation for you and the baby.”
Reno looked like he’d been hit with a ten-foot pole. “Serious? How serious?”
Journey could’ve whacked the doctor with a magazine when he went to great lengths to explain to Reno the ins and outs of the two conditions.
“Hey, you two. I may be perfectly okay. Isn’t that a possibility?”
The doctor gave her a brief, appraising glance. “If you watch what you eat and take care of yourself.”
“She will.” Reno was adamant in his decision. “She’ll take care of herself. I’ll see to it personally.”
“Oh, boy.” She might as well change Dr. Ingram’s name to Dr. Frankenstein – for the man had just created a monster. “Reno, I feel fine.”
The doctor gave her a quelling look. “Everyone has your well-being in mind, Miss Stanton.”
“I know.” She allowed Reno to help her down, then she went behind the screen to redress. Once she was through, she found her man holding several prescriptions that needed to be filled. He also carried a dozen pamphlets and a magazine or two. “We’ll go get your medicine, then you’re going home and straight to bed.”
“I didn’t hear him confine me to bedrest.”
“No, he didn’t. I did.”
Journey took him by the arm. “We need to have a talk, Daddy.”
* * *
“How was the soup?” Reno picked up the tray. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No. I’m good.” She indicated the nest he’d built for her on the couch. Blankets. Pillows. Magazines. The remote. Two dogs and two cats. “I think I have everything I need.” To go crazy.
“Good. I’ll take care of these dishes and check with you in a few minutes.”
“Okay.” Journey threw herself back against the pillows. Reno was a man devoted to his cause and he was driving Journey crazy. “There’s nothing wrong with me. I feel fine!” she whispered to herself. Now, all she had to do was convince Reno.
…At the sink, Reno stared into the soapy water where he’d been washing dishes. He couldn’t get the hang of the automatic dishwasher, so he just didn’t try. Hanging his head, he wrestled with his decision. He’d known it was coming, but he’d