Page 47 of Reuniting with Lucy

“I don’t remember the specifics,” Lucy said. “Just that I’d never have kids. Something about endometriosis?”

“Well, let’s take a look, shall we? From everything you’ve told me, it sounds like he was very premature in telling you something so definitive.” If Lucy read her right, she seemed thoroughly irritated about the other doctor’s diagnosis.

Dr. Anders did a pelvic exam and an ultrasound scan. “You have some fibroids, but those aren’t serious and wouldn’t keep you from getting pregnant,” she said. “We’ll schedule a laparoscopy to make sure, but as far as I can tell, you shouldn’t have any issues carrying the baby. You’re about a month along. We should be able to hear the heartbeat next time you come in.”

Lucy’s shoulders relaxed in relief, and more tears came. She was going to have a baby. A perfectly healthy, wonderful little baby.

“Will I get used to all the tears?” Lucy said with a laugh, wiping her eyes. “I’ve cried more in the last two days than all of last year.”

“At least they’re tears of joy,” Lizzie said, swiping at a few of her own. “I told you everything would be fine.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Wednesday morning, Lucy came to work late. Again. If she were her employee, she’d fire herself for being so unreliable. Good thing she was the boss and could come in whenever she wanted.Ifshe wanted. She figured the baby must be a night owl because early mornings were brutal. Getting out of bed was a real chore nowadays. Of course, now that she knew the cause—that she was making a tiny human—she was okay with it.

She adjusted her schedule to start later and told her employees she was switching to a “winter schedule.” After seeing the doctor, she was more confident in her ability to see this through, but still didn’t plan to tell anyone but Jack until the three-month mark.

Midmorning, she came out of her office for a break and a snack. While pouring herself a cup of decaf, she suddenly felt light-headed. Kenny noticed, put down the dish he was drying, and approached her. “You okay, boss?”

“I’m fine, thanks,” she said. “Just got a little dizzy for a second.” As soon as she said it, the room seemed to heat up a hundred degrees, and her vision tunneled. “Maybe I’ll sit—”

She woke on the floor, Kenny cradling her head in his lap and stroking her hair. “It’s okay. You’re going to be fine. The ambulance is on its way. Hang in there,” he was saying.

Her eyes fluttered open to see her employees gathered around, staring at her and wearing matching looks of terror.

“Ah, she’s waking up,” Kenny said. “Someone get some water.”

“What happened?” Lucy asked.

“You fainted,” Kenny said. “One second, we were talking, and the next, you were taking a header to the floor.”

“Kenny caught you midfall, Lucy. It was awesome. He’s an Eagle Scout, you know?” Margie said breathlessly, on the verge of swooning. Lucy held back a laugh.

“Yes. I know. Thank you, Kenny,” she said. “How long was I out?”

“A few minutes,” Kenny said, the worry in his voice coming through loud and clear. “We called 911 and kicked everyone out. Well, everyone except the Three Amigos. They wouldn’t leave until they knew you’d be okay.”

She chuckled and attempted to get up. Kenny helped her and guided her to the closest chair. Margie brought a glass of water and set it on the table in front of her. She took a gentle sip right as the paramedics came crashing through the door. Kenny waved. “Over here, guys.”

Lucy was amazed at how the fragile, self-conscious teenager she’d hired had become such a take-charge young man.

“What happened?” one of the paramedics asked.

“I guess I passed out?” Lucy said.

“She said she felt dizzy, then fell,” Kenny said in an assertive tone she’d never heard from him. Guess the scout training was coming in handy. “I caught her, so no head bump, but she lost consciousness for about five minutes.”

“I feel a lot better now,” Lucy said. “I think I’ll be fine.”

“Since we’re here, we might as well check you out,” the paramedic said, grabbing a blood pressure cuff out of his bag.

They took her vitals and peppered her with questions. Halfway through their interrogation, she asked Kenny for a bagel, suggesting maybe she just needed food. After he ran off to get it, she turned to the firefighters. “No one here knows, but I’m pregnant,” Lucy whispered. “You don’t think there’s anything wrong with the baby, do you?”

“We can’t say for sure, but I would definitely check in with your OB. Could just be fatigue or dehydration.”

“Okay. I’ll call soon.”

The EMTs began to pack their stuff. “All your vitals are fine. Doesn’t look like transport will be necessary. Just follow up with your doctor.”