“Shhh, shhh, babygirl. It is advisable to allow them to test you out.”

“I’m okay. I instructed you that.”

“You probably did, however they nonetheless have to test you and the infant too.” She gasps the second I point out the infant, and she or he jerks again, a glance of horror on her face as she palms her stomach. “What? What’s improper?” I ask, immediately on alert, and my voice breaks. I felt it, felt the little kicks earlier, however what if one thing occurred in the previous couple of minutes?

“Oh god, what if all of the stress hurts the infant? He j-jumped on me at one level, however not on my stomach, however oh my god, what if…?” That thought pushes her to motion, and she or he permits the EMTs to assist her up and lead her to the ambulance.

I don’t spare one other look on the motherfucker mendacity useless in our yard, and I grunt on the officer following behind us, who tells me we are able to reply questions later within the morning. I assist Dolly onto the stretcher, wishing I may cradle her on my lap as we head to the hospital, however I accept holding her hand and stroking her messy hair the entire means there.

* * *

To make the worst night time of my life that a lot shittier, a nurse tries to cease me from following Dolly into her room on the hospital. She refuses to maneuver out of my means regardless of Dolly screaming for me, and the sound shreds my insides.

I’ve by no means laid fingers on a lady earlier than, however I’m near throwing my morals out the window and snapping when the nurse tells me I can’t go in but since I’m not household.

“Not household? That’s my girl in there, pregnant with my child! She is my household, and should you don’t get the hell out of my means—”

“You’ll what? What are you going to do?” she asks as she cocks an eyebrow and units her fists on her hips.

I grit my tooth and yank at my beard, realizing I’ll by no means sink low sufficient to harm a lady irrespective of how loopy I’m going inside at being separated from them. I don’t know if this nurse is on some type of energy journey or if it’s hospital coverage, however I received’t have the ability to maintain it collectively for for much longer.

“Jennifer Jenkins!”

I flip at listening to Mama’s raised voice and watch as she comes operating down the corridor as quick as her legs will let her, hollering up a storm. A number of folks within the hallway step out of her means, backing into the partitions to let her go. Regardless of how mad I’ve made my mama through the years, I’ve by no means seen this degree of rage pouring out of her earlier than.

“You let my boy in to see Dolly proper now, or I’ll be having phrases together with your granny, your mama, and your daddy! And don’t you assume for a second that you just’re too outdated for me to field your ears in as a result of I certain as hell will should you don’t get out of his means!”

The nurse, apparently named Jennifer, goes pale because the blood drains from her face. She places her fingers as much as cowl her ears whereas she backs away like she’s retreating from a charging bull and says, “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, Mrs. Roberts. Please don’t inform my granny!” Protecting her eyes on Mama, she ideas her head towards the door, silently giving me permission to go inside.

I stomp previous Jennifer and into Dolly’s hospital room and shove a male nurse out of my means after seeing him together with his fingers on her, making an attempt to manhandle her again towards the hospital mattress. I ship him tripping over his toes and onto the ground with a grunt, after which Dolly is in my arms. Her eyes are purple and swollen from crying, and I wish to kill everybody who’s stood in our means, preserving us from being collectively for even a fraction of a second.

I’m sickened after I see the quite a few darkish stains of that bastard’s blood and mine on her flannel from after I held her after the assault. I hadn’t allowed the EMTs to scrub and bandage my fingers on the way in which right here since I needed all their consideration fastened on her. The cuts on my knuckles ache and throb, however my accidents don’t imply shit to me, not when Dolly wants me, and I don’t let the blood cease me from holding her now.

Shortly after, Dolly’s OBGYN, Dr. Patel, marches into the room and takes cost. She’s a welcome sight after the hell we’ve been by tonight, and I can lastly breathe, realizing she’s right here to maintain my household.

“Hello, Dolly. I would like you to lie down so we are able to study you and ensure you and the infant are okay. Are you able to do this for me?”

I nod to the physician, though she requested Dolly and never me, and try to put her on the hospital mattress. She fists my shirt, not permitting me to set her down.

“Come on, babygirl. Take heed to the physician. I’m going to remain proper right here and maintain your hand, okay? I’m not going anyplace.”

With a soothing voice, Dr. Patel asks, “Would you prefer to see the infant? I can do the ultrasound proper right here, and we are able to hearken to their heartbeat. How does that sound?”

That does the trick, and Dolly lastly calms and settles again on the mattress, however she retains a loss of life grip on my hand. Whereas some nurses hover and stick with it with an extended listing of what they should do, the OBGYN drops a glob of jelly on Dolly’s stomach and locations the ultrasound wand over it. We’re blessed with probably the most lovely sound—our child’s coronary heart beating robust and regular.

Chapter 29

Dolly

The officers wait within the hallway whereas I end up with my physician. Wyatt and I maintain one another whereas I cry on the affirmation that our child is okay after the assault. Dr. Patel reassures us that as disturbing as this night time has been, it shouldn’t have an effect on my being pregnant this far alongside, particularly since she sees no trigger for concern with the infant’s actions and heartbeat, nor do I’ve any bleeding.

I had by no means been extra scared in all my life than when Dad kicked down the again door, tripping the home alarm, pulling me out of the deep sleep I fell into seconds after Wyatt left to get ice cream. I used to be awake and off the bed instantly, cellphone in hand to name Wyatt, however Dad was on me earlier than I even had time to drag up my contacts listing. I screamed, and he shoved me to the ground, sending my cellphone flying out of my fingers and knocking the breath out of my lungs after I landed on my again.

He regarded crazed, together with his bloodshot eyes bulging and spittle flying from his bitter, whiskey-laced mouth as he hovered over me and shouted in my face, “Discovered you now, you silly bitch! That large motherfucker lastly left your ass alone. I’m going to kill you for the shit you set me by, Dolores. After which I’m going to kill him for turning you right into a whore!”

I attempted to crawl again and bought one good kick to his abdomen when he adopted and crouched over me, although I damage myself greater than him within the course of with my naked toes. The satisfaction at listening to his breath depart him in a rush as he doubled over was short-lived when he then scrambled on prime of me, sickeningly straddling my thighs, making nausea churn my abdomen.

“You’re going to pay for that, you fucking slut!” he shouted in maniacal rage as he tried to pin my flailing arms down. “Pay for each fucking night time you’ve been gone, identical to your nugatory mom!”

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