“You have something that is called marginal placenta previa,” Dr. Caldwell explains as she looks back and forth between August and I. “What happens is that the placenta is partially covering your cervix. It doesn’t always cause cramping and discomfort, but in your case, that seems to be what the cause was.”
“Is she going to be all right? Will the baby be okay?” August questions her, his words coming out in a rush as he doesn’t pause to take a breath.
Dr. Caldwell nods. “It’s something we see periodically. Because yours isn’t completely covering the cervix and the bleeding was mild and appears to have stopped, we have no reason to rush you for an emergency c-section or anything like that.”
“So, there’s nothing to do to treat this?” I ask, my heart pounding erratically in my chest as I try to make sense of all of this.
“We want to keep you overnight to monitor you, just to make sure everything is okay before we send you home. After that, you’ll be treated as high risk and followed more closely. And you will also be placed on bed rest for the remainder of your pregnancy.”
My mother rises to her feet, interjecting into the conversation. “What about the fact that she fainted? What was the cause of that?”
“Based on her blood work, she lost some blood, but not enough to warrant a blood transfusion.” Dr Caldwell pauses for a moment, glancing at the laptop in front of her as she scrolls through my test results. “It could have been a combination of the stress her body was under, coupled with dehydration and blood loss. Either way, we’re going to give her fluids and monitor her just to make sure there isn’t anything we’ve missed.”
“Thank you so much,” August tells her, rising to his feet as he extends his hand and shakes hers. “And everything is okay with the baby?”
Dr. Caldwell smiles. “Your little boy looks perfect.”
My breath catches in my throat and August whips his head to look at me, his eyes wide. My heart crawls into my throat and I can’t stop the sob from tearing through me. “Oh my god,” I laugh as the tears fall from my eyes. “We’re having a little boy!”
August cups the sides of my face, his dipping down to mine. “I can’t believe it… a little boy.”
“Oh goodness,” Dr. Caldwell breathes, shaking her head in embarrassment as a pink tint spreads across her cheeks. “I should have asked whether or not you knew the sex already. I had just assumed and didn’t even think about it.”
Laughter falls from my lips as I look up at her. “No, it’s okay. August’s sister was planning a gender reveal, but it doesn’t even matter at this point.”
“As long as our little guy is healthy, we couldn’t care less of how we found out that we’re having a boy,” August admits to her, before looking at me again. His grin spreads across his face, his smile reaching his eyes. “Holy shit, baby. We’re having a fucking boy.”
“Okay, okay,” Dr. Caldwell interjects, raising her hands. “I know you guys are excited, but let’s not get Poppy too worked up, okay? She still needs to get her rest, so we’re going to give you guys some quiet time and your nurse will be back later to check on you.”
“Thank you so much for taking care of my little girl,” my mother tells the doctor, tears welling in her eyes. Her voice cracks around her words and I can feel it in my heart. She’s already lost one child and I’m sure the thought of her losing me was enough to completely break her.
The doctor finishes up, talking to my mother before she leaves the room. My mother stares down at August and I with an infectious smile to her lips. “What a day today has been,” she sighs, looking relieved. “We’ll talk more about living arrangements before you leave. I’m going to give you and August some time alone and get some coffee.”
August stands up, walking over to my mother. “Why don’t you go home and get some rest, Claudia?” His voice is soft, the warmth exuding from his words. “I won’t be leaving her side and I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
My mother glances at me, unable to conceal the panic in her eyes. “Are you sure? I don’t mind staying, too.”
“Mom,” I start, feeling my heart cracking wide open in my chest as I stare back into her worried gaze. “We’re going to be okay. And August will call you if anything happens. Benjamin needs you and I need you rested and healthy too.”
She glances back and forth between us, the hesitation lingering as if she doesn’t know what to do. “Okay,” she resigns, stepping over to the bed as she leans down and wraps her arms around me. “I love you, honey. If you need me, call me. If not, I will see you in the morning.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
My mother stands up, stepping toward August. She pauses in front of him, her gaze meeting his. “Thank you for showing up, August. For being the man my baby girl needs.”
August’s throat bobs as he swallows hard and nods. “Always. She’s the most important part of my life and I’m madly in love with your daughter.”
“Good.” She smiles at him, placing her hand on his shoulder. “I’ll see you both in the morning.”
I watch her as she slips out of the room, my heart in my throat as I’m overcome with emotion. August looks over at me before he comes to my bed. Scooting to the side, I make room for him and he climbs onto the mattress with me, wrapping his arm around my waist.
“Sorry about her,” I tell him, my voice quiet as he softly strokes my hair. “I’m all she has left and she’s a little overprotective sometimes.”
I’ve never spoken to August about Evie and I need him to understand where I’m coming from. It’s a difficult subject for me to approach, but I don’t want to keep anything from him. I want to let him in completely. I want August Whitley to know all of my secrets.
“My sister, Evie… we lost her when we were in high school.” I pause for a moment, swallowing back the emotion that builds in my throat. “She struggled a lot and began to act out, partying and stuff all the time after our parents split up. One night at a party, she got really drunk and decided to dive into a lake. It was dark and none of us could see the jagged rocks just beneath the surface. She dove headfirst into them and didn’t have the slightest chance of survival.”
August is silent for a moment, his touch gentle as he continues to smooth my hair over the back of my head. “I’m sorry, Poppy,” he whispers, pressing his lips to my temple. “I know it doesn’t come close to making any of it better, but I don’t know what else to say. It’s fucking tragic and terrible and I’m so sorry you lost your sister. I can’t even imagine… the thought of losing Isla. I don’t know what I would do.”
“You just get through it.’ The tears build in my eyes and I let them fall as I mourn the loss of my sister again. “Evie was so full of life on her good days. I blamed myself for a long time, because I was there when it happened and I could have stopped her. But I know she wouldn’t want me living my life like that. She would want me to be happy and living my life to the fullest.”
“She’s still here with you, baby. She’s a part of you and always will be.”
“I know she is,” I whisper, a smile touching my lips as I turn to look at him. “I’m pretty sure she would approve of you too.”
August’s smile matches mine and a soft chuckle rumbles in his chest. “I would hope so, because I’m not fucking going anywhere.”
My eyes search his, the smile falling from my lips. “Why did you leave your game, August? You could have come afterward.” The guilt is overwhelming as I stare into his soft brown irises. “You’ve worked so hard all season and just threw it away over nothing.”
His eyebrows draw together. “Over nothing? Baby, no…” He shakes his head, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “You are fucking everything. I told you, none of that matters. You weren’t answering and I had a bad feeling about it. I had a choice to make and I don’t regret it at all. I chose you, Poppy. And I will always choose you.”
Tears fill my eyes as I stare back at the man I’m so deeply in love with. “I love you, August Whitley. Not just because of tonight, but because of everything that has happened between us. And everything that’s to come for us.”
“Nothing but good things are coming, baby.” He inches closer, his lips just barely brushing against mine. “You’re it for me, Poppy. I’ve already made you my baby momma and next, I’ll be making you my wife.”
August’s lips collide with mine, soft and gentle as he claims me as his. He never had to stake his claim, because I’ve been his from the moment he walked into my life.
And I’ll be his in this life and each one that comes after this.
This is a forever love and I’m ready for forever with him.
