Chapter 26: Chapter 26
~RACHEL’S POV
I stand behind the doctor as she runs some tests on Alice. I bite my lip looking at the doctor, is it just me, or do all doctors have a kind of face that is expressionless, you can never guess what’s on their mind, they are just too practical. Both in good and bad terms doctors stiff their faces like they have no joy at all. Curiosity grew in my mind as the doctor placed her hand on Alice’s stomach to feel her baby. I look at Alice and see how worried she is, I hold her hand, trying to make her feel better. Alice didn’t bleed between her legs so I think her baby will be fine. I hope so.
I watch how the doctor's expression remained neutral as she brings out her stethoscope, she puts the ear part into her ear and she feels it around Alice’s stomach for about thirty seconds. The doctor removes the stethoscope from around her. She writes down something on her notepad and then places it on the side stool.
Anxiety was eating me up as I wait for the doctor to speak. I feel so intense right now, even though Alice and I aren’t exactly friends, I feel like we share a kind of bond; we are like sisters.
Nausea feels me up as I begin to feel bad for Alice. I think I have an idea of what is going on in the doctor's head. When a doctor doesn’t speak immediately after a check up it only means one thing. She’s going to give us a bad news.
The doctor sighs and I feel my heart skip. I am right, it’s definitely bad news. A really bad one. I feel pity for Alice already, I wonder how she’s going to take it. Oh God, please prove me wrong, let the doctor say something else. Whatever it is she will say, make Alice’s baby safe.
"What’s wrong doctor? Why aren’t you saying anything, Is my baby, okay?" Alice asks, concerned. Her voice is filled with worry and uneasiness.
If anything happens to Alice’s baby I don’t think Alice will be able to survive. She’s already traumatized and that news will make her worse.
Oh God! I don’t want any more bad news today, Alice's kidnap is enough to make the day bad. I’m not ready to hear anything worse than that.
Alice squeezes my hand tightly as she becomes more worried. I am kind of glad that John and Richie aren’t in the room, if they were in the room the tension would have increased. John insisted on staying in the room with Alice but Richie stopped him from that, not because he didn’t want John to stay with Alice but because he has something important to take care of and he needs John's help for that.
The look on the doctor's face made me even more curious that I accidentally bite my tongue. I swallowed the pain not wanting to make any sound.
"Mrs. Smith," The doctor finally begins to talk. Alice didn’t change her surname after marriage so her identity still stands as Smith.
The doctor continues by saying; "I prescribed some medication for you, it will ease your pain and bring down your blood pressure. I also recommend you to engage yourself in some exercises."
"And the baby, is it alright?" I ask, concerned.
The doctor sighs taking her glasses off "I’m afraid only one survived. Mrs. Smith seems to have gone through a lot of stress and distress. And that distress of hers resulted to the death of one of her babies. I’m so sorry."
"One of her babies?" I inquire looking between Alice and the doctor. I didn’t know Alice is pregnant with twins.
"Yes, one baby. Mrs. Smith was pregnant with twins but not anymore."
"Ohh." Is the first thing that escapes my mouth. I don’t know how to react to this. I feel really bad for Alice, it’s going to be very hard for her. But I’m glad that the other baby is alive. I sigh turning my gaze to Alice, she must be devastated right now but I just hope the death of her baby doesn’t affect her mental health because if it does she might lose the other baby as well.
"I understand your worries Mrs. Smith but please don’t pressure yourself too much. Your health is very important for baby’s soundness." The doctor says as she begins to arrange her things inside her bag.
"The medicines I prescribed for you are very important for your health. Please take them on time." She finishes packing her things and stands up to leave "Take care, Mrs. Smith."
I walk the doctor out of the room and thank her for her service. Coming back to Alice, I sit on the bed next to her and I hold her hand in mine. Alice didn’t say a word as she stare at the ceiling.
"Alice" I sigh. I don’t know what to say to make her feel better but eventually I wack my brain and find the best thing to say "I can’t imagine how you’re feeling right now. I’m so sorry for what happened but please don’t be hard on yourself because it’s not your fault and you’re not alone. We all are with you, I’m with you, John is with you, Richie too." I lightly squeeze her hand to comfort her.
I take a moment before I continue "Think about the baby in your womb, Alice." I place my other hand on her stomach. "There is another life in you and I know it hurts that you lost one of them but the other is still there."
Alice doesn’t a word afterward. She must be too overwhelmed to talk and I don’t blame her for that. Anyone in her place would have felt the same. I sigh, maybe she just needs some time alone. I kiss her forehead before I say "If you need me, I will be in my room."
Standing up, I turn to leave but stop when I feel a hand hold mine. I turn back and see Alice tearing up. Her eyes are swollen from the tears she shed a few moments ago.
Alice lets out a shaky breath. "My baby." Her voice sounds like her throat is closing up. My heart melts to see her like this, I immediately wrap my arms around her as her tears flow more freely. Alice needs to cry, to really cry, so she can get it over with.
"M-my b-baby." Her words break up and all I hear were stuttering sounds. Hot tears streamed down Alice’s face, and she squeezed her eyelids shut in the hope her tears would stop.
"It’s okay, it’s okay." I try to calm her down as I rest my palm on her back and rub it slowly for comfort.
Alice didn’t stop crying until she felt spent. She finally pulls out of the hug and I wipe her tears away from her. Her eyes are really swollen and her nose is red.
"It’s gonna be fine," I tell her tugging a strand of hair behind her ear.
She didn’t utter a word and she lay back on the bed, swinging her legs up towards her chest, she grips onto the pillow beside her. She looks very exhausted. Her choppy breathing and watery eyes remained for quite some time, and she lay there unmoving. As his eyes begin to shut, I comfort her by caressing her hair to make her sleep.
Soon enough, Alice fell asleep and I kiss her forehead before leaving her room. I know she’s traumatized and I know how everything is hard for her especially because she lost one of her babies. I just hope she gets better soon.
Walking into my room, I see Richie’s clothes and suitcases scattered on the bed. He is standing there but I’m not sure what he is doing.
"What are all these for?" I ask walking through the door. He turns to look at me.
"How is Alice doing?"
"Same as you know but she’s sleeping now." I respond and he sighs "What are all these for?" I ask again
"I’m packing."
"I can see that but why?"
"We are leaving in thirty minutes. After what happened to Alice I don’t think it’s safe for us to stay here even if it’s for one night." He says
"Yeah, you’re right." I sigh. "Well then, I better start packing too."
"There is no need for that, I’ve already packed your clothes for you."
I turn my gaze to him shocked by his words "You, parked my clothes for me?" I question
"Why are you acting so shocked? Can’t I help you pack your clothes?
"You can but…it’s just weird."
"Really?" He inquires dropping the cloth he was folding.
"Yes, you never actually help me around, you know."
He smirks approaching me "Oh come, I always help you around."
I scoff "Name one time you helped me."
He taps his chin like he is thinking.
"See, nothing. You can’t think of anything because you’ve never helped me." I say
A smile tugs around the corner of his lips and he pulls me to his arms. "I may have not helped you before but I will now."
"I don’t need help now."
"You do. You are worried and scared at the same time but you don’t have to be scared because I’m here and as long as I’m here nothing is going to happen to you." He says, his voice full of sincerity.
Richie is right, I’m worried and scared but for Alice. She is overwhelmed and I don’t want her overthink that she will end up causing distress to her unborn child or worse hurt herself.
"You have nothing to worry about Rach, I’m here for you," Richie says, and rest my head against his chest. As much as I hate Richie, his arms make me feel warm and embrace on every level of myself.