Chapter Twenty-One
Greer
One minute, I was thinking about Tenn and the orders and my business all at the same time. Next minute, I’m in an ambulance. Being asked questions.
When did I last eat?
Have I been sleeping?
Do I have diabetes?
Do blood pressure issues run in my family?
Could I be pregnant?
I let the question fester on the ride to the hospital but didn’t answer it. Eventually, they stopped asking. Needles were stuck into my arms and pressures taken.
I waited alone on the slim gurney with the over-starched sheets, hoping my love would stroll through the doors at any second. I’d wanted to call him, but somehow my phone hadn’t made the journey with me.
My stomach growled with emptiness, but also gurgled at the thought of food.
I was a mess. Maybe I was simply sick.
The doctor walked in a few minutes later.
“We have your bloodwork results. First, you’re dehydrated. That’s why you fainted. We are going to give you some IV fluids before you leave. Make sure to drink plenty of liquids from here on out. It will help with the morning sickness as well. I’m assuming you have a mate? A husband?”
As soon as the word husband left his mouth, Tenn opened the door and stopped cold upon seeing me. His face was ghostly, and he heaved as though he’d been running.
Running to me.
“He has a mate. Why?”
I almost chuckled at my love’s protective nature.
The doctor gave him a curt smile. “Well, he didn’t get pregnant by himself. I was making sure he had someone he could call to take him home and keep an eye on him for the next day.”
Tenn winked at me and came to my bedside, taking my hand in his. “He does. How far along is he?”
The doctor let out a laugh. “I was hoping you could enlighten me on that issue.”
“About six weeks I would say maybe? Right, alpha?”
The man in the white coat scribbled some things down and nodded in understanding. We had no idea.
“I’ve got a prescription for prenatal vitamins here and a referral to an OBGYN, or a midwife, your choice. Take care of yourself.”
He handed me the papers and then left, claiming someone else would be back to set up the IV fluids then with my discharge papers.
“I’m sorry,” I said and then looked at our intertwined hands.
“You’re sorry for fainting or having my child? Which one?”
We laughed, and I shrugged, growing serious. “I’m not sorry for carrying your babe, Tenn. Never that.”
My handsome love bit down on his bottom lip and wrapped me in his arms, careful of the IV. “I’m glad. And maybe that husband part can come soon as well.”
I pulled back abruptly and looked into his eyes. He was serious. “You want to marry me? Because I’m pregnant? We don’t have to…”
He stopped me with his finger on my lips. “Not because you’re pregnant, Greer. More like because I love you and I’m never going to love anyone else. I want to be your husband.”
“I want to be yours, too.”
We stayed silent as the nurse brought the promised fluids and set up the drip. After she left, Tenn cleared his throat. “I was sort of offered a job in Mapleville today. My mom recommended me.”
A million thoughts flew through my mind. With my new business, I couldn’t move. How could this man talk of marrying me and leaving in the same breath?
“Calm yourself, omega mine. You’ll upset the baby.” The beeps on my machines had gone into overdrive. “I didn’t take it. How could I? Everything I love is here, and now you’ve given me another reason to stay.”
Tenn’s hand slipped to cover my belly, and fresh tears came down.
“Are you sure? You’ve given up traveling to be with me, and now this?”
He chuckled loud and hard then kissed me like the first time. “But look how much I got in return.”