Kevin has been home for three weeks and he is driving me crazy! He hasn’t told me yet why he’s been home for the last few weeks doing nothing but bugging me while Jacquelyn and I are trying to get work done. He goes to the gym early every morning like normal but is home the rest of the day. Although I think it’s sweet that he is putting so much time and interest in our wedding I wish he’d let me get work done.

It’s just about nine in the morning and any minute now Kevin will come bursting through my office doors; I just know it. I have a conference call to make at ten after nine. I don’t want to be rude, but I’m going to have to kick him out. I can’t keep scheduling my work around his interruptions. My call today is too important to miss.

Jacquelyn and I have been trying to get Cynthia Tapley as a client for weeks now. Her campaign would bring us a lot of potential clients if she were to come with us. She needs marketing for her fashion line of clothing. With Cynthia’s star status this would be so good for us. Not only is she a star but her friend Tammy Pierce is as well. I have heard through social media she is getting ready to launch her new album. Tammy’s online ads hit a record high two years ago and I want them. These two people would be so helpful to mine and Jacquelyn’s careers as business partners. We wouldn’t have to worry about income for months to come. With my baby on the way I need this, so I can take time off to be with my baby girl when she is born.

I sit here tapping my nails on my desk. Kevin never busted through my office door at nine nor did the phone call from Cynthia happen. It’s almost noon and I need to leave for my doctor’s appointment. I have no clue where Kevin is and he’s not answering his phone. He goes with me to every appointment now and I can’t believe he isn’t here. I’m not sure if I should be worried where he is or if maybe he is actually busy. Maybe just maybe, Clint has him getting scheduled for a fight. He hasn’t had one since the cancellation with Luke Douglas. Kevin never really told me what happened, but I read the story on how Luke had a concussion or something and can’t fight. I know Kevin was looking forward to that fight and to be honest he hasn’t been acting right since.

I log my computer off and so does Jacquelyn. “It was nice getting some work done today without Kevin bugging us.”

“I know. I’m sorry, Jacquelyn, if he is getting on your nerves.”

“Oh, please. He’s a darling and I love how involved he wants to be with your wedding. You don’t find too many men who do. I just meant we get more done.”

“Yeah, I get that.”

“Well I’m going to call it a day. I promised my Mother I’d take her shopping. I’ll finish up my work at home. Don’t worry about Cynthia Tapley. If we don’t get her, we can move on to the next possible client. This here, what we have going on is going to be big, Eve. I just know it.”

Jacquelyn leaves and I get my purse from the hall closet by the front door. I get out to my car and it’s like a sauna inside. It’s hot for the end of September. I roll my windows down and crank up the air conditioning as soon as I get out onto the road. I wipe sweat from my forehead and then take a drink of water from my water bottle. Gee; if I had known it was this hot, I would have put my windows down sooner. I look in the center console for a napkin. If there is one thing I can’t stand, it’s sweat between these never-ending growing boobs. Boob sweat is the worst.

I got to the doctor’s office and put my car in park. No matter how high I turned the air up, it was still too hot. I’m sweating and feeling lightheaded. I put my keys in my purse and open my car door. I get my feet out on the ground. I sit here trying to let the dizziness pass.

“Ma’am, can you hear me?”

I open my eyes and my sight is blurry. What the hell is going on? I try to sit up, but someone encourages me not to move. I wipe my eyes hoping my vision clears.

“You must have passed out. Can you drink some water?”

They hand me the bottle of water and I take a drink. I drink most of it before I pass it back. I hold on to the steering wheel and pull myself up. I am still lightheaded. I notice the sign for the medical building.

“I have an appointment.”

“Someone already went inside to get a doctor. I hope they come out soon. Here; drink some more water. You are probably dehydrated.”

“Thank you.” I scoot up onto the front seat of my car more and drink the water.

“Eve, are you alright?” Doctor Latinski asks.

“I’m light headed, and I must have passed out.”

“I would like to get you inside out of this heat and check you over. I’m thinking it might be good to get an IV going, too.”

I give her a nod and they help me to my feet and into a wheel chair. Someone hands me my purse and I thank everyone for their help. I feel embarrassed, but there is nothing I can do about that. I consider myself lucky someone found me, though.

Doctor Latinski wheels me right into a room and has a nurse get me some more water. She checks my blood pressure and it has dropped some. She also pokes my finger to test my blood sugar and it reads normal range. I’m starting to feel better now that I’m not in the hot sun. She asks me some questions while feeling around my belly and listening for the baby’s heartbeat with the stethoscope.

“I think I want to send you next door to the hospital.”

I swallow the saliva in my mouth. “Is there something wrong with my baby?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. The baby sounds good. I just want to get an IV on you to get some more fluids in you. You are twenty-seven weeks today. I would like to see you back in two weeks, unless you keep having this problem.”

I get wheeled over to the emergency room and hooked up to an IV. I sit here worried out of my mind. I wish Kevin was here with me now. It’s as if karma has bitten me on the ass for being annoyed with him interrupting me every day and now the day I need him he’s nowhere to be found. I look up at the IV wondering how long this will take. I just need to know everything will be alright with my baby girl.

I hold my phone in my hand waiting for it to ring. I’ve called Kevin a few times already with no answer. Where the hell is he? What could he possibly be doing today? “Ring damn it, ring.”

“Eve, what is going on. What happened? Are you and the Baby okay?”

“Kevin? How did you get here? I’ve been calling you.”

“I got your message. I tried calling you back, but you never answered. I think I ran three red lights on the way here. I think I gave Tracy a heart attack too.”

“What? Tracy?”

“Eve, you need to answer me. Are you and our Baby all right?”

I tell Kevin about passing out and that I’m here for fluids and that I should be able to go home afterward. He gives me kisses and rubs my belly. I think he has calmed down.

“Tracy, huh? Where is she?”

“I wanted to surprise you and fly your best friend in for the weekend. Now, I feel guilty I wasn’t back in time for your appointment. It won’t happen again. You Girls needed me, and I wasn’t here for you. No matter how hard I try I keep fucking up.”

“Kevin, what you did is sweet. You can’t blame yourself for me not staying hydrated enough in this heat wave.”

Kevin gets up on the bed with me and puts an arm under my neck and the other to my belly. “It won’t happen again. I’m going to make sure from now on you are taking care of yourself.”

“What is going on with you? You have been going to the gym, but you are not acting like the Kevin I know. Don’t you have any upcoming fights?”

“I don’t. I’m giving up fighting.”

“You’re what? Why would you do that?”

“Because I can’t be a good husband and father if I was to take one too many hits to the head. I don’t want to end up like Luke and be forced to stop. I want to end my fighting career my way.”

“Are you sure you want to give up fighting? I see you when you prepare for a fight, Kevin. You take your occupation seriously. All the training you did to get where you are today. The dedication you put into that cage, I can’t see you leaving it behind.”

“I have thought this over for weeks, Eve. My heart is feeling broken and lost, but in my mind, I feel I am making the right choice.”

“I wish you would have told me this sooner. I almost feel as if you are giving up on your dream and everything you worked hard for. I will back you in whatever final decision you make.”

“I have made my final decision. I’m quitting the cage.”

“Can I come in yet?”

I sit up straight when I hear my best friend’s voice. “Oh my God, Tracy, get in here!”

Tracy comes in and I get the biggest hug from her. I can’t wait to spend some time with her this weekend. Now I just need to get the hell out of here, so I can do that. I also need to figure out how to get Kevin back in the cage. He is a fighter and I know a few months from now or maybe a year, he’ll regret his choice to quit fighting. Besides that, it’s one of the things I love about him.