Noel came up along the other side of the bed, across from the doctor.
Dr. Copeland sat down on the stool next to Rayleen, smiling kindly. His silver hair and craggy face would never land him a dreamboat role on Grey’s Anatomy, but he was an amazing doctor.
“How are you feeling?”
Rayleen wiped at her eyes with a wet chuckle. “A little better. Helps to see some friendly faces.” Rayleen winked at Noel, her sunny spirits shining through her worry.
“Well, the good news is, your sugars are normal. However, with your blood pressure being elevated and the swelling in your legs and feet, I want to continue to monitor you tonight. Right now, the shedding is low, but after I discharge you, I want to see you in two days. Until then, I need you to take it easy. Bed rest unless you need to use the bathroom and no salty or fried foods. Lots of fruits and vegetables. Can you do that for me?”
“Of course I can.” Rayleen rubbed her protruding belly over the hospital gown. “I’d do anything for little bean.”
“Good. I want to run a few more tests and then you’ll be good to go. Is Tate coming?”
Noel smiled at Dr. Copeland. He made it a point to get to know his patients and their spouses, so they always felt comfortable.
“He’s in Boise picking up his parents. I drove myself here.”
Noel squeezed her friend’s hand, noting the definite tremble in her voice.
Dr. Copeland didn’t miss a beat. “In that case, I’d like to keep you overnight. Keep an eye on you and the bean. Sound good?”
Rayleen sighed with obvious relief. “Thank you, Dr. C.”
“Now, don’t you run my nurses ragged, you hear? Get some rest.”
“I’ll be right back,” Noel said to Rayleen, who reached for her book. Noel caught up with Dr. Copeland in the hall, speaking softly.
“Are you going to pull the baby early?”
He spoke in a hushed, grave tone as they walked further away from the open door. “Most likely. I’m hoping with bed rest and low sodium diet we can get her to thirty-six weeks at least. Anything less than that and we’ll have to send her to Boise.”
Noel nodded. Boise would take good care of Rayleen and her baby if it came to that, but with Rayleen’s anxiety, she’d do better in a familiar place.
She walked back into Rayleen’s hospital room. “I’m going to pop around and check on a few other patients, but you need anything, just press the button.”
“I will. I just hate sleeping in new places, you know?”
“If you can’t get comfortable and Tate isn’t back by the time I get off, I’ll drive you home to rest.” Noel held out a hand to the other woman. “Deal?”
Rayleen took her hand and brought it to her cheek. “Thanks, Noel. You’re a wonderful friend.”
The praise warmed Noel all the way to her toes. “I try.”
Luckily, Tate showed up just before midnight to take Rayleen home, but by that time, Noel barely had a chance to wave. She ended up with two high-maintenance mamas pressing the button every few minutes and a mother who presented with placenta previa. They’d managed to get the bleeding stopped on the mother but the baby was stillborn. The woman’s cries echoed through Noel’s mind all the way to the car the next morning.
Noel sat in the front seat, waiting for her car to defrost and fat tears rolled over her cheeks. She hated nights like this. All Noel wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep, but she’d have to take something. She definitely wouldn’t be good company.
She pulled out her phone and texted Nick.
I’m sorry I can’t do breakfast. Had a rough night. Will text you later.
Noel set her phone on the seat, leaned back and closed her eyes. As much as she wanted to see Nick, her emotions were running too high. Talking could wait until tomorrow.
Chapter 15
NICK
Nick stared down at Noel’s text debating his next move. She could have cold feet about meeting him. Experiencing second thoughts about the road they were on had been rolling through his mind all night.
But if she actually had a bad night…
Nick sat down at his desk and put a CD into his portable CD writer. He knew it was old school, but it was a nostalgic practice he couldn’t let go of.
Besides, he knew this would make her smile.
While the songs processed onto the CD he got up and went to his parents’ cupboard, but they didn’t have what he was looking for. He’d have to go by the store on his way to Noel’s.
Nick went through his mom’s gift closet, a stash of hoarded items she kept hidden from his dad so she didn’t have to go shopping for last minute birthday and white elephant gifts. His dad pretended he didn’t know about it, but if his dad or the rest of them ever needed something to gift, they all raided the closet.