Read Online Against the Odds by Brenda Kennedy - Free Book Online Page A

arms and
legs.  
    “ Are you saying that you
never sleep if I’m awake?” 
    “ I don’t know about never,
but mostly never is probably accurate. Happy thoughts?” he asks
again. 
    When I think back on Robert’s statement, I
think I believe him. Robert is always the last one to fall asleep
at night and is almost always the first one up in the morning. I
don’t think I can remember a time when he fell asleep before me.
“Why do you do that?” I ask. 
    “ Do
what?” 
    “ Stay awake like
that?” 
    “ I want to watch over you.
Now what about your happy thoughts?” he asks again. “You were
smiling for no reason a few minutes ago. Care to share
why?” 
    I smile again. “I was thinking about when
Madison walked into the meeting and how she smiled and waved when
she saw me.” 
    “ That was pretty
special.” 
    “ It was. It makes me happy
to think that she already likes me. Maybe it’ll make the
interaction between our family and hers a little smoother for
her.” 
    “ I hope so. Drake Sinclair
seems to be a little…” 
    “ Anxious?”  
    “ High-strung, I was
thinking.” 
    “ Maybe it’s just because
of all that has happened. I hope so,” I say.  
    “ Maybe.”  
    Robert tells me that Bruce ended up giving
the gifts and the envelope of pictures and newspaper articles to
their attorney, Mr. Reed. He also tells me that the Sinclairs left
the meeting shortly after we did.  
    During the next few days, Robert never leaves
the hospital. He showers in the hospital room and his Mom provides
him with a duffle bag of clean clothes and hygiene items. The
cervical cerclage is done and the doctor is happy with the results.
We have lots and lots of company and even Mason and Angel, and Alec
and Emma, come up to visit.  
    When the doctor ordered strict bedrest, that
is precisely what he meant. Up to go to the restroom and to shower.
That’s it. He told us he would like for me to remain pregnant at
least another eight weeks, although full term would be best. I try
to not focus on how difficult it will be to stay on bedrest for at
least eight weeks. It’s a minuscule price to pay for a healthy
baby.  
    Just before we are released to go home, I
hear a knock at the door. After it slowly opens I am surprised to
see Chelsea Sinclair standing in the doorway. She looks around the
room and doesn’t enter the room any further. “”I’m sorry, maybe I
shouldn’t have come,” she says as she takes a step
back.  
    I look at Robert and he is standing beside my
hospital bed in protector mode. “No, please, come in,” I say.
Robert and I are the only two people in the room. He stands there
with his arms crossed and feet apart.  
    She slowly walks into the room and closes the
door behind her. I notice her red puffy eyes and she is holding a
gift bag. I’m kind of glad that her husband isn’t with her, but
disappointed that Madison isn’t with her either.  
    “ Please, come
in.” 
    She says, “I hope I’m not
interrupting.” 
    “ No, you’re not. This is
actually a good time. Please, sit down,” I wave to the empty chair
beside my hospital bed. “Relax,” I whisper so only Robert can hear.
He uncrosses his arms. Relax more. I think
to myself.   
    She slowly walks over to me and sits gingerly
on the green vinyl chair. She sits only on the edge of the chair
and crosses her feet. Her back is straight as a board and the gift
bag is resting on her lap. She takes a deep breath and says, “I’m
sorry. I’m not sure what to say.” 
    Robert finally sits down on the other side of
the bed in the matching green vinyl chair. “It’s okay. Please take
your time,” he says, calmly.  
    “ First of all, I want to
say that I’m sorry for your loss. After the meeting, our attorney,
Mr. Reed, brought the gifts and the envelope of pictures and
newspaper articles of Jamie.” 
    “ Thank you,” I say,
sadly.  
    Chelsea wipes away a tear and says, “She
looked like a lovely little