Three Thousand Miles - Forever, (book #3 of Three Thousand Miles, Series) (37 page)

“Okay Mrs Black, I have a few questions that I need you to answer.”
“Okay,” I say in a shallow voice. The nurse senses the fear in my voice and she
quickly tries to reassure me that everything will be fine.

 

“Don’t worry. Now may I ask how far along you are?”

 

“Six weeks,” the nurse checks my pulse and then my blood pressure.

 

“And how old are you?”

 

“Twenty-three,” she nods again and then she begins to gently feel my
stomach.

 

“Have you been feeling any pain, discomfort?” I nod at her and now my heart
rate is increasing. “I need you to answer me, Miss.” I clear my throat.
“Earlier on I felt sharp pains in my stomach. That’s a bad sign isn’t it?” The
nurse smiles at me and then she leans down and takes my hand.

“Pain can be caused by many things and it doesn’t necessarily mean that
something is wrong with your baby. Let me go and get the doctor and he will
give you a quick scan just to make sure.” The nursesmiles at me and I briefly
return her gesture.

“Can you please tell my husband that I need him?” I shout after the nurse as
she glides over to the door. She looks back at me and she says.

“Of course I will.” The nurse rushes out of the room and I am left alone with
my terrifying thoughts. I don’t know what I will doif something is wrong with
the baby; I couldn’t stand talking this away from Adrian. I know how much he
cherishes being a father and I would hate to deny him the chance to have
another child. I feel that I have caused him so much stress since I came into his
life and I am scared that he will realise that I am not worth the bother. I have
torn his family apart and now one of his step brothers is dead and his sister is
fighting for her life. I hate myself for what I have put him through and I will
never forgive myself if anything happens to his sister and his unborn baby.

Adrian bursts into the room and he rushes over to my bedside. He looks down
at me and as I stare into his glowing green eyes, my heart is breaking. He
reaches down and grabs onto my hand and then he asks me if I am alright.

“Baby what’s wrong? Are you okay?” I force myself to smile at him as I squeeze
his hand.

“I am fine, but I am not sure about the baby. The doctor needs to do a scan to
make sure that …everything is okay.” Adrian’s eyes lock on mine and I can see
the despair in them. “Adrian I am sorry,” I gush. Adrian stares at me as he
shakes his head.

“What are you sorry for?” He urges. I try to sit up in the bed, but Adrian pushes
me back down. He is staring at me as he awaits my answer.

“For everything,” Adrian rolls his eyes at me and now I am getting a little
flustered. “Everything is my fault; Emma is in surgery because of me. Chad is
dead because of me and Michael has now left our lives for good, how can I
forgive myself for everything that I have done?”

“None of this is your fault and I don’t want to ever hear you talking like this
again.” I exhale as I hate that Adrian is being so nice to me when it’s clearly my
fault.

“I have caused so much pain and stress, how can youlove me?” Adrian scowls
at me as he leans down to my level. He gently places his hand onto my cheek
and he tilts my face up towards him.

“I love you and none of this is your fault. Michael was obsessed with you and
Chad was a lunatic. I never want you to feel that you cause pain and stress, you
are my world and I if I lost you I would die.” Adrian clutches my face in his
hands and then he places a soft kiss onto my lips. I start to cry and then I wrap
my arms around his neck as I need to feel safe in his arms. He gently wraps his
arms around my back and he gently breathes onto my neck as he holds me. My
tears stop and Adrian pulls back from me when the doctor strides into the
room. He is an older man and he is a little overweight, he has grey hair and
bright red cheeks. He looks friendly as he introduces himself.

“I am Dr Coats,” he says as he shakes Adrian’s hand. I smile at the doctor and
then my heart begins to race as he makes his way over to me. “Now let’s get
you scanned my dear.” He gently pulls up my shirt and then he places a jelly
onto my stomach. He lifts the scanning tool and then he switches on the
monitor. He begins to run the pointer over my belly and I my heart is in my
mouth as Adrian and await his verdict.

“What’s that noise?” Adrian asks the doctor with aconcerned look on his face.
Dr Coats smiles and then he fills us in.

 

“That’s your baby’s heartbeat,” I smile, but I am little worried –should it be
that loud?

 

“Is that normal, for it to be so loud?” Adrian asks in shallow voice. The doctor
chuckles and then he informs us that everything is fine.

“Yes it’s normal and everything seems fine. You have a healthy baby growing
inside of you.” I smile and then Adrian places a soft kiss onto my forehead. The
doctor has switched off the monitor and then he begins to jot down his notes.
Adrian is stroking my hair and he is beaming from the news –thank god that
the baby is okay.

“Now I understand that you have been through quite an ordeal tonight?” The
doctor says in a firm voice. I look at him as I nodin agreement with his claims.
“When you are pregnant your body becomes a lot moresensitive and that
means that you aren’t able to the things that you normally would. I can tell
that your stress levels are quite high and that isnot good for the baby. I must
urge you to take a few days to rest before you get back to your normal day.”
Adrian stares at the doctor and then he reassures him that I will not be doing
anything to cause me and my baby stress.

“I will lock her up for the next few days,” the doctor laughs at Adrian’s joke and
then he smiles at me as he leaves the room. Adrian helps me up from the bed
and he escorts me back into the waiting room of the hospital. He sits me down
onto a soft chair and then he urges me to relax –like that’s possible when his
sister is in surgery.

A few hours pass by and Adrian jumps from the chair when he sees the
surgeon heading towards us. I open my sleepy eyes and I readjust myself in the
chair as I anxiously await the news on Emma. The surgeon reaches us and then
he begins to explain to Adrian how the surgery went.

“I have good news; the surgery was a success and your sister is going to be
fine.” Adrian lunges forward and he firmly shakes the surgeon’s hand.

“Are you sure, she hasn’t lost too much blood or the impact from the bullet
wasn’t too damaging?” The surgeon gently smiles at Adrian and then he
reassures him that his sister is fine.

“She did lose a lot of blood and we had to give her a transfusion, but she is
now in recovery and she will need to take it easy for a while, but I can assure
you that she is going to be fine.” Adrian nods and then he thanks the surgeon
for everything that he has done.

“Thank you for saving my sister.”

Adrian walks me along the hallway of the hospital until we reach Emma’s
room. Adrian pushes open the door and he reaches out for my hand as he tries
to push me into the room. I pull my hand back from his as I try to avoid looking
into his green stare. Adrian reaches for my hand again and this time he grabs
hold of me before I have the chance to protest. He has one hand fixed onto my
chin as he tilts my face up towards his and another gripped onto my waist. He
is forcing me to look into his intense eyes and I know from his stare that he is
slightly angry with me. His hand is gently squeezing my back and then he
begins with his inquisition.

“What’s wrong?” I blush at his words and then I look away from his burning
stare. He begins to snarl under his breath and his grip is becoming firmer.

“I said what’s wrong?” He snaps. I exhale and then I focus my eyes on his. My
heart is beating so fast that I can hardly see straight. I am so exhausted and all I
want to do is flop onto my bed and try to forget everything that has happened
today. I am still in shock from the events and I am still feeling super guilty. I
know that Adrian has insisted on me believing that this isn’t my fault, but I
can’t shake the feeling I have of guilt. I am dreading seeing Emma as I fear that
she will lash out at me for bringing her into my problems with Michael and I
don’t want to think about how Maggie will react. Then there’s Charles and
Tabatha who I haven’t stopped to think about. I am not even sure if they know
that their son is dead and I can’t think of how devastated their going to be.
Adrian owes so much to Mr Jenkins and I can’t stop worrying that his
relationship with him is going to be compromised over what has happened.
Charles loves Adrian as if he was his own son and I would hate to think that I
have ruined his father-son relationship. Tabatha already hates me and she did
warn me about Michael, but I didn’t listen. I carried on my fantasy of having
Michael in my life as my best friend. I was far too selfish in loving Adrian, but
wanting Michael at the same time and now I have paid the ultimate price.
Michael has left and Adrian has lost his brother –again. I feel as if I am to
blame and I don’t know how I can look Adrian in the eye –ever again. I have
caused him so much pain and torment and I don’t deserve to have him in my
life. I am poison and the sooner Adrian realises that the better. My head is
buzzing in a million directions and I need to get out of here. I need to leave this
hospital –right now.

“I am sorry but, I need to go.” I say as I loosen Adrian’s hand from my waist. He
is looking at me with confusion in his eyes and I see that his heart is pounding
through his shirt. I need to go I can’t watch him suffer –any longer.

“Go where? What is the matter with you?” Adrian has lunged forward and
grabbed onto my arm as he tries to protest. I rudely pull my arm away from
him and then I march along the hallway –with tears in my eyes. “Wait, come
back, where are you going?” Adrian says as he strides along the hallway after
me. I maintain my rapid pace as I explain.

“I need to go home. I can’t face Emma, I feel too… guilty.” Adrian laughs
sarcastically as he grabs my arm and spins me around to face him. He locks his
eyes on mine and his smile quickly fades when he sees that I am crying.

“I told you not to think like that. None of this is our fault, why are you being so
stupid? ” I clench my teeth as I hate that I am hurting him –again. I need him to
realise that I am bad news, I love him, but I don’t feel as if I am right for him
anymore. He deserves so much more than me and I can’t keep coming in
between him and his family. I need to think –I need to get away.

“No matter how much you want me believe that –I am never going to.
Everything is my fault; I lead Michael into thinking that we could be more than
friends and that resulted in him becoming obsessed with me. Now Chad is
dead and Mr Jenkins has lost his son, how can I ever look him in the eye …ever
again?” Adrian rubs his temples in frustration and then he grabs onto me,
pulling me towards him.

“Charles and Tabatha won’t blame you for this; I will make sure of it. You need
to understand that Michael’s obsession with you started before he even spoke
to you. Alanna, you have a kind heart and you wanted to be his friend, you
don’t deserve to be punished for that. Now come here, let’s forget about this
and go and see Emma.” Adrian slides his hand onto my waist as he tries to
control me into doing as he says. I frown at him and then I jump out of his grip.

“You need to listen to what I am saying, I can’t go and see Emma because I feel
that I am reason that she is in here in the first place. I need to go home and
you need to let me go.” Adrian clenches his teeth and then he scowls at me, his
forehead is wrinkling from my intense words and I can see the anger building
in his eyes.

“Okay if you want to leave –then leave.” Adrian snaps. I watch him as he glides
along the hallway of the hospital and my heart is breaking. I try to wipe away
my tears as I run out of the hospital. I rush into the cold and I begin to shiver as
I shout for taxi. A black cab pulls alongside me and the driver urges me to get
in. I jump into the taxi and the driver says.

“Where to love?”

“Belgravia and please can you hurry?” The driver senses my urgency so he
immediately hits his foot down onto the gas pedal. I fall back in my seat from
the acceleration and then tears begin to pour from my eyes –again. I quietly
sob until the driver pulls in front of my house. Heturns to ask me for the
money, but he pauses as he takes in my appearance.My cheeks feel as if they
are on fire and my eyes are stinging, I wipe away the water from my face as I
begin to search for my handbag.

“Crap,” I say in a tired voice –I don’t have my bag. I remember that I have left
my bag in my car –I was too worried about Michael to care about taking my
bag into his house with me. I begin to blush as I feel a sense of déjà vu taking
over me. The first time that I was in London I took a taxi so that I could visit
Buckingham Palace, but I left my money in my hotelroom. I was so
embarrassed and I was sure that the driver was going to call the cops on me,
but he surprised me when he said that all I needed to do was flash him a smile
–I doubt that this guy will be as understanding as he was. I clear my throat as I
pick up the courage to tell the guy that I have nomoney.

“I am really sorry, but I have lost my handbag and I have no money.” The guy
rolls his eyes at me and then he issues me with a suggestion.

“Don’t you keep money in your house?” I feel even more embarrassed by his
obvious suggestion –why didn’t I think of that? Then I realise that my mind is
like mush right now and I can’t think straight. I smile at the guy and then I alert
him that I will be right back.

“I won’t be a second,” I jump out of the cab and I march up the front steps to
our house. I place my hand onto the door handle and then it hits me –I don’t
have a key. My face is flushing hot and I am riddled with embarrassment, I look
back at the driver who is staring at me through the window of his car. My heart
is racing and my only hope is to try the door –perhaps Adrian left it unlocked. I
push down on the handle, but the door is locked. I frown and then I try to think
of what to do next. As I rack my brain for a solution I begin to think of William,
Adrian never told me who was looking after him and I was too selfish to ask.
With my heart racing I decide to ring the doorbell –perhaps Zara came over to
look after William. I wait for a few seconds and then I notice a light shining
from inside the house so I ring the bell again. I can hear shuffling and then the
door opens. I am stunned when I see Edward Black standing in the doorway.