Chapter Five

I couldn’t answer. The pain was too intense, radiating through my abdomen like a wave crashing over me. My vision blurred as panic surged through me. I doubled over, clutching my stomach, gasping for air.

Robbin was at my side in an instant, his hands hovering as if unsure whether to touch me or call for help. “Tasha, talk to me! What’s happening?” His voice was filled with urgency, but I couldn’t form the words.

I tried to breathe through it, but all I could think about was the baby. Something was wrong.

Terribly wrong.

Robbin’s face was pale, his hands finally reaching out to steady me as I struggled to stay upright. “I’m getting the doctor,” he muttered, and before I could stop him, he rushed toward the door, shouting for help.

Everything seemed to happen in a blur after that. Nurses rushed in, followed closely by Dr. Walsh. They lifted me onto the bed as the pain continued to tear through me. The doctor’s face was a mask of concentration, her hands moving swiftly as she began checking me over.

“Tasha, stay with me,” Dr. Walsh said calmly, though I could hear the edge in her voice. “We need to do an ultrasound, now. Hang in there.”

Robbin hovered near the door, his eyes wide with worry, clearly shaken by what was happening. He didn’t know. He couldn’t know. But as I lay there, feeling the weight of everything crashing down on me.

As Dr. Walsh prepared the ultrasound, the tension in the room grew unbearable. I clenched my fists, trying to focus on my breathing, but the fear gnawed at me. Was the baby okay? Was I about to lose the only piece of Daniel I had left?

Robbin stepped closer, his face tight with concern.

I could feel his eyes on me, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. The secret I had been holding on to heavy on my chest. I wanted to tell him, to finally say the words out loud, but I couldn’t. Not yet. Not like this.

Just as I was about to answer, Dr. Walsh’s voice cut through the room. “The baby’s heartbeat is strong.” Relief washed over me at her words, but her face remained serious. “But you’ve been under a lot of stress, and it’s taking a toll on your body. You need to rest, Tasha.”

The baby. She said it so casually, but the weight of it hit Robbin like a freight train. His eyes widened as he looked at me, realization dawning on his face.

“Baby?” he whispered, his voice full of disbelief.

I closed my eyes, feeling the truth sink into the room like a heavy stone. There was no going back now.

“Yes,” I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m pregnant.”

Robbin stared at me, stunned, as if trying to process what I’d just said. I couldn’t read the expression on his face, was it shock, concern, or something else entirely? But before he could respond, Dr. Walsh stepped in, her tone authoritative.

“She needs rest, Robbin. Let’s give her some space.”

Robbin nodded absently, still processing everything. He backed out of the room, his gaze never leaving mine as the door closed behind him.

As soon as he was gone, the weight of the secret I had carried for so long felt crushing.

***

Later that evening, as the room grew quieter and the soft glow of the fading sunlight filtered through the blinds, Robbin returned. His presence seemed to fill the space, but the tension that hung between us was thick, almost suffocating.

He stood at the foot of the bed, his hands shoved into his pockets, his eyes fixed on me for a moment before he spoke. "How do you feel, Tasha?" he asked quietly.

I shifted slightly on the bed, the memory of the earlier panic still fresh in my mind. The pain had subsided, and though my body felt weak, my mind was sharper now, clearer. "I'm okay," I said, my voice soft but steady. "Just tired."

He nodded but didn't say much else. The silence between us stretched on, both of us unsure of what to say after everything that had happened. I could tell there were questions lurking behind his eyes, but he didn’t ask them. Maybe he was giving me space. Maybe he didn’t know how to approach the subject of my pregnancy. Either way, I was grateful for the quiet.

Robbin remained by my side, but neither of us spoke. The weight of the secret I had revealed earlier hung in the air, unspoken but undeniable. I wasn’t ready to talk about it, and it seemed Robbin wasn’t going to force the issue.

Just as the silence was starting to feel unbearable, Robbin’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced down at it, his brows furrowing slightly as he read the screen.

“I need to take this,” he murmured, stepping toward the door. I could hear him speaking in hushed tones, though I couldn’t make out the words. Whatever the call was, it seemed serious.

After a moment, he returned, his expression apologetic. “I have to go,” he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “Something came up, but I’ll be back tomorrow. Get some rest, okay?”

I nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment. “Thanks, Robbin. For everything.”

He gave me a small, reassuring smile. Without another word, he turned and left the room, the door clicking softly behind him.

As soon as he was gone, the silence of the room closed in around me again. I stared up at the ceiling, the events of the day replaying in my mind. Robbin had been kind, he hadn’t pushed me for answers, hadn’t pried into things that weren’t his business. But deep down, I knew sooner or later, the truth would catch up with me. And when it did, it wouldn’t just be Robbin asking the questions.