Forty

VALERIA

Ivy was waiting for me outside the hospital. As soon as the cab came to a stop, she opened the door and helped me out.

"Still spotting?" she asked worriedly. I nodded. "You'll be fine. The baby too. I told the doctor already. He's going to see you now."

In another minute, I was in the doctor's office, flat on my back on the examination table while the doctor, helped by a nurse, examined me. I stared at the white ceiling and struggled to keep back tears. If anything had happened to my baby... I shook my head, dispelling the thought. I couldn't afford to entertain that to think that way. Not ever. As the doctor and nurse conversed in murmurs, my frustration peaked. Were they doing it deliberately to annoy me? What was going on?

"Is the baby okay?" I ground out, not able to keep silent anymore.

"I'll be done in just a minute," he said.

I worried my bottom lip and forced myself to wait. Five minutes later, the nurse left and the doctor told me to get dressed and seated.

"The bab