Whirlwind Reunion Read Free Page B

Annalise said gently.
    Tears welled in the woman’s green eyes. Davis Lee stroked his wife’s hair, his eyes closing briefly as agony streaked across his handsome features.
    Annalise’s chest ached. “You’ve done everything right so far—stayed in bed, sent Davis Lee for me.”
    â€œSo now what?” he asked quietly.
    â€œMore of the same. Josie, I’m afraid you’ll be confined to bed for the duration of the pregnancy.” The other woman’s history made the outlook even more grim, but Annalise had no intention of saying so. “You must take extra care. Especially considering your two previouslosses. You have less than two months to go. Right now, complete bed rest is your best chance of keeping this baby.”
    â€œBut—”
    Davis Lee squeezed his wife’s hand. “You heard the doc, Josie. You aren’t going to lift so much as a needle.”
    She started to argue, but quieted when her husband gave her a look. “Yes, all right.”
    Annalise bit back a smile. “Davis Lee, if you’ll pick her up, I’ll change the sheets.”
    â€œOh, no!” Josie protested. “You don’t need to clean up!”
    Annalise smiled. “Putting down clean sheets will allow me to judge better tomorrow if the bleeding has slowed.”
    He scooped up his wife. In short order, Annalise had the bed stripped and a clean sheet on the moss-stuffed mattress.
    Once her patient was settled, she took her leave. Davis Lee walked out with her.
    â€œYou don’t need to see me home,” she said when they paused on his porch. “Not since I live so close to you.”
    He nodded, glancing over his shoulder then pulling the door shut quietly. He shoved a hand through his dark hair and she could see his hand was shaking. “This can’t be any better for her than it is for the baby. Is she gonna be okay, Annalise? Even if she loses the baby?”
    Annalise didn’t need the wash of moonlight over his rugged features to see the man was terrified of losing his wife.
    â€œI told her—” He broke off hoarsely. “It was too soon to try after the last one.”
    Annalise’s throat tightened painfully. She laid a handon her friend’s arm. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure she is fine and I know you are, too. You’re taking good care of her, Davis Lee.”
    He searched her face then a resolve came over him. “She won’t be getting out of that bed. You can count on it.”
    She smiled. “Any more questions?”
    â€œNot right now.”
    â€œIf she has further pain or thinks she’s bleeding more profusely, send for me right away.”
    â€œAll right.”
    â€œCount on seeing me tomorrow.”
    He hugged her. “Thanks again. I’m glad you’re back.”
    â€œMe, too.” She stepped off his porch, angling toward her house. Josie was lucky to have a husband like Davis Lee. To have anyone. Except for a midwife she had only just met, Annalise had been alone when she’d suffered her miscarriage seven years ago.
    Once inside her house, she removed her blood-streaked apron, unable to dodge the memories any longer. She had known she would have to relive them at some point and they flew at her like arrows. If her loss hadn’t been raked up by a possible miscarriage, it would’ve been triggered by a troubled pregnancy or stillbirth.
    Moving as though in a daze, she washed her hands, then the dishes she’d left in a hurry when Davis Lee had fetched her.
    With tears blurring her vision, she changed into her night clothes, brushed out her hair and plaited it then lay down. The images wouldn’t stop. Neither would the guilt. Memories of the pain, the blood, the resulting infection. She’d been lucky to survive.
    She finally dozed off, waking with a start when someone pounded heavily on her front door.
    Afraid it was Davis Lee again, she