Read Wedding-Night Baby Online
Authors: Kim Lawrence
Wedding-Night Baby (13 page)
âWe need an ambulance,' Mary replied urgently.
âWhat did the bastard do?'
âNo, it's the baby,' Mary said, running a soothing hand over Georgina's clammy forehead.
Callum froze, and went an unhealthy grey beneath his dark tan. His eyes moved over the still form of the girl slumped on the floor until they reached the definite expansion around her middle.
âNo time; we'll use my car,' he said, life suddenly returning to his limbs. He bent down and scooped Georgina up. She felt as limp as a rag doll in his arms. Her waxen eyelids flickered open and for a moment their eyes met; she looked at him blankly as if she didn't recognise him.
The journey to the hospital was a blur. She knew Mary was beside her and that she kept saying comforting things,
but Georgina was convinced that something too terrible for words to make better was happening. Mary gasped occasionally as the car made some unorthodox manoeuvre through the heavy traffic but Georgina was oblivious to all external matters.
but Georgina was convinced that something too terrible for words to make better was happening. Mary gasped occasionally as the car made some unorthodox manoeuvre through the heavy traffic but Georgina was oblivious to all external matters.
Callum carried her into the casualty department, undeterred by official attempts to halt his progress. She didn't know what he said or did, but very soon she was in a cubicle, being seen by a distinguished-looking man with a carnation in his lapel.
His hands moved clinically over her body and his smile was professionally noncommittal. âPain?'
âNot now,' she said flatly. âMy baby's dead, isn't it?' she said hoarsely.
âDid your companion do that?' he asked sternly, touching the bruised side of her face.
Georgina looked at him with frustration; she wasn't concerned about her face. âCallum?' she asked with amazement. âOf course not!' she said indignantly, colouring as she realised the direction her thoughts were going. âThere was a drunk in the car park.'
âIn that case I'll let him in whilst we listen for the heartbeat,' he said, his manner visibly relaxing. âSecurity will be relieved,' he observed wryly, half to himself.
âThe baby's alive...?' she said incredulously. She was too relieved to tell him that Callum didn't belong here at all. When the electronic monitor picked up the swift sounds of the baby's heartbeat it was the sweetest music she'd ever heard. She closed her eyes and large, silent tears ran down her face. She didn't look at Callum quietly standing in the corner of the tiny room.
âBut I was bleeding,' she said as her anxiety returned.
âA very slight loss; no need to panic. We'll send you for a scan immediately. Then I'll see you on the ward a little later.'
She gave a quivering sigh and smiled faintly. âThank you.'
The doctor disappeared behind the curtain and they were alone. Just the two of usâno, three, she thought, her hand going to her stomach in a protective gesture. She turned her head slowly to look at him, defiance and caution in her eyes.
He looked so bleak, so incredibly grim that she shuddered apprehensively. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking. âI... Thank you for getting rid of Simon; you can go now. Tell Mary I'm all right, will you?'
âThank you for giving me permission,' he drawled with savage sarcasm, âbut I'll go when I damned well want to and not before. You know they thought I'd attacked you?' he said, disgust curling his upper lip. âWhat in God's name possessed you to start seeing May? I wouldn't have thought you'd believe in rekindling old flames.'
She blinked, startled by the explosive question. âI wasn'tâ'
âYou were waiting for him in the bloody car park. Pregnant. How stupid and thoughtless can you get? A man who beats you and you get pregnant. If you want to put yourself in that position, fine! But exposing a child to that sort of abuse is criminally irresponsible!'
It was ironic when she considered how terrified she'd been of him finding out about the baby. He actually thought she and Simon... She ought to feel relief but she felt a lick of pure rage. How dared he think she...? She had quite absurdly expected him to know instinctively that the child was his and perversely she felt furious with him for not realising it.
âI'll naturally cherish your opinion,' she drawled, shaking with reaction. She'd forgotten how intensely blue his eyes were; they were cold and furious but still capable of making her stomach tighten.
She despised her weakness, aware of the danger it represented. Even now she was conscious of every minute detail of his appearanceâthe way his hair curled against his collar, the shadow his eyelashes cast along the slant of his cheekbones. Concentrate, Georgie, she told herself, lowering her gaze with an enormous effort. âGo and tell Mary; she'll be worried.' And she gave a sigh of relief when, amazingly, he did as she requested.
Â
Callum calmly walked into the room just as the technician was beginning the scan. âSorry I'm late; I was getting Mary a taxi. I told her I'd keep her up to date with any news.'
The technician smiled, accepting his right to be there. Georgina could have wept with frustration; she ought to have known he'd been too uncharacteristically docile in disappearing. She could have made a fuss and had him expelled but she couldn't take her eyes off the screen. She had to know if everything was all right!
âSit here; you'll be able to see better,' the young woman said helpfully.
This was too much! Georgina had just turned her head to glare at him when the girl's next words glued her eyes to the screen.
âThere's the heart beating...just there.'
Georgina was hooked as the commentary continued, fascinated by the grainy images on the screen. Words like bonding took on a new meaning as the emotions rose within her and tears welled in her eyes. âIs everything all right?'
She relaxed at the cheerful reply, her tears obscuring her vision. She turned her head and discovered Callum's chest. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to seek comfort in hard solidity. For a few moments she burrowed, clutching at handfuls of his shirt with trembling fingers.
His fingers were in her hair, kneading the strained muscles of her neck.
His fingers were in her hair, kneading the strained muscles of her neck.
âLet me see, you must be twenty-nine weeks by now,' the girl observed, oblivious to the sudden tension in the room. Georgina straightened up, not daring to look at Callum. A frisson of pure dread lanced through her.
âNo, I. . .I don't think so,' Georgina stammered, trying desperately to retrieve the situation. She couldn't hope that Callum hadn't picked up on that; he was far too astute not to draw the obvious conclusions from this fact.
âYou'd be amazed how many people don't have their dates right,' the girl said with a laugh, wiping the gel off Georgina's stomach and readjusting the white hospital gown. âBut the measurements give a very accurate estimate.'
He didn't say a wordâjust gave one fierce, accusatory glare. Anticipation of what he would say was almost worse than the actual event; she could read menace in every line of his body. The baby is aliveâthat's all that matters, she kept telling herself.
She was tucked up in bed by the time the doctor reappeared. âLet's have Dad in on this, shall we?' he said cheerfully, and Georgina almost groaned out loud as Callum appeared on cue.
The technical details were vaguely confusing but Georgina hung onto the words âno reason why you shouldn't have a perfectly healthy baby'. The mention of total bed rest for two weeks and careful monitoring made her thoughts become frantic as she pondered with dismay the practical implications of this news.
The obvious solution was to go home, but her mother had never really been good at the nursemaid side of maternal responsibility. She had been a firm believer in illness being very much a question of mind over matter. As far
as Georgina could recall, a brisk walk had been her answer to most of the childish ailments she had suffered.
as Georgina could recall, a brisk walk had been her answer to most of the childish ailments she had suffered.
âI'll see she looks after herself and the baby.'
Georgina shot Callum a startled look. Circumstances and the fact that she'd been too gutless and embarrassed to tell the doctor she didn't want him here might have meant that Callum had been privy to this consolation but she'd have to make it plain to him that his involvement ended here.
âI'll see you both in the morning,' the doctor said, leaving them.
âI didn't know consultants were so accessible,' she observed with a frown as he closed the door. She looked around the room with sudden suspicion. âWhy aren't I in the main ward?'
âI thought you'd prefer some privacy.'
âI can't afford to pay for privacy.' Her voice felt thick where her mouth was beginning to swell. I must look quite awful, she thought, touching the bruised skin experimentally and wincing.
âI can,' he said, his expression tightening as he watched her grimace of pain. âAnd as it's my child we're talking about it's my right. You have a peculiar view about my rights, don't you, Georgina?' he accused her grimly. âDid you ever intend telling me?'
His softly furious question stilled her instinctive protest at being in any way in his debt. âIt's none of your business,' she said stubbornly, covertly studying his face to judge the degree of anger in his reaction to learning he was to be a father. What she saw didn't make her feel any more comfortable.
âMy child is none of my business?' The fact that he didn't raise his voice only served to emphasise his anger. His blue eyes glittered ferociously.
âBiologically you're the father,' she admitted hoarsely.
âBut your part was over with a long time ago. What we had was casual, a brief moment of madness.' Despite the sensation of dread that crawled in the pit of her stomach she tried to sound as impersonal and sensible as possible. I can't be seen to waver, she told herself firmly.
âBut your part was over with a long time ago. What we had was casual, a brief moment of madness.' Despite the sensation of dread that crawled in the pit of her stomach she tried to sound as impersonal and sensible as possible. I can't be seen to waver, she told herself firmly.
Callum's head jerked as though she'd struck him but his face was as hard as rock. âThe baby changes things.'
âNot for you.'
âYou can't really think I'm willing to let you deny me contact with my child?'
âI find your possessive attitude a little difficult to take,' she snapped, feeling close to exhaustion by this point. âUntil a few minutes ago you didn't know the child existed and you cared less.'
âAnd whose fault is that?'
âI want this child and you're not going to take him from me!' Knuckles clenched bone-white on the counterpane, she glared at him defiantly.
âWhat the hell are you talking about?' he grated, looking only marginally more in control than she did.
âI'm not fit to be a mother. I haven't forgotten what you said. Well, if you think I'm going to let you take this child away from me, you're wrong! Just because you have money it doesn't mean you can buy everything.' Furiously she wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. âOh, pass me a tissue, will you?'
Callum produced a handkerchief from his pocket and sat down on the edge of the bed. âCalm down,' he said gently. âI don't think it can be good for you to get so upset.'
âYou're the one trying to steal my baby.'
He blotted the dampness from her cheeks and looked at her with a curious expression she didn't understand. âYou really do want this baby, don't you? I accept that. I don't know where you've got these ludicrous notions about me
separating you. But it's my child too and you can't cut me off. It's in both our interests to behave in a civilised fashion so don't force me to play rough, Georgina.'
separating you. But it's my child too and you can't cut me off. It's in both our interests to behave in a civilised fashion so don't force me to play rough, Georgina.'
âIs that a threat?' she asked hoarsely.
Callum made an impatient gesture. âNothing so dramatic. I'm not Simon May,' he said caustically. âYou've no right to attempt to keep me from my child. As things stand, you'll need help.
âJust shut up and listen,' he continued sternly, cutting off her protests. âWho else is there? Simon May?' His expression hardened. âYou've got to agree not to see him again. A man who hits a woman never changes,' he observed with biting scorn. âDid he think the child was his?' he asked thickly.
âI don't care what he thinks, or what you think!' she yelled back.
âDid you know he's been selling information to our main rival?'
Georgina just looked at him blankly. She couldn't believe he could actually think she was interested in the man. âHas he?' she said flatly. Simon May was low on her agenda of interesting subjects.
âHe got the push today, and he probably found out that our rivals are less keen on employing someone who's already sold out one employer than he imagined. I expect you took the full force of his frustration. Keep away from him!' he warned grimly. His gaze rested on the swollen, discoloured area across her jaw and he grimaced. âEven if you don't have enough self-respect to know he's bad news, you've got to think about the baby. I'll have no compunction about making sure you don't keep it if you put its life in danger.'
âHow dare you lecture me on responsibility?' she breathed wrathfully. His contemptuous assumption made her blood boil. He seemed to think she was in the middle
of some torrid affair. If it hadn't been so offensive it would have been funny! âYou weren't very responsible when we conceived this child. Besides, I'm seven months pregnant. I hardly think my love life is something that need concern you.'
of some torrid affair. If it hadn't been so offensive it would have been funny! âYou weren't very responsible when we conceived this child. Besides, I'm seven months pregnant. I hardly think my love life is something that need concern you.'
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