“He tried to take my purse. I tried to let it go but my hand wouldn’t listen to my brain,” she tried to explain to him.
“I should’ve been with you, I’m so sorry baby, I’m so sorry. If anything happens to you or our daughter I’ll never forgive myself,” he sputtered as he rubbed her face and head. “Tell me where it hurts,” he pleaded.
“My arm and back hurt,” she told him with a grimace.
“I’m so sorry baby, he cut your arm and someone said they saw him push you down. Does your stomach hurt?” he asked her, terrified of what her answer would be.
“I don’t know Drew, my back hurts really badly, I can’t tell if it is my stomach too,” she said, as tears started streaking down her face. “My baby,” she cried out, as her hands groped her stomach.
The ambulance pulled up and the paramedics rushed out. They asked her a few questions and placed a neck brace on her, before lifting her up to the gurney. Drew never left her side the entire time. He rode next to her in the ambulance whispering reassurances and holding her hand.
They rushed her into the emergency room and a doctor came over immediately. They hooked all kinds of monitors up to her and soon she could hear the sound of her baby’s heartbeat. Both her and Drew breathed out a sigh of relief at the strong sound.
“The baby doesn’t seem to be in any immediate danger but your blood pressure is through the roof. You were supposed to be on bed rest, from these notes I’m reading and had no business out on the streets,” the doctor scolded her.
“I’m sorry, it was just a small walk,” she tried to explain but she was feeling a lot of her own guilt and would do whatever the doctor asked of her.
“We’re going to stitch up your arm, You’re staying overnight so we can monitor you and the child. If we can get your blood pressure down, then you can get released tomorrow but only if you’re on strict bed rest. That is you go from your bed to a couch and back again. You’re not to take walks, you’re not to work, you’re to be waited on hand and foot,” the doctor told her sternly.
“I understand,” she said, too afraid to argue with anything the man said. They poked and prodded her before she was finally moved to a room. She breathed a sigh of relief, as the pills they gave her kicked in and she drifted off into blissful sleep. She couldn’t understand how the day could start off so well and end so badly.
Drew made calls to his family and knew they would be there in no time. His cousins would drop whatever they were doing to be there for each other. Family was number one to all of them. This was his future wife, with his child, lying in a hospital bed and they would’ve been angry with him if he hadn’t called so they could be there. The second she’d conceived his baby, she had become a part of that tight family circle.
He got a call while he was pacing the halls the bank accepted his offer. He called in some connections to speed the process up. He wanted to get moved in within a couple of weeks, where he’d be able to take care of her much better.
He called up his normal temp agency and had them start performing interviews for a staff. He wanted things ready as soon as he got the keys. As he continued to pace the hallways he saw Derek and Ryan round the corner. They spotted him immediately and walked over. He explained everything to them and they talked him into going with them for some much needed coffee.
Jasmine was right behind them and promised to stay with Trinity in case she woke up. She had tears of worry in her eyes. He pulled her close for a hug, so grateful she’d married his cousin. She was a blessing to their family. She shooed him away and went in to sit by Trinity’s bedside.
“How the hell does something like that happen in broad daylight?” Ryan said as he slammed his mug down on the table.
“I don’t like that neighborhood at all. It’s the older part of town and the businesses have to have bars on the windows at night. That should be the first clue she shouldn’t be walking down that street alone. I want her out of there now,” Drew said vehemently.
“I agree with you Drew but be careful, she’s stubborn and you don’t want her to stay there just because you’re telling her not to,” Derek tried to reason with his cousin.
“She’s on strict orders from the doctor for total bed rest, so she doesn’t have a hell of a lot of choice but to listen to me for a while,” Drew said with some satisfaction. He knew very well how stubborn the woman could be. He also knew how much she already loved their child and she’d do anything to keep her safe.
“Well, I have some good news for you,” Derek started. “Jasmine and Trinity were talking about opening a combined business together and Jasmine found an incredible space. We purchased it yesterday. It’s not too far from where we’re living. It’s in a much safer area. Jasmine was actually coming over today to tell her she’d snatched it up before it was gone and they could move forward,” he finished.
“That’s great Derek, I’ll feel so much better if she’s not living or working down there and the women will have each other there as well. I don’t like her working alone, I don’t care how great the neighborhood is,” Drew said.
“I agree with you fully there. I’m going to talk to Jasmine about having some extra help. She plans on having the baby with her and she will need more people to help her run things. Hell, money isn’t an issue anyway but their safety is,” Derek said.
“Man am I glad I don’t have anyone other than you guys to stress over because it doesn’t sound like any fun,” Ryan said. Both Derek and Drew turned to glare at him.
“Your time is coming,” Derek finally said. Ryan just shook his head and got a look of terror on his face. He wasn’t ready to head down that road.
“Not a chance you guys,” he said. The three of them relaxed since there was a clear plan of action in place. They all felt better when they were planning or accomplishing something. None of them liked to feel helpless and if someone they loved had a problem, they felt that way.
Drew wasn’t looking forward to the conversation they were going to have later but then again he was the business man he was because he never backed down. He could handle any situation, including a very angry woman. He smiled in anticipation.
Jasmine sat by the bed, anxiously waiting for Trinity to wake up. She wanted to share her news with her but more importantly she wanted to hear from her that she was okay. If anything had happened to that child it would’ve destroyed Trinity. She may not have known her very long but she was a mother and knew how bonded you became with your child, even from the womb.