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“I’m not calling your dad.”
I dial Hudson’s number. He answers on the third ring. “Everything okay, Allie?”
“I’m sorry to bother you after hours, but I just fell down.”
“How did you fall, and did you hit your stomach?”
I tell him what happened, leaving out the part about Darla ripping open the door.
“Are you bleeding?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Have you felt any movement?”
“Yes.” I lower my voice, not wanting Bug to feel worse than she clearly does. “But only from one. Hudson, I’m totally freaked out here. What if—” I can’t even get myself to say it. “Should I go to the hospital?”
“Do you think you can drive?”
“Yeah. I think so. I mean I feel fine physically.”
“Meet me at my office. I’ll do an ultrasound.”
I’m relieved he’s not dismissing me as just being a nervous mom-to-be. Because in all honesty, I did downplay how hard I hit the floor in an attempt to not freak out Darla.
“Thanks, Hudson. I’ll leave right now.” I hang up and tell Bug where I’m going.
She stares at my belly. “Do you think…”
“I don’t think anything. I just want to be sure. Will you be okay here?”
She nods, guilt eating away at her features.
“Hopefully I won’t be gone too long. There’s lasagna in the fridge if you get hungry, and I made cookies.”
I’m trying to make it seem like everything is okay, like I’m not screaming on the inside over all the things that could be wrong. What if one of the placentas has a tear? What if I fell right on one of their heads? What if I’m going to go into early labor?
But I hold off on showing any emotion in front of Darla, making it all the way to my car before breaking down in sobs. The last three months have been pure bliss. Is the other shoe about to drop?
I let myself cry for just a brief minute. Then I check my pants again for any bleeding. There isn’t any, thank goodness, and I finally back out of the garage, saying a little prayer.
Actually, it’s a huge prayer.
It’sallthe prayers.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Allie
When I return home an hour later, Darla is at the kitchen table, folding a load of Asher’s laundry. She looks relieved but guarded when I enter. I’m sure she understands if something were wrong, I wouldn’t be back so soon.
“Everything’s okay,” I say, taking the seat across from her. “I’m fine. The babies are fine.”
She doesn’t make eye contact. “I didn’t know you were behind the door.”
I want to reach across the table and touch her hand, because the way she looks right now is like the weight of the world is on her shoulders.
“Darla, it’s not your fault. How could you have known I was leaning on the door? If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I was trying to get you to open the door, yet I was putting all my weight against it. It was stupid of me. But listen, everything is okay.”