Page 20 of Agony of Our Regret (Sorcerer’s Society #11)

TWENTY

The dark cloud that had been looming over us for years finally dissipated, letting in the sun and brightening our world. We weren’t the only ones who noticed the change. The atmosphere in the office was 180 degrees from a few weeks ago.

My colleagues laughed and smiled, and the general pace slowed.

We weren’t fighting the clock. We didn’t stress about what might happen next.

The restrictions were gone. The AS leaders down the chain of command were detained and awaiting trial in over thirty countries. The Supernatural Council was now overseeing what remained of the group since they had available resources.

We were back to regular Society business, which left me and my committee in a strange position.

“What do you two think?” Daniel asked me and Gwen during our weekly meeting.

I put my hands over my bump and considered the options.

We could stop renovations and sell the property, allowing all teens to return home and attend traditional high schools. Or we could continue as planned and give the teens the option of a Society boarding school.

Gwen glanced at me, and I gave her a nod before she started. “I think we should finish what we started. I know Avalon mentioned it already, but going to Drexel Academy was incredibly helpful for learning more about our abilities. I can only see the positives of providing a space where more people like them can gather and share experiences and ideas and train.”

I nodded. “Now it doesn’t have to be a requirement. Having a choice is even better than being forced to leave your family and home.”

Daniel looked at the computer, which showed Bruce’s video feed. “What do you think?”

Bruce grinned. “You heard the experts. We finish the school and make sure our members know it’s an option available to them. We can start with the extending the invitation to North America, and if there’s room expanding from there.”

“Sounds good to me,” Tessa agreed.

“Good, then let’s get back to the agenda items. We have another delivery scheduled for next Tuesday,” Daniel continued, but a message popped up on the corner of my screen. I clicked to open it.

Noah: I called dibs tonight

I smiled to myself. The guys asked for date nights since we were down to three weeks before Lemon was due, and they each wanted to squeeze in some alone time.

Vince: You can’t take her to see that new Broadway movie. I already called dibs on that

Skyler: As if Noah could sit through two hours of spontaneous singing

Gavin: I packed an overnight bag, so you won’t see me

Luca: Apartment is all yours

Noah: Vince, I already got our tickets. Recliner seats

I rubbed my nose, coving my smile. He knew better than to get Vince riled up.

Vince: No. You’re not taking her. Ave, babe, tell him!

Luca: You knew you were going to be home on opening weekend, you should have planned ahead

Gavin: Yeah

Skyler: Sucks to suck man

I muffled a laugh and dropped my eyes when Tessa glanced at me. Gwen leaned over and read over the conversation with a smile. She reached over and started typing.

Me: I promised Gwen I’d go with her first. Noah, return those tickets. Vince, we’ll watch when it’s on streaming

I slapped her hands, but she ignored me and kept typing.

Me: I’m in a meeting. Noah, bring dinner over

She sat back while I watched them fall into chaos.

Noah: Fine, I’ll return them. Do you want Italian or Chinese tonight?

Vince: I’m not waiting until it’s on streaming! That will take months

Gavin: We had Chinese two days ago

Luca: Get her some lasagna and garlic bread

Oh, that sounded fantastic.

Noah: Got it

Skyler: Now we know where Gwen stands.

Gavin: In front of all of us

Luca: Not surprising

Skyler: Only because she isn’t responsible for knocking her up. Once the baby is here, we’ll rise back up

Gavin: Only if you help with diapers

Noah: And vomit

Luca: Dibs on changing the nonexplosions only

Vince: Babe? Seriously? You’re going to make me wait

Noah: New punishment: cleaning up explosions

Skyler: Explosions?

Luca: shit-ageddon

Noah: When it’s EVERYWHERE. Escaped the diaper. Up the back. In all the wrinkles. Places you didn’t know poo could be.

Luca: The crib

Noah: The car seat

Luca: The walls

Skyler: I’m going to barf

Gavin: Wake up baby = explosion duty

Luca: Wake up momma = explosion duty for a week

Vince: BABE?

Noah: Forget to take the trash out = explosion duty

Skyler: Waste formula or milk = explosion duty

Vince: guys! Shut up! Ave, were you serious?

Luca: Annoy momma = explosion duty

Noah: harass her even when she said she’s in a meeting = explosion duty

Gavin: Looks like Vince has dibs on the first two already

Vince: WTF

Skyler: Careful

Gavin: min 3 of us decided you did something to warrant it = explosion duty

Luca: All in favor of Vince getting the first four, say aye

Skyler: Aye

Noah: Aye

Vince: What the hell

Gavin: Aye

Luca: The ayes have it. Vince, better buy some gloves and protective goggles

Me: I’ll print a chart to keep track

I shut my laptop, no longer bothering to hide my smile. They were too much and letting them tease each other and not getting involved was needed from time to time. It was an easy reminder that they were friends before they were my partners.But adding just a bit of fuel to the fire was too hard to resist.

“Good morning.” Noah’s raspy voice woke me before he trailed kisses over my shoulder.

“Mmmm.” I smiled and kissed his forehead. “It is a good morning.”

I didn’t wake up to him often, so this was extra special.

“Do you want to stay in bed for a while, or do you want to go grab coffee and cinnamon rolls?”

I practically threw the blankets off. Luca found a bakery a few blocks away with the gooiest, sweetest, most perfect cinnamon rolls, and I was now obsessed.

“I take it we’re going?” he chuckled, but immediately stopped. “Avalon!”

I spun around, searching for what was wrong. “What?”

“You’re bleeding.” He pointed at me, and my eyes dropped to the bed where a large red stain lay.

“Oh.” I put my hand over my belly and immediately felt Lemon moving. “We’re okay.” I lied to myself and him. Blood wasn’t normal, but she was still active. That was a good sign.

“No, I don’t think so.” He was already climbing out of the bed. “We need to get to the hospital immediately.”

“Noah, this isn’t like your vision.” I put my hand on his chest, needing to reassure us both. “I’m not in my office. It’s not that much blood.”

“We have to get you checked.”

I wasn’t going to change his mind so while he went into the closet, I hurried to the bathroom and pulled down my pants, which were just as stained, and sat on the toilet. I was still bleeding. It wasn’t an alarming amount. Still, considering what was on the bed and my pajamas, this was beyond just spotting.

“Here.” Noah appeared with new underwear and sweats. “I’ve got your overnight bag just in case.”

I nodded and cleaned myself up before changing into clean clothes. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and moved around on autopilot as Noah guided me to my slip-on boots and helped me into my coat.

He was on his phone, talking to someone as we stepped into the elevator.

I kept my hand on my bump, feeling the baby stretch as much as they could and reassuring myself that we were both fine.

Noah led us to the street rather than the parking garage.

“The car,” I started, but he’d already waved down a taxi that was pulling over.

“I can’t drive. I need to make calls.”

I nodded and climbed in, scooting over so Noah could get in next to me.

“Northwestern Women’s,” he told the driver, before lifting his phone to his ear.

“Do I need to tell the doctor?” I asked, while he waited for the other side to answer.

“I already did. They’re expecting us.”

I sat back and watched the people on the street as we zoomed past.

It was fine.

I was fine.

Lemon was fine.

Bleeding wasn’t an immediate cause for concern.

There could be several reasons, most of which weren’t an emergency.

We were going to get checked out and confirm everything was fine.

Because it was.

Luckily, there wasn’t too much traffic on a Saturday morning, and we got to the hospital in just a few minutes.

A nurse was waiting with a wheelchair and greeted us with a smile. “Avalon Bradley?”

“Yes.” I sat, and Noah put my bag on my lap before we turned and headed inside.

“You’re at thirty-seven weeks?” she asked, as we hurried down a hall.

“Tomorrow, I will be.”

“Any cramping?”

Now that she asked, I noticed some pain. “A little.”

“Pain on a scale of one to ten?”

I took a moment to focus on that and not the panic I was desperately fighting back. “Maybe a three or four?”

Not enough to freak out over. If I hadn’t bled, I would just stay in bed or relax on the couch until it went away.

“Let me know if that changes.” She stopped inside an exam room and helped me stand and scoot onto the table. She went through the standard procedures of taking my temperature, blood pressure, and oxygen levels before starting the questions as she moved to stand in front of the computer.

“When did the bleeding start?”

“Overnight? I’m not sure exactly when. I woke up, and there was a stain on the bed and my pants.”

“It was still wet,” Noah added. “So, it must have been fairly recent.”

I cringed at the idea of him touching the spot, but it was good information to know.

She nodded and typed before looking at me. “And you’re still actively bleeding?”

“Yes.”

“More than spotting?”

“Yes. I’d say something more like a normal period.”

“And is the color bright or dark?”

“Bright.”

“Did anything happen that might have led to the bleeding? Did you fall or have sex recently?”

Noah’s eyes widened. “Sex can cause bleeding?”

We’d slept together last night, but I never felt discomfort. We used a position recommended in one of the baby books for the third trimester.

She took him in and immediately began reassuring him. “Not usually to this extent without Avalon also going into labor.”

He turned to me. “Could the pain be contractions?”

How was I supposed to know? This was my first time experiencing any of this.

The nurse ignored him. “Are you feeling movements?”

“Yes.” I pressed my palms deeper. “Baby’s active.”

“Okay, I’ve ordered an ultrasound. The tech will be in here soon. Then the doctor will review the results and perform an exam if needed.”

“Thank you,” I said, as she stepped out. “She didn’t seem freaked out.”

Noah’s whole body was tense. “She’s a professional. They aren’t supposed to freak out in front of patients.”

“But she didn’t scream for a doctor or run us into the OR.” I was fighting to cling to the bright side.

“I saw this coming.” Noah dropped his head. “I should have been ready.”

“Hey, that vision showed me in my office. This is completely different.” I grabbed his hand. “We’re okay. We caught it as soon as we could, and we’re here.”

He sucked in a breath and slowly released it. “You’re right.”

“Did you let the guys know?”

“Yeah, but I said not to come here until we know more. They’ll wait for us at the condo unless you want them here.”

I shook my head. There was enough going on without four more worried men.

An ultrasound tech arrived a minute later and calmly and quietly got everything set up. As soon as we heard the baby’s heartbeat, we both relaxed a little. She didn’t explain what she was seeing on the screen, but got all the images quickly before leaving.

“Are they normally that silent?” Noah asked.

“No, but I’m normally at the smaller clinic. I haven’t met her before.”

He didn’t comment, so we sat in silence, holding hands until Dr. Gracie walked in a while later. “Avalon, I wasn’t expecting to see you today.” She grinned. “And Noah, you look like you’ve had better days.”

I smirked and squeezed his hand.

“Here’s what we’ve got going on.” She jumped into things rather than making small talk, which we both needed. “Your placenta has moved, and not the direction it should have. We were hoping it would move to the top like it should have, but it’s now partially covering the cervix. Bleeding is common with placenta previa, which is what’s going on.”

“What does that mean?” Noah asked before I could.

“Since the bleeding isn’t severe and baby still looks healthy, I recommend Avalon go on bed rest until delivery.”

I cringed. “Bed rest?”

“At home,” she added. “No sexual activities or exercise. We’ll check twice a week to see if there’s movement, but if there isn’t, we’ll schedule a C-section.”

I sucked in a breath. I hadn’t thought much about the labor and delivery part of pregnancy, but I always pictured myself going through contractions, using the breathing techniques the guys practiced with me, and pushing the baby out myself.

Lying on a bed with my arms tied down while the baby was cut out would take some getting used to.

“It sounds scary, but I promise it's nothing to worry about. Now that we know what’s going on, we’ll closely monitor you and take it a few days at a time.”

“The baby can come anytime though and be okay, right? It’s not too soon?” Noah asked.

“We’re in a safe range right now. If she delivers in this next week, we might give her steroids to help baby’s lungs get ready, but I’m not too concerned.”

Noah nodded and relaxed a bit.

“I can still work, right?”

She smiled at me. “I’m sure your team would be understanding.”

Yeah, because the team leads were grandma and grandpa to my baby, and she knew that.

“She said bed rest,” Noah reminded me. “That means no work.”

“I have a desk job,” I shot back. “I can do it from my bed.”

“How about you limit your hours, and if anything stressful comes up, you pass that on to a colleague?” she compromised.

I nodded. “I can do that.”

“Good, I’ll see you again on Tuesday.”

“Thank you.”

After she left, Noah helped me off the table. I rearranged my clothes, so I was comfortable before walking out with him. We drove home in a waiting taxi, and the second we were back in the elevator, Noah turned to me.

“Please don’t tell the guys we had sex last night.”

I wrapped my arm around his waist. “She said that wouldn’t have caused the bleeding. It was a fluke, bad timing.”

His eyes pleaded with me. “Still, they’ll each say something, and now that you’re not allowed to do anything, they’ll blame me.”

Even if it wasn’t logical, he was probably right.

“Okay, fine.”

We were about to walk into a room of stressed-out men. I didn’t need to add any fuel to the fire.