A Country Christmas Page 6

  Was I? That didn’t sound good.

  She let Steph take her blood pressure, and her smile faded a little.

  “High?” asked her mom.

  “Low,” said Steph. “I’m sorry, miss, but you’re going to have a quick trip to the hospital.”

  “The baby?” She didn’t feel any pain in her belly, but she didn’t know how she was meant to be feeling.

  “That’s why we’re going to the hospital, to be sure.”

  Zoe nodded, but her belly flipped with nerves. She put her hand on her stomach, hoping to feel the bubbling sensation that she associated with the baby’s movement, but there was nothing.

  “I’m sure everything will be fine,” reassured her mom.

  This baby wasn’t planned, but Zoe knew she would be devastated if something went wrong and she lost it.

  The ten-minute trip in the ambulance to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital felt like it was more like an hour. The emergency section was busy, and Zoe was wheeled into a section in the corner, the curtain was drawn and she was told to wait for the doctor who would soon be here.

  Her mom sat on the edge of her bed, holding her hand.

  “I better tell Max,” said Zoe. “Can you pass my cell?”

  “No, you need to rest.”

  “It’s only a phone call.” She wanted Max by her side, and the fact that he wasn’t, made her irritable.

  “I’m sure Helen and Kate will let him know.”

  What the hell would they tell him. A new worry started in her mind. She shifted uncomfortably on the bed. He didn’t need to know everything. Maybe it would be better to tell him after she’d seen the doctor.

  “Zoe Preston?” A female doctor poked her head through the gap in the curtains.

  “Yes,” Zoe answered.

  “I’m Dr. Khatri.”

  Zoe smiled weakly, trying to think positive. She hadn’t felt any bubbly-like movement, only flutters of nerves. Had anything bad happened when she fell?

  “Is there any bleeding?”

  Zoe shook her head. That was one good sign Steph had told her in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

  “That is a good sign.”

  A nurse came into the cubicle space, holding ultrasound equipment. “I’m Jean, let’s hear your baby’s heartbeat.”

  Jean helped Zoe to move the material of her maxi dress, so the sensor could be pressed into her abdomen. Zoe held her breath, as a static noise came from the machine.

  Then she heard it.

  A faint heartbeat.

  She smiled.

  The baby was fine.

  “That’s a good sound, isn’t it,” said Dr. Khatri.

  Zoe nodded, feeling her eyes water with tears.

  Everything was fine.

  There was no need for all of this fussing.

  “So, this is what’s going to happen. I’m going to check you in—”

  “I have to stay?” Zoe interrupted, she had started to get her hopes up about going back to the hotel, ringing Max, and laughing over this incident.

  “Your blood pressure is a little low, and you’re due for your 12-week scan. So, I’m going to run some tests.”

  “Oh...” Zoe’s shoulders slumped at the news.

  The doctor placed her hand on Zoe’s arm. “Just think, in a few hours you’re going to see the ultrasound of your baby. That will make up for it all.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  “But Max isn’t here.” Zoe couldn’t hide the emotion in her voice.

  “Well, tell him to come,” said Dr. Khatri.

  “He’s nearly three hours away.”

  “Then he better hurry. I want to get the scans done as soon as possible to be sure everything is on track.”

  Bloody hell. Zoe sighed.

  This wasn’t at all how the shopping trip was meant to end up.

  Max finished collecting the eggs, placing them carefully in his Akubra hat, before slowly closing the door and locking the hens in for the night. It was late afternoon. Jim had finished installing the satellite and the truck driver had called to tell him the cattle had arrived safely.

  Bluey trotted next to him as he walked back to the house, wondering how Zoe was getting on with the shopping trip. A text a few hours ago only told him that they’d arrived in Adelaide and were going to have lunch soon.

  “Just you and me tonight, boy,” he said, kicking his boots off at the back door, and heading inside, glad to be finally out of the heat of the day. Bluey followed him, his face happy that he could once more get the privileges he’d lost when Zoe had moved in.

  Zoe. He missed her right now.

  Max put the eggs in the fridge, took out a beer, and was about to head back outside to sit on the veranda and watch the sunset when his cell rang. He put the beer on the table—disappointed to see his mom’s name flashing on the screen and not Zoe’s—and he answered it.

  “Hi, Max.”

  “Hi, Mom. How’s the shopping trip going? Run out of money already?”

  “I’m sure it’s nothing…”

  His heart thundered in his chest while his thoughts went immediately to Zoe.

  What the hell had happened?

  The baby?

  Were they all right?

  “Zoe’s been taken to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.”

  “What?”

  “Kate and I are on our way there. Well, we’re going back to the hotel to pick up her overnight bag, then to the hospital.”

  Fuck.

  His hands shook.

  He near collapsed on the kitchen chair nearest to him.

  “Max, you there?”

  He pulled himself together. “What happened, Mom?”

  “She collapsed when shopping.”

  “Shit.” That couldn’t be good.

  “Her blood pressure is low. Anyway, doctor’s doing tests and keeping her in hospital overnight.”

  That didn’t sound like nothing.

  “I’m sure it’s only a precaution, Max.”

  “I hope so.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I’ll come now.”

  “Good. I was about to tell you that you should.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  Max swallowed hard, trying to focus. He should really shower, grab a few things, but all he wanted to do was get to Zoe as quickly as he could. She was a three-hour drive away, and he didn’t want to waste one second getting to her.

  Zoe lay back in the uncomfortable hospital bed in a private room. She was lucky to have a room of her own, but she didn’t feel lucky. The room was small, there was a private bathroom to her left, a small window to her right, which looked out onto the parklands. It smelled of cleaning fluid and it appeared sterile. This was meant to be her time to rest but doing nothing was driving her crazy. The television didn’t work, and she couldn’t bring herself to read the out-of-date magazines like her mom, who was on the chair by the bed. Whatever article she was reading it was taking her attention.

  Zoe leaned over, grabbed her handbag off the side table, and took out her phone.

  The screen was blank.

  No messages from Max.

  No calls.

  She felt like throwing it across the room in frustration.

  Did he not care? Was he simply too busy? Either way, she wanted him here with her. Now. Since he wasn’t, it was too easy to think negatively toward him.

  “Your dad will visit later,” said her mom looking up from the magazine. “What are you doing with your phone? You’re meant to be resting.”

  “Staring into space isn’t resting.”

  “Being on your phone isn’t resting either.”

  “I’m finding myself a hobby,” said Zoe sarcastically.

  Her mom put down the magazine. “There’s no need to take that tone with me.”

  Great! It’s like I’m a teenager all over again. Zoe realized that if things didn’t go well with Max and her, going back to live with her parents would create a whole new set of problems
for her to deal with.

  Her phone vibrated. A photograph of Max came up on her screen which made Zoe smile. Finally.

  “Max...” Tears welled in her eyes.

  “Zoe, what happened?”

  “Nothing.” She didn’t even know how this all happened, or what had actually gone wrong.

  “Sounds a bit more than that.”

  Her mom got up from the chair. “I’m going to grab a coffee.”

  Zoe waited for her mom to leave.

  “I want you here,” demanded Zoe.

  “I’m on my way.”

  “It’s not g-good enough,” her voice started to crack.

  “Hey, I’ll be there soon.”

  Words caught in Zoe’s throat in the lump of emotion.

  “I love you, Zoe.”

  The anger she was experiencing toward him melted. “I love you.”

  “I’ll see you soon. You take care, and look after yourself and baby.”

  The call ended.

  Zoe wiped her eyes and put away her phone. She wasn’t sure how long it was going to take for Max to get here, but it was going to be too long.

  “Knock, knock.” Her mum walked back into the room. “Helen and Kate are here with your bag.”

  “Thanks.” The thought of being able to wear her pajamas was comforting. She wanted to get out of the maxi dress she’d been wearing all day. And the chance to shower using her favorite strawberry soap was overwhelming.

  “We also have some of the clothes from today,” said Helen.

  “Hope you don’t mind, but we grabbed a few things off the rack which we reckon will look great on you, after you left in the ambulance. Just because you’re in the hospital doesn’t mean you don’t want to wear something that will make you feel better.”

  “Thanks.” Zoe surprised herself with her response. She didn’t mind that they’d picked out some clothes for her. It was as if this incident had made her come a little more to terms with how much she’s no longer in control of her life.

  “I’ll show you. Maybe you might like to wear these now,” suggested Kate as she pulled out a dark pink top and charcoal harem-styled pants.

  “They look great.” Zoe smiled. “I’ll put them on now.” She got out of the bed carefully and went and changed in the bathroom, glad to be able to freshen up a little, and to move around instead of lying on the bed.

  The doctor wasn’t sure when the scan would happen, but it would be today sometime.

  I might be used to waiting after this baby is born. The thought amused her, as she came out of the bathroom.

  “Good choices,” said her mom.

  Helen and Kate had managed to find an extra chair from somewhere and were sitting on them lined up under the window.

  “They’re comfy,” said Zoe, as she got back on the bed, and sat crossed-legged. “Plenty of room for growth.”

  “Max is coming down now,” said Helen.

  “I know, he rang just before.”

  “You know initially I was so frustrated he wouldn’t come for this trip, but you know, farm work sometimes can’t wait. I should know, I was married to a farmer myself for twenty-eight years. I so wish he’d be here… to see his grandchild born.”

  Kate hugged her mom. “He’s here in spirit.”

  Zoe steeled herself against the emotion that vibrated between them all. Her eyes teared up again, and she used the handkerchief to stop them from falling.

  “Yes, I’m sure he is.” Helen inhaled, as if pushing away the emotion. “I can’t wait for you all to come to the farm for Christmas.”

  “Yes,” said Leanne. Her eyes lit up. “It will be a lot of fun to have Christmas on a farm.”

  Zoe groaned as if in pain. This was actually going well. Maybe, too well. They were bonding, and she felt as if she was trying to put on the brakes to slow things down.

  Maybe I shouldn’t? Something she momentarily thought might be a good idea with Max too. It wasn’t that long ago she’d tried to convince herself to let the details sort themselves out. Hard to do for someone like herself who preferred to be in control.

  “Best let them go on this, Zoe,” said Kate. “I know there’s no stopping my mom when she gets like this.”

  “I agree,” said Robert.

  Zoe nodded. She wanted her parents with her for Christmas. It would be timely if they came to her new home. She just hoped Max was going to be all right with what his mom was planning, encouraged wholeheartedly by her mom. She inhaled slowly, hoping to settle the flutter of nerves in her belly. She had been worried that not everyone would get along.

  How wrong was I?

  Instead the opposite was happening. Helen and Leanne were getting on famously, and her dad, as usual, was going along with the flow.

  “Now tell us, Zoe. Is it a girl or a boy?” asked her mom. “I need to know what to start buying.”

  “I guess I’ll find out with the scan.” She swallowed hard, remembering that Max didn’t want to find out. But I do. And Max wasn’t there.

  “Good,” said Helen. “I want to know, too. Stuff this waiting for a surprise until the baby is born.”

  “Mom,” interrupted Kate. “This is Zoe and Max’s choice.” She turned and looked at Zoe. “But as the only aunty to this baby, I would like to know the gender beforehand. I plan to spoil him or her and be the favorite.”

  “Good luck with that,” challenged Helen. “I’m going to be the favorite.”

  “No, way, I am.”

  “Don’t forget about me,” interjected her dad.

  This was what Zoe was worried about, but the women were all smiling. “You’ll all be baby’s favorite.”

  “But you’re right. Zoe, what do you want? Secret or not?” Helen looked at Zoe, waiting for an answer.

  “I’d like to find out.”

  “Great.” Leanne smiled. “You can tell us all next week.”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “I can’t wait to find out if it’s a girl or a boy,” said Helen. “I think it might be a girl.”

  “Oh, I do. too.”

  “I dunno, I think it’s a boy,” said Kate.

  When had they all decided on the gender of her baby?

  Hell, she had no idea if it were a boy or a girl. She was still trying to come to terms with being pregnant, and in a relationship, and living hundreds of miles away from the only city she’d ever lived in.

  What was she going to do now?

  How was she going to handle this potential situation?

  Zoe doubted that her mom or Helen would be able to keep the gender a secret from Max, and he didn’t want to find out.

  Did his opinion matter? She was carrying the baby. And why should she not find out because he didn’t want to.

  Was this the crack that would push them apart?

  Zoe looked at the screen trying to determine if her baby was a girl or a boy. She didn’t know how anyone could tell. To her it was a smear of gray tones. A mess. Her mom hovered by her side. A hospital rule meant only one person could be with her.

  “Do you want to know the gender?” asked the technician.

  Zoe paused.

  She did.

  But Max didn’t.

  He’s not here.

  They hadn’t really discussed whether or not they would find out. Other than she had said yes, and Max no.

  “You don’t have to find out,” said her mom.

  Zoe looked at her. “Really.”

  “It is your choice. And to be honest, it should be something between you and Max.”

  “But he’s not here.”

  “I’m sure there are reasons for it.”

  “The farm.”

  The technician moved the probe over her belly.

  “I want to know.”

  “You sure?”

  Her mom wasn’t helping.

  “I do. I don’t want to wait any longer. Besides, she knows already.”

  “I do,” said the technician. “Ready to find out then?”

  �
�Tell me…”

  “It’s a girl.”

  Zoe smiled. A girl. “Can I have a photo of the image?”

  “Of course, I’ll print a few.”

  “Is everything all right with her.” It felt good to say the baby’s gender.

  The technician’s previously poker face broke into a smile. “Your baby is perfect weight and growing well.”

  That was the best news Zoe had heard all day.

  Now, the problem was, how to tell Max she knew the gender of their baby.

  Max hurried into the hospital. Kate had texted him the room number, and after asking at reception for directions, he was about to finally see Zoe.

  He paused at the door. It was late, he’d talked his way into being able to see her since visiting hours had finished over an hour ago.

  Should he knock?

  Or just go in?

  Quietly he stepped into the room, deciding that if Zoe was sleeping he would leave. She wasn’t. The light by her bed was on, and she was looking at a picture.

  Zoe looked up. Her face brightened as their eyes locked.

  Max rushed over to her. “Are you all right?”

  Zoe nodded. He embraced her, enjoying how her arms felt around his neck. She kissed him hard on the lips. It might have only been this morning since he’d farewelled her on the shopping trip, but it felt like a lot longer. Her taste tingled on his lips. It felt great to have her in his arms again.

  “The baby?” he asked softly.

  “Is fine.”

  “I’m so glad you’re both fine.” He kissed her again. “Don’t think I’m letting you out of my sight again.”

  “You’ll get sick of me.”

  “I won’t.”

  She rested her head on his chest. “I did something.”

  Max didn’t like the tone of her voice. “You’ll have to be more specific.”

  “I…” She sighed. “I had to have a scan… of the baby… and, well… everything is fine, but… I couldn’t resist finding out… the gender.”

  “Well, don’t tell me.”

  “Mom was with me.”

  “So, then both of you will have to be good at keeping a secret.”

  “On that point…”

  “Don’t tell me, she told my mom.”

  “And your sister.”

  He sighed with disappointment. “Do you think you can all manage not to tell me?”