VALERIAMy head ached, but when I shifted slightly in bed, I realized that my entire body ached as well. I felt like I had run over by a steamroller and put back together again. With a groan, I opened my eyes. I squinted at the little sunlight filtering through my open window. I shut my eyes again because they hurt too. It felt like they had been taken out of my head, hit with a blunt hammer and then shoved back into my skull again. My clock chimed the top of the hour. If I didn't get a move on, I would be late for work. I had never felt less like moving, but I didn't want to stay cooped up in the house all day.With a little struggle, I got out of bed and began preparing for work. I was very careful not to make any sudden movements, so as not to increase the aches and pains ravaging my body. To my relief, by the time I had gotten dressed, the pain had subsided to the extent that I could function. Just before I left the house, Ellen called. I was only just about ten minutes late so sh

VALERIAThe tears came coursing down my cheeks hard and fast and there was nothing I could do about them. It was like the dam holding my emotions at bay had burst open. Dimly, I was aware of Dimitri offering broken words of comfort."...Not your fault. Don't you ever think that. You and the baby will be fine, I promise..."Eventually, the sound of my sobs drowned out his words. I wanted to be strong for my baby, like the doctor had advised. I really wanted to be, but right now, every horrible thing I had read or heard about complications in pregnancy flooded my mind. Dimitri and the doctor had promised excellent health care, but then anything could still happen.Dimitri cupped my face and forced my head up to meet his gaze. Without taking his eyes off me, he reached into his pocket, brought out a handkerchief which he used to wipe my streaming eyes."Now listen to me," he said when he had gotten my attention, or as much of it as I was able to give him. "Listen to me, Valeria. What the

VALERIADimitri's car swept up the drive and pulled into the garage. I went downstairs immediately. He came into the house a while later, swinging his briefcase, with a scowl on his face. "I want to talk to you," I said.He registered my presence and his scowl deepened."You're okay, aren't you?" he growled. His tone implied that I would have him to answer to if I wasn't."That's not what I want to talk to you about," I said, matching his grouchy tone."Then what is it? Wait, aren't you even supposed to be upstairs, resting?""Now that's exactly what I want to talk about. Dimitri, I can't stay here, relaxing forever-""Why not? There are stay at home wives and mothers aren't there?""I'm none of those things," I pointed out."It was just an example.""Look, I am feeling much better now. I have to resume work soon-""Like hell you do! You don't have to do anything. You heard the doctor-""I heard him, but I have to work, make myself useful.""Know what I think?" Dimitri closed the

DIMITRI"Hey, relax and enjoy yourself, honey," Summer said. She kept smiling and deliberately ignored the glower I shot in her direction. "Here. Have some more wine."She attempted to pour some into my glass. I covered the glass with my hands."It's really good," she urged."I've had enough," I said shortly. "When will they arrive?"At the question, Summer's eyes slid away from mine. Now there was a strangely blank look on her face.Her lips moved then she said, "I don't know why they are taking this long. But don't worry, they will turn up eventually. I'm sure they were held up by something really important. Still we can enjoy ourselves, can't we?" she added hopefully. "It's a really nice place, isn't it?"I knew then that Summer's parents weren't going to join us for dinner. I had had my suspicions before but now they were certainties. The so called dinner date with Summer's parents had just been nothing but a ruse to get me alone. I stared at my watch in disgust. To think that I h

VALERIAIvy was waiting for me outside the hospital. As soon as the cab came to a stop, she opened the door and helped me out."Still spotting?" she asked worriedly. I nodded. "You'll be fine. The baby too. I told the doctor already. He's going to see you now."In another minute, I was in the doctor's office, flat on my back on the examination table while the doctor, helped by a nurse, examined me. I stared at the white ceiling and struggled to keep back tears. If anything had happened to my baby... I shook my head, dispelling the thought. I couldn't afford to entertain that to think that way. Not ever. As the doctor and nurse conversed in murmurs, my frustration peaked. Were they doing it deliberately to annoy me? What was going on?"Is the baby okay?" I ground out, not able to keep silent anymore."I'll be done in just a minute," he said. I worried my bottom lip and forced myself to wait. Five minutes later, the nurse left and the doctor told me to get dressed and seated."The bab