The CEO’s New Baby

Chapter 10

Saying she was nervous would have been an understatement. She was frightened. Her heart was beating fast, her pulse reaching impossible scales. Her entire body trembled as she held onto Ryan’s arm for support. She felt cold and hot, all at the same time. Not to mention the beads of sweat resting on the skin of her palms and forehead. She could hear chatter around her, the other patients seemed to be rather talkative, unlike her. She couldn’t focus on a conversation, not when she knew that her fate was going to be written in just a couple of minutes. She knew that it was now or never. Her destiny was bound to be sealed by the results that had already come in. All that was left was for her to discover what was in store for her.

Ryan seemed to understand her desire for silence. He hadn’t said a word ever since he came to pick her up from the bakery. His leg kept shaking, probably unconsciously, while his teeth kept nibbling at the nails of his left hand. Ryan was never one to be nervous. He always kept his cool face on, never once losing his posture. But that day was an exception. You could tell he was worried from miles away. And he had every right to be.

“Kayla?” She had been so lost in her own thoughts that she almost missed her name being called. The voice of the nurse was a mere echo in the back of her head, a noise like all the others.

Kayla’s head moved from side to side as if she finally realized where she was. She immediately jumped to her feet and took in a deep breath, looking at Ryan, who was by her side almost instantly. He sent her half a smile, trying to encourage her.

“Yeah.”

“You can go in now,” the blonde nurse said.

The walk from the waiting area to the doctor’s office seemed like an entire year. The few steps they both took towards that room at the end of the hallway was like walking on broken glass. It was like walking towards their own execution.

True, they had hope. They had also prepared for what was worst case. But no amount of preparation was enough. They had been living the life for the last couple of months, and they were so scared that the result would shatter it all. What the doctor had to say would just knock the hope and faith both their hearts had found.

“Everything is going to be okay?” Kayla wished she could listen to him. Instead, she felt like crying. She wished she could just refuse to go in, that she could just send Ryan inside. But that was a battle she needed to fight on her own. She needed to be there.

Kayla bit her lip and walked in after Ryan, her steps were small and undetermined. As soon as she stepped inside, her nostrils were hit with the smell of medicine and other chemicals. The familiar smell of hospital. She always hated that smell, her entire body seemed to reject the scent. It made her shudder and wrinkle her nose.

As soon as they entered, the doctor stood up and greeted them. He looked bored and tired, probably exhausted after a long day at work. His white coat was wrinkled too, the proof of the hours spent behind his desk.

“How are we feeling today?” he asked as he slipped his glasses on, the blue frames resting on the bridge of his nose.

“Good,” Kayla exhaled, he voice hoarse and barely audible.

“So, I see we are pretty nervous today. I guess we should just go straight to the point. Shall we?”

“That would be great, doctor.” Ryan nervously chuckled.

“So, while I look at the results of your previous MRI, could you tell me how you have been feeling lately? Have the symptoms intensified?”

“Not really. I’ve been a bit dizzy from time to time, but that could also be because I have been working more. I haven’t had that many headaches either. But my eyes have been bothering me a bit.”

“It’s normal. The tumor must be pressing on the nerves. But we will get to that soon. I studied your results and it seems that the tumor didn’t grow as big as we initially expected it to. It is still in a place where we cannot enter surgically. But…“ He turned towards them, taking in a deep breath as he glanced one more time at the screen reflecting the pictures of Kayla. “Given that you are pregnant in your fourth month, and that the tumor did not advance, I believe it would be safe for you to begin treatment.”

That had been it, the news Kayla had been waiting for. Suddenly, she could breathe again, it had been as if a weight had been lifted from her chest. She hadn’t been breathing for the last couple of months. And she had just realized that. She felt like climbing on the roof of a building and screaming, she felt like telling the entire world that she was going to make it. This time, she truly believed it, with her entire body and mind.

“You mean we can actually start the treatment?” Unlike her, Ryan seemed to find it hard to believe it.

“Yes, that is exactly what I am saying!” That is when all formalities were forgotten. Ryan jumped from his seat and grabbed Kayla by her arms, wrapping her in his. He was so happy, so utterly and insanely happy. His wife was going to be okay. The mother of his children was going to be okay. Everything was going to be okay.

They all laughed, tears blurring their vision. The rest of the time was spent talking about the procedure. The doctor filled them in about the protocol and everything that needed to be done beforehand. Kayla listened carefully, her entire brain focusing on the words the man said.

Minutes later, Kayla and Ryan walked out of the office hand in hand. Their previous serious looks were long gone, replaced by smiles and a trail of happy tears. The people going out of the office did not resemble the ones who went in. These people were glowing, they were hoping.