Branching Out by Kerstin March

Author:Kerstin March [March, Kerstin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2015-09-22T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

BABY DATES

In Chicago, winter snow and holiday lights had replaced the autumn leaves. Since Ryan and Shelby never had enough time to make the trip up to Bayfield in the fall, she was anxious to go back home for Christmas. Now in her eighth month, Shelby’s pregnancy was progressing normally. At least that’s what her obstetrician kept assuring her. But for Shelby, the growing presence inside her seemed anything but normal. As her body continued to grow, so did her anxiety over the new life inside of her and her ability to be a good mother.

Her restless nights continued. She spent her evenings either shifting positions in bed and adjusting her pillow to get comfortable, or she was to getting up to walk around the apartment until the baby’s movements settled down. Ryan would offer to rub his hand over the baby’s elbow jabs and kicks to try to coax him back to sleep, something that worked well enough on most nights; but usually, she was too upset to be touched.

On this day, Ryan had already left for Chambers Media by the time Shelby was awake on this morning. She now sat by the picture window in their den, staring out at the expanse of Lake Michigan and the ice that had formed along its edges to seal off the water for the winter. The screen on her laptop was open to an online news site and her thoughts were distracted by the sudden movements in her womb. She looked past the screen to the book that remained untouched, waiting for her, in the low bookshelf at her side. The book with its flowery pink spine. The one written by a renowned obstetrician. The one that would tell her all of the secrets of what was happening, month by month, inside her womb. The book that would tell her what she should be doing to care for her unborn child. But could it tell her how to feel, even a little bit, the way an expectant mother ought to feel?

She reached for the book, feeling its smooth cover. Ryan had given it to her months ago, as much for her as for his own anticipation. She reviewed each chapter dutifully, like a gardener reading the Farmers’ Almanac, trying to forecast what was in store for the months and year ahead.

As she walked slowly to a leather chair in the adjacent room she felt a tug along her side. It shot pain across the underside of her protruding belly like a warning—take this seriously, lady, because I’m coming one way or another!

Massaging the cramp in her side, she sat down and opened to Chapter 12: “Your Eighth Month.” She scanned the first few pages quickly, looking for advice on how to get some relief. Movements are distinct . . . baby’s kicks, elbows, and jabs . . . stronger and more frequent . . . moving approximately thirty times each hour.

Tell me something I don’t know, Shelby thought to herself. She ran her finger over the page, skimming for something—anything—to give her hope.

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