The Precious One ✔

Chapter 40

I sit in the school cafeteria, staring at Sam's empty seat. It's been a week since he was convicted, and this is what has changed:

Ned is being treated more and more like an outcast as he no longer has someone that he can relate to.

Jenny has become more overprotective towards the group and seems less like her cheerful, hyperactive self.

Chris hasn't been street racing since Sam's arrest and has no plans to go any time soon.

Blake has been trying to get everyone back on track. Part of his plan is to take everyone's minds off of Sam — by pretending that he doesn't exist.

And I have been planning my baby's fifteen-week scan and trying to occupy my mind, in order to distract myself from the whole 'Jason's family' thing.

When school ends, I go to the tutoring centre where I talk to Jason about what I found in my mum's yearbook. He reveals that Gabbie is his dad's sister who still lives here in town.

We realized that there was no way that his dad and my mum went to high school together. His dad is currently thirty-eight years old whereas my mum is in her mid-late forties.

So it turns out that we were on the right track, we just forgot to account for their age.

"So what now?" I ask him. 

Jason shrugs. "I can find Aunt Gabbie..."

"And ask her what?" I cock a brow. "If her brother slept with her best friend sixteen years ago?"

Jason smirks. "Okay, maybe not..."

Beep Beep.

I look up, where I find Calum's car. Ready for my ultrasound. 

I look over to Jason. "Your boyfriend?" He assumes.

I shake my head. "No, uh Chris is at football practice...I didn't tell him about the scan because the doctor is his dad...I didn't get a chance to request a change last time I was there..."

"Oh, I see" Jason nods when Calum beeps again.

I wave him goodbye "let me know how it goes with your aunt" I smile before approaching Calum's car.

"Is that him?" Calum raises a brow as looking over to Jason.

I nod when he steps on the accelerator. "We worked out that my mum used to be friends with his dad's sister" I announce.

"It's a small town" he makes a right turn.

"...are we being crazy?" I say my thought out loud. "Is this wild goose chase a dead end?"

"I have no way of knowing that" Calum shrugs. "C'mon, let's go"

***

When we arrive at the hospital, Raff begins the ultrasound in a private room. After a few minutes, a concerned look washes across his face before he excuses himself which is when Calum and I exchange terrified looks.

"Is there something wrong with the baby?" I ask Rafferty when he re-enters the room.

He shakes his head. "Not the baby"

"Thank god" I look over to Calum before his words register.

Not the baby.

"Then what is it?" Calum folds his arms while I lay on the bed.

"It's your placenta"  Rafferty announces before looking over to the ultrasound.  He points to a circle on the picture and says "see how it appears to look like swiss cheese? Well, that's a clear indication of placenta accreta"

"What's does that mean?" Calum asks.  "Is it serious?"

"Placenta accreta it when the placenta grows deeply into the uterine walls" he explains.

"Is it serious?" Calum repeats.

Raff nods slowly. "...Yes it can be serious"

"Oh god" I gasp, "how do we treat it?"

"We don't exactly..." Rafferty explains, "we deliver the baby via c-section when you're full term...and may need to remove your uterus depending on how deep into the walls your placenta is...you have a high chance of bleeding to death during delivery which is why we would need to work quickly..."

My heart pounds inside my chest "I h—have hemophilia"

Hemophilia: a condition at which my blood doesn't clot normally. Whenever I accidentally slice my finger when helping Gina cook, its a trip to the ER to stop the bleeding. Now they don't let me help her any more.

"...we can increase your medication close to delivery" he suggests, "...I can refer you to a counsellor"

I shake my head violently. "What are my chances?"

Rafferty sighs. "I have no way of knowing that—"

"High, low, what?" Calum snaps at Rafferty frantically.

"Your placenta has grown deeply into the uterine walls...combined with your blood condition and your age—" he rambles.

"So low then" I interrupt.

"If we organize a c-section as soon as you reach full term—" Rafferty suggests then falls silent, "....you don't have to do this...I can refer you to a clinic..."

"Oh god" I look down at my stomach growing stomach.

"Shh it's okay Elise" Calum assures as kissing my head, "with a foolproof plan, you will be okay...you both will" His voice breaks before he eventually looks away from me.

I've known Calum my whole life. I know him better than anyone. In that moment he was saying what he wanted to believe like he was trying to convince himself. To reassure himself that he wasn't going to lose me.

"I can call your father if you like" Rafferty offers, "and Chris..."

"No" I beg. 

"No?" Calum furrows his brows in my direction.

"I'll tell them when I'm ready" I assure them both.

I have no clue when that'll be, but not even I can process this, so how am I supposed to expect my family to?

***

Calum and I leave the hospital ward in complete silence. Fear overwhelms us both when we finally arrive at his car.

I sit in the passenger's seat sobbing when he turns to me in sadness. He just looks at me. Says nothing.

"I'll be forgotten" I utter my greatest fear to my friend.

Calum shakes his head violently when leaning towards me. "How could anyone possibly forget about you?" He whispers before kissing my forehead, pulling me into his chest.

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A/N

Hi all,

The count down has officially begun. This book will end in 10 chapters (Chapter 50). I hope you guys enjoy all that I have installed.

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Happy reading!