She told that to Leslie and Naomi, but all they could do was hold her and let her cry. She woke up from a restless sleep to terrible cramps, and they got the nurse. They took her for another ultrasound and brought her back with news.
“So your body isn’t releasing the tissue fully, and we need to go in and take it out with a D and C. Annelise is going to bleed heavier if we don’t, and we don’t want her to become anemic or have other complications,” the doctor said.
“I have to get everything ready, and we will be back to get you in about ninety minutes. I want to get some more fluids in you; you’re pretty dehydrated, and that can cause complications as well.”
A nurse opened up the IV to get the fluids into her faster and explained that they were going to keep her overnight since it was going to be early evening when they were done.
Naomi kissed the two young women and went to the hallway to make some calls. She called her family to share the news, and then she found the number she had never called before and was actually nervous
as she dialed it.
“Hello?”
“May I speak with Kim Morgan, please?” Naomi asked.
“This is Kim.”
“Hello, Kim. This is Naomi Rothchild.”
“What can I do for you, Naomi?” There was a chill in Kim’s voice.
“I… um, I’m at the hospital with Anelise. She’s been admitted and will be having a minor procedure in a little while….” Naomi said.
“What?! Oh my God! Is she at the medical center?” Kim cried. Naomi heard her moving around quickly.
“Yes, fifth floor, room 527,” Naomi responded.
Kim hung up, and Naomi sat down with a sigh, “Shit’s gonna hit the fan!”
Two hours later, Annelise was wheeled away, and Naomi, Leslie, and Johnathan were sitting in the waiting room for an update. After an hour, a nurse informed them that she was in recovery and would be back in her room in about an hour.
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arrive anytime.
Leslie got up, took Anelise’s phone, and looked for a number. She typed the number on her phone, pressed the green button, and took a deep breath as she waited for someone to answer.
Chapter 23 of 54: Chapter 23
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Michael was laughing at his seven–year–old nephew, Justin, as he ran around the playroom with a bag on his head.
Monica rolled her eyes and told him not to egg him on. “You’re just making it worse!”
Michael pulled out his ringing phone. He didn’t recognize the number, but something told him to
answer.
“Hello?”
“I’m looking for Michael Whitlock,” a southern voice said.
“This is Michael. What can I do for you?”
“My name is Leslie Rothchild. I’m Ani’s best friend,” she said, and Michael felt his heart start racing.
“What’s wrong? Is she okay?” he asked urgently, jumping up from the couch, alarming Monica.
“I’m not sure how to say this, but Anelise had a miscarriage and was bleeding, and she had to go in for a D and C,” Leslie said sadly.
“Oh my God… Which hospital?” he demanded, looking for his keys and wallet as he left the playroom.
“The medical center at the university.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can!” he yelled, ending the call before Leslie could say another word.
He grabbed his coat and found his keys on the hallway table.
“Michael, what the hell is going on?” Monica demanded.
“Ani is in the hospital. Can you watch Ollie? You aren’t leaving until Tuesday. I’ll be back by then.”
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“Can I help with Ollie? What’s up with her? Is she okay?” Monica asked, her voice laced with concern.
He turned to face her, his expression grave. “She had a miscarriage…”
Monica’s eyes widened in shock. “She was pregnant? You knew?”
“No!” Michael’s voice was sharp, his words biting. “Do you really think I’d be miles away if I had any idea?”
Monica raised her hands in a gesture of surrender, watching as he stormed off to the garage and then sped off down the street. Michael drove like a man possessed, his destination the airport.
Whenever he could, he broke into a run, making a beeline for the first ticket counter he saw. He asked for the earliest flight to Nashville, regardless of the airline. The ticket agent, seeing his distress, asked if
Chapter 23 of 54: Chapter 23
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it was an emergency.
“Yes, the woman I love is in the hospital,” he said, his voice desperate. “I need to be there with her!”
The agent checked the system and found a seat on a flight leaving in forty minutes. Since he had no luggage to check in, he paid the fare, grabbed his boarding pass, and sprinted through security, all the way to the gate.
He made it just in time, the doors closing behind him. He squeezed into the middle seat, his heart pounding as he prayed, “Please God, let her be okay! I’m on my way, sweetheart. I’ll be there soon!”
Chapter 23 of 54: Chapter 23
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Anelise stirred awake, finding herself back in her room. Her parents were perched on the chairs, their faces a mask of shock. She wondered how much they knew and braced herself for the conversation to
come.
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She must have made a sound because her mother’s head snapped up, her gaze locking onto Anelise. She rose from her chair and settled next to Anelise on the bed.
“Anelise, how are you feeling?” she asked, her hand gently brushing Anelise’s hair.
“I’m okay,” Anelise responded, picking up on the worry in her mother’s voice. “Hi, Dad.”
Her father looked up at her, his nod confirming her suspicion–they knew about her pregnancy.
Anelise let out a sigh. “So, I’m guessing from your reaction, Dad, that you know I was pregnant?”
“Yes,” her mother snapped. “How could you be so careless?”
“Hey! I was careful! I used protection every single time! Not that you ever taught me about it!” Anelise shot back, her patience wearing thin.
“What are you implying?” Kim asked, her voice rigid as she stood up.
Neil moved to stand behind her, his hands resting on his wife’s shoulders. “Are you suggesting this is our fault?”
“I came here completely naive about life! You sheltered me so much that I didn’t even know what sex was!”
“I thank God every day for pairing me with Leslie during our freshman year. If not for her, I wouldn’t have such a wonderful friend, and her family has been a great help too!”
“Oh, I’m sure they were a great help! Filling your head with nonsense! I knew this was a bad idea!” Kim shouted.
“They showed me love and compassion! They let me learn things on my own, which is more than you ever did!” Anelise shouted back.
“Well, as soon as you’re discharged, we’re taking you home where we can keep an eye on you! This is absurd! Getting pregnant! How many men have you been with?” Neil’s voice rose.
“I will not be going to Chicago! I have a life here! I’m graduating in a few months! I’m staying here!” Anelise retorted.
“No! You’re coming home!” Neil growled.
Anelise took a deep breath, trying to ease the soreness creeping in. “I’m twenty–one years old. I’m an adult. You can’t force me to do anything, Dad. I’m staying here, finishing my degree, and finding a job.”
Chapter 24 of 54: Chapter 24
