Chapter 40

CHAPTER 40

FIONN

Slinging a duffle over my shoulder, I head for the door. Amara is holding Fia in her arms.

“Bye, Daddy. I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you more, princess.” I clasp the back of her head and kiss her on both cheeks, my damn heart ready to explode.

I’m seriously having second thoughts about leaving for this damn meeting with the investors. I’d rather be here.

I cup Amara’s cheek and kiss her, groaning when her tongue twirls with mine. My forehead meets hers, and I inhale her floral scent, needing to get lost in it again like I did earlier this morning.

“I shouldn’t be gone more than a day. I’ll have the meeting with the investors tonight, then fly back tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She coughs, clearing her throat.

“Are you sick?” Inspecting her intensely, I start to lower the duffle to the floor. “I can tell Tynan we need to reschedule.”

“Fionn.” She laughs. “It’s just a scratch in my throat. That happens, you know. You don’t have to cancel plans for that, especially for work.”

“You don’t understand, do you?” I clasp her jaw and kiss her hard. “You and Fia are most important to me. Everything else doesn’t matter. Not even work.”

Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “I know that.”

“Glad we settled that.” I smirk.

As soon as I met Amara all those years back, I knew there was never going to be anyone else for me, and nothing has changed since. And with each passing day, I find it harder not to tell her that I may just be falling in love with her all over again.

Once there’s a break during the meeting, I call the girls to check on them, but Amara doesn’t answer. I try her again, wondering where she is. It’s only around dinnertime; they wouldn’t be asleep yet.

When she doesn’t answer the third time, I call Roy.

“Sir.”

“Is everything okay with Amara? She hasn’t answered my calls.”

“She’s been upstairs, sir. Louise is with her. Should I get her on the phone?”

Why would Louise be with her? Something isn’t sitting well.

“Get Louise on the phone.”

“Of course.”

A few seconds later, her voice comes on the line. “Hi, sir.”

“What’s wrong with her?”

She blows a breath.

I fucking knew it.

“She didn’t want me to tell you, but now I’m starting to worry.”

My pulse quickens.

“What the hell is going on?” I try to keep my composure, pacing in the hallway like I’ve gone insane, imagining what could possibly be wrong.

“She’s ill. Coughing badly and throwing up.”

Fuck. FUCK!

I had a feeling she was getting sick. But this sounds way worse than just a cold.

“I’m on my way home.”

“Okay. I’ll tell her.”

“No, don’t.” I glance over as Gavin, one of the investors, approaches. “I don’t want her upset that she somehow ruined my meeting.”

“Okay, sir. We’ll see you soon.”

“If she spikes a fever, call our doctor. I’ll be home in a few hours.”

As I slip the phone into my pocket, Gavin grins.

“Leaving already? I hope we weren’t boring you.”

“No, nothing like that. And please extend my apologies to the others, but I’ve had an emergency at home that needs my attention. I hope we can reschedule this.”

He adjusts his tie, looking smugly at me. “Well, I’m sure we can come up with another date, though it’s not a guarantee.”

I know what he’s trying to say: either stay or we won’t see their money. Right now, I don’t give a shit.

“I understand. But sometimes family is more important. Good day, Gavin.”

I don’t give him another look as I hurry out of there, going to where I’m needed most.

AMARA

My lungs ache, and I keep coughing and throwing up. I don’t know why.

Louise called the family’s doctor, who should be arriving soon. Hopefully he gives me some strong meds.

“Try to eat a few more spoonfuls of the chicken noodle soup.” She’s babying me, and I hate being babied, but I’m too weak and too cold to fight it, huddled under a fluffy comforter.

“Okay.”

I sit up as she feeds me. As soon as nausea hits, I try to fight it.

“This is terrible. You may have the flu, honey.”

“That’s what it feels like.”

She places a hand on my forehead. “I think you may be starting to get a fever. I’m gonna get you some more meds.”

“Where is she?!”

I gasp when his voice booms in the distance, footfalls thundering up the stairs.

“You called him?” I stare at Louise just as he rushes in, his jaw tight, looking crazed.

But as soon as he sees me, his face falls. “Fuck, baby, you look like shit.”

A laugh falls out of me, but then a cough catches in my throat.

He gives Louise a tense stare. “You call me next time, no matter what she says.”

“Yes, sir.” Her shoulders sag.

“And you…” He settles on the bed beside me, the back of his hand stroking my cheek. “If you weren’t so damn sick, I’d be angry at you for keeping this from me. I knew as soon as I left the house that I should’ve stayed.”

I grab his wrist. “This was important. I didn’t want you to miss it.”

“Fuck, Amara. Do you not understand how important you are to me?” He clasps my cheek, lowering his forehead to mine.

“Don’t do that!” I try to push him back, but he doesn’t budge. “You’re gonna get sick.”

“I don’t care. I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too,” I whisper.

He groans, clasping both sides of my face. “I think that’s the first time you’ve ever said you missed me.”

Was it?

“Where the hell is the doctor?” He backs away, blowing a heavy breath while retrieving his cell and staring down at it. “He’ll be here in five minutes.”

“I’m okay,” I try to reassure him, placing a hand on his bouncing knee, but it doesn’t stop it from shaking.

“You don’t look okay, so don’t bullshit me.”

Just then, someone knocks on the door. Roy walks in with a tall, lanky man who’s holding a brown leather briefcase.

“Took you long enough,” Fionn clips out.

“I’m sorry, sir. There was some traffic.”

“Get to it.”

The doctor’s thick brows jerk as he clears his throat. “May I ask you to sit, Mrs. Quinn, or do you feel lightheaded?”

“I’m okay to sit up.”

Thankfully, the nausea has subsided, so that’s promising.

He asks me about my symptoms and how they began, then swabs my nose and throat before handing me a cup for the urine sample. I don’t even bother asking why, because all I want is to be back in bed.

Fionn hooks his arm through mine and leads me to the master bath, and as soon as I try to separate so I can go inside, he doesn’t let me.

“What are you doing?” My face pales.

There’s no way he’s going in with me.

“Making sure you don’t collapse on the floor.”

I would try to look as shocked as I feel, but I don’t think I can move much. “Fionn, I can’t do that in front of you.”

“We’re married, little rabbit. There’s nothing to be shy about.” He leads me inside and shuts the door. “I’ll turn around if that helps.”

“Got any earplugs?”

He laughs while my face contorts, and my teeth clack when a chill wafts through my limbs.

Screw it. I don’t even care right now. Just need to be under my blanket again.

“Okay, fine, turn around.”

He does immediately while I quickly use the cup. Once I’m done, I leave it in the bathroom as the doc instructed.

Washing my hands, I dry them before we return to the bed. I breathe a sigh once I’m able to sit down, Louise bundling the comforter around my body.

“Alright, while I wait for the flu and COVID results, I’m going to check the urine sample.”

Fabulous. The last time I went to the doctor, I was told I was pregnant. I can’t even remember when my last cycle was.

Crap.

“Do you need anything to eat?” Fionn asks.

“She had a little soup,” Louise volunteers. “But she was barely able to keep it down.”

“Jesus.” He runs an anxious hand through his hair, messing it up a bit.

If I was feeling better, I’d appreciate how sexy he looks in his black suit, two buttons of his white dress shirt popped open.

When the doctor returns, Fionn jumps to his feet, approaching him in a hostile manner. “Why the fuck do you look like someone’s dead?”

The doctor bounces back a step, holding out a hand. “No, no, it’s not bad.”

“Tell me!” he spits out.

His eyes loop between us. “Your wife is pregnant, sir.”

“What?” I whisper just as Louise gasps, a smile stretching.

“She…she’s pregnant?” Fionn almost falls backward, his voice raw and deep, eyes filled with emotion—so much of it, I feel it pouring out of him as he gazes down at me. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, absolutely.” The doctor finally relaxes his stance. “She probably got a bug and this illness has nothing to do with the pregnancy, except maybe the nausea. I always check these things before deciding on medication.”

He moves to inspect the other tests he took. “She’s negative for everything, but there are many viruses out there, and when a woman is pregnant, her immune system is lowered, so it’s easier to pick things up and also feel much sicker.”

“Is there anything she can take?”

“Some Tylenol for the fever, aches, and pains, as well as Zofran for the nausea. If it gets worse…”

But I stop listening, my mind still coming to terms with the fact that I’m having another baby.

The last time I was told I was pregnant was different. I was scared. Alone.

Now, things are better. I have Fionn, and he’s already an amazing dad. We’re a family.

“Feel better, honey,” Louise says, rubbing my back. “I’m thrilled for you both. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” Tears cloud my vision.

Fia is going to have a brother or sister. This family of ours is growing, and after hearing it out loud, I realize how badly I want this.

Fionn sits beside me, wrapping his arms around me. “I’m so damn happy right now. I just wish you weren’t sick.”

“Me too. About both,” I whisper.

His mouth falls to my forehead, lips remaining there for several seconds before he pulls back, an affectionate look in his eyes. “Lie down, baby. You need some sleep.”

“Will you stay with me?”

“Of course. I won’t be going anywhere.”

I lower my head onto the pillow, and he climbs in beside me, strong arms surrounding me and holding me tight.

Slowly, I drift off to sleep, knowing he’ll be right here when I wake up.