Part 26

Sam, still coming to his wife's defense, said, "Something is wrong. What is it?"

Easing his head closer to Charlotte and Sam, Dr. Houseman confessed, "It's the placenta. It's not very well attached to the uterine wall."

"Which means... " started Sam., only to be finished by Charlotte, "That I could hemorrhage, and lose the baby."

"And your life," added Dr. Houseman. Fortified with a deep breath, he continued. "Charlotte, if you want this baby. Then you have to rest. If your blood pressure becomes elevated the placenta could come off the wall and you and the baby would bleed to death before anyone could do anything."

Sam turned snow white. Charlotte noticed his hands were shaking and he was having a hard time breathing. She'd seen it before. The stress was sending him over the edge and back into the bottle. To stem the tide she reached fro her husband's hand and asked, "What are our options?"

"You could terminate?"

"No," was Charlotte's answer, without even glancing at Sam.

"Then all you can do is rest."

"Then that's all I'll do," answer Charlotte. "Does it have to be here in the hospital?"

"For now, until we're certain the placenta is better adhered, yes."

"Can I sit with Jenny?"

Before answering Dr. Houseman rubbed his hand over his chin and mouth three or four times, took another deep breath and said, "It is against my better judgment to say yes, but given the circumstances, if you remain calm then you can spend part of each day with her."

"This part?" asked Charlotte, a smile curling the edges of her mouth.

"No, tomorrow morning will be soon enough." Then turning to Sam asked, "Are you going to be able to handle things?"

Sam knew what he meant. Would he be able to stay away from the booze, and be there for his daughters and his wife? "Charlie and his wife are moving in with us." This was news to Charlotte; good news, but news just the same. "They've done it before, but not for something as open ended as this situation."

"Those are some good friends."

Charlotte started to cry. "They're family." Sam stepped closer and hugged his wife, "Everything is going to be okay. You just take care of that little baby."