Lack of sleep and the tensions of the previous day caught up with Jake over dinner. As storm clouds rolled in over the area, he could feel a migraine building. Knowing he had to earn back some Daddy points, he excused himself once their meal was over and slipped down to the bathroom in search of his medication.
Ever since the incident with Salazar and his momentary relapse into his old bad habits, Jake had avoided all forms of medication at all costs. As the pressure built in his head and lights began to flicker at his left eye, he knew he had to take something before the migraine floored him.
Sensing he was struggling, Lori said she would put the kids to bed and chased him into the sunroom to lie down.
“You ok?” asked Lori when she eventually came in to join him in the sunroom.
“Not really,” replied Jake without opening his eyes.
He was lying stretched out on the longer of the two couches.
“Can I get you anything?”
“No, thanks,” he said quietly. “Think I need to sleep this one-off. Been a long time since a migraine’s floored me like this.”
“Go to bed,” suggested Lori softly. “I’ve some work to finish off.”
“In a minute,” replied Jake. “I’ve work to do too but I can barely see straight.”
“Bed,” repeated Lori a little more firmly. “You can tell me about the ghosts you laid to rest over breakfast.”
“I can tell you now, li’l lady. Jim Marrs is devious,” said Jake, slowly sitting up. “He talked me into playing Salazar’s National today.”
“And?”
“Actually, it worked like a charm once I got settled. I swear I could smell that fucking tea off the strings though. Brought a few ghosts back. Made me feel like shit after yelling at the kids too. Been a bizarre day.”
“So, will it be on the new Silver Lake record?” quizzed Lori, more than a little surprised that Jake had managed to even touch the guitar.
“Three tracks. Yes,” replied Jake as he got to his feet. “Sounded sweet. Not the guitar’s fault its previous owner was an evil son of a bitch.”
“True,” she agreed softly. “Now, get to bed before you pass out.”
“Night, li’l lady.”
“Night night, rock star.”
There were only two other patients in the waiting room when Lori arrived for her appointment with John Brent. She’d scheduled it for after the school run and hoped that Jake would be out at the studio so she could slip off to Beebe in secret. Her sixth sense was telling her to keep quiet about her pregnancy until after the album was recorded.
“Mrs Power,” called Dr Brent’s receptionist. “Second door on the right, down the hallway.”
“Thanks,” said Lori as she got stiffly to her feet.
Leaning heavily on her cane, she made her way down the familiar hallway to the doctor’s office.
“Lori,” greeted John Brent warmly. “A pleasant surprise.”
“Hi, John,” she said with a nervous smile. “Been a while.”
“Well, now that you mention it,” he began, raising his eyebrow at her. “You’re about three months late for your regular follow up appointment.”
“Not the only thing I’m three months late for,” replied Lori cryptically.
“Oh!” said the doctor. “You’d better take a seat.”
“Thanks,” sighed Lori as she lowered herself into the seat beside the doctor’s desk.
“I’m guessing congratulations are in order?”
Lori nodded, “I’ve done three tests. Definitely pregnant.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you. I’ve not told Jake the good news yet.”
“Ah,” said the doctor. “How far along do you think you are?”
“About twelve weeks.”
“And you’ve not had any antenatal care yet, have you?”
Lori shook her head, anticipating the doctor’s response.
“Lori!” exclaimed John Brent, unable to hide his exasperation. “You know you need to take better care of yourself than that. After the stress your body went through carrying Jesse.”
“John, I know!” snapped Lori sharply. “The last couple of months haven’t been easy for us.”
Taking a deep breath, John said, “I understand. I was sorry to hear about Rich. Such a shock.”
“It was,” sighed Lori, feeling a wave of grief sneaking up on her. “Hit us all hard. I kind of lost track of things. Then Melody started kindergarten and Jake’s back in the studio and….”
“I hear you,” interrupted Dr Brent calmly. “First things first. You need to get booked in with your midwife and obstetrician. I’ll work closely with them. If this is a big baby, you will be on bed rest for your third trimester. You realise that?”
Lori nodded.
“Let me make a couple of calls over to the maternity unit. I’d be happier if we confirmed a few dates here and checked that baby is ok. Once that’s been done, we can check out your leg.”
Without a word of protest, Lori sat in silence while Dr Brent arranged for her to see one of his obstetrics colleagues and scheduled her for a priority ultrasound scan.
“Ok, Mrs Power,” began the doctor, hanging up the phone. “I’ve called in a couple of favours for you. Dr Marcus will see you over at the maternity unit in an hour. You’ll likely get your scan first then your booking in appointment. Don’t be surprised if she proposes more appointments than a regular schedule for you. You are deemed a higher risk after Jesse’s delivery. When you’re done over there, come back over here and I’ll check you out. I need a look at your leg.”
“I hear you,” sighed Lori. “And I’m guessing this will be another C-section?”
“Most likely.”
“I should be able to carry this baby though?”
“If you follow your doctor’s advice to the letter then you should be perfectly fine, Lori. Just don’t decide that you’re going on tour with Jake when you’re eight and a half months pregnant. If you’re told its bed rest then no arguments.
