�Sweets, everything is going to be fine.�
�I can�t stand this pain, Nick.�
�I know.�
�I just want it to be gone.�
�And it will.�
�Some days I feel fine and others I just don�t want to do anything.�
�I wish I could make it all better for ya.�
�How could I do this to myself?�
�This ain�t your fault.�
�But I was the one that was constantly sick and didn�t do anything about it. I did this to myself, Nick, and now I have to pay for it. I have to pay for my stupidity. If only I had listened to ya and went to the doctor right away. We wouldn�t be in this position right now.�
�Please don�t go blaming yourself, because it�s not your fault.�
�But I�m stopping us from having a family.�
�But we can try again later if God lets us.� She just looked at him. �He just wants it to be us right now and I�m happy with that. I hope you will be too.� She went to speak but stopped by the doctor.
�Hello, Mrs. Carter,� the doctor said. �I�m Dr. Angelina Matheson. Dr. Martin updated me on your condition. You�re going to be five months pregnant and have a spinal infection, right?�
�Yes,� Sunshine said.
�Plus you have a decision to make.�
�Yeah,� Nickolas said.
�Before we begin, this is Dr. Carson Martinez. The nurse said you were in some pain and Dr. Martinez knows more about your condition than I do.�
�It�s more than some,� Sunshine stated. �It�s tons.�
�We�ll see what we can do,� Dr. Martinez said taking something from his pocket.
�What�s that?� Nickolas questioned.
�Just a little medication, Dr. Martinez answered. �I�ll need to inject it into her spine, but it won�t hurt the baby.�
�Dr. Martin said there wasn�t any medication to give while Sunnie�s pregnant,� Nickolas pointed out.
�Not a lot of hospitals know about this,� Dr. Martinez said.
�And apparently the Florida hospital is one of them,� Dr. Matheson said.
�But I�ll make a note of it to tell Dr. Martin,� Dr. Martinez said. �He�s a good guy.�
�Yeah,� Sunshine said.
�I�m going to need ya to roll onto your side.� Sunshine did so facing Nickolas. �You�re going to feel a little prick, but ya can�t move no matter what. Not even a little jerk.�
�Alright.� Carson put the needle in her and she gritted her teeth while looking at Nickolas.
�This will only stop the pain and not the infection. It should last up to a couple days.� He took the needle out. �It should start taking affect in a few minutes.�
Sunshine laid back down as Nickolas said, �Thank you, doctor.�
�You�re welcome, but if you�ll excuse me. I have a meeting.� They nodded and he walked out.
�According to your papers here, Sunshine,� Dr. Matheson started, �you�re only up to 115 pounds.� Sunshine nodded. �Aren�t you eating?�
�Yes,� Sunshine replied. �It�s just that I can�t keep anything down really or I just feel too sick to eat.�
�She ate breakfast this morning,� Nickolas began, �but threw it up, like, five minutes later and she wouldn�t eat lunch.�
�I wasn�t hungry and I still ain�t,� Sunshine stated. �I�m just too sick.�
�This infection is really working its number on you,� Dr. Matheson said and Sunshine and Nickolas looked at each other. �I�m going to do the routine check-up and then you can let me know your decision, alright?� They nodded and the doctor checked over Sunshine a few minutes and checked the babies heartbeats then wrote in Sunshine�s file. She stood at the bottom of the bed and looked at them. �Ok; if you choose to have this baby, I mean babies, I can do a sonogram and make sure everything�s all right. But if you decide not to then I�ll make you an appointment to have the pregnancy terminated. Whichever you decide I won�t try to change your mind, because it�s your decision and not mine. I respect my patient�s decisions.�
Sunshine and Nickolas looked at each other then Nickolas said, �We�ve decided not to go through with the rest of the pregnancy.�
�Alright. In all honesty, that�d be my choice also. I wouldn�t be able to live with the pain that Sunshine is going through.� They just looked at her. �You can get dressed and I�ll be back in ten minutes with a date and time.�
�Ok,� Sunshine said and Dr. Matheson walked out. Sunshine looked at her husband. �Ya sure?�
�Positive,� Nickolas said and he kissed her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Happy Birthday, Sweetie,� Howard said kissing Josephine�s cheek and handing her a present.
�Thank you,� Josephine said smiling. �What is this?�
�Open it up and find out.�
�Alright.� Josephine did as her husband requested. She unwrapped the gift to reveal a gray box. �Howie, what in the world?�
�Just open it up.� She smiled and opened the box. Inside she found a diamond set; two sets of earrings, a necklace, and bracelet.
�Howie, they�re beautiful.� She smiled and looked at him. �Thank you.� She kissed him.
�You�re welcome.� He took something from his pocket. �This is for you also.� She took it from him. �A full years worth of spa treatment. It includes everything they do at Lovin� Life Spa.�
�I love that place.�
�I know. I thought ya deserved this for nine months of pregnancy, 17 hours of labor, and putting up with my shit.�
�Then I deserve a lifetime of spa treatment.� She smiled.
�I�ll see what I can do.� Her smile faded and she sat down. �What�s wrong?�
�It just doesn�t seem like my birthday.�
�Why not?�
�Because of Sunn. Her appointment was today and they had to have their decision. Either way it ain�t good for Sunn. If she keeps the baby her life is at risk and if she doesn�t then she�ll have to live with having an abortion. She wasn�t ready to be a mom. We might�ve had our problems, but I love her dearly and always will no matter what. This isn�t fair to her.�
�Nick thinks she wanted to get pregnant, because she stopped her birth control and he said she insisted on stopping their other forms of protection.�
�Sunn�s a safety girl and doesn�t stop unless there�s a perfectly good reason.�
�Well I don�t think she�d put her life at risk deliberately.�
�Me either.�
�She wanted Nick to make the decision and all. He had no idea what to do, but if I know Nicky; he ain�t going to put Sunn�s life at risk to have children. He loves her too much to do that.�
�And if I know Sunn, she�ll do the opposite to give Nick what he wants and to be happy.�
�Nick will talk her out of it though. He always does.�
�Whatever they decide, I hope it�s the right choice.�
�I think it will be, because Nick ain�t going to let anything happen to her.� Josephine sighed and Caroline and Tyler started crying. �I�ll go while you relax.� He smiled and got up, leaving Josephine in the kitchen.
CHAPTER 23 CHAPTER 25
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