Cranberry Point (Cedar Cove #4)(66)

The minute she lifted her head from the pillow waves of nausea battered her. Moaning, she laid her head down again and closed her eyes, praying this would pass. Bolting up, covering her mouth, she raced into the bathroom just in time to empty her stomach into the toilet bowl. Still gagging, she closed her eyes again, hoping the worst of it was over.

Blindly she reached for a washcloth draped over the edge of the sink.

"I'll get that for you." Ian rinsed the cloth, wrung it out then handed it to Cecilia.

She patted the cool cloth against her face, straightened and tried to smile.

"Good morning," her husband said softly.

"Hi," she managed to respond as she wiped her mouth.

"Were you sick like this with Allison, too?"

Cecilia nodded. It was the first time he'd asked. They hadn't been married during the initial months of her pregnancy, and she'd never mentioned her problems with morning sickness. By the time they were married, the nausea had passed.

"Was it this bad?"

She nodded again. "Every morning. Until my third month."

Ian sank onto the edge of the bathtub. "Is there anything I can do?" He sounded almost guilty, as if he were personally responsible for her discomfort.

Cecilia moved to his side. "Love me," she whispered. Their relationship had been so strained since he'd learned about the pregnancy, and even before, when he knew she wanted to get pregnant. He was trying to accept this baby, but he treated her with a kind of wariness, as though he was afraid to touch her.

"I do love you," Ian said.

She turned away, and Ian put his arms around her and touched his forehead against her back. "You never told me, you know?" he protested.

"Never told you I was so sick every morning with Allison?" Cecilia asked. "Is that what you mean?" She pressed her hand over his and moved his palm to her flat stomach and held it there. "Would it have made any difference if you'd known?"

"I hear you every morning," he whispered. "You run in here and heave your guts out."

"The doctor says I should eat a soda cracker when I first wake up."

He kissed her neck, his lips lingering for a moment. 'Then why don't you?"

"No time. I open my eyes and it's all I can do to make it to the bathroom."

'They can't give you a drug?"

"I won't take anything." She had with Allison, and although the physicians had repeatedly assured her that Allison's heart defect had nothing to do with the pills she'd taken for morning sickness, Cecilia couldn't completely believe it. True or not, she wasn't taking any chances with this pregnancy.

Ian sighed as if he'd give anything for her not to be pregnant. It broke her heart, but she refused to show her pain. She knew that when the baby came, Ian would love his son or daughter with the same intensity that he already loved Allison. He wouldn't be able to stop himself. Until then she'd be patient.

"Stay home today," he urged.

"And waste a sick day?" She couldn't do that. In the months to come she might need them. Besides, with Ian leaving for work in a few hours, it didn't make sense.

"Take a vacation day then."

"Why?" She turned to face him.

"Because I can't stand the thought of you going to work sick."

Little did he know that she had to pull off the road nearly every morning to vomit. "I go to work sick most days." Today wouldn't be any different. "Mr. Cox relies on me, and besides, Allison is coming by this afternoon."

Ian stiffened.

"Mr. Cox's teenage daughter," Cecilia reminded him.

"I know who you meant."

"She's a good kid, and now that her parents are back together, she's doing really well in school."

Ian's shoulders rose as he expelled a breath. "I wonder if the Coxes knew the hell their daughter would put them through when they decided to have a baby."

Despite her upset stomach, Cecilia laughed and stroked her husband's thick hair. "Babies don't come with guarantees. They grow up and turn into teenagers. When the time comes, we'll deal with it." Bending forward she kissed him on the lips. "I'm sorry, honey, but I have to get ready for work."

He grumbled for form's sake, then went back to bed while she dressed.

Cecilia put on her makeup and packed a lunch, although the sight of food made her stomach lurch. But by noon she'd be fine and her appetite would return and she'd need that lunch.

Ian appeared to be sound asleep when she left the duplex. Munching on soda crackers as she drove, Cecilia made it all the way to the office without a single emergency stop. This was progress.

According to the navy doctor, her due date was the first week of May. May fifth. Allison had been born in June. Cecilia had gone into labor on a beautiful summer afternoon, but the perfection of the day hadn't augured a happy event. Being alone had been terrifying, even more so after her baby's birth.

Forcefully Cecilia turned her thoughts away from her first pregnancy. This time everything would be different. This time Ian would be with her and their baby would be born healthy.

Mr. Cox was already in the office when Cecilia arrived. After a few minutes of their usual easy chat, she settled at her desk and immediately began her work. The nausea almost always abated by nine. The first hour of the morning was the worst and odd though it seemed, she felt sick some afternoons once she got home. The second bout was always less intense than the first.