Turn Towards the Sun: Book Three- Forever in Bloom (The Sunflower Trilogy) Read online

  Turn Towards the Sun: Forever in Bloom

  The Sunflower Trilogy

  Copyright © 2013 Jennifer Domenico

  Formatting by JTFormatting

  All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Epilogue

  Preview of Beautifully Twisted

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  To all my fans present and future.

  I’VE LIED IN bed for more than an hour, tossing and turning. As each hour passes, I’m feeling worse and right now, I’m starting to worry.

  “Enzo, wake up, I need you.”

  He sits straight up, waking instantly from a deep sleep. “What’s the matter, amore?”

  “I don’t feel good.”

  He immediately looks panicked. “In what way?”

  “It’s hard to explain, a little bit like stomach cramps, maybe like the flu.”

  “Did you get sick?”

  “No, but I feel really nauseous.”

  “What can I do? Do you want some tea? Should we call Dr. Warner?”

  I look at the clock. It’s three in the morning. “I’m sure it can wait until morning. I just want you to be with me. Awake.”

  “Of course. I’ll go make you some tea.”

  I nod and get out of bed to go to the bathroom. As soon as I get into the bathroom, I feel a sharp pain in my lower abdomen that causes me to double over. Tears fill my eyes quickly as my mind rushes to thoughts of my baby. I drop to my knees as what’s left of my miniscule dinner rises to the back of my throat. Enzo rushes to my side as I wretch painfully for several minutes.

  “I’m calling the doctor.” He stands and grabs his phone, dialing the on call number we have for her.

  I listen to him explain things while he paces the bathroom. My entire body convulses each time my stomach attempts to empty itself. Fucking great. Back to this again.

  Enzo places his hand on my forehead, then my neck and tells the doctor he thinks I feel normal. He listens a few more minutes before he ends the call. “We need to take your temperature and make sure you aren’t running a fever. If you are, we need to get you to the hospital. If not, then she will see us in the morning.”

  I nod, miserable. “Do we have a thermometer?” I ask.

  Enzo’s eyes search the bathroom as though it will just jump out at him. “I think I bought one years ago. If I can just remember where it is.” I watch as he opens a few drawers then checks a box in the linen closet. When he finds it, he raises it in the air triumphantly. “Eccolo.”

  I smile, weakly. “Always prepared, aren’t you?”

  “My mother was always worried about fevers. I decided it would make her happy if I had one in my house. I’ve never used it.” He pushes the hair off my face. “Open your mouth.”

  I open my mouth and lift my tongue while he places the cool glass beneath it. We sit quietly for a moment, Enzo’s hand wrapped tightly around mine. After a few moments, he takes it out and studies it. “98.6. Perfectly normal. Why don’t we get you back to bed and see if you can sleep. Maybe you’ve been doing too much to get La Bellissima ready, amore.”

  “Yes, maybe.” I may not have a fever, but I certainly don’t feel right. I hope whatever it is, it goes away quickly. I climb back into bed and try to relax, wishing desperately for sleep.

  I BLINK MY eyes open as the sun peeks through the heavy silk curtains in our bedroom. I have no idea what time it is and for a moment, I can’t quite assess how I feel. Certainly the nausea is gone, but as soon as I try to sit up, my head begins to throb, causing me to sink back into my sheets. I place my hand over my forehead and immediately think I feel hot. This is not good.

  I try to twist towards the door to call for Enzo, but my whole body hurts. In fact, I feel like I just had the longest workout of my life and every muscle in my body seems to be sore. I groan and pull myself upright. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I look up slightly as Enzo enters our bedroom.

  “Amore, I made you some tea and toast. How do you feel?” he asks.

  “Awful. Worse than yesterday, I think. I have a terrible headache and I might have a fever now. Can we check?”

  Worry mars Enzo’s handsome features as he sets the cup of tea down. “I’m taking you to the emergency room. If you have a fever, they need to see you and you are getting worse not better.”

  “I don’t think it’s an emergency. Can’t we just see Dr. Warner later today?”

  Looking down at his watch, he shakes his head. “It’s only six. It will be hours before the office is open. Let’s get you dressed. I’ll call the doctor on the way.”

  He helps me off the bed and holds me steady as we walk to the bathroom. “I’ll get some clothes for you, amore, while you freshen up,” he offers.

  I nod and balance myself against the vanity and quickly brush my teeth. I pull my hair up into a bun and put some lip gloss on. Glancing at my reflection in the mirror, I know it’s going to take a lot more than lip gloss to make me look good.

  As I finish pulling myself together, I’m suddenly freezing. Alarm grips me as a cramp twists my insides like a towel being wrung out. This is becoming scary quickly. All I can think of is my baby. I go to the bathroom and realize I’m spotting. Tears immediately fill my eyes. Oh God, no. Please don’t let anything be wrong with the baby.

  I need to try and stay calm. If I panic, Enzo will too. I take a deep breath to try and calm my shaking body. Walking out into the bedroom, I attempt a smile, but Enzo is not buying it.

  “Ava, what happened in there?”

  “I would just like to see the doctor now.”

  “Don’t keep things from me.”

  I sigh. “I feel awful and I want to see the doctor. Can we go now?”

 
; “Yes, of course.”

  Enzo takes my arm and helps me walk to the car, keeping his eyes locked on mine. I feel so weak my legs are shaking and without him by my side, I’m sure I would just topple over. Enzo’s mouth presses into a tight line across his face as he helps me into the passenger’s side.

  “I hope we didn’t wait too long to see the doctor,” Enzo says.

  “Me too,” I say softly, not wanting him to worry even more. Inside, I’m completely freaking out. Spotting is the last thing a pregnant woman wants to see.

  Enzo pulls out of the driveway onto the street, driving faster than what I think is safe, but I say nothing. I pull out my phone and text Cass to tell her what is happening. As we drive, a sharp pain shoots through my abdomen causing me to suck in my breath sharply.

  “What is it, amore? What is happening to you?” Enzo asks, alarmed.

  I shake my head. “I don’t know, but it fucking hurts,” I say, barely able to speak through the pain. I grip the sides of my seat, trying to calm the stabbing sensation coursing through my body.

  “I’ll get us there soon, Ava,” Enzo says. I’ve never heard his voice sound so panicked. At this point, I can’t remain calm. In spite of my efforts, I burst into tears.

  Enzo rubs my hand as he continues to drive. “I’m here, amore. Just hold my hand.”

  Quicker than what seems reasonable, we pull into the parking lot of the hospital and come to a stop in front of the emergency room doors. Enzo cuts the engine and helps me out of the car. He is doing his best to stay cool, but I know from his face that he is equally freaked out. We walk up to the nurse and Enzo explains what is happening while I stand, bent over in pain.

  “Come right this way,” the nurse says. The concerned look on her face doesn’t get by me.

  She leads us to a room where I get into a gown and climb into the hospital bed. I start to shake violently, and while the nurse tries to check my vitals, my body attempts to throw up several times to no avail.

  “Mrs. Milano, you have a very high temperature and you’re dehydrated. I’ve called the doctor down to check you and the baby. He’ll be here in a few minutes,” the nurse says, tenderly.

  “I want Dr. Warner,” I whisper to Enzo.

  He squeezes my hand. “I just called and she’s coming.”

  I lie in the bed, sweaty and feverish. I finally stopped trying to throw up, but oh man, my head hurts. I am miserable. It doesn’t help that I feel like I’m getting my period which is not a comforting feeling.

  A large man enters the room wearing a lab coat. “I’m Dr. Martinez. I’m here to help until Dr. Warner arrives,” he says as he studies my chart.

  Enzo shakes his hand and tells him what is happening. “She’s pregnant.”

  “How many weeks?”

  “Ten.”

  “Is there any spotting, bleeding, or pain?” the doctor asks.

  I don’t want to answer this question, but I know I have to. I nod my head hoping Enzo doesn’t notice.

  “Which ones and for how long?” he asks again.

  “I’ve been in pain for hours and I noticed some spotting this morning.”

  “Spotting? What does this mean?” Enzo asks.

  “There is a little bit of blood, but we need to stay calm for now,” I answer, softly.

  “Blood? Is something wrong with our baby?” he asks again, his voice raising several octaves. I can’t even look at him.

  The doctor looks up from his charts. “We just need to check everything first.”

  Enzo stares at me. “Amore, why didn’t you tell me this?”

  I fight back tears again as I answer. “I didn’t want to worry you even more.”

  Enzo leans in and kisses my forehead. “It would be impossible for me to worry more.”

  The doctor takes my temperature again, and starts to push gently on my stomach, which hurts every time he does it. I wince with pain each time he touches me.

  “Do you have an appendix?” he asks.

  I shake my head. “Taken out when I was twenty.”

  I notice the concerned look on his face and immediately fear washes over me.

  “What is going on, doctor?” Enzo asks.

  “I’m not sure yet, her fever is very high, indicating an infection of some sort. Obviously, it’s not appendicitis. We’re going to draw some blood and run a few tests.”

  “When will we know if the baby is okay?” I ask.

  “After we get some test results back, Mrs. Milano.”

  A nurse comes in and draws my blood for the tests. As each moment passes, the pain in my lower body intensifies and I simply can’t be brave about it. I do nothing to hold back the tears that run freely down my face. Enzo rubs my arm, whispering sweet words to me in Italian. It’s driving me crazy that all the nurses fuss about me yet no one utters a word.

  Thirty minutes later, Dr. Warner comes in and rushes to my side. She feels my forehead and reads my chart. Dr. Martinez motions for her and they talk in the corner. Enzo paces back and forth, running his hands through his hair.

  Dr. Warner comes back to my side. “How long have you felt this way, Ava?”

  “This bad? Just last night after I went to bed. I felt tired all day, but that’s all. Why?”

  She looks down at my chart again without answering, and then finally looks up at me. “Ava, dear, I’m going to take a look and see how you’re doing okay?”

  I feel a tidal wave of tears building behind my eyes. I don’t like the way everyone is talking to me at all. I watch the doctor go to the end of my bed and lift my blankets. I wriggle out of my panties so she can examine me. As I lay my head back against the pillow, I pray that nothing is wrong with my sweet little baby. Enzo holds my hand so hard it almost hurts.

  Dr. Warner looks up at me. “Ava, you’re spotting a bit. I’m going to run some additional tests to find out how the baby is doing.” She smiles at me like a mother comforting a child.

  Enzo looks at me and I can tell that he is just as scared as I am. The doctor turns to leave the room and I lie back waiting for more news. Please let it be anything but the baby.

  Enzo becomes more and more agitated while he waits for the doctor to return, pacing and running his hands through his hair repeatedly. “How do you feel now, amore?”

  “I feel like shit, Enzo, and I’m worried about all the secrecy. I don’t like it at all.”

  “I don’t either.”

  Dr. Warner comes back in the room with an unpleasant look on her face. She walks to the side of the bed, and takes my hand in hers. She motions for Enzo to come closer.

  Without hearing a word, I immediately start crying again. I know it’s bad news. I know.

  “Ava…Enzo,” she pauses.

  “Would you just tell us what the hell is going on?” Enzo yells.

  She frowns. “I’m very sorry, but the baby… the baby is gone.”

  I gasp. “What?! No! No! It’s not true! Tell her it’s not true, Enzo!” Tears stream down my face in utter disbelief.” You’re wrong!” I shake my head, trying to make her words go away. “Please, God, no…” I cry out.

  I stare at my husband who looks shocked to the point of speechlessness, before I bury my head in my hands and sob. Oh my God, my baby. I’ve never felt anything more painful in my life.

  “How? Why?” It’s all I can say, in between sobs. “I want my baby back. I want my baby…” I feel Enzo’s hand holding mine, but I can hardly catch my breath.

  The doctor rubs my back. I look up to see Enzo wipe tears from his eyes. He still hasn’t said a word.

  “Ava, it’s not your fault or anything you did. It happens with fevers like this and we don’t know how long it’s been gone.” The doctor tries to comfort me.

  “No…oh, please,” I wail. “Don’t let it be true,” I cry.

  “Doctor,” Enzo finally speaks, his voice cracking with emotion. “I want to be alone with my wife.”

  “Of course. I’ll check on you in a few minutes.”

 
The doctor walks out and Enzo climbs in the hospital bed with me. Wrapping me in his arms, we cry together.

  “I’m sorry, Enzo,” I whisper against his chest. “I’m so sorry I lost our baby.”

  “Ava.” He pulls my chin up so my eyes meet his. “It’s not your fault. Something…bad happened.”

  “Maybe it’s because I drank too much in Vegas, or I didn’t eat well enough. Or maybe I work too much. You’re always telling me I work too hard. It’s my fault I got sick. I didn’t do it right.” I can’t stop crying. How did this happen? What did I do wrong?

  “Bella, please, don’t blame yourself. The doctor said—”

  “It is my fault, Enzo!”

  “Ava, stop it. Please. Your heart is broken, so is mine, but it’s no one’s fault. Vegas was long before you were pregnant and you have taken excellent care of yourself. We’ll get through this. We will. And we can try again.”

  “You don’t know that. You don’t know that we can have a baby. Maybe this was it.”

  “Let’s not jump to conclusions. We need to talk to the doctor and understand why it happened and go from there.”

  “I can’t take it. I can’t go through this again. I was so happy.” I bury my face in his chest. “What if this is it? What if something is wrong with me?”

  “Ava, nothing is wrong with you. Look at me.” He holds my face in his hands. “I love you, no matter what. Even if we can’t have babies, we’ll still have each other. That matters most.”

  I look up to search his eyes, but can barely see them through my cloudy tears. “You’re just trying to make me feel better. I know how important a family is to you.”

  “Ava, listen to me. You are my family.” I sniff and Enzo reaches over to the small table beside the bed and, grabbing a tissue, he sweetly wipes my nose.

  “I love you so much. I want to give you babies, lots of them. I don’t know how this happened,” I say.

  “Neither of us knows, so we’ll get the facts and we’ll find out what we can do going forward. But it doesn’t matter. I need you as much as I need air. My heart beats when yours does. It always will. We’ll figure out what our future is together.” He kisses my mouth softly, as fresh tears roll from his eyes. “I love you, Ava.”