Stalemate by Dahlia Rose Read Free Book Online

said.
    “So that’s why it was dark,” Isa teased.
    Tawny sniffled and gave a watery laugh. “You dodo bird, I need you to be healthy and taken care of before I leave.”
    “She will be. She has me,” Bryce said.
    “There are two of them,” Isa said, trying to ignore the rush of happiness from his words. They still had a long way to go before she would trust him and she knew the feeling was mutual.
    Tawny pressed her hand over Isa’s stomach. “I have nieces or nephews. You know I’ll be back a few weeks before you’re due so I can be there for the delivery.”
    “You’d better, I need my sister there,” Isa replied.
    “As if I’d be anywhere else, even if I’m squeamish.” Tawny bent her head to whisper in Isa’s ear. “I think he wants to be there too.”
    Isa didn’t answer and was glad she didn’t have to when the doctor came in.
    “How are you feeling? You gave your family here quite a scare,” the doctor said warmly. “Aren’t you supposed to be taking care of yourself, Isa?
    Isa was glad to see that it was her actual OBGYN who was in attendance. Dr. Ben Allary was younger than she’d expected when she first walked into the doctor’s office. She placed him at around thirty-five, and soon he’d made her so comfortable she saw past his good looks and boyish charm to the competent physician he was.
    “I’ve been trying to, Dr. Allary,” Isa answered.
    “I thought we agreed my patients call me Ben, especially my favorite patients,” Dr. Allary teased.
    “This is Tawny, my best friend. More than that, she’s my sister. And this is Bryce Forte, the baby...babies’ father. I didn’t think you worked at this hospital.”
    Dr. Allary chuckled. “I don’t, but Mr. Forte does has a way of getting things done. As to the babies, wasn’t that a surprise?”
    “They are okay, aren’t they?” Isa asked as doubt and worry crept in.
    “They are fine, babies are stronger than people realize in utero. But you, on the other hand, need to eat better and I’m putting you on bed rest. The pain you had was from tiredness, a bit of dehydration, and stress. It caused you to contract early, your body telling you it was not happy. The bleeding was mild and stopped within an hour after we started treating you. I suspect more stress than you are letting on.” She noted how Dr. Allary cast a glance at Bryce. “Would you rather we speak alone?”
    “I can see what you’re thinking but I haven’t been abusing Isa,” Bryce said angrily.
    “Abuse comes in many forms,” Ben said calmly without batting an eye.  "The fact is she is under so much stress she is not eating properly, she isn’t sleeping enough, and then add her work on top of that. The fact that she is a petite woman carrying twins and a first time mother, plus being anemic, she needs rest. She’s pregnant and should be blissfully happy at this point, not losing weight. I want that for all my patients.”
    Isa noted how Tawny bit her lip as she watched the doctor and Isa laughed to herself.  Her friend always appreciated the male form. She also noted that aside from the anger that Bryce had, she could see worry on his face.
    “Instead of chastising me, what is your medical decision?” Bryce asked.
    Ben looked at Isa. “I’m going to recommend you be placed on leave from the Navy for the duration of your pregnancy. I’ll submit the paperwork to the base as soon as I leave the room.”
    “What else?” Bryce asked tersely.
    “If you are so impatient to leave, Mr. Forte, I can talk to my patient alone,” Ben retorted. “You may be accustomed to people cowering for you, but I will not. Her care is tantamount, and if you aren’t here to help her, you hamper her care. If you show so much disregard for the mother of your children, what will happen when they are born?”
    Bryce took a deep breath before he spoke. “My intent is not to cause her any more stress or harm, Dr. Allary. Your implications of me being abusive were unwarranted