I was glad that Joshua's clinic was just nearby and it took us only a couple of minutes to reach his clinic. He carried me out of the car and took me in for a quick ultrasound and seeing that he didn't show any signs of panic,I felt comforted.
"Is everything okay Joshua?",I asked when he didn't say anything, worried that something might have happened to my baby.
"Don't worry,its nothing. Cramps like that happen during the first trimester",he said,but the way he came over quickly to my aid and carrying me to his clinic didn't feel like it was as simple as the way he was making it sound.
"What are you not telling me Joshua?" I asked him. That seemed to have surprised him as he replied,"Nothing Issy. Its just common cramps that happen,indicating that your baby is growing".
I was still not convinced by his answer so I insisted on asking him,"Are you sure its just that? Cause I still feel a sharp pain and my nausea isn't getting any better.I.."
He cut me off midway to say,"Its really nothing serious Issy. I know what you're thinking. I hurried to bring you here because I don't want to take any chances and don't want anything to happen to you or the baby",he said and I was dumbstruck.
I didn't know what to reply to that but he saved me from embarrassing myself further as he added,"As your doctor and friend, that's the least I can do to keep you and your baby safe".
He smiled at me and I could only smile back though I didn't know why but I felt somewhat sad at the plain truth he was saying.
"Though its normal for you to have stomach cramps, you need to take utmost care of your health",he said and handed me some herbal tonics.
"They'll help you with soothing your cramps. I'll give you a list of what nutritious food you need to have and what you need to avoid",he added.
"Thank you Joshua. I was in full panic mode when the pain started,fearing for the worst. I feel much better now,thanks",I said as I got down from the bed to go home.
I started to head outside to go home now that I was doing much better, but seeing that he wasn't coming behind me, I raised my eyebrows at him questioningly and asked him,"Aren't you going now?"
"You go ahead and sit in the car, I'll be right behind you",he said as he handed the keys to me.
"You forget that my place is in the next building",I laughed,but my cramp got the better of me so I winced as I held my stomach.
"Like I was saying, sit in the car Issy, I'll drive you home even if its just a few steps away",he said and I nodded in agreement.
I took the keys and walked slowly to where his car was,glad that he was around when I needed him.
As I was headed for his car, I saw that I had forgotten to take the tonics Joshua had given me, so I headed back to his clinic. It wasn't easy for me to even take those few steps with the stinging pain, but I managed it.
He was just getting off the phone when I got to the clinic room and looked at me questioningly, so I pointed towards the tonics that were left beside the bed and said,"I came to take those tonics you got for me."
I wondered how he ran his clinic when he was on vacation, so I asked while in the car, "Do you have someone to fill in for you when you're not working?".
He looked at me as though I had asked him the most absurd question, but looking at my nonplussed reaction, he chuckled and said, "It was my dad's clinic before it became mine. He had two other doctors under him, who, I still work together with, and my dad does show up occassionaly".
"I hadn't taken a vacation in almost a year, so my dad took matters in his own hands and forced me to take some time off of work and the rest, you know what happened",he added and smiled.
"Then I can only say that your dad must love you a lot",I said knowing that my own dad would do the same for me,if I went on a workaholic mode,without taking a vacation.
"Hmmm",he replied, as though not convinced by my words.
We reached home and he helped me carry the stuffs to our apartment.
"Joshua, what a surprise you're here. Come on in",Gabby said as she came to open the door, and gave me a smug smile, and I shook my head helplessly,not bothering to explain her how Joshua ended up dropping me home as I didn't want them to worry.
"Issy, don't forget to take the herbal and follow the nutrition plan I gave you",he said and started to leave so I asked him to stay for lunch which he declined.
"What's with Joshua and you coming home together?",Aurora said as she looked at me questioningly,"are you alright? You look pale".
"Just some stomach cramps, which Joshua said,is common during the first trimester as the baby is growing. He gave me some tonics to take and a nutrition plan to follow",I said and told her not to worry.
"Let me go and rest some",I said as I left for my room.
A part of me felt disappointed for Joshua leaving without staying for lunch, or even the fact that he might not have been the one to send me the flowers.
I was surprised at myself for even thinking about it and shook off those thoughts. Joshua was a friend and my doctor, and anything beyond that would not be possible, especially with my complicated self.
I tried to sleep but the pain from the stomach cramp and the ache that formed in my heart kept me awake.
I wanted to be strong enough to not be dependent on anyone but somehow, I was getting used to the people around me. What I felt for Joshua was getting complicated and I knew I had to get a grip on myself.
He deserved better than the emotional wreck I was and he had clearly said that he was helping me for friendship's sake, and I shouldn't be reading too much into it.
With all those thoughts running in my head, I finally drifted off to sleep much later.