Sergei, Volume 2 by Roxie Rivera

fool, I returned to the sketches. I had a bodice in mind for my gown, but it was the skirt that gave me fits. I didn't know when we were going to tie the knot. If it was too far into my second trimester, my options were going to be severely limited. No amount of corseting, pleats, tucks or ruched organza could hide the big baby belly I would have by then.
    "Bianca?" Galina ducked her head through the open doorway. "Would you like dinner?"
    Sergei and Vladimir had gone out for a night of pub crawling. I hadn't been thrilled by the idea of spending an evening alone with my future mother-in-law. The feeling seemed mutual. She had disappeared into her bedroom the moment her sons were gone. Not wanting to push myself on her, I had sought refuge in here to sketch and think.
    Now she was making an effort, and I understood how hard that was for her. I smiled at her and set aside my sketchpad. "I'd like that. The restaurant downstairs is supposed to be very nice. Would you like to try it?"
    "Yes. That sounds good." She came into the bedroom and gestured toward my sketchpad. "May I?"
    "Of course." I handed it to her. "Let me duck into the bathroom and change out of these yoga pants and into something a little nicer."
    She waved her hand. "Please. I'm happy to wait."
    I stood slowly, but a wave of nausea and dizziness still swamped me. Annoyed by the morning sickness, I carefully made my way to the bathroom and closed the door. I had been feeling some twinges along my sides and in my back all afternoon and evening. After losing my lunch and the tea and cookies I had tried to have a few hours later, I figured the aches were from over-exercised muscles. Not even ginger gum and candy were keeping the sickness at bay now.
    As I picked out a dress, I realized I had to pee again. I couldn't believe how much time I was spending in the lady's room these days. If I wasn't sick, I had a throbbing bladder. I shuddered to think what it would be like when I was nine months pregnant and this baby of ours was jumping up and down in there. I would have to move my office into one of the stalls at work if I was going to get anything accomplished!
    When I sat down, I glanced at my undies and gasped. Bright red blood marred the pale blue cotton. Stunned and horrified, I reached for some toilet tissue and hastily checked to see if I was still bleeding. The evidence made my heart race. "No! No! No!"
    Hastily cleaning up, I grabbed a clean pair of panties and found a liner in my toiletry case. My hands were shaking, and my stomach lurched painfully as I tried not to imagine the worst. But that blood! All of that blood.
    "Bianca?" Galina knocked on the door. "Are you okay?"
    I wanted Sergei. I needed Sergei, but he wasn't here. His mother, the woman who had begged him not to marry me, was the only available to help me. The irony of that didn't escape me even in my panicked state.
    "Bianca?" She knocked louder. "What is wrong?"
    Trembling and on the verge of tears, I opened the door. Galina's brow was furrowed with concern. She touched my arm, and I sobbed pitifully, "I’m bleeding."
    Shock slackened her face. A second later, she schooled her features and grasped my hand. "It's okay. Lots of women bleed. We go to hospital. Everything will be all right. Yes?"
    I weakly shook my head, but I didn't believe her. That much blood could only mean one thing. My hand drifted to my belly and fresh tears dripped down my face.
    "Sh," Galina embraced me and rubbed my back. "The baby is fine. You see."
    As if I were a child, she took my hand and guided me around the hotel room, gathering up my purse and then hers. We left the suite and made our way to the elevators.
    Once inside, she squeezed my hand. "When I was pregnant with Vovachka, I bleed every day for three weeks. He was healthy baby. Big baby," she added with a reassuring smile. "Just like Sergei."
    I clung to her hand and her words. Please, please, let my baby be okay.
    Everything became a blur after that. Like a