Chapter 1 A New Member

Jenna's POV

The smell of disinfectant was heavy in the air, as carts full of medicine, food, and linen were being pushed left and right. The white lights were lit in a long row, making it seem like the hall was a never ending hall.

I sat on the bench alone with lowered eyes. Not that I had done something wrong, but I wanted to avoid the scene beside me. A couple was sitting together. The man had placed his hand softly on his wife's belly and they were talking about the baby's kicking.

Here I was for my third prenatal check-up. As always-- Alone.

"Mrs Shadowclaw." The nurse called out.

I got up by using the side armrest for support, and went to the doctor's office.

"Alone, again?" Doctor Sander looks up at me with a half-hearted smile.

"Ah, no," I tried reasoning. "Actually--"

"He was busy?" Doctor Sander says in a flat voice. "Or was at work, he had a deadline. Mrs. Shadowclaw, you always have excuses, but he never accompanies you. I told you, from the second month onwards, it's important for both parents to attend. After all, the baby has to feel the love of both parents."

He sighs. "And today is your first ultrasound. The first time you will hear your baby's heartbeat. He should have been here."

I was going to say, 'He did want to come, but Doctor Sander stopped me. "Its okay. Though at the present the baby cannot feel you like a human being, but your stress level does affect its growth."

Doctor Sander gets up and heads over to the monitor.

"Okay. Please come over."

I went over to the examination bed and lay down.

Then Doctor Sander pushes his chair closer to me. "Please raise your blouse."

Then he applied the gel and began to use the stick in his hand.

Suddenly I could hear a sound--thump, thump, thump. The sound was like a symphony to my ears.

"Can you hear it?" Doctor Sander says with a bright smile. "That's your baby's heartbeat. And a healthy one on that."

A smile spread on my face from ear to ear. My baby, mine and Dustin's love symbol.

I sighed wishing he was with me. I know he would have been happy to hear our baby.

"Doctor, can I get a recording of my baby's heartbeat? Dustin would love to listen."

Doctor Sander smiled. "Of course. You can take it from the counter."

Then he helped wipe the gel. "Okay, let's go back."

"Mrs Shadowclaw." Doctor Sander says in a grave voice. "As a doctor, I can only tell. But please, tell your husband to accompany you. It's best for the baby."

I smiled. "Don't worry Doctor Sander. Dustin will accompany me next time."

As I came out, I went over to the counter, and after receiving the recording, I left for home.

On the way, I placed a hand on my stomach, as I didn't want my baby to be afraid of the bumps on the road.

Finally I arrived home. As I entered, I placed the tape on the table and then went to the wash room.

As I came out, I couldn't see the tape on the table. I was looking frantically everywhere, but couldn't find it anywhere.

"Jenna?" A voice called me from behind. "What are you looking for?"

The voice was my husband, my mate, Dustin Shadowclaw's.

As I turned around, I saw him holding a woman by her waist.

On seeing me, he removed his arm. "Ah..what are you looking for?"

"I-placed-a-tape-on-the-table." I paused after each word as if I was planning each word. "I-can't-find-it."

"Oh, you mean that small white thing." The woman said in a pity voice. "I thought it was trash so I threw it in the firepl---"

"WHAT?" I growled at the top of my voice. "WHO GAVE YOU THE PERMISSION TO THROW ANYTHING IN MY HOUSE--"

"Julia, its just a tape for god's sake." Dustin says brushing my words. "Why are you so hyper?"

"Why am I so hyper?" I said in a questioning voice. "Do you know what that tape had in it? Do you know what I wanted you to hear?"

"Oh, probably some song." The woman says again in a pitiful voice. "Why's she so fussy?"

"It wasn't a song." I yelled at her. "It was the ultrasound recording of our baby. I requested it so Dustin could hear his baby's heart--"

"What?" Excitement was evident in his voice, but for a matter of a second. "Well, it's okay. We can hear the next time. The baby's fine. That's what matters."

Then the woman comes walking over and places her hand on my stomach. "Are you a healthy baby?"

I moved her hand lightly but she fell on the floor.

"Oh, I just wanted to feel the baby. Sister, you could have stopped me before I touched. Why push me like this?"

As Dustin was coming to grab me, she got up.

"Dustin, she didn't mean it. Don't be angry."

"Enough!" Dustin yells. Then he grabs my hand and yanks me to the bedroom.

"Stay here till you repent. Only when you realize your mistake, will I allow you out."

As Dustin slammed the door shut, I saw her smirking at the back.

"Dustin-Dustin, you can't do this to me." I called out, tears rolling down my cheeks. "Dustin, Dustin?"

The next evening Dustin came back home from work.

"Jenna? Jenna?" He called out. "How long are you gonna sit in the bedroom sulking? It's not good for the--"

That's when he realized, after the woman left, he fell asleep on the sofa, and in the morning he left in anger.

He ran towards our bedroom and unlocked the door.

As the door, his eyes were bloodshot on seeing me laying on the with my skirt stained in blood

He quickly lifted me and rushed me to the hospital.

After an hour in the emergency room, Doctor Sander came out.

As he removed his mask. He had a grim look.

"Doctor, how is my wife, my baby?"

"She's three months pregnant. And you never came with her for any of her prenatal checkups." Doctor Sander says with a heavy sigh. "Today you come, when it's over."

"Over?" Dustin says shocked. "What do you mean 'over'?"

"Mrs Shadowclaw's body is under immense stress. That caused the miscarriage. I'm sorry, the baby's no more. She's been shifted to the ward. You can go meet her."

As I lay on the bed, I felt cold. Even though there was a mattress under me, I could feel the hard board.

I heard his footsteps come closer to the bed. So I turned towards him.

"Jenna. It's okay. We'll--"

The door flung open leaving me with wide open eyes distraught.