Chapter Sixty Eight
Yvonne had tried to stay with her so that she would help her and all, but Astra refused, so Yvonne was staying at his place too. Jared had also moved out, but Stephanie was still there. Ray did a number on her too, she was still very much reserved and scared of people. Stephanie had agreed to a therapist though, and she was talking to her once a week, Nicholas knew that it was too early but he could already see changes in her.
Astra refused one and she was being rushed to the hospital. Nicholas prayed that nothing would happen to her. The medics were trying to stop the bleeding and Nicholas was scared for her life. Brian had started crying and Nicholas held the child. They at least had each other at the difficult time.
They got to the hospital and rushed her into the emergency ward. Nicholas carried Brian and followed them, but he was stopped before he could enter. Nicholas felt like a man who was expecting a child and who's wife was in labor as he paced the hospital corridors. He watched doctors come and go out and then Brian feel asleep. It was after a while before someone came to talk to her.
"Good afternoon. Your wife is fine now, the wound was not deep and it did not graze enter the vein, but our problem was the fact that she did still lose blood and the fact that she was pregnant. She had a miscarriage threat. The baby is fine and so is the mother, but she has to take it easy for the first trimester and maybe till her fourth month. It is a wonder that her child survived all of these. We would recommend a therapist so that something like this will not happen again, and you should also pay attention to her in the mean time, try not to let her be alone and with sharp objects and poison," the doctor said and Nicholas nodded. He was relieved Astra was fine. It occurred to him then that he was willing to sacrifice the child for Astra's life if he had to make a choice.
"Thank you sir. Can I see her now?" Nicholas asked.
"Yes, you can go see her now," the doctor said and left. Nicholas went into the room and saw Astra lying down and just staring at the ceiling. She looked like she would rather she was dead.
"Why Astra? Why are you doing for to yourself and to me? You are hurting us Astra, all the people that love you. You are hurting your child, Astra, your children," Nicholas said.
"Stop guilt tripping me Nicholas, I am hurting everyone even more as I am here, as I am still here, I am hurting myself and the people around me. You life will be so much better without me in it Nicholas," She said in tears. Nicholas felt broken for her.
"That is a lie Astra, a big lie. Please do not let Ray control you from the grave. Do not let him destroy our family even if he is already dead. This is what he wants Astra, he wants us to be in pain. He does not want us to be together that is why he tried so hard to separate us. Do not let him win Astra," Nicholas said.
Astra looked at him this time, she really looked at him. It was as though she heard his words, it was not like the other times that she would simply ignore him. Astra looked at him as though she was trying to gauge the truth in his eyes.
"I am saying the truth Astra. This is his plan, he is such a manipulative bastard that he wants even in his death for things to go his own way. That is why he said those things. It is not your fault Astra, he had a mental disorder that is why he turned out that way," Nicholas said. It seemed like Astra heard him very well this time and he expected her to say something, but she just turned her head to the other side.
Nicholas looked at Astra, he thought that he had at least to her with his words but it looked like he didn't.
"You will have to come stay with me after you are discharged, you will also have to get a therapist. You need to get better," Nicholas said to Astra and her head turned to him immediately. She clearly did not like the idea. "What do you mean?" Astra shouted and Nicholas wondered if he should keep on saying things like that to Astra. It was the most emotive he had seen her since the issue with Ray. He did not know that she had the ability to be angry, she seemed like she had just been floating through life till then.
"You are not well Astra, I will not let you end your life and the life of our child. You really should not make that decision alone. Your son needs you Astra, I need you, and I understand if you may want to stay alone but this is not the situation for that. You need to stay with me until I am sure that you are okay and strong enough. If you want to stay alone after then, you are fine," Nicholas said to her. Astra looked at Nicholas, she could not believe the words that were coming out of his mouth. She could live with him? Astra did not want to do that all. She did not want to go back to Nicholas, she did not feel that they were meant to be together. She did not also feel worthy, anything that she touched became broken. She did not also feel that she could protect her unborn child and that was why she was willing to die with the child. She would not feel much of remorse. She was doing her child and the world a favor by removing herself.
"I am not staying with you Nicholas. If you mean that I must not be alone, Yvonne can simply come and live with me. It will be for the best, she can come with Brian and take care of him," Astra said. That was the most words he heard from Astra since the incident, Nicholas was so dazed about her talking that he nodded his head.
"Okay, this is settled then," Astra said again and it was then that Nicholas finally understood what Astra was saying. "What do you mean? I did not agree to anything. I want you to stay with me," Nicholas said again. He was a bit lost.
Astra just looked at him, laid back down on her bed and turned the other way. Nicholas would have loved it if Astra came to live with him, it would have been like old times and it will be easier for him to convince her that they should start all over again. He also thinks that her staying with Yvonne will also be a good idea. At least she would have a friend to stay with her and it would make things easy for her, maybe it was better that way. With time, he could ask her out again. "Okay, fine, you can do anything you want. I have weekends with Brian," Nicholas said. He did not want to argue anymore.
"I will inform Yvonne," Nicholas said and walked out of the room. He sighed as he left. He hated more and more that Ray was still hurting their family even if he was long dead.
"Daddy, is Mommy okay?" Brian asked, as he was out of the hospital room.
"Your Mommy is fine, but you will come to see her another day," Nicholas said. He was not sure Astra was in the right state of mind to start talking to Brian. She probably still wanted to be alone.