by Roo

Part Three - Chapter Eleven

Carla takes advice

Editing by Bronwen

Previously:

I woke up in Ricky's arms with him gazing into my eyes. He kissed me and said, “My sweet Carla I love you. Please don't frighten me like you did last night ever again, I could never live without you.”

I still felt a little sleepy from the effect of the injection Doc Ryan gave me the previous night and I doubted that I would be going to work that morning. There was a phone call and Mum said, “Carla, Sandra is on the phone and wants to know how you are and can she come over before she goes to the clinic?”

“Yes Mum, please tell her I’m o.k., and to come here first, but also to ring Amy and let her know she'll be late and if need be call Ross to help out.”

Ricky said, “Honey, until doc Ryan checks you out you're not going anywhere, is that clear?”

“Ricky don’t you boss me around!”

“Carla I'll tie you to the bed if I have to!”

I thought, “Gee I think he means it, I had better behave or I will be in trouble with everyone.”

I replied with tears in my eyes, “Sorry darling just a bit emotional at the moment.”

“Darling I love you too much to let you have a complete breakdown, so just behave yourself and slow down. You have been running around at a hundred miles an hour and it's time you thought about yourself for a change, especially now.”

“Ricky I have done it all my life, you know that I can't sit still.”

Just as I said that, Jim Ryan walked into the bedroom with a concerned look on his face and said, “Carla you are only twenty four years old. If you keep this up you won't reach your next birthday. You have done more in your short life than most people have who are twenty years older than you.”

I kept my mouth shut and thought “Well doc you are probably right, but how can you ask me to change my personality? I was born this way.”

Ricky then said, “Jim, did you know about Carla being pregnant?”

“Well after I saw the blood test that was done last night I did.”

I thought, “Bloody hell I had better speak up for myself before I get retired by everyone.”

I said, “Ok doc what do you suggest?”

“Well Carla, I want some more tests done but if you want to go the full term with this pregnancy I will tell you in the only way you will listen. Stop running around like a blue-arsed fly!!!!”

That got through to me and I must have been more stressed than I thought because the dam broke once more.

Now Ricky was getting worried and held me tightly in his arms till I quietened down. Jim was about to give me another injection when Mum walked in and said, “Jim, no more drugs, she just needs to slow down and she will be fine. Remember fourteen years ago with all the drama taking her to Brisbane in the helicopter and then to the Mater?”

“Yes Donna I was in that chopper with you too you know, and Carla is like my own daughter. I was there when the twins arrived too.”

I thought, “This has gone on long enough, pull yourself together girl.”

“Ok everyone I hear you. Jean is in my head as well. I will stop work for a bit and I’ll be fine.”

Jim replied, “Carla you need to stop work and no stress till I tell you otherwise or you will lose the baby. Do you understand?”

I replied through bloodshot eyes, “Yes doc, you're the boss.”

“Good. I will send your sister Jenny over to do the blood test shortly and I’ll be back this afternoon to check up on you.”

Jenny wanted to go back to work at the Hospital but Billy wouldn't hear of it while Josh was so young so she did part-time work and collected the blood tests for the hospital. A little later Jenny turned up with little Josh and he was taken out to play with my girls.

“Ok sister dear what have you got up to?” asked Jenny.

“Umm well you know!! No different than when we were growing up and we were the Three Musketeers and helped everyone remember?”

“Carla we were all young girls than; we have families now and you can't always help everyone to your own health's detriment. Now give me your arm and be quiet if you can!!!”

“Yes Ma'am!” I thought, “I suppose I had better do as I’m told I certainly don't want to jeopardise my unborn baby.”

Just as Jenny finished collecting my blood, Jean entered the scene and seemed to be communicating with everyone in the room and said, “I know that all the people in this room can hear me so listen up, I have always been with Carla since birth and we are both one soul. I’m not about to let her slip into ill health; the baby will be fine and Carla dear, you will do as you are told is that clear?”

I felt like a little girl being told to stand in the corner till I could behave myself and burst into tears once more. This time Mum told everyone to get out of the room and she then sat next to me and let me cuddle into her while she rocked me like she used to when I was little and sang to me. I fell asleep in her arms and found myself back in the spirit world with Jean rocking me instead of Mum and it was Jean doing the singing.

When I woke up three hours later I found myself in bed, with Ricky stroking my hair saying, “Hello sweetheart, have a nice time with Jean did we?”

I said, “How did you know I was with Jean?”

“Darling she let me see you in the spirit world and you looked even more beautiful in the blue shimmering gowns that you were both wearing.”

I replied, “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

Ricky said “Now honey you are going to slow right down aren't you?”

“Yes darling, obviously I don’t have a choice but I don’t want to be treated like an invalid either.”

“Don't worry sweetheart you will never be that.”

I thought, 'This could be fun but I had better have a long talk with Sandy and John to see what will happen with the veterinary clinic.'

Ricky said as if he read my mind, “Carla I have asked John and Sandy to come over this morning to sort out what has to happen with the clinic.”

I replied, “Ricky we also need Brian to come over to see what the best way to sort out the legal issues.” I thought to myself, “I don’t think I have much choice but to let this happen and just hope it all works out for the best.”

It all seemed like a dream to me when I finished the discussions with Sandy and John with Brian taking notes to take back to his office. It was all happening too fast but again I also knew that I had to slow down till our little boy was born and then I could go back to work.

I spent the rest of the day with the twins and Ricky at Helen and Barry, Ricky's parents' place. There would be a lot more of that from then on.

Sandra, John and Jenny speak

Jenny said, “Daddy, does all this mean that we won't go back home to live?”

“Well sweetheart I think that it's the best thing if we start a new life and you seem to like Sandra and Jamie or am I wrong?”

“No Daddy you're not wrong but I miss Mummy.”

Sandra then hugged Jenny and said, “Darling I can't replace your Mummy but I will love you just as much as I do Jamie.”

Jenny replied, “What about my little problem? Will I be able to have all the treatment done here in Australia?”

Sandra asked John to make a cup of tea and leave the two of them have a little discussion about girl things.

Sandy said, “Ok Jenny, you already know about Jamie being inter-sexed and that was all fixed without any problems and so will you when the time comes. I will fly us down to Brisbane and get the same doctors to treat you as well.”

By the time John came back with three cups of tea and some cake Jenny was all smiles.

Jamie was back at school and had told a few friends about her friend from the States and that her mum was going to try to enroll her in the same school. Once all the relevant paper work was sorted out with John's and Jenny's Australian residence with the immigration department things would settle down.

To be continued.

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Carla Bay