Thirty-Four

VALERIA

The tears came coursing down my cheeks hard and fast and there was nothing I could do about them. It was like the dam holding my emotions at bay had burst open. Dimly, I was aware of Dimitri offering broken words of comfort.

"...Not your fault. Don't you ever think that. You and the baby will be fine, I promise..."

Eventually, the sound of my sobs drowned out his words. I wanted to be strong for my baby, like the doctor had advised. I really wanted to be, but right now, every horrible thing I had read or heard about complications in pregnancy flooded my mind. Dimitri and the doctor had promised excellent health care, but then anything could still happen.

Dimitri cupped my face and forced my head up to meet his gaze. Without taking his eyes off me, he reached into his pocket, brought out a handkerchief which he used to wipe my streaming eyes.

"Now listen to me," he said when he had gotten my attention, or as much of it as I was able to give him. "Listen to me, Valeria. What the