She turned back to him, sadness so deep in her gaze that it hurt him to look at her. “Don’t you see, Ryan? It can never work for us. You don’t trust me. Your family and friends hate me. What kind of life will that be for me? I deserve more than that. It’s taken me long enough to figure that out. I settled again, when I swore I’d never do it. I agreed to marry you. Again. Because I was so in love with you and I believed that we could move forward. But I was a fool. Some obstacles are insurmountable.”

She closed her eyes as another spasm of pain crossed her face. And she swayed, her hand flying out to brace herself against the dresser.

“Kelly, what’s wrong?” he demanded.

She rubbed her hand across her brow and opened her eyes, but her stare was unfocused. “My head.” A sound like a whimper escaped her and he knew that something was wrong. Something beyond the emotional distress she was experiencing.

Her face took on a gray pallor that alarmed him. Panic flared in her eyes and just for a moment she looked to him for help.

Before he could react, her knees buckled and she slid soundlessly to the floor.

CHAPTER 16

“Kelly!”

Ryan dropped to the floor. His immediate reaction was to gather her in his arms, but she was rigid and her body convulsed. Light foam gathered at her lips and her jaw was tight. Frantically he reached for his phone and clumsily punched 911.

“I need an ambulance,” he said tersely. “My fiancée. She’s pregnant. I think she’s having a seizure.” He knew he didn’t make sense. His heart and mind were screaming even as he tried to stay calm. The 911 operator asked questions and he answered them mechanically as he leaned over Kelly, desperate to help her.

After a moment her body went slack and her head lolled to the side. He put his fingers to her neck, praying that he’d find a pulse. He laid his head over her chest, listening and feeling for air exchange.

“Don’t leave me, Kelly,” he whispered desperately. “Please hang on. I love you so damn much.”

He lifted her limp hand, the one that bore his ring and pressed her palm to his cheek. He kissed the skin, his breaths coming in ragged, silent sobs. He’d never been more scared in his life.

The minutes dragged to eternity. The operator continued to ask him questions and offered him encouragement. But Kelly remained unconscious and the longer she lay there, still, on the floor, the more his panic and sense of helplessness grew.

After what seemed an interminable wait, he heard the EMS crew call out from the door.

“In here!” he called hoarsely.