Amelia shook her head. “Oh, no, we thought we’d surprise her.”
Bailey’s face twisted as she tried to hold in a laugh. Amelia lightly tapped her arm out of the nurse’s sight. The nurse looked apprehensive and said, “Let me go tell her you’re here.” The nurse stood from her chair and walked around to the front of the desk. “What’re your names?”
“I’m Teresa and this is Brittany,” Bailey said as she introduced them to the nurse.
The nurse nodded and said, “Follow me. I’m sure she won’t mind company.”
“No, I’m sure she won’t,” Amelia mumbled under her breath. She looked at Bailey and smirked. The nurse led them to room number 203 and knocked on the door.
“Courtney, you’ve got visitors,” The nurse said through the crack in the door. “Would you like to see them?”
Courtney’s cracked voice replied, “Yes, send them in.”
The nurse turned and smiled at Bailey and Amelia. She stepped away from the door and said, “Go on in.”
“Thank you,” Bailey said as she pushed the door open.
Amelia followed closely behind Bailey into the room. They shut the door behind them and locked it. Courtney’s jaw dropped and she squirmed at the sound of the locked door.
“What’re you guys doing here?” she asked as she looked back and forth at them. Her eyes widened when Amelia pulled a chair up to the hospital bed.
“How’d your delivery go?” Amelia asked.
Courtney scooted up in bed. “It went good.”
Amelia smiled. She had expected short answers. She had expected this type of reaction from Courtney. She had once heard having a child changes your attitude. Amelia wasn’t sure if Courtney’s had changed, or if she was truly scared shitless.
“You don’t look so good. Are you feeling okay?” Amelia asked as she reached for Courtney’s forehead. Courtney startled as Amelia placed the back of her hand to the top of her head.
“You feel warm. Would you like me to get you some water?”
Courtney switched focus between Amelia and Bailey. Surprise and fear stretched across her face. “No, I’m fine. What’re you doing here?”
Amelia smiled. Bailey answered before Amelia could. She asked, “What? You’re not used to having visitors or what?”
Courtney shrugged. “I wasn’t expecting you guys.”
Amelia chuckled. “I could say the same for you.”
Courtney’s eyes widened at the tone Amelia had used. “If this is about the baby, I…”
Amelia turned and glanced at Bailey. “Is this about the baby?”
Bailey shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t think it was, but I guess if it has to be, why not?”
Amelia smiled at Courtney. “Is there something you need to tell us?”
Courtney shook her head. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”
Amelia grunted. “Well, that’s odd, because for the last few days, you’ve had plenty to say.”
“If you came here to harass me, you can leave,” Courtney stated as her voice quivered.
Amelia turned to Bailey and asked, “We didn’t come here to harass her, did we?”
Bailey shook her head and said, “Not that I’m aware of, we didn’t.”
Courtney let out a sigh. She looked horrible. The color of her skin was pale and she had bags under her eyes. Amelia watched her as she collapsed her head against the pillow.
“As far as I’m concerned, you’re the one who came here to harass me,” Amelia stated firmly.
Courtney shook her head. Wide-eyed, she looked at Amelia as she bit her lip. Amelia noticed her chin as it trembled. Courtney’s eyes bounced between Amelia and Bailey. “Why’d you have to bring her?”
Amelia smirked. “She’s my witness.”
Courtney straightened up and angled herself against the pillow. The pillow helped to prop her up.
“Are you sure you’re feeling okay? You don’t look so great,” Amelia mentioned again.
Courtney nodded. “I’m fine.”
“How did the birth of your baby boy go? He’s cute,” Amelia stated as she watched Courtney.
Courtney glared at her. Her face turned bright red. She raised her voice and asked, “What are you here for?”
Amelia shrugged. “I was wondering the same thing about you.”
Courtney tossed her head against the pillow. Frustration overwhelmed her. Amelia watched as Courtney closed her eyes.
“I want to know why you’re so insistent on having Zach in your life,” Amelia demanded an answer.
Courtney opened her eyes and sat up. Her eyes narrowed at Amelia. “I’m not.”
“I’d say it appears that you are,” Amelia informed her. “What’s the matter? The first time didn’t work so you thought you’d try it again?”
Courtney’s face flushed and she crossed her arms.
“Zach doesn’t love you, is that the problem? You want him to love you, but he won’t. No matter how hard you try, nothing works,” Amelia asked fiercely. She did not allow Courtney to answer. She continued on, “You think pretending a baby is his will make him love you and come running to you?”
Amelia’s face burned with anger. She had not planned to get this angered. She pressed on, “That’s not even Zach’s baby is it?”
Courtney launched herself at Amelia. Amelia slid her chair back out of Courtney’s reach as Courtney yelled, “You don’t know shit, bitch!”
Amelia smiled. “I know more than you think I do.”
Bailey watched as the tension filled the room.
“I’d say you shouldn’t let your crazy show so often,” Amelia egged her on.
Courtney crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “And you’re one to give advice?”
“I’m not the one pretending to have a baby by a man who isn’t the father.”
Courtney’s face simmered a dark red. Her eyes filled with anger and narrowed on Amelia. “I think it’s best for you to get the hell out of here.”
Amelia put her hands in front of her in defense and stood up. Courtney watched her as Amelia stood by the bed. Amelia leaned on the railing of the bed and said, “I suggest you should get the hell out of Fairshore and leave Zach and I alone.”
Courtney cackled and said, “In your dreams, Amelia. He isn’t going to want his baby to leave town without him,” she said as she watched Amelia turn around. “But you have no idea, do you?”
Amelia turned to face Courtney and said, “I have an idea that the baby isn’t his and we’re going to prove it.” Amelia pointed in the direction the nursery. “You aren’t fooling anyone. Zach wants nothing to do with you or that baby.”
Courtney laughed. “That’s because you’ve got him wrapped so tight around that finger of yours. If you didn’t, he’d come running back to me.”
Amelia shook her head. “I can guarantee that’ll never happen.”
Amelia and Bailey walked to the door and unlocked it.
Courtney mumbled behind them, “In your dreams.”
Amelia turned as she walked out of the room and said, “Oh, no, honey, I promise you it’ll be in your dreams.”
Chapter Eighteen
“What’d you think?” Amelia asked Bailey as they drove to Amelia’s house.
“I think it went pretty well,” Bailey said. “I’m just not sure she’ll take your advice and leave town.”
Amelia shrugged. “If she knew what was best for her, she would.”
Bailey leaned away from Amelia. “Is that attitude I hear?”
Amelia chuckled. “Maybe.”
Bailey laughed. “I have never seen you like that before.”
“That’s probably a good thing!” Amelia stated as she chuckled.
“I was hoping she would’ve just came out and said the baby isn’t Zach’s.”
“Yeah, I was hoping too, but now I know I shouldn’t have counted so much on it,” Amelia admitted.
“Well, the way the baby looks, I don’t think there’
s too much to worry about,” Bailey suggested.
Amelia shook her head. She had seen it too many times before. A baby hadn’t looked like the alleged father and then boom, the man was the father.
“What’re you thinking about?” Bailey questioned.
“Do you know how many times I’ve watched Maury?” Amelia asked.
Bailey threw her head back against the head rest and laughed.
Amelia raised an eyebrow and asked, “What’s so funny?”
Bailey had seen Amelia’s face get serious and had decided to explain her reaction. “You know that show’s all about the hype, right?”
Amelia shrugged. “Whether it is or isn’t, the fact is that babies don’t always have to look like their fathers.”
Bailey nodded. “Okay, you’ve got something there.”
“Do you think if the baby wasn’t Zach’s, she would’ve said so when we were in her room?”
Bailey shrugged and leaned against the door as she turned to face Amelia. “It’s hard to say in this kind of situation. I’ve never met someone as crazy as she is.”
“You’ve got that right. If only I knew of a way to find out before Zach went through all of this trouble with the DNA test,” Amelia said as she guided the car into her driveway.
Zach’s Grand Prix was in the driveway. She pulled her Taurus in behind it.
“I’m afraid Zach will have to follow through with the tests just to make sure,” Bailey stated.
Amelia nodded. She shifted the car into park and turned the car off. She looked at Bailey and said, “Promise you won’t tell Zach where we were?”
Bailey shook her head and chuckled. “Let me guess, you didn’t tell him where you were going, huh?”
Amelia shook her head and grabbed the keys out of the ignition. “Not exactly. I told him we were going shopping.”
She opened the door and got out before Bailey could protest. Bailey followed Amelia onto the front porch and sat on the porch swing. The weather had warmed up in the last week. Signs of the arrival of spring were prominent. She motioned for Amelia to go on inside without her. She knew Zach would ask questions, and she wasn’t sure she could hide the answer from him.
Instead, Zach opened the door and walked out onto the porch. “Hi, Bailey.”
“Hi, Zach,” Bailey said as she looked up at him. She could tell he was stressed. Lines creased his face. “How’s the business going?”
“Good. Both businesses are great, actually,” he said as he watched her. He looked at Amelia as she walked out onto the porch. “Did you have a fun time shopping?”
Amelia nodded. “Yes, we did.”
Zach looked from Bailey to Amelia and asked, “What’d you buy?”
Amelia felt her face flush and she had no idea how to answer his question.
Bailey came to the rescue as she said, “We were just out enjoying the day. We didn’t buy anything, except lunch.”
Amelia smiled at her and nodded. “Yep.”
Zach sat on the rail of the porch. Amelia sat next to Bailey on the swing. She watched as Zach thought about their lie. He rubbed a hand over the newly-grown stubble on his chin. “Let me get this straight,” he said. “Both of you are telling me that you went into town and didn’t buy one lousy item?”
Amelia swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes, that’s what we’re telling you.”
Zach grunted. “Tell me where you really went.”
Amelia glanced at Bailey and searched for an answer. Bailey shrugged, which told her she was on her own for this one.
Zach eyed Amelia. If looks could kill, I’d be a goner, Amelia thought as she quickly forced herself to come up with an explanation for his question.
Amelia had a feeling Zach already knew where she had been. His inquisitive stare told her he wanted to hear from her to be sure.
“Don’t be mad,” Amelia begged. “I just had an idea.”
His head tilted. “An idea? This is going to be interesting.”
Amelia raised a finger at him. “Don’t you dare start with me.”
Zach crossed his leg and crossed his arms in front of him. Amelia watched him as he stared at her intently. His eyebrows creased and he raised a hand. “I’m not starting anything. I’m waiting to hear about where you were.”
Amelia wiped the sweat from her forehead. She was put on the spot and she didn’t like it. “I shouldn’t have to explain where I was.”
Zach raised a brow. He said, “No, you shouldn’t have to.” He uncrossed his leg and leaned forward. “And you don’t have to. I’m just curious.”
Amelia smirked. She knew better than that. He had damn near demanded she tell him where she was. “Okay, if you’re so curious, you can figure it out.”
“There’s no time for games, Amelia,” he stated defensively.
Bailey smirked and held in a laugh. Amelia watched Zach as his face turned two shades of red.
Amelia put her hands up and said, “Okay, okay, I’ll tell you, but you have to promise you won’t be mad.” She smiled and said, “Because to be quite honest, the whole situation is out of control and hilarious at the same time.”
She held in a laugh as she watched his face twist with frustration.
“Amelia, what have you done?” he asked in a calm tone.
“She had it coming, you can’t deny that,” Amelia assured him.
She had seen the moment the light bulb clicked on in his head. She wanted to laugh, but restrained herself.
“Wait, you’re not saying that you…”
Amelia nodded.
The red in his cheeks burned deep red and he stood up as he shook his head. “Amelia, what were you thinking?”
“No! You’re not going to get mad at me, mister! This is your problem and I’m having some fun with it!” Amelia hollered at him as she shook a finger at him.
He stormed by her. The wind from his path blew her hair in her face. She turned and stormed inside the house after him. He turned and faced her. The frustration and anger had died and his face was expressionless. “Amelia, I just can’t believe you’d do such a thing. Honestly, what were you thinking?” He walked toward her and wrapped his arm around her. “You could have been seriously hurt. She’s crazy!”
Amelia leaned back. “Wait, you’re not mad at me?”
Zach shook his head. “I was a little at first, but now I just can’t believe you decided to take it upon yourself to confront her. Are you sure you were thinking properly?”
Amelia shrugged. “I just wanted to confront her. I was hoping she’d confess that the baby isn’t yours.”
“What’d she do when you went in there?” Zach asked as he paced the floor. Amelia could tell he was nervous. “How’d you even get into her room?”
Bailey walked into the living room and said, “I told the nurse we were Teresa and Brittany.”
Zach tossed his arms in the air and he burst into a loud guffaw. “I can’t believe this.” He was amused at this and Amelia was proud of herself. “Wait, I can. I can believe it.”
Amelia smiled. “It was easy getting into her room. The nurse hesitated to let us see her, but changed her mind.”
Zach sat on the arm of the couch. “Will you tell me what happened and what she said?”
Amelia and Bailey sat next to each other on the couch and explained to him everything that had happened and what was said word for word. They left out no detail. He listened, amazed at how they had pulled the whole thing off.
“You locked the door?!” He asked as he tossed his hand in the air. “How’d you get by with that?”
Amelia and Bailey shrugged. “I guess we just did.”
Zach shook his head. “I really can’t believe this. You girls are crazier than I ever imagined,” he stated as he glanced at each of them. “You’re probably a little crazier than Courtney is.”
Amelia shrugged. “Let her believe it. Maybe she’ll quit messing with us.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Courtney was released from the hos
pital today,” Bailey told Amelia.
The hospital kept mothers and their babies for three whole days after birth. Today marked day number three, the day Amelia had dreaded. She had no idea what was going to happen.
“Hopefully she skips town,” Amelia stated. “I have a feeling she isn’t going anywhere soon.”
“I have that feeling, too,” Bailey admitted.
Amelia grabbed the pile of mail from the table and looked through it. An envelope from the state, addressed to Zach, was at the bottom of the pile. “Look at this,” she said as she held the envelope so Bailey could see it. “I wonder if it’s results from the DNA test.”
Zach had taken the test at the hospital the night he had inquired about it. The nurse had called the state and questioned them about the DNA test. The state had sent a representative to obtain the swab from Zach’s mouth.
“If so, that was pretty quick. Didn’t the staff say it would take more than a couple weeks for results to come back?”
“They had mentioned that,” Amelia said as she put the envelope on the table and stared at it. She looked at Bailey and said, “Curiosity is killing me.”
“I’m sure Zach will open it and tell you what it says,” Bailey stated.
Amelia nodded. “You’re right. I’ll leave it for him,” she said as she walked to the front door. “I have to run to the grocery store. Want to ride with me?”
“Sure,” Bailey said as she followed Amelia out to her car. “Speaking of the store, why haven’t you worked there the last couple of days?”
Amelia shrugged. “With everything going on, I asked Zach if he was fine with having Courtney Drake and Tony work for a few days on their own. He’s fine with the idea.”
Bailey nodded. “That’s probably a good idea. It should help limit the stress, too.”
Amelia opened her driver side door and climbed into the seat. Bailey climbed into the passenger seat. “They know what they’re doing, so it helps to have them run it when I need a break.”
Amelia clicked her seatbelt and started the car. “I need to go there and grab some things for the house.”
“I might pick up a few things for my house, too,” Bailey stated. “The dogs are eating me out of the house.”
Unexpected Chances (Fairshore Series Book 2) Page 8