I rub my hands down my face and feel sick at the memory of what Gwen thought she saw that morning at my house with Emily. It didn’t look good, but nothing happened, and Emily admitted to drugging my drink at O’Fallon’s the night before, but the worst part is, Flynn helped her. She put it all on the table. Drugging me, and plotting more with Flynn if that hadn’t worked. I was furious. I reported it all to the Chief, and he said I was to leave it with him to deal with what would happen. I don’t know what happened with Emily, but I do know Flynn was fired from the department and made to hand in his badge and firearm. There will also be criminal charges laid. I was upset about how it all went down, but when asked why Flynn’s response was that, he loved Emily and would do anything for her.
Bane enters the waiting area after seeing Matilda. “Liam!” I stand as soon as I see him. I hope that he will fill me in on what is going on.
“I spoke with Matilda. She’s given the okay for you to see Gwen and have you updated on her condition. She has asked before you go to see Gwen, you come to see her. She would like to speak with you alone.”
I stand quickly and thank him
Heading towards Ati’s room, I have a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach, but it’s not a bad one. It’s almost reassuring in a way. As I enter the room, I see Ati sitting on the bed pale from the loss of blood, but peaceful. Ben is at her side.
He looks to me, and then to Ati, “I’ll be right back!” He lowers his lips to Ati’s, leaving her with a gentle kiss.
I take the chair Ben was in, and sit down. “How are you feeling?”
“I’ve had better days!” she says with a halfhearted grin.
I nod my head not knowing what else to say.
“Liam, the doctors’ aren’t saying much, only that her condition is critical but stable. However; they are not sure of the extent of the damage to her brain, so they are going to be monitoring her closely.”
I look into Ati’s teary eyes letting her continue.
“There’s something else I think you need to know before you go in there.” She takes a deep breath.
“Liam, Gwen’s Pregnant!”
I hold my gaze to hers trying to comprehend what she is saying. As reality hits, tears once again start to pool at my bottom lids.
“Are you sure?” That’s all I can get out.
Matilda nods her head, “The doctors told me earlier and explained, that a fetal monitor was hooked up to her. From what they can see, the baby is okay. Liam, I wanted to be the one to tell you since she can’t; I didn’t think it would be fair to you to find out when you walked in there and saw all the wires hooked up to her.”
I stand up from the chair and begin to pace the room, ‘How far along?” I ask
“A few weeks. She’s still only in the first trimester, so it could be touch and go, but for now, the baby is holding on.”
“She never said anything,” I say under my breath more to myself, but Ati must have heard me.
“I don’t think she knew Liam.”
“I have to go see her Ati!” I say, not able to be away from Gwen any longer.
As I turn to leave, Ati stops me, “Liam?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you happy… you know about the baby?” She asks
I smile at her, “More than you could ever imagine!”
Ati Smiles and I leave to be with Gwen.
***
I am sitting by Gwen’s bed holding her hand in mine. All kinds of emotions are running through me; the anger of what happened, concern, and worry that she will be ok, and most of all love. Undeniable love for the woman in front of me, and now for our unborn child. Everything finally seems to so clear to me; this woman is my world.
I bring her hand to my lips, “Baby, I need you to wake up. You need to be all right so, we can start our lives together. Ati told me about the baby. Gwen, I can’t even explain in words how I am feeling. There is no way to explain the emotions I have bursting inside of me at the thought of a family with you. Baby, I need you to come through this, please!”
I hear someone at the door and look up to see my mother.
“She’s pregnant!”
It’s all I can get out before another stream of tears is falling down my face. My mother walks to my side and throws her arms around me.
“Oh, my love!” She holds me, letting me slowly come apart in her arms.
“Mom, I can’t lose them; I will die inside if I lose them.” My mother squeezes me even tighter.
***
I lift my head from Gwen’s bed and notice its now morning. I get up and stretch and look to Gwen, but still no change. I decide to grab a coffee and check in on Matilda.
“Good morning!” I enter the room, trying to sound somewhat optimistic.
She looks to my coffee, “Did you bring one of those for me?”
I let out a laugh, handing her my coffee, “I wasn’t sure if you would be awake.”
“Are you sure?” She asks innocently
“Yes, I’ll grab another on my way back down.”
I look around the room and notice there are flowers and a teddy bear on the table. I walk over and see they are from Ben.
“He brought them last night when he snuck past the night nurse.” She says with a giggle.
“That’s Benny for you! Is he coming back up today?”
She nods, “I told him he didn’t have to, but it was pointless to argue with him, that and I feel better with him here.”
I nod in understanding, “So you guys are?” Not sure how to finish the question I leave it open to interpretation.
“Friends and slowly seeing where we are at when I get finished school. Ben said that he wants to respect Gwen’s wishes and allow me to experience life, but he doesn’t want to give up spending time together as friends, and developing a relationship that way. I agreed with him, but I still don’t know what Gwen will say. I love Ben, and he loves me, we can’t stop loving one another because Gwen says it not a good idea, I hope she will understand and be OK with us working at this slowly.”
“I think you need to give Gwen a little more credit, Ati. She knows how you and Ben feel about each other and I don’t think she wants you to give up, only wait a while before you guys take it further. Ati I love my brother, and I can honestly say he is probably the best man for you, but I do agree with Gwen, in that, you two should wait.”
She nods. I stand and kiss her forehead, “I’m going back to Gwen. Do you need anything before I go?”
She shakes her head, “No, Ben brought up my tablet with some movies downloaded, so I’m good.”
“Ok, I’ll be up a little later.” I give her a quick wave goodbye and head back to Gwen.
***
It has been three weeks, and Gwen still has not woke up. Every day that passes I try not to feel discouraged but, it’s becoming harder and harder. The doctors only tell me to be patient, that she is healing and her body will let her know when it’s time to wake up.
They also let me hear the baby’s heartbeat and asked if I wanted to see an ultrasound, but I said no. I want the first time I see my baby, to be with Gwen. I think it’s something she would appreciate, I’m not sure about any of this really, but I know I want to make this pregnancy the best experience for her, and hopefully, it will help her to forget everything else.
I took a leave from work for a bit, the chief fully understood. I go home to shower and change then I come back up; I don’t want to miss a moment with Gwen. Ati was discharged from the hospital only a few days after the incident. She's to take it easy, and since there is no one at Gwen’s place, my mother insisted Ati come to stay at her house.
“Hey, Liam.” I look up to see Kai and Ewan
“Hey, guys! I wasn’t expecting you today.”
Everyone has been great and taking turns coming up and sitting with me. I don’t know how I could have got through it this far without them.
“We were in the area and thought we would bring you some dinner,” Ewan sa
ys.
“Really? You were in the area an hour from home?” I ask with a knowing look, only to receive timed shrugs.
“We miss you! Thirsty Thursdays at Jimmy’s isn’t the same without you there. Kai is a lousy wingman.” Ewan says, earning him a raised brow from Kai.
“You’re on your own from now on, little Brother,” Kai responds
I let out a soft laugh, “I miss you guys too. As soon as Gem and baby are home safe, we will all get together.”
“How is the baby? Kai asks
“They say he’s growing and vitals are good. I got to hear his heartbeat; it was the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.” I thought for sure it would be at that moment Gwen would wake up, but even though she didn’t, I want to believe she heard it.
“I wouldn’t doubt that,” says Ewan.
“He’…you say? You laying bet’s down on a boy?” Kai asks
Grinning from ear to ear, I respond. “Please, of course, it’s a boy. Adair’s only make boys.”
“What about Althea?” Ewan asks.
“Have you felt her right hook; she hits like a dude!” I say, not exaggerating one bit.
“She was a preemie, maybe she wasn’t fully cooked when she came out,” Kai adds earning a laugh from Ewan and myself.
“Don’t let her hear you say that.” We all turn quickly at the soft rasp of a voice, Gwen's awake.
“Gwen, baby!” I rush to her side and grab her hand. “Gem, hey!”
“I’ll get the nurse,” Kai says, running toward the nurses’ station.
“I’ll call Mom!” Adds Ewan, as he follows Kai out of the room.
Gwen looks up to meet my eyes, and I immediately see the worry in hers, “Ati? Liam where’s Ati.”
“She’s ok, Gem. Ati is at home with my parents. She lost a lot of blood, but she recovered quickly, so they released her a few days after.” I say, quickly seeing her body relax.
“How long have I been in here, Liam?” She starts to look around trying to take everything in.
“Gem, you’ve been here a little over four weeks!” I respond. I can see the concern come back to her face. I grip her hand securely in mine and lay a soft kiss to her knuckle.
“Is-is it true? Am I pregnant?” She asks in a whisper.
I say nothing at first. For the first time since hearing the news, this is the first time I am actually wondering about how Gwen will take the news. What if it’s not what she wants?
“Liam, please answer me!”
I nod, “Yes, You’re pregnant!”
She’s says nothing, only looking at me as tears fill her eyes.
“Gem, do you want a baby?” I ask, then holding my breath. God, please say yes!
She looks to me, “Liam, we still have a lot to work out.”
“I agree, and we will when you are home and stronger. There is so much I need to explain, so much to apologize for. Gem, I promise nothing in this world is more important to me than you. You are all I need in my life, and I plan to spend every day from here on showing you that. We’re going to parents, Gwen. When I found out, all I could think about was how I was going to prove to you that I would be the man you deserve, and the perfect father. Gem, I promise I will never disappoint or hurt you again.”
She looks into my eyes with what I know, is a loving gaze and smiles, “You are going to be the perfect father, I would never doubt that, Liam. This is definitely the last thing I ever expected, to answer your question, Yes, Liam, I want this baby, our baby. We’re going to be parents, and there is no other person I would want by my side.”
I lean over and lower my lips to Gwen’s, “I love you, Gem!”
“I love you too…Entirely!
Coming Soon from Tania De Melo
The Adair Series
Kai & Eugenia – Discerning Love
Liam & Gwen - Entirely Yours: A Romance Novel (The Adair Series Book 1) Page 22