Snowfall and Secrets (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 1)

by Kimberly Loth

  She successfully avoided her mother’s calls and probing questions. All in all, life was good. Tess knew that would be shattered the moment she spilled the beans, but she was withholding that information for as long as possible. She didn’t remember the last time she was this happy, if she ever had been.

  It was Friday and the kids were insane. She didn’t blame them. She was ready to start her weekend too. By lunch she was exhausted and missing Lukas; spending so much time with him had spoiled her.

  “Tess.” Sara Chambers stopped Tess before she could slip into the teacher’s lounge. She wanted to hurry and be back in her room before Chris Whitters showed his face.

  “Hey, Sara. Your students crazy this morning?”

  “Oh yeah.” She laughed. “I was wondering if you’d like to come have dinner at my place. It’s spaghetti night. Something everyone should experience.”

  Tess smiled.

  “With your family?”

  “Of course. My spaghetti sauce is famous on the island, and my boys can show you a good time.”

  She had learned about Sara’s three sons and her husband. Gavin was one of the guys working the snowplows during the blizzard.

  “Well…” Tess hesitated. Sara had been talking about having her over, but Tess didn’t want to exclude Lukas. “Would you mind if I bring Lukas with me?”

  “Of course. Have him bring the dog. The boys love her.”

  Tess had tried to keep her relationship a secret, but then not everything about her should be a secret. Lukas was a good thing, and she wanted to tell everyone. Besides, once she and Estelle beat Marie in canasta, Estelle adored Tess. Their secret wasn’t a secret for long. Sara knew by the end of the second day back at school.

  The teacher’s lounge door swung open, and Chris stood in the doorway. Tess groaned. She’d been doing so well at avoiding him.

  “So, you and Lukas, huh?” He shrugged. “I didn’t realize you needed a bodyguard.”

  He slid around Tess, careful not to touch her.

  “Bodyguard?” Tess asked.

  “Whitters, what are you talking about?” Sara glared. She looked ready to do battle on Lukas’s behalf. Or maybe it was for Tess’s benefit.

  “You must be one of those girls who likes having a henchman.” Chris slithered off down the hall like he couldn’t get away fast enough.

  Tess was speechless. What on earth?

  “Chris?” Sara grinned. “Was it Lukas that gave you a black eye?”

  He didn’t answer, but that didn’t matter to Sara. She laughed and clapped her hands together.

  “If ever someone had it coming,” she said to Tess, who was stunned.

  Lukas had punched Whitters. Why?

  “Let me check with Lukas about tonight,” she told Sara.

  “Sure. Just make sure you let me know.”

  Sara was still grinning as Tess hurried to her classroom for her phone. Lukas answered on the third ring.

  “Hey you,” he said.

  “I just heard one of those rumors,” she blurted.

  There was a pause on the other end before he said, “Well, I guess I’m not surprised. What was said?”

  “That you knocked out Chris Whitters.”

  More silence.

  “Well?” she finally asked.

  “Yeah,” he sighed. “I did. I wasn’t planning on it, but it happened.”

  “Lukas.” She tried to sound mad. It was rather childish of him to go around whacking people, but Chris Whitters was one who certainly had it coming. Sara was right about that.

  “He was talking about you. I didn’t hit him hard,” he said. “That hard.”

  “Lukas,” she said again. “How did you know he touched me? I mean, it’s nothing I couldn’t handle. Guys on the beach can be grabby.”

  “He put his hands on you!” Lukas exploded. “This was after that first day, wasn’t it? I knew it was him that upset you.”

  “He only put his hand on my knee, and if you didn’t know about it, then why did you hit him?” she demanded, confused.

  “He wouldn’t shut his damn mouth, and if I’d known he touched you, I’d have kicked him once I had him down.”

  It was Tess’s turn to sigh. She glanced at the clock. Only ten minutes before the kids were back from lunch. “The Chambers asked us to dinner tonight,” she said.

  “What?”

  “I don’t want to argue about Whitters. Would you like to go to dinner at Sara and Gavin’s?”

  “We aren’t arguing. I’d do it again. Still migh,t and sure, we can go over there.”

  Tess laughed. The conversation moved at warp speed.

  “She said to bring Dio.”

  “Yeah, most would rather see her than me. We’ll pick you up after school.”

  “Lukas…” she warned. He’d better not be thinking of coming to the school and causing trouble. Doc would have a stroke.

  “It makes no sense to come back here and then go back to that side of town,” he growled.

  “And you’ll behave?”

  “Trust me, Whitters is hiding from me.”

  Something he sounded awfully proud of.

  Lukas texted Tess to let her know he was outside. He deliberately waited long enough that most of the kids would be gone. Dio would have loved to play, but she’d have time tonight with the Chambers’ three boys.

  Tess walked out with Doc. She waved when she saw him. Doc, however, gave him a look. Great, a lecture from his best friend’s dad. Those were always fun.

  Dio whined. She wanted to get out of her basket and run to Tess.

  “Stay,” he said. “She’ll be right here.”

  Why the hell did she have to look so good? She wore a green wool dress with tights and boots. Her coat wasn’t long enough to hide her legs. Even in those tights, he could see the curve of her calf, and remembered how his hand felt gliding along her skin.

  He frowned.

  “I know you don’t like my dress.” She kissed him on the cheek and scratched Dio behind the ears.

  “Why do you say that?” he asked.

  “You were wearing the same frown when I put it on this morning.” She wrapped her scarf tight and climbed on behind him.

  He relaxed as her arms slid around his waist. He hadn’t realized how tense he’d been. The whole Whitters thing must not have bothered her too badly.

  “You two have fun,” Doc called.

  “We’re going to dinner at Sara’s,” said Tess excitedly.

  Doc raised an eyebrow at Lukas. He shrugged and started the sled.

  Gavin and Sara’s was a nuthouse. Three boys—ten, six, and two, dominated the household. Lukas’s throat constricted the second they walked in the house. Thankfully Dio bounded in, and the wrestling began. They’d all wear each other out.

  “Come on in.” Gavin clapped Lukas on the back. “It’s been forever, man.”

  “Yeah, it has.” Lukas shook his hand and hurried into the kitchen away from the kids.

  “Don’t play too rough, boys.” Gavin followed him in.

  “Smells great, Sara.” Lukas kissed her cheek. She blushed and swatted at his chest.

  Lukas parked himself in at the table, pretty impressed with himself for the moment. His plan to avoid the boys worked. So far. Dinner might be a different story.

  His plan crumbled though when Tess came into the kitchen. Not all the boys wanted to play with Dio. Carson, the toddler, was settled on Tess’s hip, and Lukas felt sick. She looked so natural holding the little guy. How could he keep that from her?

  “He looks enamored.” Sara kissed her son on the head.

  “My boy has good taste, huh?” Gavin winked at Lukas, but he could only give a tight smile in return.

  “It smells wonderful in here.” Tess snuggled Carson.

  “The sauce has been simmering all day.” Sara beamed. She was known for her spaghetti, even made her own pasta.

  Lukas had to get out of there.

  “Hey, how’s the plow holding up?” he
asked Gavin, knowing full well that he’d want to show it off.

  “You want to see these new spiked tires I got?” Lukas nodded, and Gavin pushed back from the table and grabbed his coat from the hook beside the back door. “Be outside, honey.”

  Once out by the garage, Lukas started working on how to stay out there. He shouldn’t have worried though. Gavin wanted to demonstrate every new knob and button on the plow.

  It was growing dark when Dylan, the oldest, came running out.

  “Time for dinner?” Gavin asked without looking up from the new radiator he put in.

  “No, but Mom says you have to come in. Miss Tess is sick.”

  Lukas pushed past Dylan and ran to the house. He heard Dio whining before he got there.

  “What’s wrong?” he demanded as he flung the door open.

  Tess was sitting at the table, as pale as the snow. Dio pranced beside her. Tess reached out to pet her, but her arm fell limply to her side. Lukas stopped breathing. He was on his knees in front of her before Sara could get Carson handed off to Gavin.

  “I just got a bit light-headed,” Tess mumbled. Her eyes closed, and her head dropped.

  “We were talking, and she sort of wilted. Thank goodness she was already sitting down.” Sara pressed a washcloth to the back of Tess’s neck.

  “Tess, baby, talk to me.” Lukas took her hands. They were ice cold. He cupped her cheek.

  “I skipped lunch,” she said but didn’t open her eyes.

  “Are you hypoglycemic?” asked Sara. “I’ll call Marie and tell her that you and Gavin are bringing Tess to her. The plow has heat, and Dio can stay here for a while.”

  Lukas gathered Tess up. He didn’t argue. There was no way he could get her over to Marie on the snowmobile. Dio was going to pitch a fit though.

  Gavin started the plow while Sara called Marie. Dylan brought Lukas Tess’s coat. He bundled her up the best he could.

  Dio barked and clawed at the door as it shut behind Lukas. He’d come back for her as soon as he could, even though he hated leaving her like that. She’d be a nervous wreck. But Tess had to get to Marie.

  Tess felt something cold on her stomach, and her eyes flew open.

  “Well, it’s about time.” Marie stood over her with some sort of handheld machine.

  “What happened?” Tess glanced around her. She was in a room she didn’t recognize, in a bed she didn’t know, and wearing only a flowered nightgown, which was pulled over her stomach. There was a blanket from her hips down that kept her decent.

  “You passed out.” Marie frowned. “I heard you said you didn’t eat lunch, but that can’t be right. You know better. Tell me you know better.”

  She’d been so caught up with Lukas hitting Whitters that she never got around to eating something.

  “I did forget.”

  “Over three months pregnant, and you forget to eat?” Marie shook her head.

  “What’s that?” Tess nodded at the machine in Marie’s hand.

  “We’re going to listen for the heartbeat.”

  The door flung open. Tess squealed, and Marie threw herself in front of Tess.

  “Excuse us,” she shouted.

  “I’m a woman too.” It was Estelle.

  “That doesn’t mean you belong in here. Now scoot.” Marie sounded like a drill sergeant.

  Estelle didn’t listen. She stepped around Marie and took in Tess, lying on the bed with the jelly on her stomach.

  “Estelle,” Marie warned.

  “Pregnant. Is it his?”

  Tess swallowed hard. She remembered what Marie said. Estelle would either be her advocate or her enemy.

  “That’s it.” Marie grabbed Estelle by the arm. She looked fully prepared to drag her out of the room.

  “Wait.” Tess sucked in a deep breath and took a leap of faith. “I was pregnant when I came to the island.”

  Estelle whistled.

  “Well, let’s hear it,” Tess said with a raised eyebrow and looked at Marie’s hand on her arm.

  “Are you sure?” Marie asked.

  “Positive.”

  It was all about to come out. Lukas would want answers about why she passed out, and whether they came from her or Estelle, it was time. She hoped Estelle would allow her to be the one to tell him though.

  Marie found the heartbeat quickly.

  “It’s strong,” she said. The flub-flub of her baby’s heart drew tears to Tess’s eyes. Estelle handed her a tissue. As Tess listened to the sound, she realized it didn’t matter how the little one got there. Whether she made a terrible mistake, or if she’d been drugged, all she knew in that moment was that baby was part of her, and she wasn’t going to part with it.

  Marie wiped the goo from Tess’s stomach and covered her all the way with the blanket.

  “I’m going to go get you something to eat. Never again go all day without something.” She glared but patted Tess’s knee and added, “Mom.”

  Left alone with Estelle, Tess took another deep breath. Estelle perched on the edge of the bed. They sat together for what seemed like forever but couldn’t have been that long.

  “He’s freaking out.” Estelle broke the ice first. “When he called, he was terrified. I’ve only heard him that scared one other time.”

  Tess sighed, putting all of her fear and guilt into one long shuddering breath.

  “Will you let me tell him?” Tess asked.

  “Oh, I’m not telling him.” Estelle cracked with laughter. It was bittersweet though. Tess could tell she was worried about his reaction. “That boy is crazy about you, more than anyone before. You’ll have to fight through his fear. I’ll help.”

  Estelle took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

  “I’ve been on him to find someone he could start a new family with and look, you come ready made.”

  Tess laughed, but a tear slid down her cheek anyway.

  A hand pounded at the door. It could only have been Lukas, the door almost cracked he hit it so hard.

  “I made him go get the dog. Thought that would give us more time. Idiot drives too fast.” Estelle wiped Tess’s cheek.

  “Tess! Estelle!” he shouted.

  “Yeah, yeah.” Estelle got up to open the door, but Lukas didn’t wait. He threw the door open.

  “Well, come on in,” she said. He glared and sidestepped her. He raced to Tess’s side and pulled her tight against him.

  “You scared me half to death,” he said into her hair.

  Over his shoulder, Tess saw Estelle shake her head and slip out.

  Marie wanted Tess to stay the night, but Lukas refused. He wanted to take her home. If she was truly fine, it shouldn’t be an issue.

  “One night, Lukas,” Marie argued.

  Tess was dressed and sat on the edge of the bed with Dio’s head in her lap.

  “You can call and check on her in the morning. I’ll even bring her by.” Lukas didn’t want to take his eyes off her. Marie probably wouldn’t care if he stayed too, but Tess could rest more comfortably at home.

  “I’ll be fine, Marie.” She was quiet. More than he’d ever known her to be. That worried him, but Marie assured him she was fine. So she just needed familiar surroundings and him. Maybe Dio too.

  Marie threw her hands up.

  “Fine, but call me first thing in the morning. And yes, I want to lay eyes on you tomorrow.”

  “Yes ma’am,” Lukas answered for her.

  He bundled her up tight.

  “Lukas, I can button my own coat.” She grinned. That was probably for the best. His hands were shaking. He couldn’t put into words the fear that sliced through him when her head lolled back, and she lost consciousness.

  Tess seemed steady enough on her feet.

  “I’ve never been upstairs,” she said. “It’s a lovely home.”

  Lukas rolled his eyes.

  “Thank you.” Marie smiled, but the look she gave Lukas promised hell if anything happened overnight.

  “Take good care of her, Luk
as.” Doc walked outside with them.

  “I will.”

  “And if you need anything, call.”

  Lukas put her on the sled in front of him. He didn’t want to risk her passing out and falling off.

  “And for heaven’s sake, slow down,” Estelle called from inside the house.

  “Crabby old woman,” Lukas grumbled and earned a swat on the arm from Tess. “You shouldn’t like her so much. She’ll be in all our business.”

  “You called her,” she said.

  Dio hopped in the basket, and Lukas took off. He didn’t slow down. In fact, he pushed it more than he normally would with Dio in the basket.

  At home, Lukas swooped her into his arms the second she took her coat off.

  “Hey,” she squealed.

  “I’m going to put you to bed. Do you need some tea or anything?” Lukas took the stairs two at a time.

  “Lukas.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m not fragile. I got light-headed.”

  “You passed out.”

  “It happens.”

  “I’ve never seen it happen.” He kicked open the bedroom door and laid her on the bed. He felt instantly better, in control of the situation. She was where she needed to be.

  “Now, do you need to eat? Marie said all of this was because you went all day without anything.”

  “Marie made me eat two bowls of stew. I couldn’t eat another bite.” She pulled her boots off.

  “Then what do you need?”

  “A hot shower.”

  “Ok,” he said. He should have been more specific. He needed to be doing something. “What can I do for you?”

  She stood and draped her arms over his shoulders.

  “Join me.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.

  “Tess,” he groaned against her lips. “Probably not the time.”

  “Then why’d we come home?” She pulled out of his arms and made for the bathroom. She unzipped her dress and stopped long enough for it to fall from her body.

  His breath caught, and he was helpless to do anything but follow her.

  Saturday morning she woke up slowly. When her eyelids fluttered, she saw Lukas staring at her.

  She smiled. “Morning.”

  He ran his finger along her jaw. “Morning gorgeous. You know I could die a happy man as long as I get to wake up to your beautiful face every day.”