by Lea Hart
Chase let out a laugh and nodded. “Solid strategy and it sounds like a winning play.” Straightening up, he pulled out his keys. “I’m going to head out and grab that shower, so I can be here when Ronnie wakes up.”
“All right. Catch you later.”
Chase hit the button for the elevator and knew when he returned there was going to be good news because his girl wasn’t going to give up the fight.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
One week later
Chase walked into Ronnie’s room and smiled. “Hi, honey.”
Glancing over, she put her finger up. “I’m almost done, just need another minute.” Typing quickly, she completed a transaction for one of her clients and felt satisfaction course through her veins.
Just because she was in the hospital didn’t mean she couldn’t work, and when the confirmation came through, she let out a sigh. That would be a nice seven percent increase for Jack’s portfolio. She closed down the programs and shut off her computer, feeling Chase’s hand on her leg. Looking up, she winked. “You sure are handsome for an old football player.” Leaning forward, she pressed her mouth against his. “You smell good, too. Did you shower before you came over?”
“I did since you like me better when I’m clean.”
“That’s true,” she replied as she sat back. “How are things going at home?”
“Gerald is keeping everyone happy, and your parents seem content in their guest suite.”
“Daddy didn’t say anything to you about where you’re sleeping…right?”
“No. Don’t worry; he and I have an understanding.”
“An understanding about what?” Before he could answer, the door swung open, and one of her doctors walked in. “Hello, Dr. Jenkins,” Ronnie called out.
“Greetings, Ms. DuMond. How are you feeling today?”
“Much improved, thank you. The headaches seem to be getting better, and so do the aches and pains.”
“I have some information from the last tests we ran and wanted to give you an update.”
“All right, I hope you’re bringing me good news.” Seeing the doctor’s serious face gave her a moment’s worry. “I’m ready to hear it.”
Dr. Jenkins looked at Chase and waited. “Do you want the gentleman to hear the results from your test or should we ask him to leave for a few moments?”
Glancing over, she shrugged. “He can stay since he’s probably going to end up being my baby daddy.” Watching the doctor look down and not respond right away made her heart start to beat faster. This wasn’t going to be good news.
“About that, Ronnie…you might not be able to have children in the traditional fashion. You sustained a lot of damage to your internal organs when the car hit you. Most of it was repaired in surgery, but it appears that your reproductive organs might not heal in the way we’d hoped. It’s still early, so this is by no means my final diagnosis. But the initial tests are not encouraging.”
Chase wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, honey.” He looked up at the doctor, frowning. “That means that it’s still possible for her to have a full recovery, right?”
Giving Chase a sympathetic look, the doctor nodded. “We’ll do another round of tests in three months and see if the body can heal itself. Right now, it doesn’t make sense to perform another surgery, and we’re going to let nature do its job,” he replied as he patted Ronnie’s leg. “Families are made in all different ways, so please know you can still have one; it just might not happen in a conventional manner. I’ll be around for most of the morning, so if you have questions, have one of the nurses page me.”
Chase stood and shook the doctor’s hand and then turned back to Ronnie. “Honey, we can still have a family.”
Shaking her head, she said nothing as she started to cry, feeling Chase take her in his arms. Burying her face in his chest, she let out all of her anguish and knew she needed to let him go.
How could she be in a relationship with him if she couldn’t have babies?
Holding her tightly, he smoothed out her hair. “Let it out, honey,” he crooned in her ear. “This is not the end, so I don’t want you to give up. We can adopt kids, and there are lots of children who need a home, and we have a good one, so it shouldn’t be a problem. I’m going to love you through this, so know that you have me.”
Not able to form words, she closed her eyes and knew she wouldn’t hold him to any of it because she loved him too much to make him live with her limitations.
***
The door opened slowly, and Chase saw Ana peek her head in. Standing slowly, he let go of Ronnie’s hand and knew the sedative she’d been given an hour ago was a blessing. He kissed her head and then walked with Ana out of the room. Leaning against the wall, he let out a deep breath and looked into the sad eyes of one of her best friends.
“Give it to me straight, Chase. I’m a doctor, so there’s nothing you can say to me that I can’t understand.”
“Maybe I should let Ronnie tell you. I’m not sure if I should?”
“You tell me right now. If the situation were reversed, I’d want Jack to tell Ella and Ronnie. We have no secrets; tell me so I can be prepared when I see her.”
“If she gets mad at me, then I need you to repeat this conversation.” Standing away from the wall, he glanced around. “Let’s go grab a cup of coffee, and I’ll tell you what I know.”
Patting his arm, she gave him a look of sympathy. “You really do love her, don’t you?”
“Yeah. I love her, and this is something we’re going to get through together, one way or another.” He walked toward the elevator and felt the weight of the news fall against his shoulders. Straightening, he didn’t allow himself a moment’s sadness because they could have plenty of children. It just might not happen how they thought.
He pushed the button, and as they stepped in, he remembered when he’d gotten into an elevator with Ronnie at her office and arrogantly told her that he was going to put a baby in her. “After I tell you what’s going on, if you have any advice on how to help her through this, then I’d really appreciate it.”
Chase sat at a table in the corner of the cafeteria and sipped his coffee. “One of her doctors came by this morning and gave us some results from tests that they’d run yesterday. Ronnie had a lot of damage to her internal organs, and they repaired most of it when she had surgery. Unfortunately, the damage to her reproductive organs was substantial, and we may not be able to have a baby. The news was devastating for Ronnie, as you can well imagine. I told her we could adopt, and that there are lots of ways to have a family, but I don’t think she heard me.”
Ana covered his hand and squeezed. “This is going to be hard because she’s wanted babies for a couple of years now.”
“And we are going to have them, just not how she planned. I’m fine with it, as long as she’s okay.”
“I think the best approach is not to pretend like it’s not a big deal because this is huge for her. All we can do is hold her hand until she accepts the situation. I’ll call a friend of mine who does grief counseling and see what she says. This is going to be like a death for her, and she’s going to have to process it like one. My guess is that she’ll be in denial for a while, and when reality hits, it’s going to hit hard. So, get yourself ready.”
“All right. I can do that.”
“Think about it, Chase, because you can’t be in the middle of this thing and decide it’s too much. It would be better for you to get out sooner rather than later.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Not today, tomorrow, next year, or ten years after that. Get used to seeing my face because it will always be next to Ronnie’s.”
Nodding, she gave him a smile. “I had to say it, Chase.”
“I know, but it doesn’t mean I liked hearing it.” Standing, he looked around for the trash can and then threw in his cup. “I’m more than capable of handling this and will never give up.”
Pitching her cup into the can, she pat
ted his arm. “That’s all any of us can do. I just need to know that you’re going to stick, and if you can’t, then I’m not going to judge you.”
“Oh, yes, you would.”
Shrugging, she followed him out of the cafeteria. “You’re right. I would.”
“It’s nothing that you have to worry about. I’m going to keep her. Forever.”
“What more could a girl want?” Ana replied as they walked to the elevator. “We just need to know a man will take us as we are, even when we’re not sure of who we are.”
“I’ll have her any way she comes.”
“Good answer.”
“Only one I’ve got,” he replied. And he meant it, even if they had a showdown of epic proportions.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Ronnie sat on the couch with her mama and drank a cup of tea and hated that she’d been reduced to convalescing on the couch in her pajamas. The only thing that brightened her mood was that her hair was behaving. “Do you think I’ll be able to have children, Mama?”
“Baby, we won’t know for some time. The doctor told you that the damage might not be long term. A body is a miraculous thing, and it can heal itself in ways that modern medicine can’t explain. When you can travel, I need you to come down and visit Madame LeLeaux because I think that old traiteur may have something to help you. She’s worked miracles in the past, and we’ll see if she can manage one more.”
“You know we went to see her when Chase was visiting the farm. I started telling stories about growing up and my fascination with the Cajun culture, and he wanted to meet her. So, we drove out and took her some of Tally’s sauce, and she gave me a reading. I didn’t even ask for one. She just pulled me into the back room where she keeps her potions and made me sit.”
“Don’t keep me in suspense, baby. What did she say?”
“After holding my hand for some time, she announced that I was going to have a family with the man who had brought me. I haven’t told Chase a thing about what she said because I can’t encourage him unnecessarily.”
“The woman has never been wrong and has foreseen every single one of you kid’s births. Well, it’s done then.”
“You would think so, wouldn’t you? Maybe that’s why I didn’t go crazy when he stuck around after our trip and moved himself into this house. I didn’t even fuss when I found out he bought the house next door. But not being able to have babies changes everything. I can’t get married if I can’t have children. What would be the point?”
“That traiteur told you were going to have a family, and family happens in a lot of different ways. It’s nothing that you have to decide now, but remember, just because one door closes, doesn’t mean another won’t open. I raised you girls to be brave and face challenges, and this is the one God gave you.”
“Seems so,” she replied as she leaned her head against her mama’s shoulder and felt her sweep her hand over her face. It didn’t matter that she was twenty-seven and fully grown, she needed her mama to rub her head and tell her everything was going to be all right.
What if she never got the chance to have babies?
The thought made her sick because there was a part of her that wanted to be a mama more than she wanted a big business.
“These things have a way of working themselves out. And just to be sure, I’ll organize a novena when I get home. It never hurts to let God know what you’re thinking about and if old Father Merrick won’t do it, then I’ll get the traiteur to organize one for us. Who knows, maybe I’ll do both.”
“I can use all the help I can get. Tell him that I’ll raise the children Catholic if you think that will help. As modern as he pretends to be, he needs as many new members as he can get, and the only way to get them is if the current congregation procreates.”
Gerald walked in with sandwiches and fruit. Setting the large tray down, he studied both women. “What are the two of you planning?”
“A novena. We need to help Ronnie and make sure she can have babies. I’ll let you know when I get things organized at home, so you can carry it out here. You’re in charge, Gerald.”
“The only time that I’m not is when I go on vacation. And based on the shenanigans that went on during this last one, it is going to be a very long time before I take another one.” Giving them both a long stare, he shook his head. “No more of this nonsense. I can’t trust you when I’m gone, Ronnie.”
“It’s your fault because you left Chase here to keep an eye on me. Talk about letting the fox be in charge of the chickens. I did what I had to survive and still don’t know where my gun is.”
“And I’m not telling you. Lord, you go crazy with that man.” Placing sandwiches carefully on a plate, he handed one to Val and then prepared one for Ronnie. “Just imagine if you’d found it before he had a chance to show you what a good man he was. You might be wearing prison stripes and not your pajamas.”
“You have a point.”
“He only made you crazy because you couldn’t face your feelings about him. The same thing happened with your daddy,” Val replied. “Forty years and five children later, he still makes me crazy, but now only in the best ways.”
The back door opened and closed loudly, and she heard Chase and her daddy talking. “Here they come,” Ronnie said.
Gerald moved toward the kitchen. “I better go make more sandwiches, because I’m sure those two ought to be hungry by now.”
Walking into the living room, Chase smiled triumphantly. “The current owner let us in after your daddy charmed her.”
“I simply explained that we were only going to be in town for another day and this might be my only opportunity. I also told her how badly you were hurt and how happy it would make you to know that your daddy approved of the new house.” Sitting next to his wife, Mr. DuMond kissed Val’s cheek. “It’s a good house, and the kids are going to love running back and forth between the two.”
“What kids, Daddy?”
“The kids that you and Chase are going to have. I need some more grandchildren to spoil, so I hope you all get to work soon on making some before I die.”
“Oh, poo. You’re going to outlive us all. You’re just a mean old rascal, and God wants nothing to do with you yet,” Ronnie replied.
Val cleared her throat and shook her head. “Did you hear what happened to the man that hit our baby after he got out of the hospital?”
Mr. DuMond nodded. “I just got a call from a friend who’s a judge, and he told me the man was put into a nursing home. He had two substantial heart attacks, and that’s what caused his loss of control of the vehicle. He’s almost completely incapacitated, so his wife had put him in a home because she is too frail to take care of him. They’re both in their seventies, so the DA has decided to hold off moving the case forward. I think this was just a tragic accident and pressing charges isn’t going to change anything. You’re going to heal, baby, so I think we should tell them, as far as we’re concerned, the matter is closed.”
“I agree, Daddy. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“It’s all my fault, honey. If I hadn’t asked you to come and look at the hedges, then none of this ever would’ve happened,” Chase said as he sat and took Ronnie’s hand. “I’m sorrier than you will ever know.”
“Oh, Chase, you don’t need to be sorry. It was bad luck and nothing more.”
“I don’t know if I’m ever going to agree with you.”
“Well, you should try,” she responded. “If you want to make it up to me, then you can go and get me one of those chocolate cakes from the bakery. My body still hurts, and since I can’t drink yet, I need some chocolate.”
Kissing her lips gently, he nodded. “I’ll happily keep you in chocolate for the rest of your life.”
“Buy the biggest one they have because Ana and Ella are coming over tonight with the men, so they can visit with Mama and Daddy before they leave.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Hearing Gerald enter, he took the plates from him and
handed one to Mr. DuMond. “I better eat first because going into a bakery hungry would be a bad idea.”
Ronnie looked at her family and hoped that what the traiteur had said was true.
***
Gerald watched everyone enjoy the bar-b-que chicken, sweet corn, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, and fruit salad that he’d prepared. Not a word was being said because people were too busy enjoying the meal and it was just the way he liked it.
Sitting at the end of the table, he kept an eye on everyone as he ate. He’d made double what he normally did but wasn’t sure if it was going to be enough. He looked across the table and noticed that Ronnie only picked at her plate and that was where his real worry lay. She was keeping up a brave face for her parents, but he knew that underneath her too bright smile lay a well of sadness. Hearing his name, he looked up at Val.
“Gerald, this is delicious as usual. Thank you for feeding us for the last week.” Smiling, she blew a kiss. “I’ll give Essie an excellent report when we get home and let her know that you’ve remembered everything she taught you.”
“Having Aunt Essie pass on her secrets to me has been a godsend.” The conversation started around the table as people passed bowls and continued to eat and he hoped that after the house emptied out, Ronnie would begin to deal with the aftermath of her accident. Because the longer she kept it in, the harder it was going to be to let it out.
Ella squeezed Ronnie’s hand. “Do you want to go to Walmart tomorrow after your parents leave?”
“I think I may be ready. I’m getting cabin fever, so a little trip might do me good.”
Nodding, she smiled. “We’ll look at the new nail polish and get a Slurpee.”
“I think I’ll get a blueberry one because I like when my mouth turns blue.”
“I still like the bubblegum flavor. After I’m done with the brain freeze that always happens, I enjoy the sugar rush that seems to last for a week.”