“Drake, I’m fine,” she said smiling up at him. Damn, he couldn’t slip anything past her.
“I want to hug Auntie Karen,” Bella said. She tugged at the blanket covering Karen, who winced. Drake opened his mouth, but before he had a chance to say anything, Zoe swung her niece up in her arms and started tickling her.
“We need to be gentle with Auntie Karen, Lovebug. Her tummy is sore.”
“Can I kiss her?”
Zoe aimed Bella at Karen. “Kisses!” Bella shouted, then smacked Karen a wet one before Zoe pulled her back. “Mommy, I want a brother, like baby Andrew.”
Trenda, who was still holding onto her nephew, with her four other sisters crowded around her, looked up at her daughter. “You’ll have to make do with your cousin for the time being, Bella.” Drake noted the wistful look on his oldest sister’s face. Talk about a woman who should have a houseful of children.
“My turn,” Evie said holding out her hands. Trenda reluctantly gave up Andrew and transferred him to her sister. Evie then turned around and looked at Mason. “I think it’s time for you to hold your namesake.”
Mason’s eyes warmed as he took Andrew from Evie. God, the kid looked miniscule when he went from pint-sized Evie to warrior-sized Mason Gault. Mason’s wife Sophia leaned in, and both of them stared intently at Andrew. It was as if they were ensconced in a world of their own. Andrew got his fist free from his blue blanket and curled it around Mason’s pinkie. Drake watched as tears spilled down Sophia’s cheeks. She turned to him and Karen, and mouthed, “Thank you,” then turned back to the baby.
The door opened and in walked his fellow SEAL team members and their women. First came Clint and his fiancée Lydia, then Angie and Finn, and finally Dare and his wife Rylie. After receiving three chin tilts he watched as the women gathered with his sisters and the men went to the window to join Aiden and Zarek, it was as if there was a magical bubble that surrounded Mason, Sophia and Andrew for the moment. Drake knew that they had been struggling to have children, so this moment was even more precious. Dammit, they were meant to be parents. Even though Billy was part of their family, he stood aside, giving the couple their time, his expression empathetic.
“When can I play with my dozen?” Bella asked in a loud whisper. Everybody laughed, and Andrew let out a soft cry. The poignant moment was over.
“Cousin, Honey. Andrew is your cousin,” Trenda said, emphasizing the ‘C’.
“Can I hold my Zuzin?” she asked. Sophia and Mason turned and smiled at the little girl.
“If she sits in my lap, can we hold Andrew together?” Trenda asked Drake and Karen.
“Of course,” Karen answered.
At least ten cell phones were whipped out to take pictures. “Drake, take a picture,” Karen exclaimed.
“We’ll have forty-seven texted to us. We’re good. I like it where I am.” He stroked her beautiful auburn hair. There wasn’t a chance in hell he was going to leave her side unless he was dragged away. He listened as his four-year-old niece continued to butcher the word cousin. God, she was a doll. Too bad she lived in Tennessee, otherwise she could babysit Andrew one day.
The door opened again, and in walked an older version of Karen, flanked by Drake’s team mate, Jack Preston and his wife Beth. Wilma Eastman took in the scene, smiled at her grandson, and made a beeline to her daughter’s bed.
“You look flushed. Jack and Beth said there were complications.” She immediately glared at Drake, as if he were at fault.
“Mom, I’m fine,” Karen attempted to soothe.
“Drake, tell me everything. Karen’s just going to lie. Is my baby girl all right? What happened?”
Drake sure as shit wasn’t going to tell Karen’s mom everything. Especially with Karen trying to grind his knuckles together. He knew she would never forgive him. Plus, he agreed. What was the point in going over things that were in the past? Hell, the only reason to ever inform Karen that a mission went a little sideways is if he came home with a new scar. And even then, he downplayed the hell out of it.
“The doctor said she’s going to be fine, Wilma. But, because of all the bedrest she’s had, we’re going to wait on her hand and foot for a good long while until she’s recovered.”
Karen shifted to glare at him and then she let out an eep of pain. Both Wilma and Drake zeroed in on her. “Honey, don’t strain yourself,” Wilma soothed.
“Karen,” Drake gave a low warning whisper.
“Both of you stop. I’ll be out of here in four days.” Karen rolled her head toward her Mom, then back the other way so she had Drake in her sites. “I’m going to be up out of this bed walking the halls the day after tomorrow. I am not made out of spun glass.”
“Honey, I didn’t say you were spun glass-” he started.
“You are not waiting on me hand and foot. I want to take care of my baby. You’re not taking away one single moment of mine and Andrew’s time together; do you hear me?”
Wilma started chuckling, and the sound of female laughter filled the room. “You tell him, Sister,” Evie chimed in. “Are you listening, Aiden? None of this cotton wool shit is going to fly.”
“Auntie Evie, you said a bad word, you owe me money,” Bella said.
“Dammit.”
“Two dollars pease.” Bella grinned triumphantly. Male chuckles interspersed with the female giggles. Trenda made sure she had a steady hold on Andrew as Bella jumped out of the chair to hit up her aunt for cash.
“Welcome to the crazy.” Drake smiled at Wilma.
“I had four kids. I’ve been dying for grandchildren to add to the mayhem.” She kissed Karen’s forehead and stroked her cheek. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” Then she yawned. “But if I do fall asleep, there will be enough pictures to last a lifetime.” Drake noted all the phones that were out and poised to take more shots, and knew she was right.
Drake saw Wilma take her fourth glance over at Andrew, and Trenda must have seen her doing it too, because she brought him over. “Here, Grandma, someone needs a cuddle.”
Andrew let out a cry, and Wilma laughed. She immediately started to walk with him, rocking and cooing. Andrew settled. When Drake looked back at Karen he saw she was asleep, despite the fact there were over fifteen people in her room. Trenda and Mason were soon at his side.
“We’re going to gather the troops and head out,” Mason said.
“We’ll be back tomorrow.” Trenda smiled.
He watched as his sister and lieutenant herded everyone out of the room.
“Jack is going to drop me off at your apartment. I’m staying in Piper’s room, while she stays at Evie’s with the rest of your sisters.” She handed off Andrew and kissed Drake on his cheek. “I’ll have something warming in the oven when you get home.”
“I’m going to sleep in the chair tonight.” Drake nodded at the recliner in the corner.
“Are you sure?”
“Yep. I want to stay close. Thanks for coming, Wilma.”
“Are you going to tell me what happened?” she asked, looking him dead in the eye.
“Nope.”
She sighed. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Think about what I said during our last telephone conversation. It sure would be nice.”
“Wilma, you being Karen’s mom means I love you. Don’t doubt it. The word mom leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Now the name Wilma makes me smile.” Holding Andrew in one arm, he wrapped his other around her shoulder as he walked her to the door where Jack and Beth were waiting.
Chapter Three
“MOM, DRAKE’S DRIVING me insane. He needs to go back to base.”
Her mother laughed as she tossed the clean clothes on the bed and started to fold them. Karen carefully picked up Andrew in a sideways hold, so she didn’t abuse her tummy too much. Little Man wiggled and kicked her in the side with his foot. She caught his toe and tickled it. To her mind, her son could do no wrong, even if he did cause his Mama a little ext
ra pain.
“Sweetie, you need to relax. You’re trying to push things. That’s why Drake’s bothering you so much.”
“I have to push things. I’m getting married in five-and-a-half weeks.”
“All the more reason for Drake to be here so you can lean on him.”
Not for the wedding she wasn’t. She’d told him months ago that she had this under control, she wasn’t going to admit now that it had all blown up in her face. How could months of careful planning backfire so badly? First the caterer goes out of business, and then the band she’d hired breaks up. It was like she was cursed.
“Drake’s pitching in a lot Mom. He’s wonderful with Andrew, he’s up at all hours, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
“Then what are you stewing about?” her mom asked as she efficiently folded clothes and started to put them away in the dresser.
“Nothing.”
“I call bullshit.”
Karen grinned at her mother, but before she was forced to answer, her cell phone rang. Saved by the bell. It was one of the caterers on Catalina Island she had reached out to. The one she had originally arranged to cater the wedding had gone out of business. She was frantically trying to find one who could fit her in, and wouldn’t cost too much since she had lost a deposit. Thank God Sophia was arranging for all the desserts. Could she just serve dessert for the wedding?
As soon as she got off the phone she saw her mother’s expression and went to give her a hug.
“Your dad is just heartbroken about this. So am I for that matter.”
“Oh my God, Mom, you need to stop. Drake and I were never going to allow you to pay for the wedding even if you tried to. It was our decision to do this. We’re doing it on a budget because we’re saving for a townhome near Clint and Lydia. Between selling my home in Tennessee and Drake’s savings we have down payment, enough for savings and a wedding. It’s just we want to start a college fund for Andrew, so we’re keeping to a budget.”
“Don’t kid a kidder. This is California, I’ve looked up the home prices out here.”
“That’s why we’re getting a townhome.”
“And a wedding?”
“We’re getting a deal on the venue. One of Drake’s buddies from another SEAL team has an old girlfriend who got us an outrageously low price, that’s why we could afford to have it on Catalina Island.” Karen had to pause. Every time she thought about the view they had she wanted to cry. It was going to be gorgeous. The wedding was going to take place on the secluded side of the island called Two Harbors. There was a lodge that they had rented out for the entire wedding party and some of the guests. They were getting married in a meadow, and the reception was going to take place next to some Live Oak trees that butted up to a cliff overlooking the ocean. It couldn’t get any prettier.
“Still, we always wanted to give you the wedding of your dreams.”
“Mom, you needed the money for medical bills. You and Dad need to stop obsessing. I’m just grateful you didn’t lose the house. What’s more, I am getting the wedding of my dreams.”
“What did this new caterer say?” her mother asked, changing the subject.
Karen let out a dejected sigh. “They can’t do it on such short notice. But they were nice enough to send out an SOS to some of the other people on the island that they thought might be able to help. She warned me that at least two of the outfits that she contacted were really new though, and she couldn’t give a first-hand recommendation.”
“That was nice of her to be so up front.”
“Mom, I don’t know what I’m going to do if this doesn’t work.” Karen’s stomach churned and she actually felt like crying. Damned hormones. Then she heard the front door of the apartment open. She needed to get it together before Drake saw her so upset. The last thing she needed was him coddling her even more.
“I’m going to go help him put away the groceries. I don’t want you to worry, it will all work out, Sweetheart.” As soon as her mother left the room, Andrew let his presence be known by letting out a wail.
“I’m sorry, Baby Boy, was Mommy not paying attention to you?” Karen placed Andrew into his infant seat, so he could sit up a little bit. She swore that even at one and a half weeks he liked to look around. According to the baby books that wasn’t true, but his head turned in her direction when she moved around the room.
She knelt down and stared at him. His hair had already started to get thicker.
“When is Mommy going to have to get you a haircut? Huh?” He huffed out a sigh. “What, no haircut? Okay. I can cope with that.” She touched the silky black strands. Andrew’s arms waved and knocked into her. “You’re a strong little boy, aren’t you?”
Andrew blew a bubble and looked at her. She placed a kiss against his warm cheek. Just being around him settled her. To hell with the caterers. But then her cell phone rang, and it was one of the newly suggested caterers who said they couldn’t do the job, and her stomach began to churn again.
Andrew started crying. She looked at the clock on the dresser and realized it was time for his lunch.
“Honey, you okay?” Drake carefully pulled her into his arms from behind. His warmth and gentleness brought tears to her eyes. She blinked them back. For God’s sake, when would she stop being so emotional?
“Karen?” Drake turned her around, so he could look at her.
“Andrew,” she protested, her hand waving at their crying son.
“He can wait. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing. You’re being too nice.” She smashed her face into his chest and breathed in his scent. It soothed her. He soothed her.
“Being nice to you is my job.”
“Drake, you’re in the Navy. That’s your job. You’ve been babysitting me for months.” His hand stopped mid-stroke, then he resumed.
“I’m still in the Navy. I’m on family leave. It has us covered.”
She felt the hesitation.
“How many missions have you missed?”
“I don’t know.”
“Liar.”
“I’ve been exactly where I needed to be.” Andrew cried louder, and Karen pulled out of Drake’s arms.
“Bubba needs his feeding,” Karen said, not looking up at Drake.
“I vote against that nickname for my boy.”
“Okay, Love.” Karen thought about Drake’s villainous family tree back in Tennessee, she didn’t know of a specific Bubba, but maybe there was one. She bent wrong to pick up Andrew. She thought she hid her wince, but Drake caught it. He picked up the infant seat from the bed and put it on the floor, then he swooped her in his arms and had her on the bed and resting against the pillows before she could say a word of protest.
“I thought we agreed your mom and I would do all the heavy lifting.”
“Well you’re sure doing that,” Karen muttered.
Drake’s head shot up as he picked up a crying Andrew. “Are you picking on my woman’s luscious curves?”
Karen looked down at her flabby belly. Luscious her fat ass.
“Karen, look at me.”
Karen continued to stare down at her abdomen.
“Honey, how many hours of sleep are you getting each day? Are you napping like you should?” She thought about how often the phone rang. “Answer me.”
“You’re here, you know I lie down.”
“Yes, but you’re not sleeping, are you?” He went over to the nightstand and pulled the two bottles of medicine that the doctor had prescribed. One was an over-the-counter pain reliever the other was something stronger. He opened them both up. “Dammit woman, you’re not even taking your medicine according to the recommended dosage.”
“I want to stay alert for Andrew.” And figure out the wedding stuff.
“I’m here, you rest, I’ll be alert for Andrew, problem solved.”
She bit her lip, because that really didn’t solve the wedding issue. She really did need her wits about her.
Drake’s eyes got wide,
then they narrowed. “You’re now on lockdown.”
“What?”
“You need your sleep. Your mother and I are here to take care of Andrew. You need to take care of yourself so that you’re not in pain, so you can recover faster. Choosing not to take your medicine is not helping. You can’t sleep because you’re in pain, right?”
“For God’s sake Drake, women have babies every second of every day. This is not a big deal. Hell, most of them do it without going to the hospital. I certainly don’t need a pill because I have an owie.”
He glared at her. “Most women aren’t on mandatory bedrest for damn near five months before they give birth because their health is in danger. Most women don’t almost die from giving birth. Most women aren’t my woman. You will take care of yourself, do you hear me?”
She swallowed. He looked fierce, but beneath that she could see that he was actually the one in pain.
“I hear you,” she said quietly.
He tossed the pill bottles back in the drawer, and cradled Andrew over his shoulder. Then he rested one knee on the bed and stroked a finger down the side of her jaw. “Look at me, Honey. You’re hurting right now, aren’t you?”
Damn the man was smart. He played at being a goof, but he was smart as hell. Karen nodded. He left the room, jostling their son so he hiccupped instead of wailed. He was good with their boy too. Drake came back with a glass of water. “You’re going to take a pill, then feed Andrew, then I’m going to hold you while you go to sleep, does that sound good?”
It sounded wonderful too bad it didn’t work. She fell asleep, but only for a moment and when she woke, Drake’s breathing was soft and even. That’s what always happened, she’d sleep for twenty minutes then wake up with her mind racing. She’d had a whole different idea of what it would be like after she’d given birth. She’d be up and around and not depending on anyone, least of all Drake. After five months of him waiting on her hand and foot because of the bedrest, she’d been bound and determined to stand on her own two feet. Drake had spent all of his damned life taking care of others. What was even more horrific was that his parents had beaten him down. Not once had someone taken care of him. She had promised herself that she would be that person for him, and she was failing. Not just because of the wedding, but because he felt the need to stay home from missions. She knew her man, she knew it was killing him. Some how, some way, she had to convince him that she was okay on her own. That she could handle things. She needed to man up. She didn’t want to be one more weight that Drake had to carry.
Her Treasured SEAL Page 3