by RJ Heaton
Nineteen
Five weeks seemed like forever to have to wait for the paternity test to be done, but I am thankful it will all be over soon. The blood is drawn and sent to the lab now all we have to do is wait a little bit longer. I am thankful the business has kept my mind busy and the grand opening is in one week. Renovations have been interesting to say the least, but finally behind us. I don’t think I have worked this much in my life. To ease the tension Ramp has a Motocross race today and me and my family is all attending.
“So what does one wear to a Gala?” Heather asks as we take our seats in the stands close to pit row. It was like pulling tooth and nail to talk Ramp into letting me sit a small distance from the pit. I search him out as I ponder Heather’s question.
“Think fancy. Let’s say, black tie affair type of thing.”
“Ooh, this is exciting there is never a real reason for me to get dressed up. Have you got your dress yet?”
“I wish. I have no clue what I should wear.”
“Shopping trip!” Carrie pipes in.
“We better get it done quickly the Gala is next week.” We are having the event the evening before the clinic doors will open officially for business. Ethan’s mom has done an amazing job getting everything planned and set up for the grand opening event. I really have been blessed with how much help Ethan and I are receiving. I will be eternally grateful.
The announcer’s loud voice booms over speakers gathering our attention. My eyes immediately search for the one man that has stolen all of my interest. I smile when I see him sitting tall and ready on his dirt bike. The race begins and I trace his every bump, turn and jump. He circles around the track multiple times. There is only one competitor ahead of him he inches closer and is about to pass him, but the other guy shoots forward enlarging the gap once again. Shad speeds up he is right on his tail. He makes his move. His two wheeled beast is neck and neck with the other biker. They hit a large jump and both machines fly weightlessly in the air like a duet dancing in the air in synchronization. Their wheels come down and hit hard on the dirt. It all happens so fast, yet time seems to stand still. One moment the bikes are flying through the air and then in the next … The dust floats like a thick cloud blocking any and all view of the dirt track where the man I am coming to adore is lying somewhere beneath it all.
Not Again …
Not him …
I’m not losing another person that has drilled himself so deep into my heart and set anchors nothing could rip him out.
“Shad, Shad!” I rasp hysterically. A crowd of people pour onto the track and surround him, but I’m not going to stand idly by and wait for someone to tell the crowd what’s going on. I push forward causing one guy to stumble and growl ‘hey lady’ but I don’t look back. My only thoughts are to get to Shad. I need to know if, if … I can’t think it. Not him is all my mind can keep repeating. I am wishing now that I had stayed near the pit. I feel like I am miles away and moving no where real fast. I push my legs forward, but they aren’t getting me any closer.
Aaron sees me and pulls me through the wall of bodies. My eyes search for any sign of Shad.
A boot lying prone on the ground has me gasping for air. My life with Shad was just beginning. A soft hand on my shoulder makes me realize I’m screaming, “NO!” I edge forward and look down at his lifeless body. His arm is bent at an odd angle under his back. With Shad’s riding gear on I can’t tell if he is bleeding anywhere else until they remove his helmet very carefully. His left eye socket is caved in and his eye hangs haphazard against his cheek. I’m unable to keep the bile down. I heave at my feet.
“He’s still alive,” someone says. Those are the only words I am able to cling to.
An ambulance crew comes onto the track, but I am in full blown hysterics making it hard to comprehend what they are doing to him. Aaron keeps whispering to me that everything will be alright, but it doesn’t feel that way. I can’t do this without Shad. If I lose him, I’ll lose myself. I watch as they lift the stretcher and carry it to the back of the ambulance. My feet move on their own accord following behind them. There is no way that they are leaving without me. “This is his girlfriend. We’re coming with.” The ambulance driver nods his head at Aaron and I, and we both clamber on as the gasping and hushed whispers disappear as the ambulance door closes.
“Miss, he will be okay.” I am still having a hard time believing anyone telling me that. Shad hasn’t even tried to budge. He is clearly knocked out cold.
***
The last two days I have been a wreck. Today I finally went home to get a shower after Shad told me he would be okay if I left for a little while. The doctors worked quickly to repair his eye socket. Luckily, there was no major life threatening injuries sustained. He broke his eye socket, his cheek bone, his arm and his clavicle. The doctors keep emphasizing how lucky he is and how much worse the accident could’ve been. Secretly I think it’s their way of telling him he shouldn’t get back on to one of those two wheeled death traps, but I know Shad, there is no way he would give it up. And I wouldn’t want to change him or take anything that he loves away from him.
“Are you ready to go back to the hospital?” I nod my head yes at Heather. I shouldn’t be nervous about seeing Shad, but when I came home I noticed the letter I received in the mail.
“I’m ready.”
My heart feels like it’s about to jump out of my rib cage. I sit on the edge of his bed.
The sealed envelope singes my skin like it itself is the gate to hell, but it holds all the answers. Either way in my heart I know I’d never be able to abort this baby, but the complex DNA strand marking who the father is can change the outcome of mine and this unborn child I carry in my womb’s entire life. If it’s Ethan’s child I carry, Shad could resent me and walk away without ever a second glance back. Now that I have him, I never want to let him go.
“Nikki,” his voice is serene and comforting. My eyes look up and melt into the rich chocolate abyss of his. I wish I could look into both of them, but he will have a patch over the injured eye for awhile. Right now, it is covered with white gauzy bandages, however, the one eye tells me he’ll stand beside me no matter what, but I can still sense the turmoil as his dark pupil retracts. “No matter what it says … we face this together. I’m not going anywhere.” He gently places his hands over mine where I worry the edge of the white envelope. He nods down to it. I shouldn’t be doing this to him here of all places. He needs his rest and the stress can’t be healthy, but I know that we both need to know, and getting the answer sooner than later is better. I take a deep breath in trying to steady my thunderous heartbeat and trembling hands.
Slowly, I lift the envelope and tear at the overlapping lip. The edges now uneven and bared wide-open, I remove the folded up piece of fate. My hands shake uncontrollably and I peer up at him from under my lashes, reaching for my life line. His smile shows me his unwavering support and it gives me the strength. I pull it out and try to make sense of the diagram and words written before me. I find the words and hold my breath as I read, my eyes flying over the answer.
“So?” Shad questions, his patience waning.
I let out the breath I was holding and hand him the paper. He quickly rips it from my fingers and I watch solemnly as his eyes viciously rove over the same words I just read. I know when he sees the answer. He lowers the paper and the shock is written on his face.
“I …” he looks back down at the paper and then lifts his head back up to look at me, “Nikki,” he breathes out my name. “This is so much.”
“I know,” I respond.
“I’m …” I nod my head at him. “I’m going to be a father.” His surprised O shifts into the largest smile I have ever seen adorn his face. My tears start flowing, but this time not from sadness, hurt, or pregnancy hormones. This time they are tears of joy. After everything I’ve been through, I finally feel assured that everything will be all right. No matter what happens tomorrow, I have Shad, my new business and
together we will raise this baby in a home full of love.
###
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About the Author
I live in Seattle, WA with my amazing husband and three of our seven children. I am blessed with five grandchildren. Life is always a constant juggle between balancing writing and living, but it couldn’t be more fun. I am absolutely blessed by the surrounding love spilling from every corner. Without all of their support, I wouldn’t be able to fill the blank pages with the many stories swarming in my head.
Our lives are made up of nothing but stories. I live each day from page to page enjoying all of my blessings. My inspirations come from—everything. I love the outdoors; camping, boating, hiking, fishing you name it. I have always enjoyed writing, and now I get to share those stories with you. If you have enjoyed my book and wish to stay posted on upcoming books please follow me. www.rjheaton.com
Books by RJ Heaton in order:
Fate Intertwined Series:
Never Again Book one
Broken Again Book two
What Brings Tomorrow series:
What Brings Tomorrow Book One
What Brings Tomorrow Book Two