by Harley Wylde
“What’s wrong, Kalani?”
“You want more children?” I asked.
“I’d never really thought about it. I mean, it might have been nice, but since you can’t have children I’m okay with just having Janessa. Unless you want to adopt later.” He released me and took a step back. “You’re really great with Janessa. If you want more children, we’ll figure it out.”
I turned to face him, and I could tell he was disappointed at the thought of not having more children. “I’m late.”
He stared.
“Um, I should have started my period by now, and I haven’t, so…”
He pulled his phone out and the scrap of paper Seamus had given him.
“Seamus, I need a local doctor for Kalani. And I need a way to get her there as soon as possible.”
He growled and his eyes narrowed.
“Just get a damn car to me and the name and location of a doctor. Don’t worry about why she needs one.” He ended the call and glared at the phone. “Nosy fucker.”
“You probably scared him,” I said. “Isn’t he responsible for making sure everything is fine here? With us I mean. He probably thinks I got hurt or something and is worried that scary guy in charge will kick his ass.”
“He needs to worry about me kicking his ass.”
“I’m fine. And it’s probably too soon to tell if I’m pregnant. Maybe I just missed it this time because of all the stress.”
He came toward me and pulled me tight against his chest. “I want the doctor to look you over. I wish we were home and you could see Dr. Myron.”
I wasn’t too thrilled over seeing anyone in a white lab coat, but I knew I’d have to get over it eventually. Not everyone was like Whitby and his minions. I knew that, I really did, but just the sight of one of those coats, or someone in scrubs, was enough to make me panic.
Tex kissed me, and I had to admit that as distractions went, it was a good one. The doorbell rang a moment later, and Tex practically dragged me through the house. Seamus was out front, the SUV parked in the driveway. He looked worried as his gaze flicked over to me, then back to Tex.
“The club uses Dr. Kameron. I’ve already called and told him we were coming in, but I didn’t know the reason to give him,” Seamus said.
Tex didn’t say anything, just led me over to the SUV and climbed in back with me. Seamus looked at us in the rearview mirror every few minutes as he drove through the small town. He parked outside a non-descript brick building. If it weren’t for the metal plaque next to the door that said Dr. Kameron, I’d have never known it was a doctor’s office.
We followed Seamus inside. A blonde, bubbly receptionist greeted him. If the amount of cleavage she showed was any indication, she had a thing for the biker. I almost felt sorry for her since Seamus was polite but obviously not interested.
“Dr. Kameron said she could go straight back to room three. I’ll let him know you’re here,” the receptionist said. She picked up a clipboard and handed it to me. “You’ll need to fill this out, but you can do it in the room while you wait.”
Seamus remained in the waiting room, but Tex went back with me. He helped me onto the padded table, but as I stared at the blank forms, I had no idea what to put for most of the information. Tex eventually took the clipboard from me and started filling in most of the blanks. He’d just finished when the door opened and a blond man walked in. He had on the dreaded white coat, but there was kindness in his eyes and his smile was genuine.
“I’m Dr. Kameron,” he said, holding out his hand first to me, then Tex. “What can I help you with today?”
“We’re just visiting the Devil’s Boneyard,” Tex said. “My wife thinks she might be pregnant, and I didn’t want to wait to find out. We could be here a few days or a week. If she needs a special diet or anything, I’d rather know now.”
“Um. There’s something else, though. I was told my tubes were tied, so I didn’t think it was possible for this to happen,” I said.
Dr. Kameron nodded.
“Mrs.…” He picked up the clipboard and scanned it. “Mrs. Rodriguez, while having your tubes tied usually works pretty well, there are cases where they have grown back. So, yes, it’s possible you could be pregnant if you’ve been having unprotected sex. When was your last cycle?”
“About six weeks ago. I don’t know the exact date, but I’m pretty sure it’s been about that long.”
The doctor nodded and pulled his stethoscope from around his neck.
“Well, let me check you over and I’ll order a blood test. We can run the lab work here in house, so you won’t have to wait long for the results. If you are pregnant, I can give you a prescription for prenatal vitamins.”
Dr. Kameron listened to my heart, checked my eyes, ears, and throat. He asked questions along the way, some of which I didn’t know the answer to, but I told him what I could. I didn’t know if Tex wanted him to know about Hillview or why we were in Florida, so I didn’t volunteer the information. Knowing my husband, he’d insist that I see Dr. Myron when we got back home anyway.
When Dr. Kameron was finished with his exam, he said everything sounded and looked great, then he ordered a nurse to come take blood. I was no stranger to needles, but I had a strong dislike for them. She took several vials of blood, which I didn’t understand. I’d have thought a pregnancy test would only need one vial of blood. The nurse left and Tex and I had nothing to do but wait. He paced the room for what seemed like forever before Dr. Kameron returned.
“Why did you need so much blood?” I asked.
“I wanted to check a few things. You’re a little low on iron. I’ll prescribe some iron pills, along with the prenatal vitamins. Your regular doctor will probably test you again in a few weeks and see if your iron levels are higher. I can send him the results of today’s lab work and visit. Aside from the anemia, everything looks great,” Dr. Kameron said.
“So, she is pregnant?” Tex asked, moving closer to me and reaching for my hand.
“That she is.” Dr. Kameron smiled. “Congratulations to both of you. She’ll need to schedule an appointment with her regular OB-GYN when you get back home. They may even run another pregnancy test. Some doctors prefer to have their own results, especially in the case of specialists.”
“Are there any dietary changes we should be aware of?” Tex asked.
“She should limit her caffeine intake, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Increasing how much milk and water she drinks wouldn’t hurt. I’m sure her doctor will have more details of how they want to handle the pregnancy,” Dr. Kameron said.
“Thank you, doctor,” I said.
“It was very nice to meet both of you. If you have any medical needs while you’re visiting the Devil’s Boneyard, I hope you’ll come back and see me.”
“I haven’t had a chance to figure out health insurance yet,” Tex said. “We were just married a few weeks ago. But I can either write a check or pay with my bank card for today’s visit.”
Dr. Kameron waved a hand. “Devil’s Boneyard has already covered it. I owe them a few favors, and they called in one of them. But you’ll probably want to call about insurance sooner rather than later. Having a baby can be very expensive.”
“Thanks again, Doc,” Tex said, shaking the man’s hand.
Dr. Kameron left and we made our way back to the waiting room. Seamus looked a little worried and like he’d been running his hands through his hair. He stood when we approached, but he still wouldn’t look at me for very long.
“Everything all right?” Seamus asked.
“More than all right. It seems we’re having a baby,” Tex said, a huge smile on his face.
Seamus seemed to relax almost immediately, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Congratulations. I was worried something was really wrong when I heard them say something about blood work.”
“Dr. Kameron said he was giving us two prescriptions,” Tex said.
Seamus nodded toward the front desk. “Anna will
have them most likely. There’s a pharmacy up the road. We can go there and drop them off, and I can swing by when they’re ready and pick them up for you. I’m sure you’d rather get home than wait around for them.”
“Thank you,” I said softly.
Seamus looked at me and smiled a little, then quickly looked back to Tex.
“Is there something wrong with me?” I asked.
Seamus jerked his head my way, his eyes wide. “What?”
“You never look at me for more than a few seconds. Are you disgusted because of what happened to me? Am I so hideous you can’t stand to look at me?”
He groaned and closed his eyes. “Fuck.” He opened his eyes and focused on me. “I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad. We were told that you didn’t trust men. I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable or scared.”
“Oh.” I bit my lip. “It won’t bother me if you make eye contact for longer than a few seconds. Just don’t move too quickly, especially if you’re reaching for me.”
“Or better yet, don’t fucking touch my wife,” Tex said, his gaze narrowed and a hint of growl in his voice.
Seamus held up his hands and took a step back. “No problem. She’s perfectly safe from me.”
“Can we go back to the house?” I asked. “After that long flight, I’m a little tired.”
Tex kissed my cheek. “We can go take a nap while Seamus gets your pills. I’ll leave the front door unlocked and he can leave them in the living room.”
“I can take you back to the compound first,” Seamus offered. “I have some things I can do around town while I wait for the pharmacy to fill the scripts. And if you need anything in the meantime, you can call or text.”
Tex nodded, then went over to the receptionist to get my prescriptions, leaving me with a Seamus who looked like he felt all kinds of awkward. I almost felt sorry for him.
“For the record,” Seamus said. “I heard about what happened, and I think you’re really brave. A lot of people wouldn’t have survived all that. It either would have killed them or they’d have felt the need to end their lives. The fact you’re here, married, and starting a family shows that you’re really strong.”
“Thanks. I don’t feel very strong most days, but I’m getting better. Tex has helped me a lot. I trust him, and I know he’d never hurt me. It’s being around other men that is still a little bit of a problem for me.”
He nodded. “That’s understandable. But I think you’re doing great.”
I smiled. Tex returned to my side and handed a piece of paper to Seamus. He placed a hand on my waist, and I had to admit that I liked it when he got a bit possessive. I’d thought he was just being protective, but maybe I’d had it wrong. After everything I’d been through, an alpha male should have been the last thing I wanted, but maybe it’s exactly what I’d needed.
We rode back to the little house in silence, and Seamus didn’t even get out of the car when we pulled up. Tex led me into the house and straight back to the bedroom. He knelt at my feet and removed my shoes, then helped me into bed. I scooted over to give him room, and after he pulled off his boots, he slid in next to me. With his arms around me, and my cheek pressed to his chest, I drifted off within minutes. I vaguely remembering Seamus returning a few hours later, and think I heard the phone when it rang. The only thing that woke me completely was Tex slipping out of the bed after the sun had set.
Chapter Nine
Tex
I’d tried to get out of bed without waking Kalani, but I’d failed. The doorbell rang for the third time and I hurried to answer it. Either something urgent was going on, or Janessa had finally arrived. Before I’d fallen asleep, I’d sent a text to Wire, letting him know that we were here and as settled as we were getting. I had no idea how my daughter was getting here, but I trusted my club to take care of her.
When I flung open the door, my daughter launched herself into my arms. I smiled as I hugged her tight.
“Did you have a good trip?” I asked.
“Yeah. Gabe brought me,” she said, motioning to the Prospect behind her. “Torch told him to stay the night and head back tomorrow. But if you need him for backup or something, I’m sure he could stay.”
“Thanks,” I told the man and gave him a nod.
I pulled Janessa into the house and took her bag from her. If my daughter thought I needed backup, I wondered just what Torch had told her. Did she know why she was here? I wanted to keep her as innocent of club dealings as possible, but I knew she’d hear things eventually. I didn’t want her to think I was some criminal. Yeah, the Dixie Reapers sometimes did things that weren’t necessarily legal -- or were a fuck ton illegal -- but they never hurt anyone who didn’t deserve it. I’d trust them with my life, and with the lives of my family.
Kalani came into the room and was tackled by our daughter.
“Easy,” I told Janessa. “She’s carrying precious cargo.”
Kalani’s eyes went wide and I wondered if she’d wanted to keep it a secret longer. We hadn’t had a chance to discuss it, but I didn’t see the harm in people knowing she was pregnant. Hell, I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. My wife was carrying my second kid. I couldn’t think of anything more wonderful. I only wished Janessa’s mom had been half as great as Kalani. But then, if she had been, I never would have found Kalani.
Janessa released Kalani and gave me a confused look.
“How do you feel about being a big sister?” I asked.
Janessa seemed to freeze for a second, and then she started screaming and bouncing around the room. She clapped her hands and smiled so widely I thought her face might crack. I honestly hadn’t seen her that excited or happy about anything.
“Seriously? We’re having a baby?” Janessa asked.
“You’re all right with that?” Kalani asked, coming to stand by my side.
“All right? I think it’s awesome,” Janessa said. “I get a mom and a brother or sister! Oh! What if it’s both? Maybe you’re having twins!”
Janessa started squealing and bouncing again.
“So you’re not upset I married your dad or that we’re having a baby?” Kalani asked, looking uncertain.
“Why would I be upset?” Janessa asked, coming to a stop. “You’ve been like a mom to me the last seven years. Now it’s just official. And I’d always wanted a brother or sister. Growing up it was kind of lonely. My family never really wanted me. Until I met you, I hadn’t known what it was like for someone to care about me.”
My throat tightened at her admission. I felt like the worst fucking father on the planet for having abandoned her all those years ago. If I’d had any idea how her life would turn out, I might have done things differently, but when the Chief of Police threatens you with prison and has the entire town backing him? Yeah, you get the fuck out of town and do what the big man says. I hated that he’d ruined so many lives, and I’d let him. He’d had my baby girl committed to Hillview on some bogus charge just so he wouldn’t have to look at her. If the fates hadn’t already taken care of his ass, we’d be having a lengthy, painful conversation.
Tears gathered in Kalani’s eyes, and it looked like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Her body relaxed and it made me realize that I hadn’t even noticed how tense she was. Janessa hugged her, and then I wrapped my arms around both of them. I wished Kalani had said something about her concerns before now, and I wondered if she’d been carrying that around with her ever since we’d arrived in Vegas. It had never occurred to me that she would worry. Janessa knew why we were leaving that day, and while we hadn’t had much time together, I felt I had gotten to know my daughter well enough to know she’d have said something if she was unhappy. The way my daughter asked Kalani’s opinion, and even seemed protective when my brothers were around, I’d never had any doubts that Janessa would accept Kalani into our family. It had been clear from the beginning my daughter loved Kalani.
“What would my girls like to do tonight?” I asked. “We could order in some C
hinese, assuming this town has Chinese food, and then binge-watch some movies. The TV in the living room looks like one of those Smart TVs so I’m sure we can access Netflix or something. Or do you want to go out to eat?”
“How are we going anywhere?” Janessa asked. “You don’t have a car.”
“There’s a Prospect assigned to help us out while we’re here,” I said. “I can give Seamus a call. I think we passed an Italian place earlier today and a Mexican restaurant. Either of those sound good?”
Kalani rubbed her stomach. “Lasagna? With extra cheese?”
My lips twitched, but I didn’t dare laugh. Was she already feeling pregnancy cravings? I’d have thought it was too soon, but if she wanted lasagna, I’d make sure she got it. Hell, if she wanted to put ice cream on it, I’d make it happen, just as long as I didn’t have to watch her eat it. Some of the guys I’d served with had talked about the insane things their women had eaten while pregnant, and how emotional they became. One soldier had described it as PMS on crack. I was pretty sure if his wife had heard that, he wouldn’t have been able to walk for a week. I’d met her a few times and she seemed like the ball-buster type.
“Italian sounds good,” Janessa said. “We should make sure Kalani eats whatever she wants so the baby will get nice and fat.”
Kalani snorted. “More like I’ll get nice and fat.”
I brushed a kiss against her temple. “You’re beautiful and you’re going to be a beautiful pregnant lady. Even when you’re about to pop, you’ll be the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen.”
Kalani flushed with pleasure.
“I’ll call Seamus. Do either of you need to do anything before we leave? Wash your faces, use the bathroom? Do you want to change or something?” I asked.