Thank You For Loving Me

by Lori Ryan

  He stared down at her, red and blue lights flickering across her face. She looked just as worried as he did. “How can you know for sure?”

  “She’s been through a lot in her life. She’s tough. No matter what she said, she wants this baby. And I’m pretty sure she wants you, too. She just doesn’t want to admit it, to you or anyone.”

  Max let her words wash over him. Maggie was right. He hadn’t known Devlin for long but he did know she was stubborn enough to protect her baby if saving it was within her power. She would be an amazing mother. And if there was anything they could do to make sure this baby came into the world—if it was within their power at all, he would be by her side as they fought to save it.

  “Okay, let’s go.” Max stalked toward the patrol man, not looking at the carnage behind him. The only thing that mattered now was Devlin and their baby. “Can you take us?” Max asked.

  The police officer looked at him.

  Max pointed back at the long line of cars. “It’s going to be awhile before you open this back up. I need to see my…” he stumbled, “my fiancée as soon as possible. Please.”

  The man nodded once and led them to his car.

  The ride to the hospital was the longest of Max’s life. Ben and Maggie exchanged pleasantries with the highway patrolman, but Max registered none of it.

  He tried not to think of the images of the crumpled car. The officer told them Devlin had collided with an elk. He seemed to think she would be all right, but until Max saw her, talked to her, he would be worried sick.

  When the hospital portico came into view, Max jumped from the car before it even rolled to a stop. “Come on,” he yelled at the sliding glass doors as they slowly squeaked open.

  “Max, wait!” Maggie yelled but he ignored her.

  He scanned the small atrium, quickly making his way to the front desk. “Devlin Darby.” Her name rushed from his lips like a prayer. “I need to see her.” No truer words had ever been spoken.

  The woman manning the desk looked at him as if he’d grown two heads.

  “Sorry, Brandy,” the patrol man said, coming to a stop beside him. “They’re trying to find his fiancée. She arrived by ambulance about twenty minutes ago.”

  The woman stood and looked past Max. “Is that a wedding dress?”

  Max turned and saw who the woman was talking to.

  “Um,” Maggie stuttered. “Yes.”

  “Well it’s just about the prettiest—”

  “Where is she!” Max shouted.

  Brandy’s head cocked back and she crossed her arms over her chest.

  He breathed in deep and released a heavy sigh. He needed to get his shit together if he wanted to see Devlin. “Look, I’m sorry.”

  “Have a seat,” Brandy said with tempered fury.

  Maggie stepped forward. “I’m sorry, we’re just very worried about my sister-in-law,” Maggie said.

  Sister-in-law?

  Brandy’s body relaxed and she sank back in her chair. “Well, of course, honey, let me just check the system.”

  The patrol man grabbed Max by the arm and pulled him aside. “Word to the wise there, son. The ER staff don’t take too kindly to being yelled at. I’d suggest you calm down before you get back there. It won’t help your fiancée’s condition if you’re yelling at everyone.”

  “I’m sorry, I’m just…” he couldn’t explain what he was because he’d never felt like this before. Someone was ripping his heart out of his chest.

  “I’ve seen a lot of accidents. I’m sure she’ll be all right. But you have to remain calm. Okay?”

  Max looked into the man’s dark eyes wondering if he knew what it felt like to be on this side of things.

  “Wait,” the officer’s eyes narrowed. “Well, I’ll be damned. You are Max Sumner, wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Stingrays.” He glanced around Max. “Brandy, we’ve got a celebrity here. Max Sumner.”

  “Who?” Brandy asked, unimpressed.

  “Max, Max Sumner. He plays for the—”

  Brandy jumped to her feet. “Are you Grant Sumner’s brother?”

  “Yes,” he said.

  “Oh, well why didn’t you say?” She rushed around the corner of the desk. “I just love your brother’s work. Follow me. I’ll take you back.”

  Max had never been so thankful for his brother’s fame than he was at that moment.

  Brandy rattled off questions that Max couldn’t answer, his mind was so focused on Devlin. He barely heard Ben and Maggie talking as he followed the woman down a hallway past several doors before they finally stopped in front of one.

  Devlin lay in the bed, her face ashen white, her head wrapped in gauze, one leg covered by a heavy brace and propped on pillows.

  “There it is,” a man sitting beside the bed said, turning a computer monitor so Devlin could look at it.

  Devlin’s attention was focused on the screen, a small smile spreading across her face.

  In that moment he didn’t just think he was in love with Devlin Darby, he knew he was, heart and soul. And he’d do whatever it took to win her back.

  Finally, Brandy stopped speaking and they all stood in the doorway, listening to the rapid whooshing sound coming from the monitor.

  That’s when Max noticed Devlin’s gown was pushed up, exposing her bare abdomen. A man was pushing an ultrasound wand over her stomach.

  “That’s her heartbeat?” Devlin asked, her voice choked with emotion as she stared at the machine.

  “Yep,” the man said, “good, strong heartbeat. The baby is fine.”

  Max swallowed back his emotions as he watched tears stream down Devlin’s face.

  The baby is fine.

  The baby is fine.

  The doctor said more but Max didn’t hear anything except, the baby is fine.

  Max’s head fell and he blew out the breath he’d been holding since he’d first read Devlin’s note at the cabin. The baby was fine.

  “Max?” Devlin called.

  He looked up, meeting her eyes.

  Devlin’s lids were red-rimmed and shadowed with dark circles. She was in pain, exhausted and worn out, but joy shone from her caramel-colored eyes. Her lips spread wide into a smile and her face transformed.

  Max held his breath, caught away by her beauty. Again.

  “She’s okay.” Devlin held out her hand toward him. “Come, look.”

  “It’s a girl?” Max asked, taking her small hand in his, leaning over the railing to stare at the computer.

  “We don’t know yet,” the doctor said. “Won’t be able to tell for a few more weeks.”

  “I’m only six weeks, Max,” Devlin said.

  Max’s gaze traveled from the monitor down to Devlin. She was smiling. That had to be a good sign. At least she wasn’t throwing him out.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, dropping down lower so he could look in her eyes. He lifted a hand and touched the bandage around her head.

  “I’m good. A few broken bones but I have a hard head.”

  “Is this your family?” the doctor asked, removing the ultrasound wand and wiping Devlin’s stomach with tissues. Max wanted to growl at the man for touching Devlin, but the officer’s warning echoed in his mind. He probably shouldn’t bite off the heads of the people taking care of Devlin.

  “That’s her fiancé,” Brandy said behind them.

  Shit.

  Devlin’s eyes went wide but she didn’t say anything. Her look said it all, though. She wasn’t happy with him. She’d get over it.

  “It was the only way they’d let me see you,” he whispered. “I had to see you, Devlin, make sure you and the baby were okay. Please don’t be mad.”

  Devlin looked at him a long moment. “Okay.”

  “Devlin has a concussion and two broken ribs,” the doctor said. “She also has a broken ankle, but it doesn’t require surgery. We’ll be getting her into a boot for that within the hour. She’s pretty beat up and will need to rest for several days. I’d like her to be off
her feet for at least a week because of the spotting, at least until she sees an OB/GYN. But she should make a full recovery.” He turned to Devlin. “Just be sure to get a follow-up with your obstetrician in the next day or two. I don’t want you to put that off.”

  Max’s gut clenched. “Spotting?” Did he mean she’d been bleeding?

  “She’s okay, now?” Maggie asked the doctor, wiggling her way to Devlin’s bedside. “The baby and her?”

  “Yes,” the doctor said. “She just needs to rest.” His gaze travelled around the small room. “Something tells me that might be hard for her.”

  “No, it won’t, I’ll make sure she rests,” Maggie said. “She’ll stay with me.”

  “No, she’ll stay with me,” Max stood. “I’ll take care of her. You’ll be on your honeymoon.”

  “I need to get back to New York,” Devlin protested. She moved to sit up higher but winced.

  “No, you don’t,” the doctor leveled her with a glare that even scared Max.

  Devlin glanced around the room at everyone staring at her, looking a little cornered and trapped. Maggie had been right about Devlin’s urge to flee.

  “Our mom will take care of her,” Ben said.

  Good call, Ben. No one could outrun their mother. Especially now that she knew Devlin was carrying her first grandchild.

  The doctor nodded and smiled. “Well, it sounds like you’ve got a lot of family to take care of you. I’ll keep you here a few more hours to monitor your concussion. We’ll have someone from orthopedics fit you for a boot, and then I think we can release you into the care of some really good people.” He looked toward the group. “One of you will need to rent crutches for her. The nurse can give you information for several pharmacies nearby that rent them.”

  Devlin glanced up at Max as if not believing the doctor’s words, as if she truly had no one. For Devlin, actions spoke louder than words. He knew that now. It was time to show her how many people truly cared about her.

  * * *

  Tears sprang to Devlin’s eyes as soon as she heard her mother’s voice on the other end of the phone. She’d been relieved to hear that she was on her way to Colorado to be with her, and even more thankful her mother wasn’t going back home to her father.

  “I’m okay, Mom,” she said. “I promise.”

  “What did the doctors say?”

  Devlin didn’t want to disclose every injury, fearing her mother may go over the edge. “Cracked ribs and a broken ankle, but the ankle was a clean break, so it should be fine.”

  “Oh, Devlin, I was so scared. I heard you scream, and then nothing. I thought I’d lost you.”

  “You’re not going to lose me, Mom.” She smiled, knowing her mother needed her now more than ever if she truly was going to leave her father.

  There were still things to discuss between she and her mother, the most important why she’d left Devlin in such a toxic home, but there’d be time. Now wasn’t that moment. They would find a way to work through the pain.

  “Mom, I need to tell you something.”

  She heard her mom take in a shaky breath.

  She drew one in as well as she spoke on a sigh. “I’m pregnant.”

  There was an audible gasp on the phone.

  Devlin blinked back tears. Her mom was going to tell her how stupid she was for letting this happen. That she was going to be just as trapped by this baby as she’d been her whole life with Devlin’s father.

  “Devlin that’s…”

  She held her breath, preparing for her mother’s scolding.

  “That’s wonderful, sweetheart.” There was genuine joy in her mother’s voice. “That’s just so… wonderful.” She giggled. Her mother actually giggled. “That’s the only word I can think of. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. You’re going to be an amazing mother.”

  “You really think so?” Devlin’s voice cracked with the uncertainty.

  “Let me tell you something, honey. You have always been the strong one. You were always so much surer of yourself than I ever was. You never would have stayed with a man like your father the way I did. I’m sorry for that.”

  Devlin brushed away the tears already falling. Damn hormones.

  “I don’t know how I got so lucky,” her mother said. “You’re an amazing daughter. I’m so sorry I wasn’t strong enough to leave when you were young. It’s just…” Her mother’s voice caught on a sob.

  “It’s okay, Mom.” It wasn’t, but Devlin knew it would be.

  “I’m even more sorry I didn’t follow you when you left. But I’m following you now. I’m on my way to see you and I can’t wait to squeeze you and that little grandbaby of mine. I want to be there for you now like you’ve always been for me.”

  “I’m going to need you now more than ever,” she said.

  “Good. And I’ll be there for you this time, Devlin. I promise.”

  Devlin couldn’t think of a better place for her mom to be than by her side, together, navigating this scary thing they called motherhood.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Devlin readjusted her foot on the pillow and sat back in the recliner, staring out over the trees that surrounded the bed and breakfast on Max’s family’s land. She loved this house, with its cozy alcoves, lush landscape, and the wrap-around-porch she sat on now.

  Canyon Creek Mountain peeked over the treetops as the sun dipped low in the sky. Devlin wished she had her camera to capture the moment. She’d always considered herself a gypsy, but even she could imagine herself staying here, rocking on this porch forever.

  It was the only place that had truly felt like home to her in years.

  She drew in a deep breath—as deep as the pain in her ribs would allow—absorbing the clean mountain air, trying to forget the childish way she’d run from Max. Not only had she endangered herself, she’d brought possible harm to the baby too. She’d been lucky, she realized now. The accident could have been much worse.

  The outpouring of concern after the accident had been overwhelming. She smiled, remembering how everyone had argued over who would care for her once she was released from the hospital. Well, everyone but Max. He said he’d take care of her at the hospital, but then he’d let his mom and Maggie take over. He hadn’t been by to see her in two days, and his absence hurt more than it should have.

  It had been Maggie who decided the bed and breakfast would be the best choice for her to recuperate in. The house was central so everyone could take turns caring for her and it had enough space for Devlin’s mom to stay with her for a while. Devlin hated having to rely on others to do the simplest of things, but she’d relented.

  There was a slight chill in the air despite the summer season. She reached over and grabbed the blanket next to her, unfolding the material and covering her lap.

  “There you are,” someone called from the sliding glass door.

  Devlin glanced over her shoulder, not surprised to see Max’s Aunt Sally walking out with a tray of food.

  “Sally,” she laughed, “I haven’t finished the food you brought for lunch a few hours ago.”

  “Oh, it’s not me. It’s Ivy. She’s decided to stay a few more days rather than fly back to Paris tomorrow. She’s trying out some new recipes.”

  “I feel bad that you guys are having to take care of me.”

  “Nonsense,” Sally said. “Sometimes it’s good for people to take care of someone else. And it’s nice to be taken care of because, trust me,” Sally glanced down at Devlin’s stomach, “you’ll be taking care of that little bundle of joy for the rest of your life. Enjoy this treatment while you can.”

  “Well, it’s nice of you, and of Ivy, and everyone here.”

  “Believe me, I know it’s hard to ask for help, and even harder to accept it sometimes, Devlin. But sometimes life forces you to swallow your pride and do it anyway.”

  Not wanting to acknowledge how right Sally was, Devlin remained quiet. She propped up higher in the seat and took the tray onto her lap. A bowl of steaming
soup sat next to a sandwich stacked so high, Devlin feared it might topple over. The meal looked like it belonged on the cover of a food magazine. “I almost feel bad for eating this, it looks so beautiful.”

  Sally grinned. “Ivy seems to believe in the go-big-or-go-home method of cooking. And I love having her home to share the kitchen.” Sally looked at her in anticipation. “Eat. Tell me what you think. I made the brownies.”

  Devlin glanced down and noticed a huge brownie sitting next to her plate. “I love brownies,” she purred.

  “A little birdie told me.”

  “Are those marshmallows?”

  “Yep. You gotta have a secret ingredient in every dish.” Sally grinned.

  Devlin reached for the dessert, but Sally swatted her hand. “Not before you eat the soup and sandwich, young lady.”

  “You know I’m over thirty years old, right?”

  Sally quirked a brow in question and Devlin understood her silent statement. She’d been rash and immature in her attempts to avoid dealing with Max two days ago. And she’d ruined her best friend’s wedding as a result. And her car.

  “Touché,” Devlin said, straightening the tray.

  Sally reached over and undid the napkin, laying it gently in her lap. “There. Eat.”

  Devlin slipped a spoon into the soup. “You surprise me, Sally Sumner.”

  “I surprise most people.” The statement was laced with pride.

  Devlin laughed, taking in a big spoonful of the soup. God, it tasted so good. “What is this?”

  “Loaded baked potato soup.”

  “It’s amazing,” Devlin moaned, going back for another bite. “What’s in it?”

  “Potatoes, milk, bacon, cheese, lots of butter, and a secret ingredient.”

  “Oh, yes,” Devlin smiled as she swallowed another bite. “You have to have a secret ingredient. What’s Ivy’s?”

  Sally slapped her chest and her eyes went wide as if offended. “A good chef never reveals her secrets.”

  “But, you just told me your secret ingredients for brownies.”

  “I’m not a good chef.” Sally laughed.

  “You’re an amazing baker.”