He took her hand. “You are my world. I want you to be happy too. We’ll go visit next weekend. If you decide you hate it there, we’ll figure out something else. We can stay here, or go somewhere else. I don’t care. You have made me the happiest man in the world.”
“I love you Nick.”
“Love you too baby.” And then he took her to bed.
Their visit to his hometown went well. His Dad wasn’t thrilled to meet her at first, but he thawed quickly. His Mom liked her from the start, and Ami didn’t mind being fussed over by her future mother-in-law. Charlie was already calling Nick’s mom Grandma by the time they left.
Even as long as Nick had been away, she could tell that home was where he really wanted to be. And she wanted him to be happy, so they starting planning their move.
On their second trip back, they found a house. Between what Ami had from her Dad, what she’d saved from her “running money” and what Nick had saved to start his own shop, they were able to make a hefty down payment on the three bedroom house and buy Ami a new car.
They were married on May 22nd, the Friday of their last week in Brunton. Ami hadn’t heard anything from Gabe, and was worried that he’d show up and try to ruin her wedding, but he didn’t.
Her Mom wasn’t able to attend, but her Grandmother was there.
It was a wonderful day. The honeymoon was awesome. Charlie stayed with Nick’s parents with no protest since they both spoiled him rotten. They went to Vegas and turned the thousand dollars they’d had left from their wedding money into $2500. They drove to California for two days, and then drove back home and moved into their new house.
Nick settled in quickly at the shop, and even when he complained about the long days, she could tell that he loved it. He was where he wanted to be and so was she. Charlie loved his new school and there were other kids to play with in the neighborhood. He started calling Nick Dad before the adoption was final.
Her pregnancy was going smoothly, though she felt fat. She wasn’t working for the first time in her adult life, so she spent a lot of time on the phone talking to Ali, Candy, and her mother.
Chapter 30
She was talking to Ali on the phone one day when there was a knock at the door. “Someone’s at the door Ali. I’ll call you back in a few minutes okay?”
“Sure hon. Talk to you in a few.” She hung up the phone and called out “Just a minute.”
Since she was seven months pregnant, sometimes it took her a minute to get up off of the couch. There was no response from the other side of the door, and she thought whoever had been there had gotten impatient and left.
When she opened the door, she almost closed it immediately after. Gabe was standing on her doorstep. He was wearing tight jeans and a torn t-shirt. He looked like he hadn’t slept in two days, and shaved in two weeks, but he still carried an ‘I know I’m sexy’ persona.
She didn’t know what to say.
He didn’t look like he did either. He stood on her doorstep and looked at her.
Finally he spoke up “Can I come in?”
She stood back from the door and let him in. She sat in the armchair and Gabe perched on the edge of the couch. They were both silent for several minutes. Finally she said “Are you okay?”
“No. The love of my life is pregnant with my child and married to another man.”
She thought she’d heard him wrong at first. But the way he was looking at her told her that he believed it was true. “It’s not your baby. It couldn’t be. I had my period after I was with you the last time.”
He didn’t say anything. She had a feeling he still didn’t believe her. “Where have you been Gabe? I heard that you walked out on your family, the bar, everything.”
“None of it means anything.”
“Gabe. Even if you don’t want to be with your wife anymore, your kids still need you. How old is your little girl now?”
“She just turned a year.”
“And you’ve been gone for a couple months haven’t you?”
He’d skipped town soon after she and Nick had left. “Ami, you can’t live this lie. I love you. I need you. I’m going crazy without you.”
“I’m in love with Nick. I’m having his baby.”
“I don’t care if it is his. Come away with me. We can go today. Anywhere you want to go.”
She thought he looked desperate.
“I can’t do that Gabe. I have Charlie to think about and I’m where I want to be. I’m sorry.”
“Ami please. I can’t live without you.”
“Gabe go back to your family. They’re worried about you. The whole town’s worried about you. I can’t believe you left Eric to run the bar. You’re lucky Leslie stepped in and took over or he would have bankrupted you.”
“I don’t care about the bar. I don’t care about any of it. I have money. I have your truck. We can leave anytime you say the word Ami.”
“I’m not going to leave Nick two months before I’m due to have his child.”
“Then you can leave after you have the baby. We’ll make a baby of our own, and we’ll take Charlie with us.”
“I don’t love you. I love Nick. He’s always been the one I wanted. I’m so sorry that I slept with you. I should never have done that. But you’ve got to move on. Please go home to your kids.”
“I’ll never move on Ami. You’re the only one. You always have been.”
“Gabe.”
She didn’t know what to say to him she thought. He wasn’t the cocky, sure of himself, women falling at his feet Gabe that she’d known. He was broken, pathetic. He might still be hot as hell but it made her sick to her stomach that he’d walked away from everything for her.
She was a terrible person she thought.
There was a bit of the old Gabe in his eyes when he suddenly got up off of the couch, though. “I’ll be back. I want a DNA test. If that baby’s mine, I’ll make you wish you had never met Nick.”
Then he was gone.
She sat back on the couch, craving a cigarette. She wondered if Nick had any stashed around. He’d quit, but he still smoked one every now and again. One cigarette wouldn’t hurt the baby. Then she dismissed the idea. She called Ali back.
“Hey babe,” Ali said.
“Hi.”
“You okay? Who was at your door?”
“Gabe.”
“You are fucking kidding me. I thought he fell off the edge of planet. No one’s heard from him in months.”
“He thinks the baby is his.”
“What? You weren’t with him since Christmas time. Were you?”
Nick was the only one she’d told she’d slept with Gabe again. “Um. I had sex with him that day with Brad. But I had a period after that. The baby is Nick’s. There’s no way she could be Gabe’s and I told him that.”
“Did you tell Nick?”
“No. I’m not going to.”
“Ami, you’ve got to tell him. What if that crazy fuck starts stalking you again?”
“He won’t. I told him to go back to his family.”
“He won’t. Leslie’s got some woman living with them. This blonde bitch that looks like a cover girl. Every guy in town was after her until they found out she was living with Leslie. She’s not bothering to pretend she doesn’t like women more than men anymore.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. I still think you should tell Nick. If Gabe thinks the baby is his, who knows what he’ll do. He’s fucking crazy and you know it babe.”
“I know. It’s my fault, too. I never should have slept with him.”
“Too late now kiddo.”
“I know. How’s Jen? How’s Eli?”
“They are both getting so big. You guys are still coming down for Jen’s birthday aren’t you?”
“As long as the doctor still says it’s okay. I feel bad about missing Riley’s first birthday.”
“He is so adorable. Looks just like his Daddy. I’m sure Candy and Rick understand, though. You can’t b
e traveling that far two days before you’re due.”
“I know.”
“Are you excited?”
“About the baby coming? I’m scared to death honestly. I just get used to be Charlie’s mother again and before I know it, the baby will be here.”
Ali laughed. “You’ll do fine. Nick is stoked. Carson teases him all the time.”
“Would you do me a favor and not tell Carson about Gabe?”
“I feel kind of bad about telling Carson everything before, but you and Nick were meant to be together and ya’ll needed a kick in the ass to get together. I’ll keep my mouth shut. I really think that for safety’s sake you should tell Nick about Gabe’s unexpected appearance, but he’s your husband. It’s up to you girl.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I gotta go. Eli’s gonna be home from school soon.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay. You keep me posted. I love you and miss you Ami.”
“Love you too. Bye Ali.”
“Bye hon.”
She tried not to worry about Gabe’s visit. She felt guilty not telling Nick about it, but she didn’t want to worry him. She didn’t think Gabe would show up again, but with Gabe you never knew.
She heard no more from Gabe. The doctor cleared her for the visit to Brunton. They had a good time at Jenesis’s first birthday. She missed Ali. She missed Candy. They were able to visit with Candy, Rick and Riley.
On the way out of town, she spotted Leslie. She and a tall gorgeous blonde woman were loading the kids into a pink SUV. Nick didn’t see them, and she decided it was best not to mention it. He was already stressed enough from work.
Chapter 31
The rest of her pregnancy was uneventful. She went into labor on a Wednesday morning, minutes after Nick had walked out the door to go to work and Charlie got on the bus to go to school. She had hoped she’d have the baby on the weekend, or at least after he’d gotten home from work. He’d already hired and fired three people at the shop, and the two men that he was working with now didn’t tend to be the most reliable.
She decided to wait to call him, because she’d been in labor with Charlie for what had seemed like forever. Two hours later, her contractions were only minutes apart and she decided it was time to call Nick. A contraction hit her hard when Nick picked up the phone. She had to take a breath before she could answer his hello. It was two weeks before her due date, but this was no false alarm.
“Hi,” she said when she could finally talk.
“You okay babe?”
“I’m in labor.”
“Oh. Shit. I might have to close down the shop. Jer didn’t show up today. Damn. Um do you want me to meet you at the hospital or can you wait until I get home? Or do you need to call an ambulance?”
“I think I can drive.”
“Are you sure babe?”
“Yeah. Just get there as soon as you can okay?”
“I’m on my way babe. I love you. Don’t worry about Charlie. I’ll call my mom and ask her to pick him up after school. He can stay there until you and the baby are ready to come home.”
“Thank you. I love you too.”
She wasn’t sure how smart it was to drive herself to the hospital, but there was no one else to take her. Nick’s Dad was at work, and his Mom was at work as well. She didn’t know much of anyone else in town either.
She got her bag out of the closet, and headed out to the car. Luckily, the drive to the hospital was short. She’d had another contraction, but Nick had texted her that he was on the way. He’d had to close the shop but he didn’t care.
She was still in an examination room when Nick showed up. He looked excited and scared to death at the same time. It took another six hours until the baby was born, but everything went well. Shae Catrell Janise Allison was born at 4:34 p.m. She weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces and was twenty inches long.
She was so beautiful that Ami cried the first time they placed her daughter in her arms.
She didn’t think Nick would ever stop taking pictures.
Chapter 32
It happened the first time Nick left the hospital. They were releasing her later that day. Though they’d packed three different outfits in the overnight bag that she brought to the hospital, she’d managed to forget to bring a blanket.
She’d tried to get Nick to buy one at the hospital gift shop, but he insisted that they were going to bring their daughter home in the blanket that his mother had knitted.
She woke up and realized that her daughter wasn’t in the bassinet beside her bed. She figured that one of the nurses had taken that baby for another test, but then she noticed a white piece of paper lying in the bassinet. Her heart beat crept up a notch and she got out of bed.
The paper had her name on it.
For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. Her hand was shaking as she picked up the paper and opened it. It was an address and a phone number. A motel room and Gabe’s cell phone number.
The note told Ami that he had “their” daughter, and wouldn’t give her back until she talked to him.
Her pulse was racing and she felt like her heart was beating out of her chest. Gabe had taken her daughter, right under the noses of the hospital staff. What the fuck she thought. She needed to call Nick.
She needed to call the police. She was going to kill Gabe. The phone beside her bed rang. She reached out and snatched it up. “Hello.”
“Hello my love.”
“What the fuck did you do with my daughter?”
“She’s fine. She’s beautiful.”
“Yeah, and she’s not yours.”
“She has my eyes.”
“A lot of babies are born with blue eyes dip shit. Give me my kid back.”
“Come and get her.” Then he hung up.
Without thinking, she got dressed. She knew that Nick could be back any time; she knew that she should call him; she knew that she should notify the authorities. But part of her was so pissed off that the hospital had let him walk out with her child, that she didn’t trust the police to get her daughter back safely.
She had her car keys and was out the door before the thought had really processed in her head. No one stopped her; the nurses didn’t glance her way. She thought that she might have passed Nick’s car on the way out of the lot, but she was in another world. She had to get her child back.
The hotel where Gabe had taken Shae was only five minutes away, but it felt like the longest five minutes of her life. His car was parked clear as day in the parking lot. Or her car that still had license plates that read “only you”. She almost changed her mind about not calling the police, but the sound of her child’s cry caused her to instead cross to the door of the motel room.
As if sensing her, trusting that she hadn’t called the police, he called out “It’s open.”
She pushed open the door. Gabe was rocking her daughter, looking like a doting father. She shut the door and said “Give me my baby.”
“We need to talk Ami.”
“The hell we do. Give me my daughter, and we’ll forget this ever happened. I promise you Gabe, if you give her to me right now, I will make up a story for Nick. No one will ever have to know.”
“I love you Ami.”
Part of her wanted to run across the room and tear her child from Gabe’s arms. But every maternal instinct was screaming in her head that she needed to be careful. Her child’s life was in Gabe’s hands.
The way he was looking at Shae didn’t make her think that he’d hurt her, but Ami wasn’t going to take that chance. Gabe was looking at Shae with longing. As if he knew that she wasn’t his, but couldn’t live with that fact.
He looked like he’d lost more weight. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. Gabe who used to brag to her about how much money he had, looked so down and out and broken that she thought that if you didn’t know better, you might mistake him for a homeless person.
“Gabe.”
He lo
oked up at her. There was such blind hope in his eyes that she couldn’t stand it.
This was her fault she thought. She’d broken him. She had turned a cocky bar owner into a broken down shell of a man who was so desperate that he had kidnapped her newborn baby from the hospital.
She was a terrible, terrible person.
“I am so sorry Gabe. You will never know how sorry I am. I never should have used you. It was wrong. Believe me Gabe, I would take it back if I could. I was selfish, I didn’t think about your feelings.”
“I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you Ami. I want to give you the world. I still could if you’d let me.”
“Gabe, I can’t.”
He laid Shae aside in the portable bassinet beside the bed. Then he pulled out a gun. “I swear I’ll shoot myself if you don’t leave with me Ami.”
Ami’s heart started to pound in her chest. She took a step towards the bassinet but he shook his head. “No. Stay where you are. Tell me that you love me Ami.”
“I don’t love you Gabe. I’m sorry.”
Gabe sighed. “Fuck me one last time for old times’ sake?”
Ami almost laughed, though the situation was hardly laughable. “I just had a child Gabe. I don’t think that it would be very pleasurable for either of us.”
He took a step towards her, the gun still in his hand. “Leslie loves to have sex when she’s on her period. She says the sensation is like no other.”
Ami took a step towards the bassinet. “I’m sure it’s not, but this is a little different. You don’t love me Gabe. You know you don’t.”
Gabe reached out and touched her face with the hand that wasn’t holding the gun. “I do love you. I thought that you were the one. Finally the one after all these years of searching for a woman that would really love me.”
“I love Nick. I’ve always loved Nick. I’m really sorry Gabe, but I’m sure you’ll find a woman that loves you. There’s someone out there for everyone. Divorce Leslie and maybe you’ll find her. Go home. Your kids need you.”
Gabe snorted. “There’s already a woman there to take my place. Now my children have two mothers and no father. Some seem to think that they’re better off that way.”
Misty Reigenborn Romance Boxed Set Page 98