by Lea Hart
“When she gets old enough for that to happen, I’ll say it real quietly. But I’m never going to stop.” Leaning over, he kissed her again.
“Behave,” she said firmly as she parked the stroller.
“That’s not what you said this morning,” he called out as she walked toward Blake.
“Hi, Blake. Did you have fun down at the base?” Birdie asked as she slid into a chair across from him.
“I had more fun than I expected to.” Checking his watch, he grimaced. “I better run. I have an appointment up at the medical center.” Standing, he dug out his wallet and put some money on the table.
Mark joined them and sat down with his daughter in his lap. “Don’t forget we’re going to the gym to see Laird’s brother fight on Saturday.”
“Got it.” He took a gulp of his soda and then waved to Maddy. “See you guys later.” As he walked out of the restaurant, Mark’s words rang in his head. Maybe it was time to find something outside life on the Teams. As much as he wanted it to last forever, he knew it wouldn’t, and accepting it would probably be a good idea.
He had some time off coming up, so maybe he should go home for a visit. Who knew? Maybe Paige was still in Texas. Snorting, he shook his head. And maybe he was the Easter Bunny.
Even if she was home, she clearly wasn’t interested in getting in touch. She had his number and had never bothered to use it, so the message was clear. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to make a bit of difference to him. He still wanted to see her. One more time…just to get his mind right. Yeah, that’s what he wanted.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Wednesday, March 1
Dallas, Texas
Paige sat on the exam table with her legs swinging back and forth. The next ten minutes were going to define the rest of her life if she got back the results she expected. Denial had been a close companion for the last two months and she hated to let it go. How had she become part of the one percent? And it wasn’t the one percent who made all the money, it was the one percent that got pregnant while using a condom. Rubbing her hand over her stomach, she sighed. She knew it wasn’t her mama’s cooking that had caused the weight gain, as much as she wanted to believe it.
Mentally, she reviewed the plan that she’d come up with and tried to poke holes in it. When she couldn’t, she congratulated herself. It was a solid one and something she didn’t intend on deviating from.
Looking down at her manicure, she reaffirmed her decision and then straightened her shoulders. Faye Bennett had not raised her to be wishy-washy, and she wouldn’t let anyone down. Including the one who was going to depend on her most.
The door swung open and she took a calming breath and pasted a smile on her face. If people from this office planned on gossiping, then she was going to make sure it was about how happy she was. The last thing she wanted was to start off her child’s life with nasty rumors.
The doctor walked in along with his nurse, Donna. Paige graced them both with the debutante smile her mother had insisted she learn. “I look forward to hearing the results,” she said in an even tone. Another thing her mother had insisted she perfect. Turned out, not looking like an out-of-control mess had its advantages.
Dr. Nelson gave her a warm smile and patted her hand. “Sweet girl, you are going to be a mama. It looks like the due date will be sometime in the middle of September. Give or take a couple of weeks.”
Her cheeks were hurting like the dickens, but there was no way she was going to stop smiling. As far as the world was concerned, this was the happiest news in the world. “Thank you so much. A late summer baby. How perfect.”
Donna snorted and tried to cover it with her hand. No one was fooled, least of all Paige. “Did you say something, Donna?”
“Oh, no. It’s just blessed news.”
Blessed news, her butt. The moment she cleared the front door, the woman was going to tweet the news. She had all the class that God promised a pig. It had been true in high school and it was more true now. “Thank you. A baby is a blessing.”
Scooting off the table, she collected her things. “I’ll make a follow-up appointment with your receptionist.”
“The girls up front have a packet of information for you as well as some prenatal vitamins. I look forward to seeing you at your next appointment.”
Pressing her hand to the doctor’s arm, she smiled warmly. “Thank you, Dr. Nelson.”
As she moved down the hall, she kept her smile firmly in place. There was no way she was going to fall apart before she got home. Rules were rules, and she saw no need to let anyone in Dallas see her fall apart.
***
Paige swung the door open, entered her house, and collapsed on the kitchen floor. Ninety minutes—that’s how long she had held it together. Sitting with her back against the fridge, she buried her face in her arms and let the tears flow. One breakdown was all she was going to allow herself; after that, she would pull herself together and put one foot in front of the other. The baby she was growing deserved that and probably a lot more.
The daddy part of the equation was never going to happen. So, Paige was going to have to be enough on her own. One way or another.
Thinking back to the night the baby was conceived made her smile. The man had been a gifted lover, and she harbored no regrets. The fact that he snuck out in the middle of the night wasn’t all that surprising, but it did leave her in a bit of pickle regarding breaking the news. That is if she ever decided to share what they had made.
Wiping her eyes, she sniffed loudly. It was a one-night stand in a foreign country, and she was sure he never expected to hear from her again. No matter what he’d said when he gave her the necklace. They hadn’t exchanged information or phone numbers, so it was probably best left as it was.
The doorbell rang and she groaned. This wasn’t a time for visitors. She was busy having a breakdown. Resting her head on her knees, she decided to ignore it. Her car was in the garage, and there was no way anyone would know she was home. The bell rang again and she continued to ignore it. If it was her sisters or mama, they would’ve called. Since her phone was silent, she was in the clear.
Until the knocking started. There was only one person that persistent, and it was her grandmother. Florence Stewart wasn’t a woman who was easily ignored, so Paige stood slowly and walked to the door. A pit started to form in her stomach, and she imagined it was something that prisoners experienced before facing the inquisition. Utter dread.
No one could get to the heart of a story better that her Grammy. Sure, she looked like the sweetest, softest woman alive, but that just covered up a steel will. “Coming,” she called out. Slowing her steps, she tried to drag out the inevitable for as long as she could. Once the woman got ahold of her, there was no turning back.
Peeking through the window, she saw her grandmother tapping her foot. “Yeah, nothing good is going to come of this.” She swung the door open and smiled. “Hi, Grammy. I wasn’t expecting you.”
Marching past her, Grammy gave her a pitying look. “Cut the nonsense, child. Am I going to become a great-grandmother or not?”
“Soft-pedal it, why don’t you?” Closing the door, she followed her into the living room. “A little kindness for your favorite granddaughter would be appreciated.”
“Fiddle-faddle. Are you knocked up?”
“Let’s go into the kitchen and I’ll get us a glass of tea.”
Clapping her hands, Grammy let out a whoop. “I knew it. We have been blessed with a sweet baby.”
“Grammy, you need to slow your roll. I haven’t told you a thing.”
“But you will.” Setting her purse down, she fluffed her hair. “All that nonsense about your mama’s cooking didn’t fool me for a second. Also, your sudden affection for loose tops was a giveaway. I did not arrive at the ripe old age of seventy-five by ignoring the facts.”
“How come you figured it out and mama hasn’t?”
“Because I see what is and your mama sees what she wants.”
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Sighing, Paige ran her hand over her cheek. “Would you like some cookies to go with the tea? I could use some…and a bourbon. But the second is no longer an option, so I’m going to have to satisfy myself with the first.” Her favorite person in the world took her hand and squeezed it, which made her want to fall apart.
“Grammy,” she said, “seems I did get myself knocked up.”
Running her small hand down Paige’s face, she smiled. “Babies are blessings. No matter how they come. Somehow, someway, God decided it was time for you to become a mama. You are a strong, smart woman, and you can handle this. No matter what the father decides to do.”
Resting her head on top of her grandmother’s, she smiled. “Thank you.”
Lifting her granddaughter’s face, Grammy grinned. “Let’s have that tea and come up with a plan to break the news. As much of a blessing as this baby is going to be, it’s also going to set your mama on the warpath. Let’s have our ducks in a row before that happens.”
“Good idea.” She got their tea poured and cookies on a plate and then sat down at the table. “The father is not going to be involved.”
“Are you giving him a choice about it, or is this one of your unilateral decisions?”
“I have no idea how to get in touch with him. We had one night in Amman and he left in the middle of it. I’m thinking he’s not going to be receptive to any news I have to share with him.”
“Fair enough. No need to muck up the waters with someone who shouldn’t be there.”
Lifting her glass, she took a sip of her sweet tea. “I had no idea you were so open-minded.”
Waving her hand, Grammy laughed. “Young people always think they’re the ones who invented sex. I have news for you—we were doing it long before you came along. The only thing that’s changed is you don’t have to marry a man you slept with and never meant to keep. In my day, we were stuck, but thank God all of that has changed.”
“So, you don’t judge me for what’s happening?”
“Of course not. Humans are designed to experience pleasure. Physical relations with a man are one of the finest ways to experience that.” Taking a bite of her cookie, she shrugged. “If the Navy SEAL is the daddy, don’t tell your mama or she’ll never give up. Best keep that to yourself if you don’t want her to start a manhunt.”
“I wouldn’t know how to find him if I wanted to, so I don’t expect Mama to either.”
Pointing her glass, Grammy winked. “That won’t be a problem for my daughter, so if you want to keep this quiet, zip your lips.”
Leaning over, Paige kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “I love you and I’m lucky to have you.”
“Truer words were never said.” She pushed the plate of cookies toward Paige. “Eat up, honey. You’re going to need your strength.”
God bless America. That was the truth.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Saturday, March 8
San Diego
Blake stood in front of the Undisputed gym downtown and waited for his friends to arrive. Laird’s brother, Chase, was fighting in an exhibition match and some of the guys had planned on coming down. With his back against the wall, Blake quartered the area. The brick building and cracked concrete reminded him of his years on patrol in the Stans. The smell was completely different and so were the sounds, but the heat emanating from the street wasn’t.
Hearing a whistle, he looked up and saw Chris approach. The Iceman looked like shit, and Blake figured it had to do with the son he had at home. “Hey, Chris. Looks like the little man is doing a number on you.”
Taking a gulp of his extra-large coffee, Chris grinned. “Whoever said that kids were not adept at torture was lying.”
Blake threw out his hand and shook his friend’s hand. “Brother, when was the last time you slept?”
“Seven months ago. Best damn time of my life.” Looking up at the building, he grimaced. “This place used to be owned by the father of the men who kidnapped and beat Rachel.”
Glancing at the sign, Blake shook his head. “Damn, I forgot the connection. I heard it was bought by a family and they revamped everything.”
“Heard the same thing,” Chris replied. “One of the owners is the All-Army Combatives Champion.”
“Damn, that’s a serious credential,” Blake responded. “Hey, thanks for the help the other day.”
Chris nodded. “No problem. I handed off the information to Laird, and he’s been working on it.”
Blake kicked the ground and studied the trash that was strewn across the gutter. “I don’t know why I can’t let this go. She never called, so I should just leave it alone.”
“And…” Chris made a rolling motion with his hand.
“And, something about her has me ten kinds of crazy. It’s like she has me under a spell or something. One night and I can’t forget her.”
“Bewitched,” Chris stated. “The woman has bewitched you. Same thing happened with Rachel. I knew it the moment I saw her. Just don’t make the same mistake I did.”
“Which was?”
“Ignored my feelings. That tiny woman scared the hell out of me and I did nothing about it. Had I managed to find my balls and ask her out, I could’ve saved her from the pyscho ex.”
“You don’t know that for sure,” Blake said as he studied his friend. “It’s possible she wouldn’t have been ready.”
“Maybe, but I would’ve known what was going on and I could’ve protected her. We lost a baby, and not a day goes by that I don’t blame myself. Rachel tries to convince me otherwise, but in my heart, that’s how I feel.” He drained his coffee, then pitched the cup in a trash can. “My advice to you? Go for it. This sort of thing comes by once in a lifetime if you’re lucky. It’s better to cross the line and suffer the consequences than to stare at that line for the rest of your life.”
Everything Chris said rang true. One of Blake’s first commanders told him, “You are always one decision away from a totally different life.” It had been true in combat and it was true in life. He’d hesitated when he’d gone out with Ana years ago, and he always regretted it. If he didn’t do something about Paige, he would never forgive himself. “Thanks, man. That’s exactly what I needed to hear.”
Chris let out a laugh. “Who would’ve ever guessed that I had anything helpful to say about relationships?”
“No one. Absolutely no one.” Blake snorted.
Mark and Travis walked down the street, and the conversation ended. No more talk about feelings and shit. They were going to see some serious MMA contenders, and Blake looked forward to it. Seeing two men beat the crap out of each other on a Saturday afternoon was his idea of a good time. As they all walked toward the entrance, he wondered if Paige might like something like this. Chris was right. She had bewitched him. Paige Bennett had been on his mind for over three months, so he might as well accept it and move forward.
***
The group entered the gym, and Blake felt Chris go on alert as they entered. “You okay?”
“Not sure, man. The last time I was here was when I was carrying Rachel out, unconscious. Looks totally different, though.”
Travis knocked fists with Chris. “A lot of good things happened after you got her out of here. You married her and have a twenty-pound monster of a boy. It all worked out.”
“That’s the truth,” Chris agreed.
Laird was on the other end of the gym, near the octagon, with his wife, Lexi, and their daughter, Bella. He waved them over. “Thanks for coming to support Chase,” Laird called out.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Mark said. Leaning over, he kissed Lexi and Bella. “Why didn’t you go over to the house for the spa day that Birdie organized?”
“I have to cheer on Chase and give Bella a chance to see her favorite uncle beat the crap out of another man. For some reason, she likes it and claps. I just have to make sure when she goes to preschool that she doesn’t use any of the techniques on the other kids.”
Laird wrapped his
arm around his wife and shook his head. “I like the idea of her being able to take care of any bullies.”
Mark lifted Bella’s hand and laughed. “You’re not even two and your dad is already making sure you can fight.”
Lexi kissed her daughter’s head. “She can’t even walk yet, so the MMA training is going to have to wait.”
Before Laird could respond, an older gentleman stood on a platform next to the octagon and spoke into a mic. “Welcome, everyone, to our second exhibition. We’re going to have these at least once a month. My wife wanted me to remind you to sign up for the mailing list so we can keep everyone updated. Thanks for coming. We’ll start in about ten minutes.”
Laird turned to the men. “That’s Harry Bennett. He’s a retired marine. He bought the gym with his two sons, who are both fighters.”
When Blake heard the name Bennett, he thought about Paige and knew that once he saw this thing through, he could let it go. Just one conversation with her and he could move on.
The group grabbed some seats, settled in, and waited for the fight to begin. Mark collapsed next to Blake and elbowed him. “Are you coming tomorrow to the base?”
“Yeah, I’ll help out with the O-course. Don’t have a lot going on, so it will be my pleasure to make sure those tadpoles do it correctly.”
“Any progress on the advice I offered the other day? You’re going to have to come up with something because you’re not going to be ready for combat for at least six months.”
“Thanks for reminding me,” Blake huffed. “Since you’re interested in gossiping like a teenager, I will tell you that I’m headed home for a visit. The doc told me that he’d see me again eight weeks.”
“Good idea. Nothing like a little family time to give a man a new perspective. I’m assuming you’re going to do something about the woman you never talk about while you’re there.”
“Shut up,” Blake responded. Looking across the gym, his eyes narrowed. “She’s probably posted on the other side of the world. The chances she’s still in Texas are slim to none.”