by Lea Hart
“Let’s wait and see what we find out. Paige hasn’t told me a thing about how they left it. I’m guessing he’s coming back because his clothes are still in the drawers, but let’s not alarm him if we don’t have to.”
“Good idea. Men don’t handle these sorts of things well,” Grammy replied.
The doorbell rang and Faye let out a breath. “Thank God.”
“I’ll bring them back,” Grammy said as she hustled out of the bathroom.
“Help is here, sugar.” Faye kissed her daughter’s head and sent up a little prayer. “We’re going to get you and the baby whatever you need.”
A large paramedic entered the bathroom, and Faye gave him a grateful smile. “My daughter needs your help.”
“Yes, ma’am. Let’s get her into the ambulance and you can give me all the vital information.”
Faye moved to the side and allowed the man to pick up her daughter. “Be careful,” she instructed as she watched him place her on the gurney in the hallway.
Another paramedic stood in the hall and nodded. “We always are, ma’am.”
Grammy handed Faye her handbag as well as Paige’s. “Let me get some sandals. She can’t go into a hospital barefoot.”
“It’s okay, Mama. Don’t worry about that for now. Ask one of the girls to stop by and pack a bag for her before she comes to the hospital.”
“Okay. I got ahold of Phillip’s secretary and she’s going to get him a message. He’s in court, so it may take a while before he meets us at the hospital.”
“Call me when you get there and I’ll let you know where we are.” Faye followed the paramedics out of the house and waited until they loaded her daughter. Once Paige was secure, she climbed in behind them and began giving them Paige’s complete medical history. Before they made it to the end of the street, Paige was hooked up to an IV and monitors.
Faye let out a small breath of relief. Holding her daughter’s hand, she knew that whatever was in front of them wasn’t going to be easy.
***
It was four in the morning and Faye studied her daughter. Lifting a wet cloth, she wiped Paige’s forehead and then her face. “You keep fighting. Just like you always have. This nasty infection is not going to get the best of you.” Straightening the blankets, she then sat down and took her hand. “We have the best doctors looking after you, so know that you’re in good hands.”
The door opened and her husband walked in with two steaming cups of coffee. “Thank you, honey,” she said.
Phillip stood behind his wife and shook his head. “I can’t stand to see any of my girls in the hospital. I want to do something for her and all I can do is wait.” He handed Faye a coffee and then sat in the chair next to the bed. “Honey, why don’t you see if you can take a nap? I’ll watch over Paige.”
Patting her husband’s hand, she smiled. “We both know I’ll never sleep.”
“That’s true.”
“Is it time to call Blake and let him know what’s going on?” Faye asked. “I’m not sure how they left it, but it seems wrong not to let him know that the baby is in danger.”
“I called him before I went down to the cafeteria. He was as mad as a hornet that we didn’t let him know right away.”
“I suppose we should’ve called him at midnight when we found out what happened.” Faye smoothed her hand over her daughter’s face and listened to the monitors beep. Our poor baby. You know the chances of Paige’s and the baby’s blood getting mixed up during the procedure are less than one percent.”
Phillip leaned back and sipped his coffee. “It’s hard to believe that they both got an infection on top of that. It makes me think the procedure was a bad idea.”
“Maybe you’re right. After all, the last ultrasound results were not conclusive. The amnio was meant to make sure that the baby was developing.”
Shaking his head, he smoothed his pant leg down. “All it did was land our daughter and her son in the hospital.”
“Was Blake really mad, or slightly upset?”
“You know how mad you get when the girls don’t tell when they have a cold?”
Giving her husband a disapproving look, she waited. “I’m not going to enjoy this example, am I?”
“Probably not.” He took his wife’s hand and frowned. “Blake has every right to be angry. Paige and the baby have become the most important thing to him. Even if he and Paige don’t end up together, we have to accept that he’s part of their lives.”
“I accept that completely.” Glancing at her daughter, she wondered what agreement, if any, they had come to about the future. “I’m not sure Paige has accepted that, though. When they got back from Lubbock, she didn’t say a word. For all I know, she’s not planning on spending any more time with him.”
“We both know that’s not what he wants,” Phillip replied. “I think that boy has fallen for our daughter and has no idea what to do about it.”
“I know he has. When I was there today, I noticed his clothes are folded neatly next to Paige’s, his boots are in the closet, and his toothbrush is hanging right next to hers. That is a man who knows what he wants. If I had to guess, I say it’s Paige who isn’t sure.”
“Our stubborn daughter,” Phillip said affectionately.
“She’s always marched to her own tune, and there’s very little anyone can do to change that. If Blake is looking for a permanent place in her life, then he’s going to have to learn that patience is the only answer.”
Phillip leaned over and kissed his wife’s cheek. “When I told him that, he didn’t blink an eye. It seems that she may have met her match.”
“I hope so, Phillip.” Lifting her husband’s hand, she kissed it. “Life is a lot easier if you’re part of a team.” Watching her daughter, she hoped Paige would discover that too.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Saturday, May 6
Blake walked into Paige’s sunny hospital room and saw her sitting on the bed, facing the window. “We have to stop meeting like this.” He pressed a kiss to her wet hair and felt a wave of relief wash over his body. “Feel better after your shower?”
“Much.”
He handed her a cup of hot chocolate and then sat down in front of her. “You scared the shit out of me.” Scooting his chair closer, he laid his head in her lap. “When I walked into this room yesterday and saw you hooked up to all those monitors, I about had a heart attack.”
Paige ran her fingers through his hair and sighed. “The good news is that it’s over. There’s no reason for my body to start attacking itself again.”
“If I had been here, I could’ve helped you.” Lifting himself up, he looked into her eyes. “One way or another, we’re going to be together. No more of this separation business.”
“Since you’re here, make yourself useful and comb this knot out of my hair.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He felt her hand on his shirt and saw tears gather in her eyes. “What, honey?” Taking the hot chocolate out her hand, he set it down. “Come here.” Lifting her up, he settled her in his lap. “You’re okay. I got you.” He felt her kiss his chest. The last chain loosened around his heart. It was hers now, and there wasn’t a thing he could do about it.
“You said that to me as the building exploded in Jordan. Then you said it again when we made this baby. Thank you…for holding on and protecting me.”
He felt her body start to shake. She dampened his T-shirt with her tears. “Let it out, honey.” Rubbing her back, he kissed her cheek. “I’ve got you and I always will. You and the baby are doing okay, and we’re going to make sure it stays that way. The nurse said you’re having an ultrasound later today so we can see how he’s doing in there. They said he was reacting well to the antibiotics, and his heart rate is right where it needs to be.”
“When they told me he was in distress, I felt my heart break. I’m his mama. I’m supposed to take care of him.”
“You are taking care of him. The chances of an infection occurring after an amnio ar
e less than one percent. It was a good thing your mama was there and got help right away.” Placing his hand on her tummy, he let out a laugh. “I just felt him move.”
Paige put her hand on her stomach and smiled. “I think he’s started playing soccer again.”
“That’s my boy. Nothing keeps him down for long.” He lowered his mouth and took hers in a heart-pounding kiss. His future tasted absolutely perfect. When he released her, he grinned. “I’m going to comb out your hair and give you one of my famous braids.”
She crawled out of his lap and sat on the bed next to him. “Please, sir, work your magic.”
He took the brush and turned her around. “Tell me what I missed in the four days we were separated.”
“You start. I want to know what happened at your final eval.” Turning, she gave him a side eye. “Quit stalling. Are you going back to the Teams?”
He felt her shoulders tense and knew her casual tone was covering up her very real concern. “I can go back to the Teams, but if I injure my shoulder again, I could lose the use of my arm. The doctor recommended medical retirement.” Slowly, he started unraveling the knot and hummed to himself.
“Blake!”
He leaned over her shoulder and smiled. “Yes, honey?”
“What are you going to do?” Sitting up straighter, she threw him a disgruntled look. “I can’t believe you’re playing with me.”
The knot finally unraveled and he slowly brushed her hair. “I’m not playing. It’s just hard for me to believe that you’re all that interested where I might be spending the next couple of years. After all, it was you that said you’d see me some time after the baby was born. If a man hears that enough times, he starts to believe he’s not wanted.” He knew he was pushing her and he didn’t care. There was a big part of him that needed to know whether she wanted him or not. He was real clear about where he wanted to end up, and it was about time Paige decided that too. “Let me braid your hair. Quit moving around.”
“I tell you, you’re about the most infuriating man that ever lived. I know what you’re doing and I have a mind never to tell you how I feel.”
He finished the braid and then kissed her gently behind her ear. He’d learned over the last month that if he kissed her there, she softened right up. And right about now, she could use some softening. She was getting herself riled up, and if he wasn’t careful she would work herself into an almighty mad that was going to be difficult to get over. Well…it would be difficult only if they couldn’t make love. That was another thing he’d discovered about Paige…she got over things quicker if they were naked. “All right…I guess I’ll give you the update.”
Scooting away from him, she leaned against the pillows and stretched out her feet across his lap. Lifting her hand, she studied her nails. “Whenever you’re ready. It’s not like it’s going to matter to me one way or another.”
“Let me ask you something before I give you the full story.”
Flipping her hand around, she smiled. “Go ahead.”
“What was your biggest objection to moving to San Diego?”
Her eyebrows knit together, and she fiddled with a button on her pajama top. “I didn’t want to go to San Diego and be by myself. If you go back to the Teams, then I’ll be in a new state without any family or friends. That doesn’t make any sense, given my current condition.”
He lifted her foot and started massaging it. Her shoulders dropped immediately and her face softened. He’d learned all her tells over the last month, and he probably knew her body better than she knew it herself. It had been his mission to learn everything about her that he could, and he silently congratulated himself on the excellent job he’d done.
The world might see a tenacious, fearless woman, but he saw a big soft cookie. Truth be told, she was both, but he figured few people got to see her soft, gooey center. The same could be said about him. Most people would say he was a hard-ass with a singular focus and no sense of humor. Which was true, but he was also a man who would brush his woman’s hair, rub her feet, and turn the world upside down if he thought she wanted it. He just needed to find out what she wanted.
“Would you consider living in San Diego for a while if I came home every night?”
Leaning forward, she laid her hand on his knee. “Oh, Blake, are you sure?”
He covered her hand and shook his head. “Surprisingly, my world didn’t collapse when I heard the news. I’m ready for the second act of my life. I want to be able to throw a ball to my son, so trying something new seems like the best choice.”
Shaking her head, she squeezed his hand. “I don’t know, Blake. I think you’re taking this a little too well. I’m worried you’re not dealing with the reality of this major shift in your life.”
“Honey, men don’t last on the Teams much past eight years. I’ve had over twelve. That makes me damn lucky.”
“But…”
“But nothing. Before 9/11, SEALs might have had a half-dozen direct action missions a year. Can you guess how many my platoon engages in on a monthly basis?”
“A lot.”
“A lot is right. And our rotations are lasting between six and ten months. My doctor said something that clicked and helped me put this whole thing in perspective. The war has changed but the human body hasn’t. It can take only so much abuse before it starts falling apart. I’ve been put back together more times than I can count. Hell, you know that just by the scars on my body.”
“I think you’re perfect.” Playing with her braid, she gave him a smile. “So, it’s okay?”
Nodding, he lifted her left hand and rubbed his thumb over her ring finger. “Yeah, I’m ready for what comes next. I’ve got a lot to look forward to.”
Rubbing her stomach, she laughed. “So, Junior and I are your next chapter. We’re supposed to be as exciting as being a SEAL? I don’t think that’s possible.”
“Honey, you and our son are going to prove to be a lot more exciting.”
Leaning forward, she pulled him closer. “You sure?”
“Absolutely.” Framing her face, he realized that the spell she’d cast on him months ago was only getting stronger. She really had bewitched him, and it wasn’t something that he expected to ever end. “Give me a kiss.” When their lips met, he knew…definitely bewitched.
A knock on the door interrupted their smooching. Reluctantly, he released her mouth and smoothed down her hair. “Guess we’ll have to pick this up later.” The door swung open and a tech rolled in a machine. “Can we help you?” Blake called out.
“You don’t look pregnant to me, so I’m going to say no,” the woman called back. “I’m interested in that pretty lady sitting next to you.”
“Is it time for my sonogram?”
“Sure is.” She rolled the cart next to the bed. “My name is Daisy and I’ll be showing you some pictures of that sweet baby you’re growing.” After she set everything up, she studied them both. “My goodness, this child won the genetic lottery with you two. Doesn’t matter who he takes after. Either way, he’s going to be a good-looking child.” She turned the machine on and let it warm up. “Not that looks mean a thing if you don’t have the brains to back it up. I can tell you all kinds of stories about people who look good on the outside but are as ugly as sin on the inside. And let’s face it, that’s all that really counts. How much kindness and compassion a person has is a true mark of their worth.”
Paige leaned forward and clasped Daisy’s hand. “I couldn’t agree more.”
The ultrasound machine beeped. “All systems go,” Daisy said. She pulled the gel out and held it up. “It’s going to be cold, so get ready.”
Paige nodded and leaned back as Blake took her hand. “You ready to see our son?” she asked.
Blake squeezed her hand in response. “It’s been a month, and I want to see how much he’s changed.”
“What brings you into the hospital?” Daisy asked as she spread the gel around.
“I had an amnio and some of
my blood and the baby’s blood got mixed up during the procedure. We’ve had a rough couple of days.”
“That doesn’t happen very often,” Daisy responded as she put the paddle on Paige’s stomach. “I know you’ve been on a fetal monitor and everything looks good, but I think seeing for yourself always makes a person feel better.”
“Absolutely,” Paige responded.
The images started to come up on the screen, and Blake studied it closely. He’d never heard a sweeter sound than the baby’s heartbeat. He’d read the reports that indicated there were no irregularities, but hearing it made him feel a lot better. “It sounds good,” Blake said.
Daisy looked up and gave him a smile. “Can you see, Dad? If you can’t, move your chair closer.”
“Thank you, Daisy. I have a good view.”
She gave him a wink. “Yes, you do, young man. You’re looking at your beautiful…”
“…girlfriend,” Paige answered.
“Girlfriend,” Daisy repeated as she moved the paddle and started taking measurements. “Let me get the vital statistics down and then we’ll look at his face. Ideally, he’ll cooperate and give us the money shot. Some babies are shy and cover their faces or just give us a view of their hineys. Let’s hope your boy shows us what he looks like.”
Blake looked at Paige and wanted her to be a lot more than a girlfriend. His feelings were the kind that lasted a lifetime. They had a lot to talk about, and he hoped they could come to an agreement that would make them both happy. Moving to San Diego was a big ask, but it wouldn’t be forever. Unless they decided they liked it enough to stay. The only thing that mattered was that they were together. One way or another.
Hearing Paige’s laugh pulled him out of his thoughts, and he focused on the screen. “Is our boy running in there?”
“Sure seems like it. Look at those legs move,” Paige responded. “That comes from you. The only thing I run to is the fridge.”
Daisy clucked her tongue as she recorded measurements. “This boy is going to be big, just like his daddy.” Looking over her glasses at Blake, she smiled. “If I were you, I’d start shopping for a push present right away. Paige is going to deserve a big one after pushing this boy out.”