“You know Dad. He reacts, says things he doesn’t mean, but he’ll come around. He always does.”
I sighed. “I don’t think he’s gonna change his mind this time, Izzy. He and Mom have never liked Jack. This is just too much for him.”
“But you need us right now, Cassie,” she cried. “You’re having a baby, and you’ll be all alone in Philadelphia.”
“It’ll be fine,” I said. “I’d planned to stay up there anyway until Dad had his heart attack. I think it’s better this way. I can maybe work at the school, gain some experience, and make connections to help in my career. I still plan to finish school, once the baby’s born.”
“Why can’t you finish school here, in Utah?” Isabelle put the last of my bags in the trunk and closed the hood. She leaned against the car as if trying to keep me from leaving.
“Because I don’t belong here, Izzy,” I said, a touch of sadness in my tone. “Dad made it perfectly clear. I’m not welcome here. I still have my place in Philly, and I can continue with classes. I’ll figure it out.”
A sharp pain shot through my pelvic region. I cried out, and Isabelle rushed to my side.
“What is it?”
It took me a minute or two to catch my breath, but as soon as the cramping stopped, I answered my sister. “Just some Braxton-Hicks,” I mumbled. “I had a couple this morning. My doctor said it’s normal.”
“Are you sure it’s Braxton-Hicks and not the real deal?”
“I think I would know if I’m going into labor, Izzy,” I said with a laugh that didn’t sound as confident as I’d hoped.
“And even if it is, do you really think you should be driving?”
She had me there.
“No, you’re right. I’ll give it some more time, maybe head over to Madison’s and—” I stopped mid-sentence as another pain ripped through my insides. I crumpled over, leaning against the car for support.
“Isabelle? What’s going on?” Mom’s voice called from the front porch.
“I think Cassie’s in labor.”
“I’m not in labor,” I said, speaking each word slowly through the contraction. “It’s just—”
Before I could finish, I felt a warmth rushing down my legs.
Isabelle cried. “Her water broke! Call an ambulance!”
“I’m not—” I wanted to keep saying I wasn’t in labor, but the proof was right there in front of me.
I was only thirty-six weeks along. The baby could be born healthy at thirty-six weeks, but I still felt it was too soon.
I crumpled and cried out in pain as the world around me blurred. Everything seemed to be moving both too fast and too slow, and I couldn’t make heads or tails of what was happening.
My dad wasn’t home, so it was just my mom and Isabelle. They were shouting back and forth at each other.
“Call an ambulance!” Isabelle yelled.
“We’ll drive her. It’ll take too long for them to get here,” my mom countered.
“You think we can get to the hospital faster?” Isabelle asked as my mom took my arm, trying to guide me to the car. She dialed 911 and spoke rapidly into the phone.
“I’m not sure I’ll make it, Mom,” I said, my legs shaking underneath me.
“Alright, sweetie, take some deep breaths,” she said. “Lean against the car and me if you have to. It’s going to be okay.”
I sucked in several breaths, trying to ease the pain that I thought was coming too fast. After a few minutes, I heard sirens in the distance and prayed they were for me. Isabelle was still talking to the dispatcher. “I think they’re close now.”
“That was fast,” Mom commented.
Not fast enough, I thought to myself. It still felt like an eternity before they arrived on our street. I was hit with another wave of contractions just as the EMT’s hopped out of the ambulance and rushed over to me.
“It’s gonna be okay, honey,” my mom said, stroking the hair back from my face.
I was dripping in sweat, the hair clinging to my flesh. I grabbed her hand and squeezed it as the pain ripped through my insides.
The EMT’s managed to load me into the ambulance. I wasn’t much help at all. Even between contractions, I was panicking. My body was shaking, and I could hardly walk. This is it, I thought to myself. I’m having this baby.
Please God, I begged, let my son be okay.
* * *
Owen Jackson was born not even two hours after arriving at the hospital. He was ready and eager to make his appearance in the world. His lungs were mostly developed but still needed more time. He was jaundiced as well. He would stay in the NICU in an incubator until his lungs were healthy enough for him to breathe on his own.
Seeing my little boy with oxygen tubes and IV’s nearly broke me. I cried, wondering if I was somehow at fault for him coming a month early. The stress with my father and Jack might have pushed me into labor, or perhaps it was something I did or didn’t do.
Even though my parents and Isabelle were with me, I felt so alone. I wanted Jack to be there to see his son. But it wasn’t going to happen, nor was it a good idea.
My father had shown up after Owen was born. He’d been working out of town when he got the call. I didn’t speak to him, and he didn’t say much to me either. The tension was still there, and I feared it would continue to weigh heavily over us until we addressed it.
But hours after delivering my son, I wasn’t in the mood.
Madison and Hannah showed up as soon as I was allowed visitors, and I felt guilty as hell that Madison was my son’s aunt and didn’t know. I’d been so scared, and every time I thought about telling her that her brother was the father of my child, I couldn’t find the words. I didn’t want her to have to keep that kind of a secret from her brother.
And now didn’t feel like the right time either. Especially since Jack had told me not to tell anyone. I assumed this included his sister.
Madison and Hannah were cooing over how adorable Owen was. They’d bought me some gifts - baby clothes and toys, along with a bouquet of flowers and a balloon for me. Attached to the flowers was a card that included a gift card for a spa day.
“Like she’s gonna have time to go to the spa,” my mom scoffed. “She’s a new mother. She’ll be lucky to get sleep.”
I knew she meant it as a joke, or maybe she didn’t. I tried to brush it off as I thanked my besties for the gift.
Madison interjected, however, “Well, good thing she has two best friends who’ll be more than happy to watch that adorable bundle of joy anytime she needs us to. In fact, I think Zoey would enjoy the company.”
Zoey was her daughter - Owen’s cousin - who was nine months old. The two of them could grow up together, and I knew Madison would be ecstatic to find out that they were related. Someday when the time was right.
Isabelle piped up. “And if she’s staying in Liberty, I’ll be happy to help too. She doesn’t have to raise him alone.”
My father, who’d been quiet until this point, finally decided to speak. “Yeah, well, it would be nice if the father actually helped, but I don’t suppose that’ll happen.”
The room went quiet, likely out of shock. But only for a moment.
Madison, who’d always had issues with my parents, spoke up. “You really shouldn’t talk to your daughter that way.”
My dad glared at her. “Maybe tell your brother to get his ass over here and take care of his child, like a real man.”
Madison scrunched up her face in confusion, then looked at me as if waiting for confirmation. Everyone was looking at me.
“Madison, I meant to tell you, but—”
A nurse popped into the room, a cheerful smile on her face as she interrupted. “How’s the new mother doing?”
“Jack’s the father?” Madison asked, a hurt look on her face. “Cass, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I can’t talk about this right now,” I muttered, motioning to the nurse.
“Oh, you’re fine,” the nurse commented brightly. “I was
just checking to see if you needed anything.”
“No, thank you.”
Before she left, my dad turned to the woman and said, “Maybe you could call Jack Wiley and tell him to get his ass down here. His son needs him.”
“Dad!” I cried. “Please, stop it.”
Jack had told me not to let anyone in town know that Owen was his son, and my father was blabbing it to anyone who would listen.
“What? Are you suddenly ashamed of your choice in men? It’s too late now, darling.” His voice was loud enough that I feared the whole ward could hear him.
The nurse stopped in the doorway, turning to look at me.
“Excuse me, but my brother isn’t a low-life or a deadbeat,” Madison said, her voice cracking. “And let me call him. I guarantee the second he knows, he’ll be here.”
“Madison, please don’t—”
My dad laughed. “Jack Wiley isn’t gonna do shit. He’s not gonna take care of that baby.” He scoffed loudly. “No, the responsibility is going to fall on me.”
Madison moved across the room, and even though I could tell she was trying to remain calm, it was hard for her. Her brother was all she had growing up because their parents had been addicts. Her defensiveness was justified, but I wasn’t in the mood for a fight. And I didn’t want even more people to hear that Jack was the father of my son.
“Stop it! All of you, please just stop it.” Tears fell from my eyes. I was so fucking angry that my dad was making this all about him. “I gave birth just a few hours ago. I can’t even hold or feed my son because he’s in the NICU attached to tubes to breathe and eat, and you’re treating me like this, Dad? Get the hell out.”
That was all I needed to say. The nurse took my father’s arm. He pulled it away, his face growing redder by the second. The nurse spoke softly to him, “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. If you don’t comply, I will call security. I won’t let you upset my patient.”
I thought my father might try to argue. It wouldn’t have surprised me. He liked to argue. When he lost his temper, he would say things he would later regret.
He hesitated in the doorway, but the nurse shot him a look that was no longer cheerful or kind, and he complied. My mother looked torn between staying or going but ultimately stayed in the room.
As soon as he was gone, the tension in the room dissipated.
“Your father, he…well, he doesn’t mean what he says,” my mom attempted.
“It doesn’t matter,” Madison spat, speaking before I could. “Cassie doesn’t deserve to be treated that way.”
“Thank you,” I said, reaching for her hand. I thought she might be mad at me for not telling her sooner, and perhaps she was. Madison turned her attention to me, and her face softened. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was scared after everything that happened.”
“When did you get pregnant?” she asked.
“When I came down to help him after you asked me to.”
“Is that why you left so fast? Without even seeing me?”
“No, I mean, yes, kind of. I didn’t know I was pregnant at the time, obviously, but after he went to jail, I left town in a hurry because I was hurt and scared.” I looked at her pleadingly. “
I didn’t know what to think, Madison. He was arrested for murder.”
“A murder he didn’t commit,” she added quickly.
“Yes, I know that now, but I didn’t know that back then,” I reminded her. “He didn’t tell me anything. And once he was cleared, I tried to call him, but he never called me back, and I just thought maybe it was for the best if I didn’t tell anyone.” I sucked in a breath. “And now, well, now he’s telling me that no one can know because it’s too dangerous, and I’m worried everyone in the hospital knows now thanks to my dad and—”
I was speaking a mile a minute, but Madison finally quieted me down, putting her hand on my arm. “Shhh, Cassie. It’s gonna be okay. I forgive you.”
“Thank you,” I murmured.
“So Jack knows?”
I nodded sniffling. Hannah handed me a tissue, and I blew my nose.
“Then he needs to get his ass over here.”
“No, Madison,” I insisted. “Like I said, he told me no one can know.”
I thought she might ask me why, but she didn’t. She gave me a knowing look and squeezed my hand tightly. “It’s gonna be okay, Cassie. My brother will figure this out. He’s gonna protect you and Owen, and he’s gonna make an amazing father.”
“I know he will,” I said.
“Jack’ll take care of it. I know my brother. He won’t let anything happen to either of you,” she promised. “And you have us too, you know. Teddy and I are here for you. Hannah too.”
“And me,” Isabelle chimed in.
My mom walked to the other side of the bed and took my other hand. “You know you’ll always have me, sweetie. And your dad will come around. Just give him some time.”
I wiped my eyes, wanting to believe them. I wanted to believe it would all be okay.
Jack
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and at first, I thought it might be Hank. But it wasn’t my burner. Madison’s face popped up on the screen, her big blue eyes and bright smile a stark contrast to the dark alley I was hanging around in.
I had a few minutes before the meetup. I considered not answering, but I remembered what had happened, what she’d been through because of me, and I feared something could be wrong.
“Hey, sis,” I answered. “Now isn’t exactly a good time.”
I was still alone at the moment. No sign of the guy I was supposed to meet. All I knew was that his name was Richard and he’d be in a black SUV.
“Well, it’s important, Jack.” Madison’s voice was tinged with annoyance. “Cassie had the baby. Your baby.”
She enunciated “your” as if to let me know she wasn’t pleased with my little secret. I cringed, but not from the scolding. I trusted Madison and knew she would keep a secret if she needed to, but the fact that she found out meant others probably had too.
But that feeling passed once her words sank in.
I lowered my voice. “How is she? How’s the baby?”
“Cassie’s doing fine, though she could probably use some support from the father,” she said dryly. “She had a boy. His name is Owen. He’s a month premature, and there’s some problems with his lungs, plus he’s jaundiced, but he should be fine. He just needs to stay in the NICU for a bit.”
I wasn’t sure what I felt. So many emotions poured through my body at once. I never knew I could feel that way. I was terrified, scared that my son might be struggling to survive at that very moment. I was heartbroken that I couldn’t go to them and pissed off at the powers that be that made it impossible.
“Jack? You still there?”
“Yeah, sorry. Just processing everything, that’s all,” I told her. “I wish I could be there. I really do.”
“Why can’t you?”
“I’m dealing with some shit right now, Madison.”
“And is it more important than your son?”
“No, but it’s for him, Mads. I can’t explain right now, it really is a bad time, but no one can know about this, alright? Not a soul.”
“It’s too late for that, I’m afraid,” she said. “Cassie’s dad might have told the entire hospital.”
I flinched as if she’d punched me. First, her mom announced it in the diner, and then her dad had run his big mouth at the hospital. The way word spread around Liberty, the whole town probably knew I’d knocked Cassie up. It was likely big news. The perfect straight-A, future lawyer pregnant by a fuckup like me. An ex-con. Oh, people were probably eating that shit up.
I glanced around again to make sure I was still alone before speaking. “We need to deny it. Just keep denying it, tell people it’s not true. It’s bullshit,” I said. “Even if they simply think I’m a deadbeat who doesn’t care about his son, that beats the alternative.”
“What is the
alternative, Jack?”
I couldn’t bring myself to say the words out loud. “Trust me, Mads. That’s all I can say for now.”
Madison sighed, and I wasn’t sure she would drop it. “Fine. As soon as Owen’s released from the hospital, we can try to set something up. Sneak you over to my house or something.”
“I’d love that.” I wasn’t the type to cry, but I felt a burning in my eyes. “I’d really appreciate it, Mads.”
The sound of a car tire hitting the gravel at the end of the alley pulled my attention back to my present location. A black SUV rolled toward me.
“Listen, I have to go, sis. Love you.”
I hung up the phone before Madison could argue with me. I slipped it into my jacket pocket and walked over to the SUV just as the man stepped out. He was maybe forty-five years old with dark hair that was thinning on top. His eyes were concealed by sunglasses, and the rest of his face was hidden behind a thick, black beard that almost looked fake.
Hank had told me he should be alone, and even though the windows were tinted on the vehicle, I didn’t see anyone else moving around inside. So far, so good.
Richard handed me a suitcase. “Where’s the goods?”
“One second,” I said, lifting my jacket to showcase the gun sitting in its holster. “Boss says I need to count it first.”
“It’s all there,” Richard said, running a hand over the beard.
“Rules are rules. I have to count it before you leave,” I reiterated. I set the briefcase on the hood of the vehicle without turning my back on Richard. I popped it open and stared at more money than I’d ever seen in my entire life. All big bills, making it easy to count quickly.
This’s only $500k,” I said, looking at him. “Where’s the extra $40k, Richard?”
“It’s all there,” he insisted.
“Are you saying I can’t fucking count?”
“No, I’m saying that the deal was $500, not $540. You must be mistaken.”
The man started fumbling with something in his jacket, but I reached for my gun and pointed it directly at him. He stopped moving his hands, but one was in his jacket pocket.
Take a Mountain Man Home for Christmas: A Mountain Man Romance Christmas Collection Page 111