A Different Time

by Donna Steele

  “That’s just it,” Dusty mused. “I barely remember the dream, just a scaly creature. I put the name alligator to it. But it’s not quite right. Hence the research. If two other guys are doing it for me, I’ll wait.”

  Leonard turned to leave. “Okay, need to get back to my desk.”

  “Thanks again for the invite. I’ll get you a date tomorrow,” Dusty promised. Leonard left the office, looking somewhat embarrassed.

  Chapter 19

  The feeling had grown for days.

  Dee was beginning to officially worry about her sanity. Her doctor assured her the baby was fine and nightmares were common during pregnancy. She’d been hard-pressed not to claw his eyes out.

  Since doctors made terrible patients, she attempted to rein in her anxiety. Only Dusty’s presence really helped.

  If she thought about it, the same had been true in Braddock’s Crossing as well when they had first arrived. Nothing had felt comfortable when he was out of sight, but it hadn’t oppressed her like this. Yes, the pregnancy was probably heightening her emotions, but . . .

  Thank goodness pregnancy didn’t last forever.

  Why alligators? And why did they make her so unsettled?

  ~ ~ ~

  “Could you meet me for an extended lunch at the hospital on Tuesday?” Dee handed Dusty the coffee cups to load into the dishwasher.

  “Are you going to ravish me in one of the empty cubicles?” She shot him a look and he grinned. “It’s your fault. All these pregnancy hormones have me horny all the time.”

  “I don’t remember that side effect on the husband before.”

  “They weren’t married to you.”

  She bumped her hip against his. “Nice save. Really, think you could get the time?”

  “I’ll take the time. What’s up?”

  “I have my monthly appointment with Dr. Fisher and he’s going to do an ultrasound. Uh, scan is what they’re calling it now.”

  His head shot up and his look of delight warmed her. “I will most definitely be there. Will we find out the sex?”

  “Probably not this early, though I’ll ask him to try. He’ll do another one at sixteen weeks and we might be able to see then.”

  Dusty let his hands rest on her nicely rounded abdomen. “You hear that, kid?” He whispered to their baby. “You’re not going to be keeping secrets from us for long.”

  Tuesday, Dusty arrived at Dr. Fisher’s office before Dee. And found himself relieved he wasn’t the only man in the waiting room. This wasn’t by any means his venue, but for Dee he’d hazard it.

  Pictures of plump infants and families decorated the walls. The colors of the furniture were neutral, but he noted there were no softly overstuffed chairs. They all had arms and were slightly higher than regular furniture. Sherry’s feet would not have touched the floor.

  He watched a man assist a woman—with a truly gargantuan baby bump—from a chair. Dusty winced. It wasn’t possible for Dee to stretch to those proportions, was it?

  “You okay?”

  He hadn’t seen Dee arrive, his attention on the woman who looked like she’d explode if touched. “Yeah.”

  “You look it.”

  “This is not my field.”

  “Technically it’s not mine either.”

  “You’re not helping,” he observed, taking her hand. “Busy in the ER this morning?”

  “About normal. Did you have any trouble getting off?”

  “I mentioned where I was going to Leonard. I thought he was going to escort me to the car to ensure I wasn’t late.”

  “I like him.” Dee grinned.

  “The feeling is mutual, believe me.”

  They visited until her name was called, then Dusty accompanied her to the exam room. The nurse took Dee’s vitals but didn’t ask her to change into a gown. Waiting for Dr. Fisher, Dusty noted how quiet the examining room became, with them both lost in thought.

  Dee’s doctor finally entered, reading his screen. “I’m not going to bother examining you next month, Dee. I’ll just check out the textbook. I’ve never seen anyone more perfect in their readings.” He looked up with a smile. “Hi, Dusty.”

  “Hi. She’s behaving herself?”

  “So far. Wish I could get all my patients to copy her. Any questions, complaints?” This last was directed at Dee.

  “No, I’m good,” she replied. “No nausea, but I think I’m bigger than I should be, according to my clothes.”

  Dusty noted she didn’t mention her nightmares, so he kept quiet. It wasn’t his place to say.

  “Not by my readings. And as for the clothes, they’ll get a lot tighter before they loosen up again. We doing a scan today?”

  She nodded eagerly, and Dusty moved to the side of the table to hold her hand. Dr. Fisher pulled a screen from the wall, positioning it to face away from them. He lifted Dee’s top and tucked it under her breasts, then placed what looked like plastic wrap over her abdomen and turned to the screen.

  As Dusty watched anxiously, Dr. Fisher blinked and leaned in closer. A slight crease appeared between his eyes.

  Dee’s grip tightened on his hand. Dusty returned the squeeze.

  “Is anything . . .” He cleared his throat. “Uh, is everything okay?” Damn if his voice hadn’t broken a little on that last word.

  “What? Oh, sorry, everything is perfect. I’ve just never gotten this clear a picture before. They must have come in to adjust the focus or something and not told me. Please forgive me.” Dr. Fisher flipped a switch and a loud, rapid thump echoed in the room. “That’s your baby’s heartbeat.”

  “Isn’t it too fast?” Dusty asked.

  “For you, yes. For one this little, it’s textbook perfect again.” He angled the screen for them to see and pointed. “Here’s the head, the spine. An active little thing. I know you can’t sense it yet, but in three, maybe four weeks you’ll feel the flutter. It’ll be a bit longer for you, Dusty. Soon enough you’ll no doubt get kicked out of bed.”

  Dusty felt Dee’s hand relax slightly. They’d both been tense at the expression on Dr. Fisher’s face. When Dee leaned forward to investigate the screen and smiled, Dusty did as well.

  He could sort of see the spine, but the head was easier to make out, and she was moving around, almost dancing in there. Since he didn’t know better, he’d say “she” until a better image came through.

  Dr. Fisher handed him a small transparent disk about half the size of a business card. “Here’s a copy for the baby book. Dee,” he patted her arm, “you’re doing beautifully. Just keep up whatever it is and I’ll see you in a month. Call if you have questions.” He removed the wrap from her abdomen and tossed it in the recycle bin.

  He shook Dusty’s hand and squeezed Dee’s on the way out.

  “Everything really was okay.” Dusty tried to ask without asking.

  “Yes. And it was an exceptionally clear picture. Wish they’d warned him they’d made some adjustments. That freaked me out a bit, but everything looked good.” Clear relief rang in Dee’s voice as well.

  His heart rate was practically back to normal. “Lunch?”

  “Yes, if we eat here. I don’t have time to go out.” She scooted off the table as he took her hand.

  “The cafeteria it is. There is edible food there, right?”

  “Compared to before? It’s gourmet.”

  In the cafeteria they made their choices and carried their food to a table for two in the corner. His sandwich was fresh and her salad looked good.

  He took the small disk from his pocket. “Do we have anything to play this on at home?”

  “Yes, I’ll show you. It’s such a tiny slot I doubt you’ve ever noticed it. If I didn’t work here, I wouldn’t have. I think it’s only being used for medical p
urposes, but I could see where your company might use it or something similar anyway.” Dee looked up. “There’s Gail and Nancy.” She waved them over and they came, with tentative smiles on their faces.

  “Gail, Nancy, I’d like you to meet my husband, Dusty. Dusty, these are some of the nurses I was telling you about.”

  Dusty rose and extended his hand. “Gail, you graduated from Grant Hill, right? And Nancy from Duke?”

  “Correct. You must have had a scan today.” Nancy nodded at the square in Dusty’s other hand. “Everything okay?”

  “Textbook perfect.” He responded before Dee could, and the women’s smiles grew.

  “We’ll let you finish your lunch. We need to eat and get back. It was nice meeting you.” Gail spoke for them and Nancy smiled as they left the table to join the growing lunch line.

  ~ ~ ~

  Leonard opened the door and gestured them inside. It had been a couple of weeks since he had seen Dee, and Dusty smothered a chuckle as his eyes widened.

  “You’re scoping out my woman, guy.”

  “Because she’s so beautiful and glowing,” Leonard retorted with a grin.

  “You worked in a day care, remember?”

  “Yes, but those kids were already born. I believe the last time I was this close to a pregnant woman, I was inside.”

  They laughed as Sherry joined them. “What?”

  “My whale-ness is making Leonard uneasy.” Dee snickered.

  “Whale-ness, my butt. You look great. I’m the one who’ll have to be hauled out of here after you see the dinner he made. I stirred and chopped a little, but it was all him.”

  Dusty glanced over in time to see the color stain Leonard’s cheeks. The smile he bestowed on Sherry was tender.

  Couple number three? I should put out a sign and call myself a part-time matchmaker.

  Well, they couldn’t really take credit for Connie and William’s romance. That had happened after their return. Maybe Elizabeth had lent a hand there.

  Conversation over the excellent meal of chicken and dumplings was light and centered around babies. “Are you going to reveal the name anytime soon?” Sherry teased.

  “Soon, yes. Now, no.” Dee tapped a finger against her lips thoughtfully. “We have to see her to make sure it fits.”

  Sherry rolled her eyes and rose to help Leonard clear the table.

  Dusty leaned over and kissed the tip of his wife’s nose. “You’ll tell me if you get tired?”

  “Yes, but I’m fine. Remember, my energy really is back. And I like being here.”

  Before he could respond, Leonard and Sherry had returned, and everyone moved to the couch to continue visiting.

  Dusty looked around the room, marveling at the decorating Leonard had managed, remembering with a cringe the state of his own apartment after several years. Though masculine, art and decorations made Leonard’s place much homier than where Dusty had resided. That was before the changes. Maybe he would have taken more interest . . .

  Nah, that was all Dee.

  He grinned and caught everyone looking at him. “What?”

  “That grin,” Sherry probed.

  “Just remembering how my old place looked compared to here and how much better things are now.”

  Dee squeezed his arm, and Dusty pulled her against him so she could relax her back.

  “Speaking of better now,” Leonard said, “You’ve got me reading history. I finished a book speculating what changes might have occurred if Nippon had toyed with the idea of aligning with Germany during the German War. Can you imagine having to fight on two fronts like that?”

  Dusty felt Dee stiffen. There was still so much to investigate. It hadn’t occurred to him to study the World Wars. Nippon? Not Japan? What had happened to Hiroshima and Nagasaki? No nuclear strikes?

  The German War.

  He’d seen the term but assumed it was farther back in history than World War I or II.

  “That’s actually when our firm got started. The allies needed larger vehicles for transport. We’ve always been on the cutting edge of new technology. It’s why we hired Dusty in the first place,” Leonard explained to Sherry and Dee. “The Germans had some fantastic engineers, but we were able to outmaneuver them back then. We try to keep up the momentum. We’ve had some incredible thinkers in the company.”

  “Is there a history of the company itself?” Dee asked.

  “Not a full-blown history. We do have the highlights in some of our advertising. You should take a brochure home for Dee.”

  “I’ll do that. Wouldn’t hurt to read it over again myself.”

  While conversation swirled around him, Dusty pondered. Had Archduke Ferdinand not been assassinated? He wasn’t very familiar with World War I, now apparently no one was.

  He’d be up late tonight.

  Chapter 20

  “Dusty, do you have a minute?”

  Surprised to recognize the voice of his father-in-law on the phone, something about Ben’s tone caused Dusty’s stomach to clench.

  “Sure. Is everything okay?”

  “No. Could you meet me maybe halfway? I can drive up to Richmond.”

  “Do you want Dee—”

  “No. Please don’t mention it to her. I need to talk to you.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “This isn’t a phone conversation topic. When can you meet me?”

  “Later today, tomorrow? Whatever’s best for you.”

  “Tomorrow around eleven. Please don’t say anything to Dee. You’ll understand after we talk.”

  Tension in Dusty’s shoulders joined the grip in his gut. “All right, but you’ve got me officially worried now.”

  “I’m sorry,” Ben said, “I have to talk this out, and you’re the only one who might think I was sane.”

  “Our ‘adventure,’” Dusty guessed.

  “Yes.”

  “See you at eleven tomorrow.”

  “Thank you.”

  Disconnecting, Dusty’s mind took off in at least twenty directions. He rose from the desk to find Leonard and clear his schedule.

  ~ ~ ~

  The next day, Dusty pulled into the rest area Ben had suggested and saw him waving from a shady area away from the building.

  They shook hands when Dusty joined him at the picnic table. “You’re got me more than intrigued,” Dusty admitted. There was no answering smile from his father-in-law.

  “I need your reassurance again. Dee never met Roger before that pre-wedding dinner we had?”

  “I can absolutely guarantee that, Ben.”

  Ben’s sigh was long and heartfelt. “I shouldn’t have investigated, but I couldn’t help myself, even knowing history changed things.”

  Dusty hesitated for an instant. Did he want to know what Ben had uncovered? This meeting didn’t bode well.

  Ben took a deep breath. “The night of the dinner—” He paused, and Dusty nodded for him to continue. “After Roger was burnt, Dee announced the pregnancy. Do you remember what Roger said?”

  “No, I was concentrating on Dee.”

  “He said, ‘now I know you’re lying.’ The phrase made no sense to me, but it stuck in my mind. I mean, lying? It was such odd phrasing. I put it aside for the wedding. It’s kept coming back to me.”

  Ben blew out a breath that didn’t sound too steady. “I finally remembered an incident I’d forgotten about. Not long after Meredith and Roger married, Meredith’s mother became ill. It was a school break, so I asked to keep Dee while Meredith was out of town to tend to the woman. She agreed, and everything was arranged. Then, the day Dee was supposed to arrive, and Meredith had already left, I got a call from Roger, letting me know that Dee had undergone an emergency appendectomy and would be unable to com
e—”

  “Appendectomy?” Dusty interrupted, his mind scanning Dee’s smooth skin.

  “Wait.” Ben held his hand out. “I drove up immediately. Dee was just waking up when I arrived, much to Roger’s annoyance. I insisted on taking her home with me to recuperate. I stood my ground. She stayed until she was ready to go back to school, which gave Meredith more time with her mother and didn’t leave Dee alone with Roger. I realize now that was the largest factor. I didn’t trust Roger even then, but I had no basis for the distrust, only one of those feelings you sometimes get.”

  “I agree with your decision, but—”

  “I went back and investigated it,” Ben broke in. “Got the name of the surgeon. He’s no longer allowed to practice medicine.”

  “What?”

  “Name’s Dr. Guarino. Drugs, drinking, and illegal procedures.”

  Dusty could actually feel the blood leaving his brain. “What illegal procedures?”

  “I found the man.” Ben paused, then rasped, “I confronted him and he admitted it. Roger had paid him to . . . to sterilize Dee.”

  “Sterilize.” Dusty grabbed the edge of the table to steady himself, even though he was seated. “No.”

  “He performed a tubal ligation. I have to think Roger planned to—Lord, I can’t even say it. Dusty, Dee is pregnant, isn’t she?”

  “Yes! She’s sent you copies of the scans. I’ve seen them, heard the heartbeat.”

  Ben’s shoulders slumped as he dropped his face into his hands.

  “Look, Ben.” Dusty hesitated, then blurted, “I probably shouldn’t say this to my father-in-law, but I have great familiarity with Dee’s body. There is no appendectomy scar. No scars at all. It never happened, not in the time line Dee and I remember. In your reality, when Dee was a child with Roger as a stepfather, you protected her, got her away. Did she ever give you any indication something like that might be going on?”