That's fine. I'm going to do dozens, maybe even hundreds of pieces in the course of my art career, and not all of them will be for sale either. There'll be other pieces I can devote totally to Nathan, a testament to how important he is to me, and how much I love him. But I'm not able to quite tap that vein of emotion yet. It’s too raw and too close. I've had so few good emotional things to hold onto, his love is something I'm not quite ready to share with the world yet.
Andrea goes silent, staring at the six pieces laid out on the wooden tray. Finally, she clears her throat and traces the links on Carson's pendant chain. “They're... they're the finest pieces you've ever done, and I'll be honored to put it on during the ceremony. Thank you.”
“I'm proud of them,” I admit, smiling slightly. “When I finish Paladin, I hope it's as good, and can join them on the MCS website.”
Andrea looks up, concerned. “What do you mean?”
“I was talking with Robert the other day, I want to get some pieces back up for sale. So, I sent him pictures of the pendants, and a sketch of Paladin for him to put up on the MCS website. Don't worry, the pendants were taken against a wooden background, no signs of where we are.”
Andrea shakes her head, blanching. “You... but 'Lissa, the stone itself is traceable. I read about it last time I was in town, it's like fucking famous or something.”
“What?” I ask, fear striking my heart. “You must have read wrong.”
Andrea points at the green chips. “These emerald crystals are supposed to be famous. I even remember the name, it's called pegmatite, from a place called the Emerald Hollow Mine.”
“Oh no,” I reply, panic starting to take hold. She's right, I'd thought about it myself when we first got here. But, is it so famous that it's traceable? In my excitement, I'd forgotten. “Is it close?”
“In North Carolina, but about ninety miles away. 'Lissa, how long have the pictures been up?”
I shake my head. “I sent them to Robert on Monday night, maybe since Tuesday or yesterday at most?”
Andrea grabs Katrina's computer and dials the number for MCS. We're both sweating, but Andrea seems calmer than I feel at the moment, and Robert picks up quickly. “MCS Galleries, this is Robert, how may we help you?”
“Robert, it's Andrea,” Andrea says immediately. “I was just talking with Melissa, she says she sent you some pictures of pendants, is that correct?”
“Yes Miss Andrea,” Robert says, using Andrea's first name since we've never given him her last name. “Beautiful pieces. Why?”
“I need you to take them down from the website if they're up. It's very important.”
Robert gets stuffy, and I can somewhat understand. Carson's fiancée or not, Andrea has no business authority at MCS. “Miss Andrea, I understand, but I would need instructions from...”
“Do it, Robert,” I interrupt him. “Please. It's very important. Also, how long have they been on the website?”
“I've only had them up a few hours, Miss Sands,” Robert says, his tone immediately going respectful again. “There was a problem with the coding.”
“Get them off. If you have to, crash the website,” I tell him, trying to keep my voice under control. “Get them down as soon as I hang up.”
I hear Robert walking, and a door open as he moves, and then the sound of him sitting down. “Just a minute, I can do that myself... okay, it's down. It'll take me a little time to get the webmaster to remove the pictures, but right now MCS.com is offline.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. Maybe we got lucky. “Thank you, Robert. I apologize for the inconvenience, but thank you.”
“It's okay, Miss Sands. I'm sure you have a good reason.”
We finish the call, and even Andrea's fingers are trembling when she hangs up the call. “I... I'm sorry Andrea. I'd forgotten, I was so excited about the pieces. I screwed up, I'm so sorry...”
Andrea takes my hand and gives me a hug, shushing me. “You made an honest mistake. It's a pretty stone, and who'd think granite could be that famous? It was only up a few hours, and who knows if Isis or Peter's people even saw it. Even if they did, the odds of them tracing a rock are pretty remote. Come on, we'll tell the others, but what's done is done. We did our best to fix it, and besides, what does it change? Isis was looking for us before, she's looking for us now, she'll be looking for us tomorrow. Let's enjoy the rest of the evening.”
Chapter 21
Nathan
“So the website is down?” I ask as we enjoy dinner, setting my fork aside. We're eating light, and to be honest I feel nervous thinking about Isis tracing the pegmatite to our location. But I'm not mad with Melissa, how could I be? She was only being herself, and I love her for who she is.
Being with her, there's no pressure, just intimacy and feeling. There's no pressure to be more than I want to be. Despite my past, and the things I did with Isis, she makes me feel redeemed. Like I deserve at least some happiness.
Aisha was the first woman to make me feel that way. But then came Isis, and everything was turned on its head; everything was corrupted for so long I thought it was never going to be good again. By the time I was done with her, I was so fucked up mentally that working for Peter DeLaCoeur actually seemed normal.
I thought the rest of my life would be that way, until Melissa. That first kiss and I was lost, even if I tried to deny it. That first time I touched her, and felt her body pressed against mine and the desire, it was magic once again. And every since that first night we slept together, I knew. I knew I had a second chance.
“Yeah, Robert took the site down and I confirmed it right afterward,” Andrea says. “Nathan, I'm sorry I didn't think of mentioning it to 'Lissa earlier. I mean, I read that newspaper story like, two days after she cracked that chunk off the corner of the big block in the chapel. I should have mentioned it before.”
“No, you didn't do anything wrong. You either, 'Lissa. I looked at those photos myself, there’s no way I would have thought about what you mentioned. It's six pieces of rock. I spent a few months here after the first incident with Peter, and I still never thought of it. So there's no blame to go around on this one. We’ll just deal with it as best we can.”
“Speaking of which, tomorrow I have my prenatal appointment,” Andrea says, smiling gratefully. “Who all is coming down mountain?”
“I thought Katrina, BA and I would just hang out up here,” Jackson says, finishing off his salad. “You know, just a little family time. I love you guys, but we spent fourteen months with limited contact with anyone. It'll be nice to chill with just the three of us and air out my head for a while.”
Chapter 22
Melissa
It feels strange and wonderful to be driving the van down the mountain, I so rarely drive. So to be behind the wheel with the rest of the family relaxing is wonderful.
Andrea's sitting in the back next to Carson, holding hands.
“Are you sure you're strong enough to drive the van all the way?” Andrea asks languidly as she leans against Carson. “I feel like a big pile of Jell-O.”
“I'm doing well,” I reassure Andrea. “Nathan?”
“Very good,” he reassures me. “By the way, I got a message from the Major before we left. He says that things have gone quiet in New Orleans. One of the team already made a stop on Isis, she hightailed it before she could make a hit on one of the former house staff. It has been quiet in New Orleans for the past twenty-four hours since then.”
“That's good, right?” Carson asks, and Nathan nods. “We're getting to them?”
“I think so. The Major said Peter is being super paranoid, but, they're just trying to make a clean hit.”
“What do you mean clean?” I ask, and Nathan turns his eyes to me, a little thrill going through me even with the serious nature of what we're discussing.
“As long as we are safe, the team is trying to make sure that any hit on Peter or Isis is surgical. No extra bodies—no collateral damage. However, from what the Major said,
Peter has only been seen in public with other people very close by, too close to make sure they don't hit someone innocent. The Major suspects the people are mostly paid security. They are still working it though, doing what they can.”
I nod and keep driving, enjoying the freedom and the power that comes with it. It's an hour and some change to get to the clinic, our first stop on the day's agenda.
The parking lot is relatively empty when we pull in, and Nathan goes into full security mode, his eyes scanning everywhere as he keeps his hand close to his jacket. “Do you really need to?” I ask. “I mean, you just said that things went quiet in New Orleans.”
“Which means either she's laying low or she is looking to raise hell somewhere else,” Nathan reminds me, still scanning the area. “It looks clear though, as best I can see. Come on.”
We go inside and Andrea signs in. Because of the lack of underground treatment facilities in the immediate area, the nearest underground clinic Katrina could find that deals with prenatal cases is a vet clinic in Charlotte. We had to use one of Andrea's aliases, but so far it's been safe. It's not her best alias, but we didn't have the time to set up a lot of alternate identities like Katrina and Jackson have.
“It's good to see you again, Mrs. Sands,” the receptionist greets Andrea as she signs in. “Feeling well?”
“Feeling perfect,” Andrea says. “I brought some more of my family. This is my sister and her fiancé, will that be okay?”
“I'm sure Dr. Jackson will have no problems with it,” the receptionist says. “I'll pass it along, but the rooms are plenty big enough. Y'all have a seat, and he'll be with you right quick.”
“I haven't heard a good y'all in weeks,” I chuckle as we sit down. “My family isn’t from around here, and you Nathan, you aren't Southern.”
“Nope, although I lived in New Orleans long enough that I can sometimes hear it in my own voice,” Nathan says with a small smile. He gives me a questioning look, and takes my hand. “Does it bother you I've never told you more about my childhood?”
I shake my head, and give his hand a squeeze. “I know who you are now, I don't really care about who you were. And I know that you love me, and that tomorrow I'm going to become Melissa Black. That's all I really need to know.”
“I'd like to know more,” Carson says. “Just for curiosity, and for when your secret billionaire uncle dies and leaves it all to you.”
Nathan shakes his head, chuckling. “No rich uncle. Actually, my father was an only child, me too. So having you guys around, it's a good feeling. It's my first big family.”
The nurse calls us and Andrea leads us all into the exam room where Dr. Jackson is standing, reviewing Andrea's file on his computer. “Good to see you again. You're certainly looking good for a woman going into her second trimester. How is everything?”
“I had a little bit of an upset stomach a few days ago, but other than that, nothing wrong at all,” Andrea says, having a seat on the exam table. “Dr. Jackson, this is my sister Melissa and her fiancé, Nathan.”
“Nice to meet you both,” Dr. Jackson says, shaking hands with us both. “Engaged, huh? When's the ceremony?”
“Tomorrow,” Nathan says enthusiastically.
“That's great,” Dr. Jackson says, turning his attention to Andrea. “Well then Miss Andrea, let's see how you are doing. Lie back please.”
Dr. Jackson starts with the basics, a quick check of Andrea's blood pressure before pulling out his scopes and checking her heartbeat, breathing, eyes and ears and all of that. “I know it's not necessary, and probably seems like overkill, but when you told me that you live more than an hour outside of town, I'm going to take the extra few minutes to make sure you're as healthy as can be before I send you on your way,” he says, tapping Andrea's knee with a rubber hammer. “Okay, the main event I know you're all looking forward to, the ultrasound.”
“Honestly, you're a model pregnancy. You’re going to start really putting on the weight though. By the end of the next five months, you'll probably be about twenty to thirty pounds heavier than you are right now.”
“Thirty pounds?” Andrea asks, slightly surprised. “Where am I going to put all that?”
“A lot of it is your baby, and what's inside your womb,” Dr. Jackson says with a knowing smile, “while another few pounds are going to be weight I'm sure Mr. Sands here will enjoy. Most spouses do.”
“Huh?” Andrea asks, and Nathan laughs lightly.
“He's saying that you are going to get milk boobs and your butt is going to get a little bigger for padding and to balance the weight up top,” Nathan says wisely.
“Ah... gotcha,” Andrea comments, then gives Carson a sly look.
Carson's grumble is hilarious, and I'm sure that Andrea's going to get it when we get home, and she's looking forward to it too from the saucy look on her face. “Let's just do the ultrasound, okay?”
Dr. Jackson has Andrea lift up her shirt, and smears some gel on the end of the wand on the machine. “Okay, let's see what we have here,” he says, pressing the end of the wand against Andrea's belly, just below her belly button. “Now, at this point we should be able to see... yep, there we are. Say hello.”
The image on screen is beautiful, with a perfect little curve to the head and we can even see the nose and ears. The baby shifts, and suddenly little legs and arms come into view. “Oh my God,” Andrea whispers, breaking the silence. “She's beautiful.”
“Well, we can't be sure yet if it is a boy or a girl,” Dr. Jackson says, moving the wand some more. “We probably won't be able to see that until the next scan or so. Now, let's get some measurements.”
Dr. Jackson freezes the image, and all of us stare nearly silently at the screen while he clicks away with his mouse at the image. Afterward, he sits back, a pleased look on his face. “I'm happy to say that your baby is perfectly fine, and looks to be in perfect health for the twelve to thirteen week range. So our original estimate is pretty good, I'll still say you're due at the end of August, maybe a little earlier.”
Ten minutes later we're in the lobby, Andrea holding the DVD with the data burned onto it. She's still got stars in her eyes as she tucks it into her backpack and tightens the straps. “Can you believe it?”
I shake my head, reaching out tentatively to touch Andrea's stomach. “It's a miracle. You're amazing, Andrea.”
Andrea smiles and reaches out, touching my stomach. “You got next, 'Lissa. I can feel it. You've got the next one.”
I blush and smile, looking at Nathan who nods. “That would be great. Actually, I was hoping that we could all have a lot of kids. It's not like we can't afford it.”
“That's true,” I say, smiling.
Carson comes back from the front desk, tucking his wallet back into his jacket pocket. “Okay, we're all good. Paid in full.”
“Do they ever question why you don't use your insurance?” I ask, and Carson shakes his head.
“I think Dr. Jackson prefers getting paid in cash, and it reduces our footprint,” Carson says, shrugging. “And it's not that big a deal to pay for it out of pocket for us. So what's next for us?”
“Hold on guys, go on out to the van,” I say suddenly, looking around. “I just... I'd like to ask Dr. Jackson a question or two. Five minutes or so?”
Nathan nods and looks outside. “Be quick, okay? After this we have a trip to Home Depot, then Sam's Club to get food for the week.”
I nod, leaning in close while Carson and Andrea head to the doorway. “Are you that worried?”
Nathan shakes his head, then nods. “I have a funny feeling, that's all. The sooner we're back up on the mountain, the better.”
I give him a kiss on the cheek, and reach down, putting my hand on my belly. “Don't tell Andrea and Carson, but I've had a funny feeling, too. I know it's only been a few weeks, but let me be silly on this?”
Nathan's face brightens and he nods. “Our secret.”
I hurry back to the front desk, where the receptionist i
s typing away. “Excuse me, but would it be possible if I could talk to Dr. Jackson for just a few minutes?”
The receptionist looks at her schedule, then nods. “I think so. Dr. Jackson's next appointment is running a bit late, head on back, I'll buzz him.”
I go through the door to see Dr. Jackson already coming toward me, a questioning smile on his face. “Miss Sands, is there anything wrong?”
“Doctor, would you mind...” I say, before blushing and hurrying before I lose my nerve, “Do you have a pregnancy test?”
Dr. Jackson stops, then nods, waving toward the exam room. “Sure. Got ten bucks? That'll cover costs and I won't worry about the computer BS unless we get a result.”
He gets the box and hands it to me. “Would you like to do it now or later?”
“I can do it now,” I answer, rushing to the bathroom and pulling my jeans down. It's a little bit of effort, I peed right before we came down the mountain, but I work up enough, and then cap the test, bringing it back to the exam room. “Well?”
“Well, you need to wait another thirty seconds at least,” Dr. Jackson says with a laugh, but his laughter is cut off when gunfire erupts outside. “What the hell?”
Oh no. I run for the front door even as the staff yells for me to get back and get down, but I ignore them to get to my family.
Nathan has his pistol out, and is standing just a few feet away from a tall, slender woman who also has a weapon out, her long hair pulled back in a ponytail hanging nearly down to her waist and her clothes are of an athletic, slightly military cut. It looks like she's wearing something like yoga pants and a tactical vest and long sleeves. I've never seen her up close before, but I know for certain, it's Isis Bardot.
“Run! Get back to the compound!” Nathan yells, and I see behind him as Carson and Andrea get into the van and crank the engine. They rev it once before taking off, and I'm worried they're going to leave me behind before whoever is driving makes a wide circle of the parking lot, the tires squealing on the pavement and they try to swing around to me.
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