Claim My Baby

by Taryn Quinn

  He returned a few minutes later and resumed shoveling his letter into shape without a word.

  I stared at him. “Well? What happened?”

  “They’re on their way home. Work faster.”

  Oh shit. Ask and ye shall receive.

  By the end of the day, I’d either be with Sage, or I’d be bitter and most likely in the hospital for hypothermia.

  21

  Sage

  “He said the baby was having violent diarrhea?”

  “No. He said he was having violent diarrhea.”

  “Eww. Ick. That’s kind of gross.”

  “You’re telling me. I already have two kids to clean up after. If I have to clean up after my husband too, I give up.” Ally shuddered as we hurried across the parking lot to her SUV.

  “Oh no. It’s not, like, an actual mess, is it? I mean, he managed to get it where it was supposed to go?” Now I was shuddering too. I did not need to come over to the house and see Seth in a state I could never unsee.

  Once you were the poop king, there was no coming back from that.

  “I don’t know. I’m assuming so. But with the kids, and if he’s sick…ugh.”

  I tossed my shopping bags in back and rushed around to the front of the vehicle, bracing my hand on the side of the SUV so I didn’t slip. The wind was whipping around something fierce and the snow was piling up quick. “You know, maybe you should drop me off at home.” She slipped into the driver’s side as I did the same on the passenger’s side. “Not that I don’t want to help out if you need it, but you know, preggers.”

  I was already using the pregnancy for an excuse for just about anything I didn’t want to do. By the time I actually gave birth, I’d probably be on self-imposed bedrest. I was just so freaking tired all the time. Plus, diarrhea was disgusting, and I already had morning sickness to contend with. If I had action downstairs too…

  No. Just no.

  “Yeah, that’s true. I hate to ask you to come over if he has something contagious, but he seemed sure it was self-contained and that you needed to be there.”

  “I needed to be there?” I snapped my seat belt into place as she backed out of the parking space. “Why would I need to be there if he has the runs?”

  “I’m guessing so you could watch the kids while we’re occupied? He mentioned possibly needing to go to the ER because he was losing his mind.”

  I crossed my arms. “Alison, are you telling a fib? Is this just some story he’s concocted to get some nookie while there’s an available babysitter?”

  “No. God, no. Hello, I just gave birth not that long ago. Trust me, that area has not been cleared for takeoff yet, no matter how much he’s cajoled me by saying he’ll be gentle.”

  I had to snort. “If he’s gentle like his brother, then yeah, you better give it six months or so.”

  She was quiet as she signaled out of the lot, and I figured it was because she was concentrating hard due to the snow.

  “Is he pressuring you into rough sex? I’ve heard rumblings he has…proclivities.”

  For a moment, I didn’t react. Then I started to laugh so hard that tears tracked down my cheeks. “First off, I haven’t been in his bed for weeks. Which I thought you’d gathered, considering my woe in that direction.”

  “Yeah, I know that, but what about before? Was he pushing you down a path you weren’t ready for?”

  “Considering the last time we slept together, I asked if I could tie him up next time, I’d say no.”

  She gasped. Legit gasped loud enough I could hear it over the steady thunk of the windshield wipers. “He tied you up?”

  “Yes. It was some kind of silky tie. No chains, I swear. Not that I’d be averse to those handcuffs he claims to own.” I wiped my tears away with my thumbs. “He did spank me though. Which I sort of loved.”

  “Oh my God.” She cast me a quick look before returning her focus to the road. “You liked it?”

  “No, loved it. Shocked me too. It’s too soon to say I’m kinky, but I’d say I’m at least kink-curious.”

  “Hmm. I wonder if—no.”

  “What?”

  “I wonder if I’d like that stuff. We’re going to rent that Fifty Shades movie. You know how Seth gets ideas when he watches too much TV.”

  That set me off laughing again. “Oliver doesn’t need to watch movies to get ideas. Though speaking of movies, have you ever gone on For Women By Women?”

  “No. What’s that?”

  “A porn site,” I said matter-of-factly. “Very educational.”

  “You? Watching porn?”

  “Something has to fill in when I’m not having sex. It’s like how I imagine a werewolf gets when he can’t find fresh meat. Once you’ve gotten the taste for it, you’re screwed.”

  Ally laughed. “Is that why you bought maternity lingerie today?”

  I chewed on my thumbnail. “Part of it. He asked me out a few weeks ago, as backassward as all of this is, and I haven’t answered yet.”

  “Still figuring out what you want?”

  “God, no. I want him. Us. The life we could have if he’s serious about wanting to make a go of this. But not marriage. Not right away. I don’t care how things look.”

  “Not marriage? Are you implying he proposed?” Ally sounded incredulous.

  “No. That’s the most ridiculous part.” Almost unconsciously, I reached for my bow necklace.

  The rose gold felt warm under my fingertips, as it so often did. Of course, my skin heated it, but I liked to pretend it was a small connection with Oliver.

  “He didn’t propose? I’m confused.”

  Purposely, I hadn’t told Ally what had happened, mainly because it was still so crazy even to me. I’d been vague about everything, letting her know that I’d told Oliver about the baby and he’d been supportive, but we were working things out. Kind of. In our own demented way.

  “You aren’t the only one. I came downstairs after the most amazing night and he was making breakfast for my parents, all domestic-like.”

  “And?”

  “And they all started talking about the wedding. Our wedding. He hadn’t even suggested we move in together or even formally date, though we agreed on exclusivity from the start. It was so weird.”

  “Hmm, yeah, but this is Oliver we’re talking about. He likes shortcuts and expeditious routes. He probably figured it was a foregone conclusion you’d marry him.”

  “So true. He does think he’s God’s gift. And yet if he’d only asked me, I would’ve said yes, although it’s freaking crazy.”

  “Because of the baby?”

  “No. Because he makes me feel so…” I shivered, and not entirely because I should have worn a warmer jacket.

  I clutched my purse tighter on my lap as Ally had to swerve to avoid a stalled car with its hazards on. The wheels of the SUV spun before gripping the icy road and I had to bite hard on my lip to keep from screeching. “God, every little thing freaks me out now.”

  “Because you have precious cargo on board.”

  “Yeah.” I lightened up my hold on my purse and refastened my ponytail. “My parents might not go right back on the road. They want to stick around in case I need help with my pregnancy.”

  “Not putting a lot of stock in Oliver, are they?”

  “Well, they witnessed our blowout.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Yeah. In retrospect, I should’ve waited, but in the moment and with hormones and new baby revelations, I was a hot mess. I’ve had time to consider a lot of things in the couple of weeks since.” Carefully, I pried the origami dragon out of my purse that contained Oliver’s question about dating. “He makes me these.”

  Ally glanced at the dragon and waited until the stoplight to take it. “Oliver did this. Really?”

  “Yes. I have a bunch of them now. I think he did it on a lark once and then when he realized I love them, now he sends me notes on them.”

  Ally frowned and returned the dragon. I was still holding
it in my lap, touching the wings as if it were a priceless artifact, when she finally spoke again. “He obviously cares a lot about you.”

  “Yes,” I whispered. “I actually think he does.”

  “And what about you? You care about him too? Beyond the baby.”

  “Yeah. So much. It’s just so frigging scary. I’m afraid to want it this much, you know?”

  “Sister, do I ever.” Ally clutched the wheel in her mittened hands and nodded. She didn’t look away from the road, a sure sign the conditions were worsening. The windshield wipers thunked steadily, moving as fast as they could to try to keep up with the relentless onslaught of snow. And it was getting dark, which never helped with visibility on snowy nights.

  “I’ve been putting off taking the next step because he’s almost been courting me, in this odd old-fashioned way. He even sent me flowers yesterday. Tulips.” I sighed dreamily, picturing their rainbow blooms. “In the dead of winter.”

  Ally sighed too. “So sweet. Seth sent me daisies in the hospital and when we brought Alex home and then, of course, there was this.” She tugged off her mitten and the pink heart diamond ring on her pinky winked in the last rays of remaining light. “Can’t wait until I’m not so swollen and can wear it on the finger it was intended for.”

  “One hell of a push present. Those Hamilton men do know what they’re about when it comes to fancy romantic gestures. Even Oliver is getting there.” Again, I touched my bow necklace. My other hand was still on the dragon. And inside me was our child, just waiting until tomorrow morning to cause me to get sick again.

  Oliver was everywhere with me, even when he wasn’t.

  “I’m going to go out with him and then we’ll just see—”

  It was the last thing I managed to say before the SUV skidded sideways and Ally’s scream filled my head.

  22

  Oliver

  “Why are they taking so long? I thought you told them to hurry up.” I finished my letter E and went on to the U.

  Yes, just U. I was reverting to text speak for my romantic message. But the snow was not cooperating. If anything, it was coming down even harder and the remaining daylight could be measured in minutes.

  Still no Ally and Sage.

  I didn’t want to be that guy who just worried for no reason. It was shitty weather out, and yes, I’d lost traction on the road a couple of hours ago and it had grown much worse since then. Even so, Ally had a big, safe SUV and she was an extremely careful driver.

  Then I glanced toward Seth and realized he wasn’t where he’d been standing a minute ago. I turned around, reorienting myself in the nearly horizontal slashing snowflakes, and swiped a hand over my face. Seth was already on the way back to the house, the bright blue of Alexander’s carrier flashing in the twilight. Laurie was on his other side, stomping through the snowdrifts.

  Okay. Guess they were done. Or Seth was going to call Ally again? Hell if I knew.

  I hurried up and finished the U—a bit sloppily, but whatever—and double-timed it toward the house. I crossed the back porch and stepped into the kitchen. All the lights were on now, and though I hadn’t heard a truck pull into the drive, my palms tingled at the possibility Sage was there. Finally. Message aside, I didn’t want her and the baby and Ally on the roads in this weather. Hell, if they hadn’t finished all their shopping, I would drive them to the mall tomorrow.

  Seth stepped into the kitchen with Laurie shadowing him, her little hand wrapped securely in his. “She’s not answering her phone.”

  At once, my skin slicked with ice. I’d thought I was cold outside? That couldn’t compare with the absolute gut-churning cold that invaded me now. “Try her again.”

  “I tried her multiple times. I tried Sage. Neither answered—”

  I was already on my way out the door I’d just walked in.

  “Where are you going?” Seth demanded.

  “To find them.” I didn’t have time to discuss it, and I also had no intention of slowing down.

  He followed me onto the porch. “Who’s going to stay with the kids?”

  “You. Because I’m going.” I was already halfway down the steps.

  “She’s my wife, goddammit! Sage is just your—”

  I spun around and held up a hand. “She’s my everything. And she’s having my baby. If you think I’m going to stay here, you’re wrong.”

  “I can w-watch my brother.” Laurie’s tiny voice made me focus on her. She hadn’t even said it as “bwother” this time.

  My gut twisted anew at the puddles of tears in her big blue eyes. She never heard her father and I yell at each other, and she had to understand Ally and Sage could be in trouble.

  And here we were, making everything worse.

  Seth and I both dropped down to her level. “Aw, sweetie, you don’t have to do that.” Seth shot me a look. “We’ll just bring—”

  “No.” I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them again. Hopefully, everything would be fine, and the delay was just a minor one. Nothing serious. But if, God forbid, something had happened, the last thing in the world I wanted was for my niece to be with Seth. “I’ll stay here with you, Laur-Monster. How’s that? Daddy will go find your mom and Aunt Sage and bring them back to us.”

  “Okay.” Laurie transferred her hold from her father’s hand to mine. “We can watch Trolls?”

  How could I say no? “Sure thing.” I stood and swung her onto my hip, settling her there as Seth and I exchanged another look.

  He mouthed “thank you” and we all went inside. Quickly, he checked on the baby, then he took off in his car.

  All there was left for me to do was start Trolls for the ten-millionth time and wait.

  Except I didn’t. I couldn’t.

  I started the movie and then I tried Sage’s phone, knowing full well that if I got her voicemail, I was probably going to need a moment alone to rip some shit to pieces or tear some holes in the sheetrock with my fists.

  Once my hands stopped shaking.

  Helplessness was choking me. And guilt. I’d made them come back sooner than they would have, and for God’s sake, I’d told them to rush. Why? Just so they could see my big gesture. I was a goddamned moron. If she and the baby came back to me in one piece, I was going to spend the rest of my life spoiling them. Every fucking second.

  I went into the nursery as the call connected to protect Laurie from seeing me lose it. Alexander was sleeping soundly in his crib and I stepped closer to him, gripping the railing while I waited through one ring, two rings, three.

  “Oliver?” Her voice was so far away, snatched away by the wind and the shitty connection. But it was her. It was my Sage.

  “Princess,” I rasped, leaning heavily against the crib. I tightened my hold on the railing and marveled that it didn’t snap from the force. “Are you okay? Where are you?”

  “I’m okay. Accident. We slid off the road and into a ditch, but we’re okay. Oliver?”

  “I’m here. Are you sure you’re all right?” I was trying to breathe and not shout at her, not demand she tell me every detail. “How’s Ally?”

  “She’s fine. Well, a little banged up, but okay. She dropped her phone in the ditch and we can’t find it. It’s so dark and the snow—”

  “Forget the goddamn phone. Get out of the ditch and away from the side of the road. It’s not safe. Sage, are you listening to me?”

  I half expected her to yell back. “I am, and you being a jackass is probably the best sound I’ve ever heard.”

  She was smiling. I could hear it in her voice. After a car accident. Had she hit her head? Christ, all I could imagine was some asshole hitting them in the storm and never even realizing it.

  “Are you away from the road? Where are you? If there aren’t any houses right there, get back in the SUV if you can without injuring yourselves and wait. Seth is driving the route from the mall to the house.”

  “We’re on Fairdale, just past the cemetery. We already called J&T’s Automotive and Dare�
��s on his way. He’s coming to help us personally.”

  “Okay, good, that’s good.” I let up my grip a fraction on the crib. Didn’t want to turn the bed into a pile of broken sticks while the kid was sleeping. Snoring softly no less, even as I railed like a lunatic.

  He was his father’s son, all right.

  “Seth will be there soon.” I hoped. He would have to pass right by where they were if he took the usual route to the mall from here. I couldn’t stop talking to her yet to text him. Her soft, strong voice was everything. “Are you sure you’re all right? I can call the paramedics, have them meet you there just in case—”

  “Yes, I’m fine. I’m fine,” she stressed. “Both of us are. I promise.”

  Even knowing she couldn’t be certain, that small bit of reassurance was enough to have me letting out a sound that probably bordered on the inhuman. I simply couldn’t stop it.

  “Oliver? Are you okay?”

  “No. No, I’m not fucking okay, and I won’t be until you’re here and I can check every inch of you myself to make sure you’re all right. And then I’m going to take you to the doctor’s—like a bag of flour over my shoulder if I have to—so they can run every check known to man on you and the baby. Understand me?”

  “Oliver—”

  “No, hear me out. Do you have any idea what went through my head when you and Ally weren’t answering your phones and we knew you were out in the storm? Any idea?” I didn’t wait for an answer. “No, I bet you don’t. I couldn’t fucking breathe. Could barely stand on my two feet. I almost ran out of here until Seth reminded me I don’t have any legal hold on you, that you aren’t my wife. He didn’t mean it that way, but it’s the fucking truth. I messed up. I didn’t even give you the chance to say yes or say no. I just decreed it. Well, consider this me asking you to marry me. I don’t have a ring. I don’t have a plan. All I have is that I love you so much I can’t imagine waking up another day without you in my bed and in my life. And I want more than anything to be a father to our child. If you’ll have me. If you’ll both have me.”