by Sable Hunter
Heath, on the other hand, was a different person. Cato had mellowed him. It had been his parting words that Tennessee couldn’t get out of his mind. “Go to Molly. Talk to her. Listen to what she has to say, then follow your heart.” This advice was a far cry from what his big brother had given him before.
This time he didn’t stop for anything. He hadn’t eaten very much at the reception, but he didn’t have much of an appetite. Before he knew it, he was pulling into the trailer park. His worry and pondering had made the journey go by quickly. It didn’t take him but just a few seconds to realize Molly wasn’t at home. Her truck was nowhere in sight. To make sure, Ten got out and knocked on the door, but there was no answer.
Stepping back with hands on his hips, he tried to decide what to do. Where could she be at this time of night? Surely she wasn’t still at work. He hadn’t asked, but Ten presumed that she’d kept her job at the spa. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was after nine. The spa closed at seven. Maybe she was getting something to eat or in class. Hell, she might be on a date or with Greg O’Neil. Wouldn’t that be a pisser?
Climbing back in his truck, Ten was determined to wait her out. So, he sat to wait. And wait. He listened to one country song after another, his eyes glued to the road. A movement to his left drew his attention and he saw two men standing out in front of their trailer watching him and pointing. Remembering what Molly had told him, he knew who they were. Her friends, Carlos and Paul.
Climbing from his truck, he walked across the patchy grass toward the two men. “Hello, I’m Tennessee McCoy. I’m looking for Molly. Would you know where she is?”
“We know who you are,” the one with the dark hair said. Ten assumed this was Carlos. His tone or his expression was not welcoming. “What are you doing here?”
“That’s mine and Molly’s business,” Ten said evenly.
“You were wrong, you know.” The shorter man with the shaved head muttered. “Molly didn’t do the things you accused her of.”
“Excuse me, Paul?” He waited for the man to nod in agreement that Paul was his name. “I’m here to check on her. I’m not here to cause problems. Is this one of her class nights?”
“She had to quit school.” Carlos moved closer to him. “I don’t really want to tell you anything.” The man ran a hand over his forehead. “But she needs help.”
“Carlos…” Paul said his partner’s name in warning.
“This is his responsibility too.” Carlos said, then he gave a stern warning glance at Tennessee. “She’s at Penny’s diner outside of town. Molly works as a waitress there.”
A waitress? He got directions from her friends and took off for the diner. To his consternation, he hit every red light traveling down the main drag. When he arrived, he noted the outside of the diner looked like a silver stream trailer, apparently made from aluminum or stainless steel. Very fifties looking. This wasn’t what he expected. In his mind, she was still working in the opulent spa. With a shake of his head, he parked, and made his way in.
Once he was through the door, he waited for a hostess. When no one came, he chose a booth on the far side of the café. An older harried looking waitress came over with a menu. Once she got a good look at him, she set it down in front of him with a smile. “What can I get you, handsome?”
“Just coffee, Frankie,” he muttered, reading her name from off a tag fastened to her blouse.
She winked at him. “Right away. And if you want something sweet, we got good pie.”
“Maybe, later.”
“Good deal.” Swinging her ample hips, she sauntered off to the counter to fetch his drink, returning a few minutes later to set it down in front of him, managing to spill a little in the process. “Sorry, eye-candy.” She mopped up the small puddle. “Anything else, let me know.”
“Well, yea, I’m looking for a woman named Molly. Does she…?” He didn’t finish his sentence because over Frankie’s shoulder Ten could see a waitress from the back with a long dark braid hanging to her waist. It was her. And to his dismay, he felt his heartrate accelerate. Even after everything she’d done to him, his damn body was responding to her.
When she turned so he could see her face, he almost came out of his chair. She was pale, there were circles under her eyes and she was thinner. How could a woman who was pregnant lose weight instead of gain it?
The moment her gaze shifted and their eyes met, her shock was obvious. Those big blue eyes widened in recognition, then frosted over in anger. She looked beautiful, delicate and very teed off. He saw her clench her small hands in anger. Instead of coming toward him, she turned and left the dining room, exiting through a swinging door. He sat and sipped his coffee, wondering if she’d come to him or if he’d have to go to her.
In the kitchen, Molly leaned against the side of the commercial refrigerator, cooling her face on the gleaming stainless steel. Her hands were shaking and her knees were weak. What was he doing here? Why couldn’t he just leave her alone? She wasn’t asking for anything but to be left alone in peace.
“Molly, what’s going on?” Penny asked, coming to her in concern.
“My ex is out there,” she murmured, turning around to rest against the hard surface.
“Which one is he?” Frankie asked as she came in to pick up an order. “I just waited on a sexy stud wearing a cowboy hat. That wouldn’t be him, would it?”
“Oh, yea, that’s him.”
Frankie put her hands on her hips. “Why in God’s name did you let that hunk slip through your fingers?”
“Leave her alone,” Penny admonished Frankie. “Can’t you see she doesn’t feel well?”
“I’m okay.” Molly wiped her brow. The temperature in the diner was fairly cool. Why was she sweating?
“Do you want me to ask him to leave?” Penny offered. “I don’t know why you divorced him, but if he hit you or anything, we’ll call the cops and get a restraining order.”
Molly held up her hands. “No, nothing like that.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll go see what he wants if you will cover for me. It shouldn’t take long. He doesn’t have a lot to say to me.” She just prayed he hadn’t come to tell her that he intended to seek full custody. That would kill her.
“Go ahead. I’ll take your tables.” Frankie assured her. “The crowd is small enough that I can handle it.”
Throwing her shoulders back, Molly went for bravado, which might have worked if she didn’t feel like she was going to throw up on somebody’s shoes. The mono had left her so weak and if the truth be known, she didn’t think she was over it. Her hands automatically came around to rest on her stomach, rubbing in a small circular pattern. She wasn’t sure if she was trying to reassure herself or the baby. “Be strong, Mollina. You can do this.”
As she approached him, he didn’t smile. Molly had no idea there were so many steps from the kitchen to that section of the diner. He was a big formidable man, almost filling up one of the bench seats. His eyes roved over her and Molly wished she could just disappear. He seemed to be looking into her very soul and he didn’t like what he saw there.
A sharp pang of sorrow hit her right between her breasts. Why wouldn’t he just leave her alone? He’d already destroyed them with his lack of trust. Yet, she still loved him with all her heart. How pathetic was she? “How can I help you, Tennessee?”
“What are you doing here, Molly?” he asked, his voice gruffer than he intended.
She stiffened. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m working.”
“Why didn’t you get your job back at the spa? You loved that work.”
“I… couldn’t.” Molly bowed her head. “Let’s don’t do this, Tennessee. There’s no use. You aren’t interested in what I do or where I work.”
“Sit down, Molly, you look dead on your feet.” She appeared to be exhausted, but that didn’t keep her from looking exquisitely beautiful.
Molly didn’t feel like arguing, she did as he asked. “What do you want? I have work to do.” She w
illed herself to remain calm. Her last visit to the free clinic for prenatal vitamins had brought a warning from the doctor. Eliminate stress and get plenty of rest. She had to work, Molly refused to let her baby down. Trying to stay calm was about the only thing she could do.
“Why haven’t you made the improvements to the trailer like I asked you to? You’ll have to if you plan on the baby staying there with you after he’s born.”
“If? Where else would we live?” She started to argue, but then bowed her head in defeat. “I haven’t had time. I have to work two shifts to make ends meet.”
This disturbed Ten more than he liked to admit. “Well, why didn’t you let me know?” He knew he was contradicting himself. He offered with one hand and slapped her with the other if she reached out for it. God, he was confusing himself.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Molly stared him down. “Do you know how it galls me to even consider taking anything from you? You accused me of vile things, you were only too willing to believe that I slept around on you. It seems pretty damn ridiculous for you to think I want to accept anything from you at all. I do have my pride, you know.”
“Molly, calm down,” he held up his hands.
“Don’t tell me to calm down!” Jumping up, she was about to walk off when she swayed on her feet. Maybe she was moving a little too fast. An intense wave of dizziness almost took Molly to her knees. Grabbing for the table, she tried to steady herself but a rolling weakness robbed her of the ability to stand and she crumpled to the ground.
Tennessee reacted a second or two too late, trying to catch her but failing. “Molly!” She tried to answer, tried to tell him she was all right. The words wouldn’t come. Her mouth felt like it was lined with cotton. Raising her hand, she tried to push him away as he picked her up. Then, she knew no more as a curtain of blackness covered her mind.
“What’s wrong?” he asked her as several people including his waitress and another woman came running forward.
“She’s fainted! Oh, God, she’s pushed herself too hard. I told her she needed to rest,” Frankie dashed over to the counter to get some ice.
“Call 9-1-1!” Tennessee shouted, holding her close.
“Oh, honey.” Penny pushed closer to them. “The hospital is just down the street, it will be quicker if you’d just drive her.”
Ten took Penny at her word. Someone held the door for him and he lost no time in getting to his truck.
“I’ve got the door.” It was Frankie, helping him to get Molly loaded. “She’s probably just exhausted. You call us and tell us what the doctor says.”
“I will,” Tennessee mumbled. He was scared. He didn’t have any experience with pregnant women, especially one he…cared about. The realization that he still had intense feelings for Molly stole the air from his lungs. It whooshed out in a surge of surprise.
With his heart hammering in his chest, Ten pulled out of the diner and sped to the hospital, entering by the emergency room drive. Several attendants came rushing out and soon Molly was on a stretcher and being wheeled down the hall. Ten tried to go with them, but he was directed to wait until someone came for him.
Sinking down into one of the blue vinyl seats, he bowed his head to wait. The drone of a television reporting sports scores was the only noise other than the buzz of fluorescent lights overhead. When he’d decided to come to Alpine, this was the last place he’d imagined ending up. He sat there a while, fretting. What if she lost the baby? There was no relief in the thought, Tennessee realized he wanted this child with all of his heart.
Standing up, he went to the coffee dispenser and poured himself a cup. He considered calling his family to let them know what was going on, but it was late and he didn’t really know what to say at this point. He had feelings coursing through him that he didn’t know how to process much less explain to anyone else.
“Excuse me, are you here with Mollina Reyes?”
A man in green scrubs stood behind him.
“I’m Tennessee McCoy.” Ten stepped up to shake the man’s hand. “I’m Molly’s ex-husband.”
He accepted Ten’s handshake. “Dr. Murray.”
“How’s Molly?”
“Come with me.”
The doctor led the way to a triage room, separated from the others by white curtains. Tennessee shouldered his way in, his eyes finding Molly in the bed. She looked so small. Her arm was hooked up to an IV. His eyes wandered from her pale face to the barely visible swell of her abdomen where their baby still rested.
Ten went to Molly’s side. His hand lifted to touch her arm, but he let it drop. God, he didn’t know what to do. The oddest feeling of failure bombarded his heart. “Is the baby all right?”
The doctor read the notes on his clipboard. “She’s in no danger of losing the baby if she starts taking care of herself. She needs to eat more, she’s underweight and by the circles under her eyes, she’s not getting enough sleep or enough water.”
“Does she need to be admitted to the hospital?” Tennessee studied her pale drawn face.
The physician laid his clipboard down and stared at Tennessee. “Her blood pressure is elevated and her feet are swollen. She needs to undergo some additional testing with her OBGYN. Those can be signals of a bigger problem. She also doesn’t need to be working double shifts at the diner.” At Ten’s quizzical look, he explained. “I’m a bachelor, I eat most of my meals there.”
An explicable jolt of jealousy hit Tennessee.
The doctor continued speaking, oblivious to the other man’s discomfort. “I won’t admit her if you promise to get her checked out ASAP. She needs someone to take care of her.”
“That’s my job,” Ten growled.
“You’re the father?” He raised one eyebrow and looked at Ten quizzically.
“Yes.”
“She’s fragile. She has a baby to carry for five more months and she needs to take better care of herself.”
Ten heard the censure in the doctor’s voice. “I agree.”
Hearing the response he seemed to want to hear, the physician left the room with a promise to check back in. Ten pulled a chair up close to Molly’s bed and sat down so he’d be there when she woke up.
Molly fought to the surface from beneath layers of darkness. She moaned when she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Ten and she quickly shut her eyes again, the fog of oblivion was much more welcome than dealing with his condemning attitude.
Tennessee heard the slight noise Molly made and saw her hand move protectively to her slightly round belly. “Molly, your baby is fine. You fainted, but the doctor wants you to visit your obstetrician. You’ve been seeing one here, haven’ you?”
She noticed he didn’t refer to the child as ‘their’ baby. “I’ve been going to the free clinic.” Trying to rise, she grasped the metal railing. “I think I just got a little too hot. I’m fine. I need to get back to work.”
The next words that came out of Tennessee’s mouth were unplanned, yet he had to say them. “What’s important right now is that you rest. Just as soon as the doctor releases you, you’ll be coming home with me to the Highlands until the baby is born. We’ll see about getting you into see a doctor as soon as we get there.”
Anxiety rose in her chest, she struggled to get enough air in her lungs to breathe. “I don’t think that would be a good idea at all. Let me go home.” Molly was close to begging, tears were clogging her throat and stinging her eyes. The very idea of being around Tennessee day in and day out was more than she could handle.
“This isn’t up for negotiation.” To Molly’s shock, he stroked her forehead, pushing her hair from off her damp neck. “You’ll be staying with me and my family.”
Tennessee had no idea that what he said hurt her. She was supposed to have been his family. There was no joy in his voice, no anticipation about the arrival of the baby. He sounded completely uninvolved. “I can’t do that, Ten. I just can’t.” Her voice barely rose above a whisper.
“I’m not t
aking no for an answer, Molly.” Tennessee hated to lay out a card he never intended to play, but her health and the baby’s health was worth a little power play. “If you refuse, I won’t have any choice but to take legal measures.”
“You bastard,” she whispered, refusing to look at him again. Molly didn’t understand exactly what he meant, whatever it was, she knew it wouldn’t be in her favor. Ten had promised not to try and take her baby away. But what else could he mean? Molly wanted to argue, to fight, to rail. She wanted to stand up for herself, but she was just too tired. The health and welfare of the baby was paramount and she had to admit that she needed help. As much as it bothered her, it made sense that Tennessee be the one to do it. So, she closed her eyes and gave a slight nod. “I’ll go. When will we leave?”
“The doctor says tomorrow if everything checks out in the morning.”
“I’ll need some things from the trailer.” She refused to meet his eyes.
“That’s fine, just tell me and I’ll go pick them up later.”
Briefly she asked him to get some clothes, shoes and her vitamins. There really wasn’t anything else she needed. “The keys are in my purse.” Pulling the sheet up to her chin, Molly rolled to her side. She heard Ten sit down in one of the bedside chairs. “You can go. I’ll be fine,” she said, turning her head slightly to speak over her shoulder.
“I’m going to leave, but I’ll be back.” She heard him rummaging in her purse. “I’m not leaving you alone tonight.”
Molly didn’t respond. She was so tired, all she wanted to do was close her eyes and dream of a happier time.
Across town, Tennessee used Molly’s key to let himself into her trailer. There was no way he could miss the sad state of disrepair. Before he went to the bedroom to find her suitcase, he opened several cabinets and there was no food. Hell. Knowing what he would find, Ten walked to the refrigerator and looked inside. He let out a low curse when he saw a bottle of ketchup and a carton of orange juice. Nothing else. Almost desperately, Ten searched through the rest of the kitchen growing angrier by the second when he found nothing else but a couple of boxes of cereal. No wonder she was sick.