by K J Ellis
“How can you say that? You saw how I fell and can clearly see the state of my body. There’s no way a baby could survive that,” I mewl out loudly, the tears running loose down my chin.
“I... just know it,” Isaak whispers, not sounding convinced by his own words.
“There we go.” The nurse breaks the fog I’ve put myself in. She’s pointing at the screen, but I can’t make anything out.
“I don’t know what I’m looking at,” I say foolishly.
“Just there. You can make out the little shape of a bean. That’s your baby.” She beams at us.
“Looks more like a peanut to me,” I hear Isaak say, letting out a little laugh.
“I can see it,” I tell no one in particular. I’m smiling for the first time since I was brought to the hospital. “Is the baby okay?” I quickly ask.
“I’m just going to take a few measurements first, then I’m going to check the baby’s heartbeat,” she informs us.
Everyone in the room is so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Then, like music to my ears, I hear what I can only describe as a horse galloping.
“Oh God, is that…?” I don’t even know what to say, my emotions are all over the place.
“Yes. That’s the baby’s heartbeat. A very strong heartbeat might I add,” the nurse tells us, a genuine smile for us on her face.
“Just like his daddy.” I look up at Isaak full of pride. I can see he’s trying to keep his own emotions in check.
“Wait, you said he. Can you even tell the sex of the baby yet?” He sounds confused yet hopeful.
“Not yet, no. She’s too early on to tell,” she informs us.
“I just know the baby is going to be a boy,” I admit.
“Okay, so everything is fine with the baby, and the heartbeat is good, like I said before. From the measurements, you look around seven weeks. Congratulations,” she sings.
She removes all the equipment and quietly leaves the room, giving us some much-needed space. Poking her head back into the room, she quickly tells us that the Dr will be back in shortly and again takes her leave.
“Are you okay?”
Isaak moves away from me the moment the nurse leaves the room. He’s silent, and by the look on his face, he’s trying to work something out.
My heart plummets to my stomach. God, I hope he doesn't think I got pregnant intentionally. It was an accident that neither of us anticipated happening. Now I know about the baby, there is absolutely no way I’ll be getting rid of it.
“Seven weeks, Remme?” It’s the first thing that comes out of his mouth. “Eight weeks ago, was around the time my physio started. Which means it was when... we.” He stumbles over his words. I know what he’s getting at, so I finish his sentence for him.
“When we had sex at your house, in the shower,” I confirm it all for him.
“Fuck, Remme. I’m so sorry. I never thought about a condom at the time. This is all my fault.” He jumps up from the chair and starts to pace around the room.
“Isaak, it takes two people to make a baby. I played my part just as much as you did. What do you want to do?” I might as well get this over with. There is no point going around the issue when we can get the inevitable out of the way now.
“What do you mean what do I want?” He stops his pacing and leans his hands on the rail at the end of the bed.
“Well, I think we need to decide on arrangements and if you want to be a part of the baby’s life,” I tell him bluntly.
“What are you trying to say, Remme? You don’t want me around?”
I don’t miss the tension in his arms as his grip on the rail tightens.
“I think we both know you don’t want this baby. I know it’s a shock and not what we expected to hear when I arrived here, but I am pregnant. And I’m telling you now, Isaak, I will not be getting rid of this baby, so don’t even ask me to. If you want to walk away, you can do that. I won’t ask you for anything—not a single penny.” I can feel myself welling up again.
God, what is it with me crying all the time?
“Remme, I would never ask you to do that. I know my reaction wasn’t the best, but I was shocked, I’m still in shock. I want this baby, Remme. I want everything with you. It might not be great timing, but I’m over the moon. I was just worried and didn’t want to get my hopes up if something was wrong or if you didn’t want to keep the baby. I was preparing myself for the worst,” he explains.
I had it all wrong. “You mean that? I don’t want you thinking that you have to stay with me, just for the baby. I will let you see it whenever you want, regardless of what happens between us. You know that, right?” I feel I have to tell him all this, more for my own sanity. I don’t want him staying with me, stringing me along. I’d prefer for him to tell me straight, so I can start getting over him. No matter how much it will kill me, or shatter my heart.
“Remme, I’m going to tell you this once, and once only. I want you in my life; I want our baby in my life. Together.” He walks towards me, sitting on the bed beside me. “Okay, that sounded weird.” He flashes me one of his signature smirks, it’s my undoing and everything I’ve just said to him slips away so easily.
“Daddy.” One word, full of meaning.
“You’re gonna make one hot momma bear, Sweetcheeks.”
I can’t help but laugh, but the pain in my ribs causes me to stop. “Ouch, don’t make me laugh. It hurts too much.” I playfully punch him in the arm and rub my sore rib.
“Everything will be fine, Remme. I promise you. You will never have to worry about anything where you and our baby are concerned.” He makes the tears well in my eyes again, and there isn’t anything I can do to stop them.
Only this time I let them freefall.
This time they are happy tears.
For me, for Isaak and for our little peanut.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Isaak
I see the tears falling down Remme’s cheeks like an endless stream of a river. I wipe them away and gently place a kiss on her lips.
“You’re exhausted. Get some rest. I’ll go tell the guys and Devon that you’re going to be okay.” I go up to stand but Remme reaches out and grabs a hold of my hand, stopping me.
“Don’t tell them about the baby,” she pleads. “I don’t want to jinx it. Can we wait, please?” Her pleading eyes break through my resolve.
I can’t deny her anything. If she asks me to pull down the moon and hand it to her I would, or at least I would damn well try to.
Placing another kiss on her head, I promise not to tell anyone and slip out of the room quietly.
Once the door closes and clicks shut behind me, I lean my back on it and cradle my head in my hands. “A baby.” I say out loud, just as a nurse passes me.
“Sir, are you okay? You look very pale.” She gives me a beaming smile. She’s definitely heard me. “Oh...erm...Mr Brookes. Do you need to sit down for a minute?”
I can tell by the way she says my name, that she immediately recognises me, but unlike everyone else, she doesn’t try to flirt or touch me discreetly. Maybe the media catching wind of me and Remme hasn’t all been bad.
“No, I’m okay thank you. Actually, if I was to go out to reception would I be allowed back in this department?” The last thing I need is to not be able to get back in to see Rem again.
“Are you a relative?”
Shit, what do I say to that? Technically I’m not family. Thinking on my feet is not ideal, all kinds of stupid stuff comes flying out like verbal diarrhea.
“Remme Rivers is my fiancée.” I blurt it out before I can stop the words from slipping out. Why do I say that, and more importantly, what will Rem say if a nurse says something to her?
“Well then, that should be fine. Just tell them that if you get stopped by anyone.”
Oh hell, I need to tell Rem in case something is mentioned about her ‘fiancé.’
Thanking the nurse for her hel
p, I watch as she walks away. Taking a deep breath, I spin on my heels and open the door to where Rem is. She looks at me with wonder in her eyes.
“That was quick. Is everything okay?”
My chest swells, my girl is laying in a hospital bed all banged up and she is worried if everything is alright with me.
“Everything is fine, baby, but if anyone asks, I'm your soon to be husband, okay?”
Her eyes light up with humour.
“Erm...yeah, I had to tell them something to be able to get back in.”
“You couldn’t say brother or something, no?”
The glow I’m seeing in her now, is something I can’t figure out. I can’t help fucking with her a little though.
“Well, would your brother be having a baby with you?” I laugh along with her.
“Yeah okay, fiancé you are then.”
With that, I’m back out of the door, heading to Owen and Kenny.
My best friend and my manager are practically jumping on me, as I walk through the door, speaking at the same time.
“Whoa, hold up guys. One at a time.” Holding up my hands in a defensive manner.
Owen bumps my arm.
“How is she?” Kenny asks. They both have a painful overwhelming look on their faces. Wanting to put them out of their misery as soon as possible and reminding myself of the promise I made to Remme, I start by telling them what I can.
“Remme is fine, guys. In fact, she’s extremely lucky: she’s come away with a few cuts, bruising and a dislocation of her shoulder,” I say, keeping the one thing I want to tell my best mate in the whole world, to myself.
“Can she go home now?” Owen says. “I can drive you back if you want?”
Not knowing how long she will be staying, also not wanting to take up all their time, I decline the drive home.
“Okay, I can drive Owen back to the gym,” Kenny states, looking at my buddy while I’m handed back my keys from Owen.
“Kenny, before you go...can you do something for me?” This idea could go horribly wrong.
“What you need, Isaak?” The question falls from his mouth with no hesitation. Taking my phone from my pocket, I quickly find the number I’m looking for.
“I need you to call my mate, Saxon Evans. I don’t know if you remember him from when I first started boxing, but he does personal security now. I want him on our books, working for me.” There is nothing but determination in my tone that tolerates no argument.
“Saxon? What the fuck you need a bodyguard for, Isaak? You're the goddamn Bruiser. I think you can manage yourself just fine,” Owen is quick to say, and he is right, but it’s not me I want to protect. I have so much more in my life now, and they need protecting and I trust Saxon to do the job when I can't myself.
“It’s not for me, knobhead. It’s for Rem. Shantel pushed her down those stairs, tried to fill her head with all sorts of shit. Not to mention the company she is keeping now. I just don’t want anything else to happen,” I find myself explaining, when in theory I shouldn't have to. I’ve asked Kenny to do something, so he should get it done. End of. With them both not able to argue my point, they nod then head for the exit while I head back to Remme.
Getting back to her room with no one bothering me—except for a few cute nurses who give me flirty looks and smiles, ones I assume would have any other man in the stock closet setting their worlds alight. Not me though. Not anymore. I have my world on the other side of this door.
Giving it a gentle knock and walking straight in, I find Rem seemingly asleep, so I tip toe back to my chair. My arse barely touches the seat before there is another knock, followed by Dr Fletcher entering.
“Baby, wake up.” I gently nudge her.
Opening her eyes, she yawns and stretches, wincing as she does.
“I hear that the baby is healthy and well, so I just need to check on your pain levels.”
“Honestly, I’m not in that much pain if I stay still. I also don’t want to fill my body and the baby with medication.”
I understand her reasoning but hate to see her in pain.
“Alright then. In that case, you only need to have these iron supplements. Just in case you feel you need pain relief; paracetamol is perfectly fine to take. Other than that, you're free to go, but you have to rest for a few days minimum.”
Remme goes to open her mouth, no doubt to tell him she has Spencer at home. I reply before she gets a chance, though.
“That’s okay, Doc: she is staying with me. I will make sure she rests up. Thank you.”
Shaking the Doctor’s hand as he leaves, I see Remme giving me the death stare as I sit next to her on the bed.
“Baby, I’m not letting you and peanut out of my sight. If you wanna fight me on it fine, but it will fall on deaf ears.”
Remme is pissed at me. I can see it radiating all over her face. I knew she'd fight me on this, but if she thinks after what happened I will trust anyone else to care for her and my unborn child right now, she can think again.
“Isaak, I don’t need looking after. I can rest in my own bed. Spencer will be home sometimes, too. I need life to carry on.” The fire in her tone scares me, but I am not, I repeat, I am not letting her go home.
“Listen, Sweetcheeks, that’s not happening. I’m going to take care of you, wait on you hand and foot and there is nothing you can say that will make me change my mind on this. You and that baby are my world. I care for what's in my life and that means I care for both of you.” Brutal honesty, that’s what she needs. “Oh, and Sweetcheeks, while I have you in a semi-pissed off mood, I have something else to tell you.” Leaning over her slightly so she can see me head on, I begin to tell her the other news. “I have hired a security detail. Now, I know what you're gonna say, but just listen first. Shantel intentionally hurt you, and I can’t have you going around carrying precious cargo with a mad woman on the loose,” I grumble at her.
“Do you really think that it’s necessary, Isaak?” she clips at me. I knew that it would be a hard sell.
“Remme, if I didn’t think it was necessary, I wouldn’t be getting the ball rolling on it. It’s not just the Shantel incident: you will be spending more time around me, which in turn means more heat from the media. They will be out in force, Rem, especially when they find out about the baby. I’m not taking the chance of either of you getting caught up, or worse seriously hurt. I won’t do it, Remme. I need you both safe, and the guy I’m hiring is the best of the best. If I can’t be near you to protect you, then I trust Saxon to do that for me.” I’m adamant this is happening, whether she agrees to it or not.
“Fine. I’m not happy about the fact I’ll have a constant shadow following me around twenty-four-seven. Though I understand why you choose to go down this route.” She’s silent for a few seconds, so I just wait to see what she says next. “Thank you,” she adds.
“Remme, you don’t ever have to thank me for wanting to protect you, and to keep my family safe.” I’d jump in front of a bullet for her if I needed to without a second thought. “How about we get you and our little peanut out of here and back home?”
“Did you just say home and family in the same sentence there, Isaak?” she says playfully.
“Yes, I did. What you going to do about it, Sweetcheeks?” I tease back.
“Absolutely nothing. I liked it.” She smiles up at me.
“Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?” I admit, and she nods in agreement.
“Right, my rugged-yet-handsome fiancé, get me out of here.” Her smile doubles in size, lighting up her whole face.
“You got it, future Mrs. Brookes,” I continue the joke on.
Now that really does have a nice ring to it.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Remme
“Isaak, will you stop. You’re driving me crazy.”
I’ve spent three days at Isaak’s house, and the whole time he’s been driving me crackers. He keeps checking on me eve
ry five bloody minutes, asking me if I want or need anything, asking if me and the baby are okay. The answer is always the same. ‘Yes, Isaak we’re both fine,’ or ‘I don’t need anything, Isaak.’
I’ve told him multiple times to just give me some peace and quiet and go to the gym or something, but his answer is always the same.
“No, I’m good. I can go tomorrow; I can train in the gym here.”
I mean, don’t get me wrong, the way he’s treating me makes me go all gooey on the inside. He can’t do enough for me, and it’s nice to see yet another side to him.
“I’m just making sure you’re okay, Sweetcheeks,” he says unashamed.
“Will you just sit down with me and stop running around the house like a lost little puppy?” I ask him, patting the sofa beside me.
“Are you sure you don’t need anything before I do?” He’s so persistent and not giving in easily.
“Isaak Brookes, if you don’t sit down, I will walk out that door and go back home to Spencer,” I begin to argue with him.
“Not a fucking chance. This is your home as much as it is mine. You’re going nowhere.” He’s not asking, he’s telling me.
I’m about to tell him to stick his demands where the sun doesn't shine, when he speaks again.
“Remme, don’t you think you should call your parents and tell them what happened and that they will be Grandparents soon? Surely they would want to know you’re both safe.” He’s got a valid point.
“Also, I think you should let Spencer know—at least about the fall if you’re not ready to tell him about the baby.”
I know he’s right, but I don’t really feel up to it. All I want to do is sleep.
My parents have spoken to Isaak a couple times over the past few weeks. Mum is in love with him already and is trying to marry me off to him. Dad is just, Dad, he just wants me happy. It doesn’t matter if I’m single, married or just dating. If I’m happy doing it, then dad’s happy for me.
“You want me to do it for you?”