Heart Strings

by Melanie Moreland

  A nurse entered and called my name. I hurried forward, and she asked if I had Lottie’s purse. I handed it to her when she stated Lottie had requested it.

  “How is she? May I see her?”

  “Soon. They have a couple more tests, then you can see her.”

  “Is she all right?” I asked anxiously, laying my hand on her arm to stop her from walking away.

  Her smile was kind. “She’s awake and doing better.”

  I had to be satisfied with that answer. “Tell her I’m here.”

  “She knows.”

  Brianna arrived, looking worried. “What’s going on?” She dragged me to the corner where there were a couple of empty chairs. “What happened?” Her eyes went wide, and she grabbed my chin. “What happened to your face?”

  I grimaced and pulled away. “It met Lottie’s father—officially.”

  “He hit you?”

  I told her all I knew. “They must have had a huge disagreement. He met me in the hall, and we exchanged words. He hauled off and hit me,” I finished.

  “Did you hit him back?”

  “I wanted to, but no.”

  “Good. Have they told you what is wrong with Lottie?”

  “No. It’s very frustrating.”

  “Stay here. I mean it. Don’t move, Logan.”

  She stood and approached the busy nurses station. She spoke briefly to one woman, then disappeared around the corner. I narrowed my eyes, wondering where she was going. I began to tap my knee, the irregular beat keeping me occupied and stopping me from following her. After about fifteen minutes, she reappeared and sat down beside me. “You can see her in a couple of moments. They’re keeping her in for observation. She’s not too happy about that.”

  “You saw her?”

  “For a few moments. I told them I was her sister and she’d called and asked me to bring her a few things she needed.”

  “Clever,” I conceded. “How is she?”

  She blew out a long breath. “Messed up.”

  I ran a hand through my hair. “This is my fault. I knew her father would go after her for this.”

  Brianna sighed and patted my knee. “This was a disaster on hold, Logan. Eventually, something had to break.” She paused, a strange look crossing her face. “I admit, I didn’t see it happening like this, but that’s life.” She met my eyes. “How much do you love her?”

  “With my entire soul.” I turned in my chair, fully meeting her serious gaze. “I know it’s only been a few weeks, but she’s everything I’ve spent my life looking for. She’s my future.” I had to swallow around the lump forming in my throat. “It kills me to know she’s down the hall hurting, and I’m stuck out here, not able to comfort her.”

  “Would you change your life for her?”

  It seemed like an odd question. “Change my life?”

  “Give up your dreams if it was better for her?”

  “In a heartbeat.”

  “Then you’re going to be fine.” She stood. “I know you thought your life changed last night, Logan, but hold on to your hat. It’s only the beginning.” She began to chuckle, enjoying some private joke. “I think right now, patience is in order.” She bent down and brushed a kiss to my head. “I have a meeting I have to get to. They’ll come get you in a minute.” She began to walk away. “Oh, and call her mother. She deserves to know Lottie is doing okay.”

  She left me confused and dumbfounded. Brianna had a meeting? Brianna hated meetings and delegated the running of her little boutique to her manager. She admitted she liked her role as purchaser and left the rest to the people who knew what they were doing. And what was she talking about, when it came to changes? I hoped it meant Lottie was going to quit her job. With my new career, we’d be fine. She could find something she enjoyed or, even better, pursue the baking thing.

  My name being called startled me, and I jumped to my feet. I followed the nurse to a small cubicle at the end of the hall where my “fiancée” was resting. I pushed open the door, stopping at the sight of Lottie. She was in the hospital bed, pale and worn-looking. Her eyes were shut, but it was obvious she wasn’t asleep. She was too tense for that. Monitors beeped, and there was an IV in her arm, fluid dripping slowly from the bag hanging beside her. I could see she’d been crying, a tissue crushed in her hand and her cheeks still damp.

  I hurried to the bed, leaning over and cupping her cheek. “Lottie, baby, I’m here.”

  Her eyes flew open, and she gasped, fresh tears pouring down her face. She gripped my wrist, the hold tight.

  “Logan.”

  The one word was filled with pain, and without another thought, I sat beside her, pulling her into my arms. She wept, her head buried in my neck, her body shaking with the force of her sobs. I rocked her, desperate to soothe, unsure what to do.

  I began to hum one of her favorite songs. Almost instantly, she began to relax, her sobs slowing, her body easing in my arms. I stroked her hair and down her back in gentle passes, humming until she was quiet.

  “Better?” I murmured.

  She relaxed back into the pillows, her blue eyes filled with sadness. She looked vulnerable and lost—more so than I had ever seen her. I stroked her cheek.

  “Whatever it is, Lottie, I’m here. We’ll face it together.”

  “I’m not so sure you’ll feel the same once you hear what I have to say.”

  “I am. Nothing you can tell me will scare me away, Lottie. Nothing.”

  For a moment, there was silence, then she spoke.

  “I’m pregnant, Logan.”

  The words exploded in my head.

  Pregnant.

  I met her eyes. The worry and fear were blatant. Shock lingered in her expression—the same shock I knew she must be seeing in my gaze.

  “Pregnant?” I repeated.

  “It’s early,” she sniffled. “Really early, but the blood test came back positive.”

  “I-I thought you were on birth control?” I asked, unsure what to say or do. I felt as if I were having an out-of-body experience. Logically, I knew I was sitting beside Lottie in the hospital, but it felt as if I were running around the room, screaming. My breathing had picked up, and my chest felt tight.

  Did she say pregnant?

  She slipped her hand under the thin blanket and held out a small package of pills. “I forgot. One day.” She shook her head. “I have never forgotten.”

  Numbly, I took the package, noting absently the days marked, and she was one pill behind.

  “My period should have started. I was so caught up in everything, it slipped my mind.”

  I nodded, dumbfounded, still in shock. “It’s been crazy,” was all I could think to say. The past few weeks had slipped away in the blink of an eye.

  The room was silent for a moment, my mind beginning to process again. To take in the words she was saying.

  Lottie was pregnant. With my child. I was going to be a dad. That word echoed in my head.

  “This is my fault, Logan. My responsibility. I don’t expect anything from you.”

  Her words hit me like a sledgehammer.

  She didn’t expect anything from me. It was all her fault.

  I cleared my throat, my brain finally kicking in and working again. I took her hand in mine.

  I was going to be a dad.

  “Pretty sure we were both there when this baby was created, Lottie.”

  “By accident.”

  “The day I met you was an accident too. That turned out pretty damn well.”

  “That was different.”

  I met her eyes. “Yes, but no less wondrous.”

  Her gaze widened. “You aren’t angry?”

  Slowly, I pulled the blanket away and slid my hand along her flat stomach. I spread my fingers wide, amazed that beneath them was a child. A tiny little being so small and yet already so precious.

  My smile was wide. Brianna was right. Last night was nothing compared to this. Not a blip.

  Because the little blip under my
hand was real.

  My child.

  Our child.

  I raised my eyes to hers. “Not angry, Lottie. Shocked, a little off-balance, but not angry. How could I be? We did this together. Maybe a little faster than I expected, but we created a child. How on earth am I supposed to be angry about that?”

  Her hand rested on top of mine. “I was shocked and upset when they told me, and I had no idea how you were going to take it,” she admitted. “But I was also…happy. All I could think about was holding your baby in my arms.”

  My baby.

  The image of Lottie, rounded and glowing, came to the forefront of my mind. The thought of being there with her, watching over her, being part of this journey, filled me. A spark of happiness lit in my chest. Then I recalled why we were here.

  I frowned in concern. “Are you all right, Lottie? What happened? Why are they keeping you?”

  “My blood pressure is low. They want to keep an eye on it.” She sighed heavily and rested back on the pillow. “It’s been a bad day. An argument with my father, a panic attack, and then finding out I’d been careless and screwed things up and had to tell you I was pregnant.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “I thought you would be so angry that I might lose you too. Even though I know how wonderful you are, I was so afraid…” She trailed off, her voice shaking.

  I knew she was overwhelmed. Shocked by the news. Add in the fact that she heard it alone, and no wonder she was worried. I leaned close, brushing my fingers over her cheek. “Look at me, Lottie.”

  She opened her eyes, tears swimming in the lovely blue.

  “It was a bad day until that moment you told me,” I assured her. “Finding out we’re having a child together is when the day went from bad to awesome. Understand me? I am thrilled, sweetheart.” I lifted her hand and kissed it. “I don’t ever want to hear you say that again.” I paused as a thought occurred to me. “Unless…you don’t want this baby?”

  “No! I do. It’s just so fast,” she explained. “We’ve been so fast.”

  “Fast but right.” I kissed her forehead. “Now, you rest so I can take you home.” I laid my hand on her stomach. “My family.” I couldn’t help the grin that broke through. “Only one pill—my boys are a determined lot. We’ll have to remember that in the future.”

  She returned my smile, although hers was still shaky.

  I blanched a little. “I didn’t—uh, last night. God, did I do this? Was I too rough?”

  “No. I was fine until I had the fight with my dad. Last night was amazing, Logan.” She paused. “Although we might want to refrain from, ah, the acrobatics for a bit.”

  “No acrobatics. Got it. But sex is okay, right?”

  “Yes. The doctor recommended some books.”

  “I’ll order them right away. I have a feeling I have a lot to learn.” I winked at her, wanting her to relax.

  “Me too. The news certainly explained why I’ve been so emotional and tired.”

  “One mystery solved.”

  “I’d like to know the mystery behind that bruise on your jaw. It wasn’t there this morning when I left.” She lifted one eyebrow in question.

  “A story for another time.”

  “Did you punch him back?” She guessed correctly.

  “Nope. I needed to get to you more than I needed to hit him.”

  “Thank you.”

  I smiled and kissed her again. She cupped my face in her hands, gently pressed a kiss to the sore spot. “I love you.”

  “And I love you. Both of you.”

  “Our little blip.”

  I shook my head. “Not a blip. That indicates a mistake.” I ran my fingers over her skin. “A nugget. A tiny little nugget.” I met her eyes. “Our nugget.”

  “Our nugget will be so loved,” she whispered, a wide smile curling her lips.

  “Yes. He or she will never doubt that. Ever,” I promised. My mind was already racing, planning, and organizing what I needed to do. How I could look after Lottie and make sure she was all right. Take care of both of them.

  She sat up, suddenly worried. “I quit my job today, Logan. What am I going to do?”

  Hearing those words made me even happier than I had been a moment ago. “We’ll figure it out.”

  “I have a mortgage and bills. Babies are expensive.” She worried her lip. “Maybe I can convince my dad to forgive me and—”

  I pressed a finger to her mouth. “No. We’ll figure it out, Lottie. You aren’t going back there. The stress isn’t good for you—or the baby,” I added, unable to keep from smiling at those words.

  I bent and kissed her. “We’ll figure it all out together.”

  She visibly relaxed. “I should call the office and tell HR I’m not coming in. I’ll give my dad a few days to cool off then go talk to him. But I think I need to let my mother know I’m okay. She’ll freak because of Josh. Hospitals upset her terribly.”

  “I’ll make both calls,” I assured her. I described the girl who stepped aside and pushed the elevator button for me, and Lottie confirmed it was Lorie.

  “I’ll call her and your mother. I’ll take care of it. You rest—the sooner we stabilize your blood pressure, the sooner I can take you home.”

  Her eyes drifted shut, and I knew she was exhausted. I watched her float into sleep, her hand resting across her stomach in a protective gesture.

  I slipped from the room and called Lorie, who told me Lottie’s father was already at the hospital. I hung up, checking my texts and seeing there was one from Brianna saying Lottie’s mother had contacted her, and she had told her Lottie was in the hospital but had assured her mother that Lottie would be fine. She’d obviously told her husband, who was now in the waiting room. I was shocked he hadn’t demanded to be allowed to see Lottie or caused a scene about me being in with her.

  I made sure Lottie was still sleeping, then walked to the waiting room. Charles Prescott was easy to spot, pacing the room, on his phone, his voice low and angry-sounding. When he saw me, he ended his call and waited for me to approach him. I inhaled and closed the distance between us, stopping in front of him. His eyes focused on the growing bruise on my jaw. I had a feeling he’d like to give my face a matched set.

  “There are witnesses this time if you take a swing.”

  He ignored my remark. “Where is Lottie?”

  “Resting.”

  “Why is she here? I don’t understand what happened.”

  I crossed my arms. “Because of the argument you had. She had a massive panic attack. They’re monitoring her blood pressure.”

  “I want to see her.”

  “Not a chance in hell of that happening.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “You have no say in the matter.”

  Anger made me stupid and my tongue reckless. “I have every say.” I stepped closer. “You had your chance, Charles. You had her entire life to fuss and care about her. Instead, you ignored her. Treated her as if she were to blame for Josh’s death.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Josh died of leukemia—it had nothing to do with Lottie. She gave her stem cells, but it didn’t work—the disease was too far advanced.”

  “Did you ever assure her of that? Tell her in no uncertain terms that his death wasn’t because of her?”

  He opened his mouth but faltered.

  “From the day he died, she has spent her life thinking you blame her for Josh’s death. Trying to atone for it—as if a child her age had anything to atone for. You left her alone in her grief and guilt, and it has stuck with her for her entire life. Are you aware of how much she hates her job? She only does it as penance. She does it to try to get you to love her.”

  His face paled at my words, but I kept going.

  “You caused this. You and your wife have wasted all this time—why, I have no clue. You are missing knowing and loving the best, sweetest, most wonderful woman I have ever met.” I shook my head, my voice dripping with fury. “If you had seen what I did when I walked into her office, even your blac
k heart would have suffered. So if you think I am letting you even remotely close to my future wife and the mother of my child, you can think again, Charles. Because those two facts right there give me the right.”

  His face became ashen and he tried to talk, but I cut him off. “She is not coming back to work. I suggest you meet with your HR department and figure things out.”

  He sputtered, but I kept talking. “She is the most important thing in this world. I will protect her from you if it’s the last thing I do. If I have to give up every other dream in the world to do so, then so be it.” I stepped back, letting my loathing for him show. “I will love her so well, she will never doubt how important she is. And our child will know the same sort of love.” I sucked in some much-needed air. “Now, excuse me. My fiancée needs me. Go back to the office, Mr. Prescott. It’s where you hide the best. I’ll be sure to let your wife know when Lottie can go home.”

  I turned and walked away. I knew I shouldn’t have said anything about the baby. I also knew Lottie was my fiancée in name only, although I planned to change that very quickly. But my anger overtook my common sense, and there was nothing I could do to take it back. I paused as I left the waiting area, glancing over my shoulder.

  He was sitting, his head in his hands, not moving. His shoulders were slumped, his entire frame defeated. I felt a small flicker of guilt, but I turned my head away. He deserved it.

  Lottie needed me. And right now, that was all that mattered.

  Chapter 23

  Lottie

  I sighed and burrowed farther under the blankets, grateful to be home. They released me from the hospital once my blood pressure leveled out, and Logan assured them he would be with me. When we got home after dinnertime, I had taken a quick shower, then Logan tucked me into bed. He got some noodles and dumplings delivered from The Koi House and insisted on sitting beside me in bed and feeding them to me.

  I had to admit, it was nice to be spoiled. Trev and Brianna dropped by, bringing Logan some things. They said a quick hello to me, Brianna telling me she would come the next day and sit with me so Logan could go and see Bobby. I protested.