The Donor

by Lynn, Sandi

  “Well, it’s a little too late for that. Isn’t it?”

  I walked around and looked at the interior of the home. The light beige walls, the dark wood flooring and the large beige area rugs that were scattered throughout the house. The one thing that caught my attention was the 30 ft. high stone fireplace and the grand piano that sat next to it in the corner.

  “This place is really nice. Are you renting it?”

  “No. It’s mine. I bought it.” He walked over to the bar and poured himself a drink. “This place was our vacation home when I was a kid.”

  “You still had it after all these years?”

  “No. I just bought it about three months ago. I was looking for a house to buy as a summer home for us.” He looked away. “Then this popped up and I had no choice. I had to buy it.”

  “You bought this for us?” I narrowed my eye at him. “Don’t you mean for you? Because your plan was to dump me once you got your company.”

  “It doesn’t matter anymore, and I really don’t want to discuss it.”

  I went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water.

  “Yes, Grayson, I would like some water.” I rolled my eyes as I took a seat on the couch.

  “Sorry. I’m still in shock you’re here.”

  “Me too. So now what? Obviously, I can’t go anywhere.”

  “Are you hungry? I can fix us some dinner.”

  I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

  “You can’t cook.”

  “I’ve been managing just fine.” He walked into the kitchen.

  “I can’t believe how hard it’s raining,” I spoke.

  “I told you heavy rains were coming. Did you think I was lying?”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

  He shot me a look and slowly shook his head.

  “Okay. Since I’m stuck here, I hate just standing around. At least let me help you cook.”

  “You should go rest for a while. You look tired.”

  “I don’t want to rest. I want to help.”

  “I’m making chili. If you want to help so bad, then you can make a salad. You’ll find everything in the refrigerator.”

  I opened the fridge and took out lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes. Taking a knife from the knife block, I began to cut up the lettuce on a cutting board that was already on the counter. Silence filled the space between us. He was the one who deceived me and yet I was the one getting an attitude from him.

  “Do you have a bowl I can put this salad in?” I asked.

  “In that cabinet over there.” He pointed.

  I made the salad as he continued making the chili.

  “Do you mind if I take a taste?”

  “Why? Don’t you trust my ability?” His brow raised.

  “No. Actually, I don’t.”

  “Be my guest.” He handed me a wooden spoon.

  “Needs a little more spice.”

  “Then spice it up.” He handed me the chili powder.

  As I was spicing up the chili, he set the table. I couldn’t believe this was happening. As soon as the chili was ready, we took our seats at the table.

  “You’re not going to be able to leave tonight so you’ll have to sleep in one of the guest rooms. There’s three of them so take your pick.”

  All of a sudden, the house went dark. The only light was from the fire that was roaring in the fireplace.

  “Shit!” he said. “Don’t move. I’ll go turn on the generator.

  This was just dandy as fuck. Here I was stuck in a house, having dinner with a man I never wanted to see again, in the middle of a storm and the power goes out.

  Chapter 45

  Grayson

  I couldn’t believe she was here. Seeing her hurt all over again. She looked just as beautiful now as she did the day everything changed. She was way bigger with a bigger attitude. Hell, I didn’t blame her. But she still never fully said why she came here.

  I could barely look at her. Every time I did, it reminded me of what I’d done and how badly I hurt her. I came to Montauk because nobody here knew who I was, and I wanted to put the past behind me. To make a fresh start.

  After turning on the generator, I took my seat at the table and continued to eat my dinner.

  “So what do you do here all day?” she asked.

  “I’ve been working on the house. It needed a bit of updating.”

  “Oh. I didn’t know you could do things like that.”

  “I learned.”

  “I have a question for you, and I want an honest answer,” she spoke.

  “What?” I looked straight at her.

  “Why did you deposit that money into my bank account?”

  “For you and the baby.”

  “Did you think you could just buy your way back into our lives?”

  “Damn it, Harper!” I slammed my fist on the table and got up from my chair. “That’s not why I did it. You quit your job!”

  “Yeah, because of you!” she shouted.

  “I know that. I know that I’m one hundred percent responsible for that. But I want to make sure you and my daughter are taken care of without you having to worry about finances. It’s the least I could do after what I’d done.” I turned away and threw my bowl in the sink.

  “Why, Grayson? How could you do that to me?”

  I placed my hands on the counter and looked down.

  “Because I let my fears get the best of me. When my parents died, I suddenly had all this fear. I acted out, I rebelled. You name it, I did it. Don’t get me wrong, my grandparents were good to me and raised me the best they could, but they weren’t my parents. I felt like I’d lost everything when they died. Almost as if a part of me died with them. I couldn’t control what happened to them, but I could do my best to control my own life. I felt the need for such control out of the fear that consumed me. And it was that same fear that led me to do what I did. I know you don’t believe me, but I’m not that man anymore, and I have you to thank for that. I don’t ever expect you to forgive me. Hell, I don’t deserve your forgiveness, nor will I ever forgive myself for what I’d done to you.”

  Harper

  “You act like you’re the fucking victim here, Grayson.”

  “I’m not the victim, Harper, nor do I pretend to be. You wanted to know why, and I told you. If me telling you the truth isn’t good enough, then I’m sorry. I’m going upstairs. Take whichever guest room you want,” he spoke as he began to walk away.

  I got up from the chair, took a few steps and froze as a pain tore through me and I felt something warm travel down my legs.

  “Grayson,” I spoke in a panicked tone.

  He stopped, turned around, looked at the ground and then up at me.

  “I think my water just broke. Oh god.” I clutched my belly.

  “Shit,” he said as he ran over to me and grabbed hold of my arm. “Come on. Let’s get you to the couch.”

  “No. I’m soaking wet.”

  “Just sit down in the chair for a minute. I’ll run upstairs and get you one of my shirts. I promise I’ll be back in a second. Okay?”

  I nodded my head as I sat down. Within a moment, he was back with one of his t-shirts. One I used to wear all the time before I had kept extra clothes at his house. He helped me from the chair and into the bathroom.

  “Let me help you change out of those clothes,” he said.

  “No. I can do it. I think you better call 911.”

  “Right. I’ll go grab my phone.”

  I stripped out of my clothes and slipped on his t-shirt. This wasn’t happening and I started to panic. When I walked out of the bathroom, I went and sat down on the couch. Suddenly, another cramping pain fired through me.

  “Oh my God!”

  “They’re sending an ambulance as soon as they can, but the roads are washed out and they don’t know how long it will take for them to get here.”

  “It’s too early, Grayson. I’m not due for another four weeks. I can’t have
her yet. It’s too soon.” I grabbed his arm.

  “Shh. It’ll be okay. Everything will be okay. I will not let anything happen to you or the baby. They’ll be here.”

  Chapter 46

  Grayson

  Two hours had passed, and the ambulance still wasn’t here. Harper’s contractions were coming closer together and as much as I wanted to panic, I couldn’t. I needed to be strong for her. All I could see was the fear in her eyes. She was scared shitless and so was I. I placed a blanket on the floor with a bunch of pillows and I held her from behind as she sat in between my legs. Her contractions were now four minutes apart and with each one, she let out a howling scream.

  My phone rang. I quickly answered it and put it on speaker.

  “Hello.”

  “This is Dr. Graham. Whom am I speaking with?”

  “Grayson Rhodes. I’m with Harper Holland and we’re in Montauk. Her water broke, and she’s in labor.”

  “You need to get her to a hospital immediately.”

  “I would if I could, but we’re in the middle of a horrific storm and the roads are washed out. I called 911 and they’re sending an ambulance but that was two hours ago and they’re still not here.”

  “Harper, can you hear me?”

  “Yes. Dr. Graham. Oh God,” she screamed.

  “Mr. Rhodes, how far apart are her contractions?”

  “About three to four minutes apart.”

  “Okay. Mr. Rhodes, you’re going to have to deliver this baby. Harper, I want you to listen to me and I want you to remain as calm as possible. Your body knows exactly what to do.”

  “Dr. Graham, it’s too early to have her.”

  “Harper, everything is going to be okay. Mr. Rhodes, I want you to go get some towels, a blanket and a cool cloth for Harper’s head.”

  “No. Don’t leave me,” she begged as she grabbed my arm.

  “I’ll be right back. You have my word.”

  I got up and quickly grabbed a blanket, some towels and a cool cloth like Dr. Graham said. Harper screamed out in pain.

  “I have to push.”

  “Not yet, Harper,” Dr. Graham said. “Practice your breathing.”

  “Oh God!” she screamed.

  “Dr. Graham. Her contractions are two minutes apart now.”

  “Okay. Let’s do this. Harper, I want you to push with the next contraction. Mr. Rhodes, you need to tell me when you start to see the baby’s head.”

  I held Harper’s hand as the next few contractions hit, and she pushed as she screamed in pain.

  “I see it, Dr. Graham. I see her head.”

  “Okay. I want the next push to be even bigger, Harper.”

  She pushed as hard as she could and then stopped.

  “I can’t. I can’t do this anymore. She fell back onto the pillows.”

  I placed my hand on her forehead and stared into her beautiful blue and tired eyes.

  “Sweetheart, you have no choice. Our daughter is ready to meet you, but she can’t do it alone. She needs you to help her along. Okay?”

  “Okay.” She nodded as she pushed as hard as she could.

  “Dr. Graham, her head is out.”

  “Excellent. Hold onto her. One final push, Harper. That’s all it’s going take.”

  Suddenly, she was out and, in my hands, screaming at the top of her lungs.

  I’d never felt so much joy in my entire life as my eyes filled with tears. Looking up, I could see the flashing lights of the ambulance outside.

  “The paramedics are here.”

  “Mr. Rhodes. Place the baby on Harper’s chest. The paramedics will cut the cord and deliver the placenta. Congratulations you two.”

  The front door opened, and the paramedics ran in with the stretcher and their medical bags. I moved out of the way and sat next to Harper, who looked at me with tears in her eyes.

  “She’s beautiful, Grayson.”

  “She looks just like her mother.” I smiled as I kissed her forehead with tears in my eyes.

  The paramedics took the baby, cleaned her up, wrapped her tightly in a blanket and handed her back to Harper.

  “We need to get the two of you to the hospital,” one of the paramedics spoke.

  They placed her and the baby on the stretcher and I climbed in the ambulance with them. The baby was resting peacefully against Harper.

  “Have you thought of a name for her yet?” I asked as I softly stroked her forehead.

  “Ellie Rae. After my parents. Ellie was my mom’s name and Ray was my dad’s name. But I’m going to spell it Rae.”

  “It’s a beautiful name.” I smiled.

  The moment we arrived at the hospital, they took Ellie to the NICU and put Harper in a room. I stayed by her side the entire time, refusing to leave her.

  “Thank you, Grayson.” She held her hand out to me. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  I gave her a smile as I gently squeezed her hand.

  “Harper,” An older man in a long white coat walked into the room. “Your daughter is doing fine. She’s a little jaundice which is normal so we’re keeping her under the heat lamps overnight and monitoring her. Otherwise, she’s healthy.”

  Both Harper and I let out a sigh of relief.

  “I’m staying here with you, whether you want me to or not,” I said to her.

  “I was hoping you’d stay.”

  After Harper fell asleep, I laid down on the couch in the room. It wasn’t the most comfortable couch, but I was exhausted, and I had no trouble falling asleep.

  Chapter 47

  Harper

  I awoke the next morning as the sun was out and drying up all the chaos from last night. I looked over at the couch and smiled when I saw Grayson sleeping. The nurse walked in pushing a hospital bassinet that held my baby girl.

  “It’s time for her feeding, Mom.” The nurse smiled as she picked her up and handed her to me.

  Grayson woke up and sat on the edge of the bed while I fed her.

  “She has your nose,” I said.

  “And she has your lips.” He smiled as he placed his finger under her hand and she immediately grasped it.

  “I need to go home and change. But I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

  “Of course, go. We’ll be fine.” I smiled. “Oh my gosh, I have to call Charlotte and Laurel.”

  “Do you want to use my phone?” he asked.

  “No. I can wait. Can you bring my phone and my bag in the car? It’s in the back seat.”

  “One bag and a phone. Got it.” He grinned. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “Wait. Can you also bring me back a burger and some fries?” I bit down on my bottom lip.

  “One burger and fries coming right up.” He winked as he walked out of the room.

  “Is that Ellie’s father?” the nurse asked as she walked in.

  “Yes.” I smiled. “He is her father.”

  After I fed Ellie, I set her down in her crib so I could fill out the paperwork the hospital gave me. About three hours had passed and Grayson still wasn’t back. Thoughts that he was never coming back filled my head. No. He wouldn’t do that. But what the hell was taking him so long?

  “Did someone order a burger and fries?” He smiled as he held up a brown bag.

  I stared at him in shock. His hair was cut, and his face was shaven clean except for a hint of stubble that shrouded his masculine jawline.

  “Look at you.” I smiled. “You clean up pretty good, Mr. Rhodes.”

  “I couldn’t have my daughter thinking I looked like a lumberjack, could I? Here’s your burger and fries. I’m sorry it took so long but I had to do a little shopping.”

  “Shopping? For what?”

  He stepped out into the hallway and rolled in a cart.

  “Flowers for the beautiful new mother.” He handed me a bouquet of red roses.

  “Thank you. They’re beautiful.”

  “I picked up some diapers, a car seat, and some outfits. I actually couldn
’t decide what I liked best, so I just bought them all.”

  “Oh my God,” I laughed as he pulled out all kinds of newborn outfits from the bag. “It looks like you bought out the whole store.”

  “Trust me, the sales lady was very happy with my purchase.”

  “Do you want to hold her?” I asked.

  “Can I?”

  “Yes. Just pick her up.”

  He carefully picked her up out of the crib and sat down in the rocking chair next to the bed. As I ate my burger and fries, I watched him stare at her. He wouldn’t take his eyes off her as he stroked her little hand. I could see the love he had for her just by his expression. It was then I knew I’d made the right decision.

  “I had to fill out the birth certificate. Can you make sure I did it right?” I asked as I handed the form to him.

  He took it from me, read it over and then looked up at me with tears in his eyes.

  “Ellie Rae Rhodes. You gave her my last name?”

  “You did deliver her. You were the one who made sure she came into the world safely. And, you are her father. So it’s only right that she has your name.”

  “Harper, I—”

  “Don’t, Grayson. Let’s just leave it at that for now.”

  I was discharged the following day. I had called Laurel and Charlotte and they couldn’t believe it when I told them that I had the baby and that Grayson was the one who delivered her. They were so shocked, for once in their lives, they were speechless.

  “I’m going to drive you back to the city and I don’t want any arguments,” he said.

  “That’s fine. You won’t get any argument from me.”

  “Really?” His brow arched.

  “Yes. I’m too tired to drive. Grayson, listen, I want you to come back with me. The city is where you belong. This place is amazing and the perfect summer home, but there’s nothing here for you.”

  “What’s back in the city for me?”

  “Ellie? Your company?”

  “Harper, I’m not going back there. I can’t.”

  “You can. You claim you’re a changed man. Then show me. That company is yours. It’s what you love.”