The Tea Shop

by Bernadette Marie

  He was exhausted and frozen to the bone by the time he got the woman to the car.

  The wind had kicked up harder by then and the cold burned through him. "Do you know the man still in there?"

  "He showed us to the church, but that's all. I don't know him."

  "I'm going to go try one more time to get him out."

  Chapter 44

  Abigail pulled the comforter up closer to her chin. The house seemed to have gotten much colder. Perhaps the snow was piling up outside. What a wonderful Christmas Eve, she thought.

  The room was still dark. She kept her eyes closed willing herself back to sleep. The room grew even colder, and she swore she could hear the faint sound of a bell.

  She tried to open her eyes, but she just couldn't. The sound of the bell grew louder. She moved her arm to feel for Carson, but he wasn't there.

  The sound of the bell grew louder still, and her eyes remained closed.

  Abigail began to cough. The air had gotten thick with dust.

  She tried to move through the darkness, but her body was constricted within the sheet. Her arms were pinned to her side, and she gasped for air.

  Her head swam, just as it had when she blacked out from kissing Carson. But this time she was fully awake, but her eyes still wouldn't open.

  There was a light, in the corner of the room she was standing. A fire? The sun? Dust kicked up around her and caused her to cough again, only this time her eyes flew open, and the sound of the bell became her telephone.

  She picked it up to answer, but there was no one on the other end.

  The room had gotten colder.

  Abigail fought her way out of the sheets and pulled on the first clothes she found on the floor. With her phone in her hand, she headed to the kitchen. There she found a note from Carson. Have gone to the new building—your building. Police called. 3:30 AM. I love you. C.

  Abigail looked at the clock on the microwave. It was already five-forty-five.

  She pressed the button on her phone to call Carson, but it went directly to voicemail. Standing in the kitchen alone, she heard the bell again.

  The air around her head had cooled so much she could see her breath. Hurrying out to the Christmas tree she watched as the baby's first Christmas bell continue to chime.

  She wasn't sure who was with her, but she knew somebody was there.

  "Is Carson in trouble?"

  The bell rang again as if somebody were madly shaking it.

  Abigail ran back to the kitchen, pulled her keys from her purse, and grabbed a coat as she ran for her car. She slid on the fresh snow, tumbling to the ground. Her elbow and her butt throbbed from the landing.

  Sitting in the snow on the driveway, she pressed a hand to her stomach. She thought she might be sick.

  The bell on the tree hadn't been quite a surprise to her. Unconfirmed, but not a surprise. She was sure that's why the fear that swirled inside of her threatened to debilitate her.

  Willing herself to her feet, she opened the car door and climbed inside.

  She started the engine and warmth from the heater immediately filled the car. Without her companion, whom she couldn't see, she was sure it would've been a cold drive into town.

  She headed toward the empty highway and wondered if she should call somebody. Unfortunately, she didn't know who to call or where to send them.

  She was headed toward her store, which was the last place she'd known him to be.

  Carson had heard the scream and hurried back to help the man out of the church. As he'd gone over the wall, and down into the church, he heard the creaking sounds around him as the wind kicked up.

  It was then he noticed the can that had held the fire had blown over and the blanket around the man had caught fire. The man flailed, whipping flames into the air.

  Carson moved in swiftly to pull the man to the ground. With his body on top of the other man's he rolled them across the snow-laden ground as another gust of wind blew through the structure, and the first beam crashed to the ground.

  Abigail drove past the tea shop, but Carson's car wasn't there. She saw the tire tracks in the snow from the cars that must have been there earlier. Perhaps she'd passed him on the way home, but whichever spirit had been with her told her he was in trouble.

  As she pulled back out to Washington, the sun now just peeking through the trees, she turned her car toward Ford Street as if compelled to go to the construction site.

  From just beyond the church, she saw a fire truck racing toward the scene, as well as an ambulance.

  Carson's car was on the street, the lights and engine were on, and she could see people inside.

  She pulled up behind his car as a woman got out and went to her. "The man is in the building," she said as her voice shook. "He went after the other man."

  Abigail started toward the fence, but a police officer stepped in front of her.

  "You can't go in there," he said as he held up his hand. "The structure is unstable with this wind."

  "My fiancée is in there." She reached for the gate, but the officer blocked her entrance.

  Abigail looked past him to where the firefighters lowered themselves into the building. Pain ripped through her chest when she saw three forms near where the firefighters moved to. Clearly, she knew they were Mrs. Winters, Jeffery, and Justice.

  The officer moved in front of her and grabbed her arms. She looked into his eyes as the blackness took over, and her knees buckled, taking her and the officer to the ground.

  Chapter 45

  Abigail could hear the voice calling her name, but again her eyes wouldn't open. Was she asleep? Her body felt heavy.

  "Abigail," the voice said again, only now her ears seemed clearer, and she could hear the voice. Her mother? No. His mother. Patricia's voice was the voice she heard.

  "There's our girl," Patricia said as Abigail's eyes finally opened to see her standing over her. His father was there, too. Patricia's hands moved to her mouth, and then she wiped away a tear. "Oh, honey. Thank goodness you're okay. You had us worried sick."

  Abigail moved her arm to push herself up, but something dangled from it. A wire?

  It was then she realized she was in a hospital room. Her head throbbed, and she pressed her hand to her forehead. "Where am I?"

  "In the hospital, honey. You hit your head when you fell. The police officer tried to catch you, but you both went down. You've been out for a few hours now."

  Abigail worked to sit up in the bed, and Patricia reached for her to help her. She felt her touch, but there was no energy between them. "What are they giving me?"

  "Fluids. You're dehydrated. It happens," Patricia said with a smile as she stepped back and Al wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulders.

  Abigail felt the tears stinging her eyes. Why else would Carson's parents be standing with her and not with him? They would only be there if Carson hadn't made it.

  The very thought had the tears rolling down her cheeks.

  "Oh, honey. Are you in pain?" Patricia turned toward Al. "Get someone for her."

  "No. No." She wiped at her cheeks. "I'm fine."

  She took a moment to catch her breath.

  Patricia moved to the table beside the bed and picked up a glass of water with a straw. "Why don't you sip this. They want you to keep calm and stay hydrated. You have to take care of yourself. We don't want anything to happen to the baby and…"

  Patricia stopped talking when Abigail gasped. She felt her jaw drop as she stared at Patricia.

  "I've said too much." Patricia set the glass back down and moved next to her husband again. "I'm so sorry. They took your blood work, and well, they assumed we knew, and they didn't want to give you the wrong medicine, and…"

  "Baby?" Abigail heard the word come from her, but she was too stunned to actually know she'd said it.

  "Yes. You didn't know?"

  She moved her hand to her stomach and felt the energy she'd felt yesterday before the ornament arrived on the tree. "I only tho
ught that maybe…"

  "We're thrilled," Patricia assured her as she reached for her, and again Abigail only felt the touch, no energy from her. "It's a Christmas miracle, right?" She looked up at Al for his say.

  "A miracle," he agreed.

  Abigail rested back on the bed. Why would they call it a miracle? She winced when she thought about the spirits that had been standing around Carson in the building.

  She squeezed her eyes closed and fought back the tears, and the sobbing she knew was coming again. There was only one reason for them to assume the baby was a miracle, and that was if the spirits were there to take Carson with them.

  When she felt as though she could control her emotions enough to talk to his parents, Abigail opened her eyes.

  Both Patricia and Al stood there watching her.

  "The building collapsed, didn't it? He was trying to save the building instead of tearing it down. It collapsed."

  Carson's parents exchanged looks. "Yes," Patricia said. "There was a fire from a vagrant, and the wind blew through and beams fell."

  Abigail thought of the visions she'd had. The dust in her lungs. The darkness. It hadn't been the men in the mine at all. It had been Carson.

  The tears came again, and every inch of her body ached.

  "Oh, honey. It's okay. Be calm for the baby," Patricia begged, but Abigail couldn't calm down now. She hadn't known she was going to fall in love with the man when she'd met him—or she hadn't wanted to—but now how would she live without him?

  The door to the room opened, and a nurse stepped in. "Mr. And Mrs. Stone, he's out now," she said.

  Patricia thanked her before turning back to Abigail.

  She sat up, wiping away the tears with the sheet. "Who's out? Out of where?"

  Patricia took her hand and held it. "Carson is out of surgery."

  "He's alive?"

  "Of course he is."

  Abigail's breath came quicker as the tears dried. "But Mrs. Winters, Jeffery, and Justice were there. They were with him."

  Patricia smiled as if she thought Abigail was crazy. "Well, maybe they were there to protect him. He has a few burns on his chest and arms from helping that man who was in the church. But the man survived too, thanks to Carson. He also has a few broken bones, but he should be healed before the wedding."

  "He's alive?"

  Now Patricia's eyes welled with tears as she laughed through them. "Yes, dear. He's alive and will be thrilled to hear about the baby."

  "He doesn't know?"

  "Only we know."

  And Jeffery, Abigail thought. "Don't say anything. I want to tell him."

  Patricia patted Abigail's hand. "You get some rest. We're going to see him. He'll be spending Christmas here this year, but we can all gather in his room."

  Abigail watched as they left her room. Carson was okay, she thought, and the tears returned as happy tears.

  She touched her stomach and felt the energy connect to the baby that she and Carson had made. "I knew you were in there. I just knew. You saved your daddy, didn't you? You sent everyone to protect him."

  It would be months before she could feel the life that grew inside of her, but she knew the energy. This baby would work miracles. She had no doubt that Mrs. Winters had picked this baby for them.

  Chapter 46

  They kept Abigail under observation for a few more hours, but when they were ready to release her, Patricia came for her.

  "Are you alright to walk?" she asked as Abigail stood next to the bed.

  "I'm fine. I just want to go to him."

  Patricia nodded. "He looks bad, Abi. I don't want to sugarcoat it. He's bandaged up because of the burns. But really, the burns aren't as bad as we had first thought. His leg is bad, but they went in and fixed what they could. There will be more surgeries to come, but…"

  Abigail reached out to touch her arm, enjoying that there was only peace when she did so. "I don't care how he looks. I love your son, and nothing will stop me from continuing to love him."

  Patricia smiled through the sadness she wore on her face. "He loves you, Abi. We love you too. You're the perfect addition to this family."

  She pulled Abigail in close and held her.

  "I'm ready to see him."

  Patricia nodded and led her out of the room.

  * * *

  Carson hated medications. He hated hospitals. He hated not being able to get up out of the damn bed and walk around the room. Every part of his body was bandaged and ached. What the hell had he gone to the church for? Had he just gone back home, he'd be with Abigail and not in this stupid hospital room.

  The moment the door to the room opened he was ready to let his anger fly at the person who walked in. He wanted comfort, food, more painkillers.

  But when he saw his lovely bride-to-be walk in on the arm of his mother, his emotions flipped on him, and tears streamed down his cheeks instead.

  "God, Abi, I'm so happy to see you." He wept as she moved toward him.

  "How do you feel?"

  "Horrible. This medication is making me sick."

  She smiled at him as if she understood. "I understand. It does that to me, too."

  "I look horrible, don't I?" he asked and turned his head from her.

  "You look like a hero, Carson. You saved an entire family. I'm so proud of you."

  "I'll be scarred."

  "Really? You're worried about that? I'm not. I love you."

  He reached for her with the hand he had free, and she took it.

  "You're going to be okay," she said, with relief coloring her face. "I can see it. You're going to be okay very soon."

  Through the tears, he laughed. "You know one thing I've learned in our short time together? You can't read me. You're full of crap."

  The pink in her cheeks grew even rosier, and she laughed, as did his mother who stepped up next to the bed. "Your father and I are going to go home for a bit and gather some things. We will be back. This isn't going to stop our Christmas traditions." Patricia blew him a kiss and left the room.

  "I'm sorry you were woken up like this. That had to have been a horrible call."

  Abigail bit down on her lip as she carefully sat on the edge of the bed, still holding his hand. "I didn't get a call. I was there, Carson. I saw you."

  It hurt to turn his head, but he met her eye. "You were there? How could you have…"

  "They let me know."

  "They—oh," he eased into the pillow behind him. "How?"

  "That was the darkness I kept seeing when I'd touch you. They were telling me to keep you safe. Then that bell on the tree kept ringing. It was enough to pull me out of bed. I saw your note, and I headed into town."

  Carson closed his eyes for a moment as he felt the calm of the medicine pump into his veins from the machine at his side. "They were with me," he said as he opened his eyes and looked at her again. "Someone locked me in the tea shop, and even told me to go home." He chuckled when he thought of it, then winced when it caused him pain. "I should have gone home."

  "I saw them over you at the construction site. I thought they'd come to take you. Oh, Carson, I was so afraid."

  "I will never leave you, Abi. I love you so much I would never go without a fight."

  "Well, now I know, they'll never let you pass over without one too."

  Carson studied her, still in her pajamas, and it had to be late afternoon. He noticed the band on her arm and the tape. "Why are you wearing hospital bands?"

  She looked at her wrist and smiled. "I seem to have blacked out when I saw our friends around you, and I hit my head. I was out for a few hours your mother said. They gave me fluids and let me rest. I'm okay now. I just have a bump on my head."

  "Abi, I'm so sorry."

  "Never be sorry."

  Carson wished he could shift in bed and hold her. There was nothing he wanted more than to be able to wrap his arms around her. He realized that he was grateful to be able to hold her again. Without guardian angels all around him, he might h
ave been without her—or more likely—her without him, forever.

  "The bell on the tree woke you up?"

  She nodded. "As if someone were trying to break it."

  "Who do you think put that bell there? I didn't do it. And it rang last night when Jeffery was there."

  Abigail smiled. "I think it was Jeffery that put it there. It was his bell."

  "Of all the ornaments he could have chosen, that one was funny, don't you think?"

  "No, I don't think it was funny at all. In fact, it was the perfect gift to accompany my Christmas gift."

  Carson licked his lips as his mouth had suddenly gone dry. "I don't understand. You planned that with Jeffery?"

  She laughed, and the sound eased his pains. "No. He just knew." The pink of her cheeks deepened again. "See I had this feeling, well, I think I was hoping…" She took a deep breath and pressed her free hand to her chest. "We're going to have a baby, Carson."

  Carson stared at her. He damned the moment not being able to sit up and hold her, but her eyes lit with that warmth. How could he possibly be sad or upset? She still loved him, that was evident in how she looked at him all battered and bruised. And they were going to have a baby.

  A baby!

  "Abi, I never thought in my life that I'd want that as much as I do. You're sure?"

  She nodded. "Your mother told me. They took blood when I came in and…"

  "You're pregnant."

  "I am."

  The laugh broke through the haze that the medicine was causing. "My mother knew first?"

  "She did."

  "We are never going to live that down."

  "Oh, but Carson, we knew months ago. I knew the moment I met you. In fact, after you and Mrs. Winters left my store I went into the kitchen and told Clare you were the man I was going to marry."

  "You didn't even like me."

  "I didn't want to like you." She moved to kiss the top of his head. "I couldn't help but love you though."