by Sara Orwig
The west side of town had taken the brunt of the F4 tornado. Town hall where she had worked was mostly reduced to debris. Almost all three stories of the building had been leveled. The only thing left standing was part of the clock tower—the clock stuck at 4:14 p.m., a permanent reminder of the storm. She couldn’t pass it without shivering and getting goose bumps as she recalled the first terrifying moments.
Approaching the hospital, she saw the ripped and shattered west wing. As far as she could tell, rebuilding had not yet begun.
As soon as she went inside the building, outside sounds of traffic and people were shut out. She stepped into an elevator. A nurse had already boarded and Stella realized it was Lark Taylor. They had known each other since childhood, but had become closer in the weeks after the storm. Some accused the ICU nurse of being unfriendly, but Stella couldn’t imagine how anyone could feel that way.
“Here to see the mayor’s family?” Lark asked.
“Yes. I try to stop by every few days. The changes are slow, but I want to keep up with how he’s doing. How’s Skye?” As she asked about Lark’s sister, Stella gazed into Lark’s green eyes and saw her solemn look.
“No change, but thank you for asking about her.” Skye had sustained head injuries during the tornado and had been in a medically induced coma ever since. Stella knew Lark was worried about her sister and the baby and it hadn’t helped that no one knew who the baby’s father was.
“And how’s her baby?”
“She’s doing well,” Lark answered, her voice filling with relief. “I’m so thankful to work here so I can be closer to them.”
“I’m glad Skye is doing well,” Stella said, happy to hear good news about Skye’s tiny baby, who came into the world two months prematurely after her mother was injured during the storm. “Every storm survivor is wonderful,” Stella said.
“Right now, we’re looking for Jacob Holt.” Stella remembered the gossip four years earlier when Jacob had run away with Skye.
“You think he’s in Royal?”
“No. If he was here in Royal, I think, in a town this size someone would know. But they’re trying to find him. His brother is looking.”
“If Keaton doesn’t know where Jacob is, I doubt if anyone else does.”
“You know so many people—have you heard anything about him?”
“No, nothing. If I do, I’ll let you know.”
When the elevator stopped on Lark’s floor, she stepped into the doorway and turned back.
“If you do hear about him, please let me know. Skye can’t tell us anything, and her baby certainly can’t. We need to talk to Jacob. With him missing and Skye in a coma, Keaton wants to test the baby’s DNA to see if she’s a Holt.” Lark shook her head. “If you hear anything at all about Jacob, please call me. You have my cell number. Just call or text.”
Stella nodded. “I will.”
The doors closed and Stella thought about Skye. So many people had been hurt by the storm. But Stella was happy to hear the joy in Lark’s voice when she said the little preemie was doing well.
The elevator stopped on Mayor Richard Vance’s floor. When she went to the nurse’s station, she was told the mayor’s wife was in the waiting room.
* * *
It was an hour later when Stella left the hospital and hurried to her car. Before she left downtown she stopped at a drugstore to pick up a few things she needed at the Cozy Inn. When she went inside, she recognized the tall, auburn-haired woman she had known for so long because their families were friends. She walked over to say hello to Paige Richardson.
At her greeting Paige turned and briefly smiled. Stella gazed into her friend’s gray eyes.
“How are you? How’s the Double R, Paige?” she asked about Paige’s ranch, which she now had to run without her husband.
“Still picking up the pieces,” Paige said. “I heard Aaron Nichols is here again to help. Are you working with Cole and Aaron?”
“A little. A lot of their paperwork comes through the mayor’s office. Cole is out at a friend’s ranch now—Henry Markham, who lost his brother, too, in the storm.”
“His ranch was badly damaged. Cole’s probably helping him.”
“The storm was hard on everybody. I’m sure you keep busy with the Double R.”
“Some days I’m too busy to think about anything else. Is Cole staying very long with Henry?”
“It should be four or five more days.”
“How’s the mayor?” Paige asked. “I’m sure you’re keeping up with his condition.”
“It’s a slow healing process, but each time I check, he’s holding his own or getting better.”
“It’s been nice to talk to you because you have some good news. Sometimes I dread coming to town because of more bad news,” Paige said.
“This week I’ve gotten some hopeful reports. It’s been great to see you, and you take care of yourself.”
“Thanks,” Paige replied with another faint smile. “You take care of yourself.”
Stella left Paige and greeted other people in the store while she got the things she needed, paid for them and left. Outside she ran into two more people she hadn’t seen for a few weeks. They talked briefly and she finally started back to the hotel. Her thoughts shifted from the people she had seen to being with Aaron shortly.
At the Cozy Inn, she walked through to her bedroom and went straight to a mirror to study herself and how she looked. So far, she didn’t think she showed no matter which way she stood. She felt fine. The baby should be due next summer. Her baby and Aaron’s. She felt weak in the knees whenever she thought about having his baby.
Did she want to go out with him, keep quiet and hope they both fell in love before she had to confess that she was pregnant?
She didn’t think that was the way it would work out. She pulled out a navy skirt and a white cotton blouse from the dresser, then put on a navy sweater over the blouse. Once again she brushed and pinned up her hair. She saw she just had a few minutes to get to the lobby to meet Aaron.
If anything, when she spotted him standing near the door of the main restaurant, her excited response resonated deeper than it had the night before. At the same time, she had a curl of apprehension. How would she tell him? When would she? How long could she wait until she did?
Wearing a navy sweater, navy slacks and black cowboy boots, he stood near a potted palm while he waited. She crossed the lobby with its ranch-style plank floor scattered with area rugs. Hotel guests sat in clusters and chatted with each other. The piano music from the restaurant drifted into the lobby. So many local hotels had become temporary homes for the folks displaced by the tornado; whole families were staying and becoming friends.
When she approached, she saw a look in Aaron’s brown eyes that made her tingle inside. “I’ve been looking forward to this all day,” he said in greeting.
“So have I,” she said. “I haven’t had many leisurely dinners with a friend since the storm hit and I hope we can have one tonight.”
“We’re going to try. You know you can turn that phone off.”
She shook her head. “This from the man who would never turn down helping someone. There are too many real emergencies. Later, when everyone calms down and is back on an even keel, I’ll think about turning it off, but not yet.”
Once they had settled at their table and their drinks arrived—water for her and beer for Aaron—she listened to him describe his work at the Cattleman’s Club that day.
“How’s your sister?” Aaron asked when he was done.
“She’s fine. We had a nice time and had lunch together before I left. We don’t see each other much, just the two of us.”
“Any change with Mayor Vance?”
She shook her head. “No. But his wife told me he’s stable. He’s had a very rough time. I talked to Lark Taylor briefly. Her sister Skye is still in a medically induced coma, which sounds terrible to me, but I know it’s necessary sometimes. I didn’t ask further and, of cours
e, she can’t tell me details.”
“How is Skye’s baby? Still in NICU?”
“Yes, but Lark said Skye’s baby is doing well.”
“That’s good,” he said. He tilted his head to look at her. “What?” he asked. “You look puzzled.”
“Most single men don’t have much to say about a preemie baby in NICU.”
He gave her that shuttered look he got occasionally. She seemed to have hit a nerve, but she didn’t know why. She didn’t pry into other’s lives. If Aaron wanted to share something with her, he would.
Their dinners came, and once again her appetite fled even though the baked chicken looked delicious.
About halfway through dinner, Aaron noticed. “No appetite?”
“We had a big lunch just before I went to the airport.”
She didn’t like looking into his probing brown eyes that saw too much. Aaron was perceptive and an excellent listener, so between the two qualities, he guessed or understood things sooner than some people she had known better and longer.
“One thing I didn’t mention,” she said, to get his attention off her. “Lark said they were searching for Jacob Holt.”
“Cole told me something about that. I imagine they are, with Skye in a coma and a new baby no one knows anything about. It’s tough. The Holts must be anxious to know if the child is Jacob’s.”
“You can’t blame him. Most people who’ve lived here long know about the Holt-Taylor feud.”
“From what Cole told me, that feud goes back at least fifty years. What I’ve always heard is that it was over a land dispute.”
“There are other things, too. A creek runs across both ranches, so they’ve fought over water rights,” Stella said.
“There’s been enough publicity, even nationally, over the tornado, I’d think Jacob Holt would have heard.”
“I can’t imagine he’s anywhere on earth where he wouldn’t hear something about it,” she said.
“If the baby is Jacob’s, she will be both a Taylor and a Holt and it might diminish the feud.”
“High time that old feud died. I wonder if Jacob will ever come back to Royal.”
“One more of those mysteries raised by the storm.” He smiled at her. “Now speaking of the storm—I have a surprise for you.”
Startled, she focused intently on him, unable to imagine what kind of surprise he had.
“I have made arrangements for you to speak to a men’s group in Lubbock to raise funds for Royal to help in the rebuilding.”
Her surprise increased, along with her dread. “Aaron, thank you for setting up an opportunity to raise funds, but I’m not the one to do it. You didn’t even ask me. I’m not a public speaker or the type to talk a group of people into giving money for a cause,” she said, feeling a momentary panic.
“You’ve done this countless times since the storm—you’ve been the town hall spokesperson really. With Mayor Vance critically ill and Deputy Mayor Rothschild killed in the storm, someone had to step forward and you did. You’ve done a fantastic job getting people to help out and donate. That’s all you’ve been doing since the storm hit,” he said, looking at her intently.
“That’s so different,” she said, wondering why he couldn’t see it. “I did those things in an emergency situation. I was talking to people I knew and it was necessary. Someone had to step in. I was helping, not trying to persuade total strangers to donate to a cause. I’m not the person for that job. I’m not a public speaker and I’m not persuasive. I’m no salesperson or entertainer. A group like that will want to be entertained.” Her panic grew because what Aaron expected was something she had never done. “Aaron, I can’t persuade people to give money.”
“I’m not sure I’m hearing right,” he said. “You’ve persuaded, ordered and convinced people to do all sorts of things since the afternoon the storm hit.”
“What I’ve been doing is so different. I told you, I stepped in when someone had to and the mayor couldn’t. Of course people listened to me. They were hurt, desperate—what you’ve set me up to do is to entertain a group of businessmen in a club that meets once a month with a guest speaker. They’re used to a fun speaker and then they go back to work. If I’m to walk in and convince them they should contribute money to Royal, I can’t do it.” Her old fears of public speaking, of having to try to deal with an audience—those qualms came rushing back.
“When you get there, you’ll be fine,” he said, as if dismissing her concerns as foolish. “When you meet and talk to them, you’ll see they’re just like people here. I’ll go with you. I think once you start, it’ll be just like it is when you’re here. Relax, Stella, and be yourself. You’ve done a great job on national television and state and local news.” He smiled at her and she could tell he didn’t have any idea about her limitations.
“When I had interviews that first afternoon and the day after the tornado, I didn’t have time to think about being on national television. I just answered questions and went right back to wherever I was needed.”
“This isn’t going to be different, Stella. You’ll see. You’ll be great.”
“You may be surprised,” she said, feeling glum and scared. “Really, Aaron, I don’t know why you think I can do this. So when is this taking place?”
“Day after tomorrow. They have a program that day, so you’re not the only one to talk to them if that makes you feel better.”
“It makes me feel infinitely better. Day after tomorrow. Next time run this past me, please, before you commit me to going.”
“Sure. Stella, it never occurred to me that you wouldn’t want to do this. It’ll be so easy for you. I have great faith in you. This will help raise funds for Royal. People will know you’re sincere in what you say, which will help.”
She shook her head in exasperation. “That’s what keeps me from flat-out telling you I refuse. I know it will help Royal. I just think someone else might make a better pitch. Thanks, Aaron, but you just don’t get it,” she said.
“Sure I do and I’m certain it will be easy for you. But all that is in the future. Right now, in our immediate future, I think it’s time to dance,” he said, holding out his hand.
She went to the dance floor with him, but her thoughts were on the group in Lubbock. She wanted to ask how many people would be in the audience, but she had already made a big issue of it and she couldn’t back out now. It was a chance to raise funds and awareness for Royal, so she had to get over her fears and help. She wanted to help her town so maybe she should start planning what to say.
They danced three fast numbers that relaxed her and made her forget the rest of the week. Next, the piano player began an old ballad and Aaron drew her into his arms.
For a moment she relished just being held so close and dancing with him.
They danced one more song and then sat down and talked. Later, he ordered hot cocoa and they talked longer until she looked at her watch and saw it was after one in the morning.
“Aaron, I lost track of time. I do that too much with you. I need to go to my suite. It’s been a long day. I’m exhausted,” she said as she stood up.
“I’m glad you lost track of time,” he said, standing and draping his arm across her shoulders to draw her close to him.
When she reached for her purse, it fell out of her hands. As the purse hit the floor, Aaron bent down instantly to pick it up for her. A coin purse, a small box of business cards and a book fell out.
Horrified, she realized she had not taken the book she had bought earlier out of her purse. She tried to grab it, but Aaron had it in his hand and was staring at the cover with its picture of a smiling baby. For a moment her head spun and she felt as if she would faint, because in his hands that tiny book was about to change their future.
Four
Your Pregnancy and Your First Baby. The title jumped out at Aaron. Stella grabbed the book and dropped it into her purse.
When he looked up at her, all color had drained from her face. She stared,
round eyed, looking as if disaster had befallen her.
He felt as if a fist slammed into his chest. Was she pregnant from their night together? She couldn’t be, because he’d used protection. Gazing into her eyes, he had his answer that the impossible had happened—apparently the protection they’d used wasn’t foolproof after all. Her wide blue eyes looked stricken. Shivering, she clutched her purse in both hands.
“I need to go to my suite,” she said in almost a whisper. “We can talk tomorrow.”
She brushed past him and for one stunned moment he let her go. Then he realized she would be gone in another minute and went after her. He caught up with her at the elevators and stepped on with her. Another couple joined them and they couldn’t talk, so they rode in silence to the fourth floor, where the couple got off.
Aaron looked at her profile. Color had come back into her flushed cheeks. She looked panicked. It had to be because she was carrying his child.
Stunned, he couldn’t believe what had happened. She might as well shout at him that he had gotten her pregnant. Her stiff demeanor, terrified expression and averted eyes were solid proof.
He felt as cold as ice, chilled to the bone, while his gaze raked over her. Her sweater hid her waist, but he had seen her waist yesterday and she was as tiny as ever, her stomach as flat as when they had met.
He took a deep breath and followed her out of the elevator.
At her door she turned to face him. “Thank you for dinner. Can we talk tomorrow?”
“Are you really going to go into your suite, get in bed and go to sleep right now?” he asked. His own head spun with the discovery, which explained why she had been so cool the other day when she had first seen him again. Shock hit him in waves and just wouldn’t stop. She was pregnant with his baby. He would be a father. He had no choice now in the situation. He had made his choice the night he seduced her and he couldn’t undo it now. “You’re not going in there and going to sleep.”
She met his gaze. “No, I guess I’m not,” she replied in a whisper. “Come in.”
There was only one thing for him to do. She carried his baby. He had gotten her pregnant. He had taken precautions and both of them thought they had been safe when in reality they had not been. It was done and could not be undone. As far as he could see there was no question about what he needed to do.
