by Jules Dixon
After a night of peaceful sleep my outlook was better, minus a little apprehension about the day’s body scan appointment. The ride to the medical center took me past Rahl’s neighborhood. Because he wouldn’t be home, I did a small detour and drove slowly past the duplex. I was sure he’d left hours ago. I smiled as I drove by.
I miss you already.
I remembered he’d had a therapy appointment the day before. The outcome wasn’t any of my business, and I wouldn’t ask Laken. Putting her in the middle of the situation wasn’t fair. That Rahl attempted to get better was all I needed to know, and not how he was making his way down the path to better health. And although I wanted him to come back to me, I’d accept the reality if it never happened.
At the radiology center, a pleasant receptionist took my information, and while I sat to wait, my phone rang in my purse. I pulled it out and the screen flashed an unknown number—the same number as yesterday afternoon. The door opened into the lab and a nurse called my name. I didn’t have time to chat with a telemarketer right now. I ignored the call and turned off my phone as per the insistent sign on the door.
Time to find out if my life would change again. I was ready to know either way.
****
Rahl
Another night of amazing sleep. I even slept in. For ten minutes. But those ten minutes, better than heaven. Until I stared at the other side of my bed. A part of me was missing—the soft, singing part.
Laken met me in the kitchen for a cup of coffee and commented that she didn’t hear a peep from me for the first time since she’d stayed over. I successfully didn’t comment on her sleeping-over status.
“How was Sage last night?” I asked.
“She’s doing okay. Didn’t eat a whole lot for dinner, but I remember how emotions can get the best of an appetite, so I didn’t push her. We watched a couple of movies. I hope it won’t be uncomfortable if we remain friends?”
“Nope. As a matter of fact I hope you do.”
“I’m not going to be your spy for insider information on Sage, Rahl.” She shook her head in the same way our mother does when she’s emphasizing her point.
I chuckled at the movement. “Don’t expect you to, sis.”
I already have some scouts on my side.
I refilled my cup. “You do your friendship thing with her and we’ll be good.”
“Okay. Are you going to be all right, Rahl?”
“I think so. I had a good therapy session yesterday, and the sleeping pills are working on reducing the night terrors and allowing some damn good sleep. I’m going to focus on working on the house this weekend. Had to back out of a double-date with another bartender from Two Fine and his girlfriend, Jude and Presley. When I told Jude I was going to work on the house, he jumped at the chance to help. Said he used to build houses during the summers to help pay for college. I didn’t say no to the help.”
“Can I help?”
Help? You’ll flake before morning. So…
“Sure, Lake, show up whenever. You like to do manual labor?”
“Not really, but anything to spend more time with you.”
I grinned. “How is it you have me wrapped around your little finger?”
“Always have.” She danced out of the kitchen to some happy song that seemed to play constantly in her head.
Yes, you have.
****
“Max!” I called, and he walked my office. “Hey, where are we with training?”
“Almost done. We’re setting up parameters for the surveillance with USDHS today and we can start on Monday.”
“Excellent. I didn’t think it would happen that fast.” I rocked back in my chair.
Won’t have to take money from the trust fund to cover expenses, unless Uncle Sam takes his time to pay.
“You hired the right soldiers, boss.”
“Break your arm giving yourself that pat on the back?” I kept my amusement out of the deadpan comment.
Max moved his arm. “It’s a little sore, but it’ll be fine.”
I chuckled.
“Say, Krey has a—”
“Game tonight. I saw your e-mail. Leave when you need to.” I returned to the paperwork in front of me.
“Thanks.”
My phone buzzed on my desk, and Max did a military-grade spin on his boot heels to leave.
“Morning, Ty.”
“Morning, Rahl. How are you doing?”
“Good. Therapy is going well and sleep meds are letting me get a good night’s sleep. What’s up with you?”
“Um … all good. Say … I need to talk to Sage. Do you know where she is?”
I couldn’t miss the stutter in his voice that wasn’t normally there. “Probably at work, Sugar Plum Dreams Design. But she and I broke up Wednesday night, so I don’t really know.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“Maybe Laken might know.” My blood started to bubble thinking of Sage and what this week had been for her. I sat up straight. “Is something wrong with Sage?” My heart fragmented like shrapnel in my chest.
“You know I couldn’t tell you even if there was, but there’s no need to worry. I’ve just been missing her by phone and I want to talk to her.”
I looked down at my calendar and the date hit me as familiar. “Actually, doesn’t she have that body scan this morning? She’s probably in the medical complex by now.”
“Gotta go, Rahl. Later.” Tyson hung up.
Nice bedside manners, doc.
I grabbed a new pen since the last one was void of ink after the first ten pages of the thirty or more I had to go. Red tape, my ass. More like the Red Sea of rules and regulations.
****
Sage
I lay on a plastic table in the coldest room ever. If I had nipples, they’d cut holes in the fabric of what was a facial tissue-thick gown. The scout testing, a fancy phrase for “picture of my heart” was about to start, and the four electrodes placed at what seemed haphazard arrangements had already started to itch.
Damn adhesive.
The technician stepped out of the room and behind the safety glass. Her voice reverberated, chilling the room in a different way when she spoke over the sound system to me. “You know the drill, Sage. Time to hold your breath.”
I took in the deep breath, but before the machine could begin its job, I heard a man’s voice over the sound system.
“Shut it down!”
Then there was mumbling like someone had a hand over the microphone and the machine whirred to a stop.
What’s going on?
I released my breath, but knew better than to move—that was a good way to get chastised by the technician. The door to the control room opened and a face slid into my vision.
“Tyson? Um, hi.”
“Hi, Sage. I’ve been trying to get ahold of you for the last two days. We need to talk.”
“Oh, you’re the two-five-five prefix? I’m sorry, my brain has been a little scattered the last couple of days.”
Tyson motioned to the technician. She came back in and they helped me to sit up.
“Please get dressed and I’ll meet you in the waiting room to talk at my office.”
A pit in my stomach opened up.
He already has results and the body scan is a waste of time.
“Okay.” Facing the black menace wasn’t what I was looking forward to, but I’d do it. There were people in my life that needed me and I needed them.
I met him in the waiting room and we walked to his office suite.
“Have a seat, Sage. How are you feeling today?”
“Right now a little nervous, but overall pretty good.” I leaned forward and gripped the edge of his desk until my knuckles were white. “How bad is it, Ty?”
He reached across the table, lifted one of my hands, and held it in his.
I swallowed and closed my eyes. “Just tell me the news quickly. Not like I didn’t expect it anyway.”
He inhaled. “Sage Whiteman, the
next twenty years of your life will be filled with only joy and happiness and the best kind of memories.”
My eyes popped open. “What?”
“Sage, you’re pregnant.”
The words zoomed through my head at light-speed but the processing part took a lot longer to catch up.
“Pregnant? But how…” I giggled after starting the sentence. “I mean, I know how it happened, but I thought it wasn’t possible.”
“Doctors aren’t perfect and in your case, I’m happy we aren’t. Now, it’s touch and go right now. Your levels of HCG, the pregnancy hormone, are a little high for this early in your pregnancy, but we’ll monitor your progress and my gut feeling is you’ll have a beautiful baby about February 20th, if my calculations are right.”
“Wow.” The word brought Rahl into my head and my body crumpled forward.
“Hey, Sage,” Tyson called me back. I raised my head. “No matter what happens, you have someone to take care of right now. Everything else will work itself out.”
“You know about me and Rahl.” A trail of tears made its way down my cheek.
He handed over a tissue. “Yeah. I’m sorry. You’ve proven that you are resilient, Sage. I need you to keep your focus on your health, both physical and emotional. They’re both very important for a smooth pregnancy.”
“So, no cancer.”
“Not that I know of. Actually, Dr. Gerhardt couldn’t believe how amazing your blood work panel and tests came out. I’ve seen some doctors with a lot worse and none with better. I guess being in love can change a person in lots of different ways.”
“I think Rahl needs to get better before I can share this with him, Tyson. He needs to concentrate on him, not be worried about me.”
He sat back in his chair. “Hate to say it, but I agree. You can lean on the rest of us. Hell, Fiona is going to be out shopping up a storm for baby clothes after you tell her. Although she’s already been stocking up, swear our kid will have more clothes than I do.”
I got his underlying sentiment that keeping information like this from his—actually, our—family would be hard. Then his news hit me.
His face said everything. The happy daddy smile and the couldn’t-be-more-thrilled gleam in his eyes, just how I imagined Rahl would look.
“Fiona’s pregnant, too?” He beamed and I sobbed louder. “Congratulations! Oh, my God, this is so wonderful. And so overwhelming. I’ll have lunch with her and Laken this weekend and we can talk.”
He leaned back in his chair. A long sigh filled the air. “Sage, I’m not really supposed to know this information and I’m definitely not supposed to say anything, but having you at ease is important to me. That’s my niece or nephew in there.” His thoughtful words were doing nothing to stop me from crying. “Rahl’s doing really well in therapy. His doctor is impressed with his attitude and effort, but we both know Rahl doesn’t do anything half-assed and that includes going off the deep end and climbing his way out.”
I sat back in the chair. “That’s true.” My hand muted my titters of happiness. “I guess I should have listened to him when he wanted to use a condom.”
“I don’t think he’ll be upset.”
This baby was a miracle Rahl and I’d made together. No matter what happened with us, everything in me said he would be an amazing father. We’d have a good relationship even if we weren’t in a relationship. My child would know his or her father no matter what.
Tyson stood. “Okay, let’s set you up with weekly visits for the next two months and we’ll talk more next week about high-risk pregnancy concerns that come with your medical history, but for right now just enjoy the news. If you have any questions, here’s my cell number.”
I grabbed his business card with a handwritten number on the bottom.
“I don’t give that to just anyone, but you’re family.”
“Do you want to refer me to a different doctor?”
“Not a chance. I’ve got this.”
“Thanks, Tyson.”
“Just seeing that smile is thanks enough.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rahl
As expected, my baby sister backed out on helping at the house, something about needing a pedicure. Women and their feet! A wardrobe full of shoes to start and then spending money to make your feet look better before covering them up? Made no sense to me. A pair of motorcycle boots, workout/running shoes, and casual leather lace-ups were all I needed, and no one was going to be touching my feet anytime soon.
The roar of a motorcycle redirected my attention from the two pale-green eyes drifting through my thoughts.
“Hey, Jude.” I walked out into the morning sun. “Cool bike. 2005, right? Nice pipes.”
He gave me a chin-lift, slipped off his helmet, and that ridiculous ponytail of his slipped out. “Yeah, 2005, those are Vance and Hines and the only upgrade I’ve really made to it.” Jude turned to face the property. “That’s a big house for one person.
“The idea is to have another person in it with me, but we’ll see if that happens.”
Jude took his sunglasses off and squinted. “Need to put up the other garage door?”
I’d installed the single door and was wondering how I would accomplish the other double door for the three-car garage by myself.
“You have experience with that?”
“No, but I learn quick. Put me to work.”
Jude was a fast learner and he had a better construction and carpentry skillset in some areas than I had. I was impressed. By lunch we had most of the smaller jobs done.
“Wanna go get lunch?” I asked.
“Upstream Brewing?”
“I think they have their Maibock on tap now.”
“Never had one. Let’s go.”
I drove the truck ‘cause riding bitch on a bike wasn’t going to ever happen. When I rode, I was in control.
“How’s Presley?” I pulled out of the subdivision onto the main road.
“Great. We’ve lived under the same roof for almost two weeks and the only major hiccup has been the fact that I used all the hot water one morning and the water heater didn’t recover fast enough. You don’t want to see her texts after she’s had a cold shower. They weren’t pleasant.”
A deep chuckle rolled up in me. “I bet. I’m doing instant hot water heaters in the house.”
“Good idea.”
Jude and I made our way into the bar area and ordered our first beers before our asses hit the chairs.
“So Buzz told me about what happened on Wednesday.”
I gritted my teeth. “Of course he did.” My new employee would hear from me on Monday. No, he won’t. He’d be on assignment for the week. That’s why he did it. Rangers could be sneaky, probably a skill necessary for their profession.
“Can I ask what was up on Monday night when you and Sage came into Triple R?” His voice changed. The protective tone wasn’t hard to miss, and I didn’t. “Rahl, when she signed the contract for training, I saw the bruises on her wrists. Did you do that?”
I stared at the 42” TV screen across the room. “Yes, but not intentionally. I have, or hopefully had, night terrors, and last Sunday I had one where I trapped her, holding her pinned to the bed while I was still asleep.”
There was a long pause. “So you’re not an ogre, you’re just fucked-up.”
I stopped with the pint glass halfway to my mouth. “I’m not fucked-up!”
“Prove it. I remember what you said to me last weekend when you two snuck out of the walk-in. If you love her, prove it. Get better.”
“I’m trying to, asshole.”
“Try harder. She’s worth it.”
“Shit, you sure are cocky and pushy.”
“I want my friends to be happy.”
“We’re still not friends, Saylor.”
“Yeah, we are. Otherwise you would’ve walked out when I asked about the bruises. No guy admits to a stranger that he put a hand to the woman he loves. You only do that when you want the ot
her person to support you.”
“I don’t like you, Saylor.” I drained the pint glass.
“Yeah, you do. Let’s get another beer and some lunch.”
Friends with Oliver Aston and Jude Saylor? Maybe I was fucked-up.
****
Sage
I met the girls at Open Latté Café for lunch and ordered a hot tea. Then I freaked out. Caffeine? Could I have caffeine? I waved my arms to call the familiar-looking waitress back to the table and cancelled the order, giving way too many details to a stranger but she rubbed my arm with care and said, “Congratulations. I’ll bring you a warm water with lemon. It’s good for your liver.”
My eyes filled with tears and I blubbered out a thank you.
Fiona arrived first. We hugged, and I almost asked her about the tea thing. But I decided to wait until Laken got here and I shared my good news first. Laken strolled in all made-up. I didn’t put too much effort into my appearance that day. Rahl didn’t seem to care if I was made-up or not.
“How are you doing, Sage?” Laken asked after giving me a warm embrace.
“I’m great. Really, really great.”
Laken’s smile fell. “Don’t tell me you’ve started dating someone else in two days?” She lowered into a chair as she paled.
I shook my head, and a warm flush of happiness raced through my body. “No, but there is someone new in my life. I’m pregnant. And as if you couldn’t figure it out, the baby’s Rahl’s.”
“Oh! My! God!” Laken screamed so loud that a lady in a red hat at the next table jumped like there was an ejection seat on her chair. “Sorry.” Laken leaned over and calmed the lady.
Fiona squeezed my hand. “Congratulations, Sage. Rahl will be so happy and I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you.” I bit my lip and my eyebrows raised, waiting.
“You know already, don’t you?”
I nodded. “Ty was so happy, he couldn’t keep it in. Congratulations, Fi.”
Laken stared at her sister. I prepared for another outburst but the detonation came as a weak, wailing cry of words. “You’re pregnant, too.” Laken’s voice cracked through her sob. Dramatic, but cute dramatic. The red-hat lady leaned over and returned the previous favor by consoling Laken.
