Once In A Blue Moon

by Celia Stewart

  “Thank you, ma’am.” I struggled to sit up, also surprised at the genuine concern in her face. “Cassi!”

  She pulled the curtain aside and stepped around Maggie. “What did they say? What’s up?”

  “Bed rest--three days. We’re waiting on paperwork.” Scooching off the side of the bed, I smothered a wave of nausea and slipped my shoes on. “I’ll need Tara to bring me the bills and mail from the salon for the next few days and ... Tara?”

  “Is everything okay? Are you done?” she asked, appearing on Cassi’s other side.

  “I need you to reschedule my appointments for the next couple of days.” I didn’t miss Maggie’s surprised frown.

  “How do you know that’ll be long enough?” Ty asked.

  “I don’t, but we’ll start there.” How the hell was I going to run a business in bed? How the hell could I take care of myself tied to a bed? Who would... The doctor returned, cutting off my roller coaster thoughts. I signed off and listened to her instructions again. bed rest, complete bed rest. No stress, fresh food.

  As if the fact I might lose my baby would help me relax?

  * * * *

  I climbed out of the truck, then made myself wait for him. The sun had almost set and a cold wind drifted across my shoulders. I shivered, exhausted physically and mentally. This morning seemed liked a century ago. “Don’t you have to play tonight?”

  “Zack said they’d take care of everything.” He took my arm and we made the short walk to the porch in silence. Inside, Ty gave me a gentle nudge but I didn’t move. “Come on. Let’s get you settled.”

  My brain suddenly kicked into overdrive. The thought that had nagged at me all day finally presented itself front and center. “I won’t sleep in that bed! It’s her bed.”

  “There’s a...” he let loose a long, shaky sigh “--a queen in the spare bedroom.”

  With a nod, I trudged across the living room, the hateful white Berber abrading my feet. Two doors down and across the hall from the master. Plain and white.

  Fugly.

  Enough was enough. I grabbed my cell phone from my purse even as I yanked the hateful white comforter off the bed, viciously tossing it across the room. Another wave of nausea hit me as Cassi answered. “Do me a favor and go to my house... Get my pillows and quilts off my bed and some sheets from the linen closet... Thanks... And call Angi, please. See you soon.” I disconnected with a satisfied click only to jump at the sound of Ty’s voice behind me.

  “I brought you this.” He stood at the doorway, holding a nightgown. The plain white cotton one so old it was paper thin, but it was my favorite.

  I snatched it out of the air as he tossed it to me. “Thank you. And Ty...” I swallowed hard, nearly choking on my saliva.

  He came and sat beside me on the bed, one hand resting lightly on my back. “Hmm?”

  “I’m... sorry. I just can’t sleep in there.” I ended up with my head on his lap crying my eyes out. How did everything get so bad?

  Once my little storm blew out, Ty got me changed and tucked me in with one last kiss.

  “I understand completely.” He spun around and made a hasty exit, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

  Great! I’d hurt him again. With a sigh, I closed my eyes and floated away on a cloud of fatigue only to awaken with a start at the girls carting my stuff in a while later.

  “We got everything you asked for,” Cassi added, setting a trash bag in the corner. “Want us to unpack?”

  “That’s fine. I can do it tomorrow.”

  “You’re on bed rest, Boss.” Tara’s pink hair fairly bristled. Her authoritative side was a sight to behold.

  Maybe she would make a decent lawyer. I smiled and sat up, rubbing my eyes. Before I could form some sort of reply Cassi asked, “Why are you in here?”

  “I’ll be damned if I’m sleeping in that bitch’s bed ever again.” I clamped my lips shut as Tim came carting in my TV.

  Tara and Cassi scrambled to clear off the dresser.

  “I didn’t realize you’d gone with them.” I watched him deposit his heavy load. “Thanks.”

  “Cassi called me.” He gave me an unusually gentle smile, then disappeared through the door, Cassi on his heels.

  Tara lingered after them. “For what it’s worth, boss, I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t want to sleep in another woman’s bed either. That’s just ... wrong.” She wrinkled her nose and shuddered in sympathy.

  “Thanks, Tara. I suppose I should see what damage they’re doing out there.”

  I stood and crossed the room but Cassi blocked my way, her best “mom” face in place. “You’re on bed rest. Do you understand what nearly happened today?” she hissed. “And how serious it all is? And that you’re acting like a brat?”

  “Refusing to sleep in the bed my husband shared with his ex-wife is not being a brat!”

  “No, it’s not,” came a voice from the hallway.

  “Mrs. Boudreaux.” I hadn’t even known she was in the house. My God, I’d been invaded.

  “It’s Maggie, remember?” She nodded. “I brought you some turkey and rice soup. Come curl up in that big comfy chair while the girls and I finish up your room. Where’d you get that anyway? I want one.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” I slipped a robe on over my nightgown and obediently followed. “A little place out in New Braunfels custom makes them.”

  “This place just looks better and better all the time.”

  I muttered my thanks, glad I wasn’t the only one who’d hated Rhea’s house.

  “Go on and get settled. Angi’s warming up some soup.”

  I curled up in the chair, feeling much more mellow after my nap.

  Cassi appeared from around the corner, a swatch of brightly colored knitted material folded over her arms. “I found your other afghan.”

  A peace offering. Hmmpf!

  “Thanks.” I took it from her and spread it over my legs, snuggling deeper in the chair. I felt lazy and guilty, unused to slacking while everyone around me worked.

  “Hey, sister.” Angi bustled out of the kitchen a bowl in her hand, Delaney right behind her with milk.

  “We’ll leave you to eat, and go work on your room.” Maggie shooed Delaney and Cassi off to the back of the house.

  Content with just Angi for company, I ate, the warm, salty broth soothing my stomach.

  “Are you really okay?” she asked from her spot on the ottoman. “After Cassi called all I could think about was what an evil brat I acted like yesterday morning. You scared me.”

  “I scared myself,” I whispered. “The doctor said that if I’m going to lose it, there’s nothing they can do. So we just have to wait and see.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Without you

  Ty closed the front door behind him, surprised to see Bee up and halfway out of the chair.

  “Where ya goin?” He slipped off his coat and tossed it over the back of the couch, then stood with his hands shoved in his pockets. She looked better after her nap but still so scared and worried and pale.

  “Back to bed.” She licked her lips but didn’t move.

  He wanted to curl up in the chair with her, but wasn’t sure if the impulse would have been for his comfort or hers. Instead, he stepped around the couch and sat on the ottoman. “We need to talk.”

  “Did you eat?”

  “No. Bettina, please don’t avoid the subject.”

  “I’m not, but your mom and the girls are still here,” she whispered. “Can we put this off until later?”

  “Scoot over,” he said with a nod.

  She did and Ty sat next to her, arms wrapped ‘round her, his eyes on her face. He cradled her to him, wishing he could tell her how much he loved her, wishing they could erase the last twenty-four hours.

  All the sudden everything seemed to catch up with her. She sniffled, her nose turned red and big fat tears rolled down her cheeks. Before he knew it, she was sobbing like a two-year-old all over his work shirt.
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  “What happened?”

  Oh God, not now, Momma.

  “Could y’all please just leave. Please!” He tightened his grip on her, frowning up at his mother.

  She nodded, hustling the girls out. It was a repeat of yesterday. Ty shushed Bee, cuddled her and rocked her, skimming her back and rubbing her curls. If anything, she cried even harder.

  “I’m sorry.” It came out as a long drawl out wail.

  “Hush, baby, you got nothing to be sorry for.” He pushed her hair out of her face, forcing her to look at him. His lips brushed against her forehead. “It’s all my fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. If I’da told you...”

  “What happens if I lose the baby...” She took a couple of deep breaths to stop the hiccups, then started up all over again.

  Even he couldn’t dismiss the possibility they might lose their daughter. The thought made him sick, but he tamped it down. If he’d told her about Rhea, yesterday wouldn’t have happened. If they lost the baby, he was to blame. “Let’s not think about that right now.”

  Eyes closed, she leaned up and kissed his jaw. “Did we make a mistake?”

  He froze at her question. If they lost the baby, would she leave him? He’d fight tooth and nail to make sure that didn’t happen.

  “I can’t afford to make a mistake, Bettina.” He leaned back and looked at her, choosing brutal honesty as his first weapon. “I...” he took a deep breath and plunged forward, “Divorcing Rhea went against everything I believe in, Bee. I won’t do it again. For all our sakes, we’re just gonna have to work extra hard, even if we lose her--especially if we lose her.”

  “I will. I promise. I don’t want a divorce either, Ty. We can do this, right? We can make it work?”

  “Yeah, we can make it work.” Her own need for reassurance eased his own fears. She wouldn’t just take off. He caressed her chin, leaning down to kiss her. They kissed like children, lips barely touching as if exploring something new. And in a way they were. They’d delicately navigated a lot of dangerous territory in the last two days and, before it was all over, he had a feeling they had a lot more to explore.

  * * * *

  Ty awoke from the nightmare hot and sweaty, legs tangled in the sheets, his breath coming in sharp huffs. That damn dream with the Rhea-Demon come to torture him again. He was having a panic attack, but only a mild one. Thank God, because Bee had thrown away his Xanax--not that he’d minded.

  Where the hell was Bettina?

  He untangled his legs, wishing he could do the same with his mind, his life, and stumbled to the bathroom. With a twist of the lever, ice cold water poured from the tap. He scooped handfuls of it up and doused his face. The water helped but still wasn’t enough.

  Ty scrubbed his face and hands dry, then met his own reflection in the mirror, startled at how pale he looked. The hand towel slipped from his fingers and fell into the running water. He flicked the lever off.

  Where the hell was Bettina? Down the hall.

  In the bedroom, he paused in front of the bed he’d shared with Rhea for twelve years. Tomorrow, he’d take the damned thing out, pour gasoline on it and watch it burn. No wonder Bettina hadn’t wanted to sleep with him.

  The damn thing was evil and tomorrow it was gone.

  Decision made, he grabbed his extra pillow, planning on spending the rest of the night with Bee. The only reason he hadn’t slept with her was because she needed her rest. He headed out the door and in five short steps stood at the door of the room Bettina had taken over. Even in the dim light, the room looked like her. Cluttered, bright and cheerful.

  At the side of the bed, he hesitated. What if she didn’t want him here? She didn’t seem angry, but what if? She looked so pretty lying there, one fist tucked up under her chin. He pulled back the covers and slipped in beside her, instantly feeling better. This felt nice.

  She mumbled in her sleep and he shushed her even as his eyes roamed her face. He fought the urge to trace the contours of her cheek with his finger. He didn’t want to wake her up. Didn’t know how she’d feel about him being there or if he could stand a rejection tonight. Not after another nightmare and not after the near-miss they’d had with the baby.

  * * * *

  Ty woke slowly this time. Somehow, in the night, he and Bettina had shifted and she lay sprawled across him, in her usual position. One arm thrown over his chest, one leg thrown over his.

  He studied her, his fingers gently running through long blonde curls. She really was beautiful, even with no makeup. He loved her so much it made his heart ache. He burrowed down under the covers until he had her securely wrapped in his arms. There wasn’t a part of him that couldn’t feel every soft inch of her, and his body responded accordingly, despite his best intentions.

  “You look awful serious there.” She caressed his stubbled chin with a finger, her touch light and soft.

  His morning-time erection returned full force.

  “Just thinkin’,” he replied, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. He gasped when he felt the palm of her hand brush against his erection through the soft cotton. “You can’t.”

  “I know.” Her smile held a hint of regret.

  Oh God. He inhaled sharply, leaned over and brushed her lips with his, a mass of curls clutched in his hand. He groaned, “Why is it all so good with you?”

  He gave her another tiny kiss, not waiting for or expecting a response.

  “I don’t wanna get up,” he whispered against her lips.

  “So don’t. It’s Sunday.”

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Tired...” she shrugged, “--still a little crampy.”

  Maybe just a few minutes. No, he needed to get himself under control. He had a lot to do today. The bed. With a nod and one last kiss to her forehead, Ty rolled out of bed.

  He returned a few minutes later with his coffee and a cup of the tea for her. The sight of Bettina in just her panties brought him up short, and he stopped in the doorway of her room, uncaring of the hot cups in his hands.

  Not one tan line marred her creamy skin, and her blue paisley bikini panties clung to her lush hips. He sighed, unable to move. Then felt himself blush as she looked up and caught him watching her through the mirror. She smiled, obviously not embarrassed at all, and finished dressing.

  He shook himself and set the cups on the night stand, embarrassed at being caught acting like a sixteen-year-old. As if he’d never seen a naked woman before. Though, to be frank, nobody could hold a candle to Bee. He smiled at the thought, feeling good despite last night’s nightmare.

  She slipped between the sheets and patted the spot next to her. He couldn’t have resisted if his life had depended upon it. Ty climbed in, the feel of her against him warming his blood all over again. They lay together a while, silently sipping their drinks. But he needed to get up.

  He reluctantly broke the easy silence. “I need to get moving and feed you.”

  She nodded and leaned back, some of the light fading from her eyes.

  Hopefully she’d understand.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Not alone

  Ty left me alone after setting me up with breakfast. Delaney showed up around nine and sat with me all day, and Angi came with her but didn’t stick around very long. Around lunch time, Cassi showed up with a passel of movies, a bag of books and a deck of Skip-Bo cards. No one would let me out of bed or explain the strange noises I heard late that afternoon. Not even Jessa when she popped in with dinner. Nothing distracted me on my slow journey to stir-crazy, and I didn’t know whether to scream or laugh.

  Toward sundown Angi came to kiss me goodbye, then disappeared taking Cassi, Jessa and Delaney with her. I only had the tantalizing scent of Jessa’s turkey tetrazzini for company. I was lying there stewing in my own juices when Ty showed up, a smile on his freshly shaved face. His hair was still damp from a shower, and even from three feet away, I could smell the clean soapy smell of him.

  I’d missed him.

 
“How are you feeling?”

  “Tired and crabby,” I snapped.

  “Cramps?” He frowned and came to sit on the edge of the bed.

  I nodded, biting my tongue at his obvious concern. I was still worried about the baby, despite the sonogram, and had done my best not to think about it all day. But that was like ignoring a zit on prom night. Impossible.

  “Hungry?”

  “Not really?”

  He kept stealing glances at me from the corner of his eye and fiddling with his fingers. “I got you something.”

  The slight quaver in his voice blew my anger away. I scooted closer and lightly scratched his back. “What’s that?”

  He stopped rubbing his hands together long enough to look at me. “In the other room. Would you...” He pointed.

  I nodded and let him help me up. Down the short hall we went, stopping in front of the closed door to the master bedroom.

  Puzzled, I frowned up at him, but only got a small smile and a quirked eyebrow for my troubles. He fumbled with the doorknob and pushed the door open, his arm tightening at my waist.

  Smart move.

  My knees nearly gave way at the sight of my bedroom furniture and my queen-sized Shaker bed all made up with my summer quilt. The one we’d conceived Baby B on. “How ... how?” I turned to face him, my arms outstretched in question.

  He leaned against the doorjamb, never taking his eyes off me. “You were right, and I don’t wanna sleep without you. Honestly, I wanted to burn the other one, but Daddy said it’d smolder for days, so I donated everything to a shelter Dr. Ritter does counseling for.”

  My arms fell to my sides, suddenly heavy. Unable to form any sort of response, I stood there, staring at him.

  “Angi helped.” He gave me a quick little smile. “You can get in. I made it up. You should lie down and I’ll move your TV.” He crossed to the bed and pulled the quilt and sheets back. I followed and placed a hand on his back. He turned and kissed me, but not before I’d seen his suddenly-red eyes.