Uma was less enthusiastic. “I don’t know if this is such a good idea, Alex. Why don’t we just stay in today? We could order food and play cards.”
“Mom, you’ve been suggesting I stay inside and play cards since I got pregnant. I can’t take it anymore; I’m going stir crazy. I have to get out.” They were sitting at the small dining table adjacent to Alex’s kitchen, sipping the best coffee any of them had ever drunk. “We won’t be gone long. Two hours tops. Hera knows the town. She’ll keep us safe, won’t you?” She smiled at her friend.
“Of course!” Hera drank from her mug greedily. “I’m just so excited to have a day to myself. I love Winnie, she’s my world, but damnit if I don’t need a break from her sometimes. This coffee is fantastic. Where is it from?”
“They get it shipped from Italy,” said Alex. “I’ve already asked them to order more next time they send for it.”
“You’re getting pretty comfortable here,” said Uma. “Been here one day and you’re already making demands.”
“I’m not making demands.” Her mother’s words stung her like tiny, auditory bug bites. “They said if I wanted anything to tell them. I wanted more coffee, so I told them. Look, mom, I know you don’t approve of me moving in here, and I understand your concerns, but if you’re going to act like this all day, you might as well go home. I’m trying to de-stress and right now you’re not helping.”
“I’m sorry,” Uma said. “You’re right. Today isn’t about me and my disapproval, but.” She smirked playfully in her daughter’s direction. “For the record, I do disapprove.”
“Of what exactly?” Hera teased.
“Of all of it!” Uma threw her hands up. “Of the pregnancy, of Alex living here... of these so called Armstrong brothers whom I’ve never met, I might add.” She lifted an eyebrow.
“Soon,” said Alex. “You will meet them soon. As for disapproving of the pregnancy and the move, it’s a bit late for that.” She checked the clock on the stove. “Speaking of late, we should get going. Xavier said he might be coming home for his lunch break and that if he did, he would check in on me. I want to be gone before he gets here.”
“Why?” said Uma. “Do they not know you’re going out?”
“I may have forgotten to mention it.” Alex looked up and squinted, as if trying to remember. “I can’t remember, exactly. It doesn’t matter. They just like to know where I am and that I’m safe. It’s not like I’m being held prisoner here.” Alex laughed. “Not really.”
Uma shook her head. “That’s exactly what a mother wants to hear her pregnant daughter say.” She laughed as well and looked at Hera. “Okay then, partner, you ready to bust her out?”
The weare territory of Swan City was, to both Alex and her mother’s utter surprise, beautifully kept and culturally rich. The downtown area was bustling. Boutiques, art galleries, neighborhood markets, and adorable coffee shops lined the streets. It was nothing like the human side. The Swan City Alex grew up in had been slowly but surely slipping into disarray and squalor since the day she was born.
Once, when she was much younger, Alex had joined her mother on the journey to pick up their rations. City Hall, which served as the official hall for the entire region, not just Swan City, was located in a town a few hours west called Summer’s End. Back then, Summer’s End had yet to be affected by the same poverty, degradation and violence that had begun chipping away at the heart of Swan City. It was a gorgeous city with clean streets and happy people. Alex had always secretly hoped she would live in a city like that one day. And, she realized as she walked through the weare territory, now she was.
“Let’s go in here!” Hera called Alex and her mother over. She was standing at the window of toy store. “We could look for something for that little bun in your oven.”
“I don’t know.” Alex glanced at Uma. “That place looks kind of pricey.”
“Who cares?” Hera smirked. “It’s not your money, right? The brothers gave you spending money for a reason, to spend.”
“I guess that’s true.” Alex reached into the leather satchel Teddy had lent her. Inside she had a handful of coins and bills. Instead of pulling any of it out, she just fiddled around with the money. She liked the way it felt, having cash. It provided a type of security she was not used to.
“Hera’s right,” said Uma. “I know spending money on non-necessities is new to you. To us. But you have the chance to provide for your child in a way I never could provide for you.”
“Mom, just because we didn’t have money,” said Alex, “doesn’t mean you didn’t provide everything I needed as a kid. I had a wonderful childhood.”
“I know, dear. I’m not being self-deprecating. I’m just saying, you deserve this. That baby of yours deserves it, and we’ve been given the means to buy it. So let’s buy it.”
“Yeah, Alex, let’s buy it!” said Hera. “And then let’s go buy a bunch of other stuff we don’t need.”
Alex smiled. “Okay... maybe I could spare a few dollars. But just a few.”
“Right. Just a few.” Hera winked. “Hundred.”
Trying to sneak from the town car to the guesthouse carrying ten giant shopping bags without being spotted was no easy feat. It didn’t help, either, that Hera, off balance from the weight of all her bags, toppled over into a bush, sending Uma and Alex into a stomach-aching laughter fit.
Thankfully, nobody saw them. In fact, it appeared nobody was home. Alex threw all her shopping bags on the ground in her living room, Uma and Hera followed suit. She went to the kitchen and put on a kettle to start a fresh pot of coffee.
The three women were well into their second cups when there came a frantic knock on the front door. “Ms. Greenford, er, I mean, Alex, are you home?” It was Nigel, he sounded completely panicked. Alex ran to the door.
“Nigel, what’s going on?” She moved aside to let the driver in. His face was flushed and he was sweating up a storm.
“I’m sorry to bother you.” He noticed Uma and Hera. “Hello, my name is Nigel. I’m one of the drivers here.” He shook his head as if just then realizing there was no time for formalities and turned back to Alex. “Something’s happened. At Council Hall.”
“What?” A pit formed in Alex’s stomach. “What happened? Is everyone okay?”
“Yes, yes. Everyone is fine. For now.” Nigel wiped his hands down the front of his pants. “There was, a, uh.” He wheezed a little as he breathed in a large breath.
“Here.” Alex guided Nigel to the couch. “Sit down.” He did as she instructed. She sat down next to him. Uma and Hera joined them as well. “Now, tell me what’s going on.”
“There was a shooting. Some deranged lunatic came charging into the hall, screaming about the dangers of inter-species breeding. He kept saying it was all Bartholomew’s fault – that the head of the council was going to taint the pure bloodline of this weare community.” Nigel ran the back of his arm across his forehead, drenching the sleeve of his sports coat with sweat. “He charged through the doors of the council meeting room and pulled the trigger.”
“Oh my god.” The pit began to grow, now it felt as if it was pushing against her lungs, making it hard for her to properly inflate them. “Was anyone hurt?”
“Mr. Armstrong was grazed on the shoulder, and Master Xavier was hit in the leg. Luckily someone tackled the guy before he could seriously injure anyone. They are at the hospital now. I was there for a while, then rushed back home to make sure you were okay.”
“Well, let’s go.” Alex stood up. “We need to go to the hospital. Nigel, can you take us there?”
“Yes, of course.” They made for the door.
Uma and Hera stayed seated in the living room. They looked pale as ghosts.
“You guys,” said Alex. “C’mon. We have to hurry.”
“I don’t think it’s such a good idea that I go,” said Uma. “Maybe you shouldn’t either. Clearly tensions are high. Who knows how many other weares feel the way that guy felt? It might not
be safe for us here.”
“I can assure you,” said Nigel, “the hospital where the men are being treated is one of the most advanced and tightly secured clinics in the region. You would be perfectly safe.”
Uma didn’t look convinced, but there was no time to argue. “Fine,” said Alex. “You guys stay here. But I have to go. Stay in the guest house, lie low, until I get back.” She looked right at Hera. “Look after my mom?”
Hera nodded. With that, and two quick hugs, Alex and Nigel were on their way to the hospital.
Xavier looked so innocent lying in the hospital bed, clad in a thin cotton gown, and sleeping soundly. His usually stern face had softened, likely due to the painkillers, and he appeared to be truly relaxed for the first time since Alex had met him. Teddy, Charlie, and Bartholomew were standing around his bed. Mr. Armstrong’s shoulder was bandaged and his arm was in a sling, but otherwise he appeared to be perfectly fine. Alex hadn’t gone into the hospital room. She was watching from the window. She wasn’t sure how Bartholomew would react to her being there, and she was hoping to avoid any sort of scene.
Teddy finally looked up and spotted Alex through the window. He motioned for her to come inside, but she shook her head. Charlie soon noticed her as well and he and Teddy came out to talk to her.
She walked to the other side of the hallway, out of view of the window. “How is he?”
“He’s all right,” said Teddy. “They had to do surgery to get the bullet out. It was silver, so it tore through him like a hot knife through butter, but they got him here in time. He should be walking in just a few days.”
“Thank god.” Alex finally stopped clenching her fists, which she’d had balled up in apprehension since Nigel had broken the news. Her fingernails left little half-moon reminders in the skin of her palms. “Is there anything I can do?”
“I’m sure he’d love to see you when he wakes up,” said Charlie. “You should go in there.”
“But your dad is in there.”
“Look, you’re going to have to face him eventually,” said Teddy. “This might be the best option. He can’t yell at you in a hospital.”
“Can’t he?” said Alex. “I don’t want this to become about me. I just came to make sure Xav was okay. I don’t want to bring about any more stress.”
“Alex.” Charlie reached for her hand. “I know you’ve only had bad experiences when it comes to our dad, but trust me, he’s a good man. And he would never do anything to purposefully bring pain to one of his children. He won’t make a scene, for Xavier’s sake. We know he won’t.”
Alex sighed and squeezed Charlie’s hand. “Okay. If you’re sure.”
She smiled at Teddy, squared her shoulders, and walked into the room.
The sound of the door clicking behind her made Bartholomew look up. “Oh, it’s you.” He didn’t sound angry so much as disappointed. “I was expecting the doctor.”
Alex stepped closer to the bed and gently took Xavier’s hand. “They said he is going to be okay? That they think he will be walking fine soon?”
“That’s what we were told, yes.” Bartholomew looked like he’d been crying. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“How are you feeling?” Alex noticed a dark red stain beginning to form on his bandage.
“I’m fine. Bullet barely grazed me.”
Alex nodded.
They were quiet for a moment.
“Mr. Armstrong––“
“Call me Bartholomew.”
“Bartholomew, I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I can’t imagine how disrespected you must’ve felt when we went behind your back.” Alex brought her eyes up from Xavier and looked thoughtfully at Bartholomew. “We did it because we thought we had no other choice, but I don’t want to keep hiding from you. I’m carrying your grandchild, and I don’t want him or her to be born into a family racked with so much hostility.”
Bartholomew said nothing for a while. When he finally did speak, his voice was hoarse and breaking. “Did they tell you about their mother?”
“I know about her. I know what you think happened to her.”
“What I know happened to her.” Bartholomew met her gaze. “It was Miranda who first started the movement to bring peace to Swan City. It was her passion, not mine. I only took up the torch after she died. Somewhere along the way, I started to believe it myself, and now it’s all I think about.” He blinked a few times and a few tears fell. “When my sons announced that they wanted to have you carry their child, all my past hatreds and fears flooded my better judgment and I lost myself.”
“I understand.” Alex laughed. “If it’s any consolation, my mother wasn’t very happy about the idea at first either.”
Bartholomew smiled. “I’m not surprised.” He looked down at his son. “My sons are all I have. I just want what’s best for them, as I’m sure your mother does for you. I’m sorry for how I acted before. I can see now how happy you make them, and I am honored to have you carry on my bloodline.”
The day’s events and this touching moment combined with her pregnancy heightened emotional state was too overwhelming. Alex started to tear up, and soon she was sobbing. Bartholomew came around the other side of the hospital bed and put his arm around her shoulders.
Xavier woke up to find Alex and his father standing over him, Bartholomew still holding her. “Look at that,” he said. “Apparently all I had to do was get shot to bring you two together. Hell, if I’d known that, I would have taken a bullet weeks ago.”
Vandals
“Could we maybe walk?” Alex asked as she and the two uninjured Armstrong brothers were leaving the hospital. “I could really use some fresh air after everything today, and besides, the mansion isn’t too far.” The sun had set but it wasn’t completely dark yet.
Teddy shrugged. “Why not.”
“I can think of one good reason why not,” said Charlie. “There are people trying to shoot us running amuck in the city. Not to mention, you’re starting your second trimester. You shouldn’t be on your feet so much.”
“There was only one person, and he was after dad.”
“The walk will be good for me. I need to clear my head,” said Alex. “You can take the car back if you want, but I’ve already made up my mind.”
Charlie sighed. “No, I won’t take the car. I’ll go wherever you go.” Then under his breath he uttered, “always.”
Alex felt more than just safe walking about, arm and arm, with Teddy and Charlie. She also felt hopeful. Everything was looking up. While they were waiting for some test results of Xavier’s to come through, Alex snuck down to the lower level where her doctor was located. Luckily, he was on call that night in the emergency deliver ward. She found him laying on a couch in the doctor’s lounge eating vending machine food and reading a trashy magazine. Even though her next appointment was scheduled two weeks out, she asked if he could perform a quick check up then and there.
“Not for free, obviously.” She started to fish in her pocket for some loose coins. “I know this is unorthodox, but we’ve had a pretty crazy day. I’ve been running around a lot and I’m boiling over with stress. I’m worried it may be negatively affecting the baby.”
Doctor Neal smiled. “Ms. Greenford, weare babies are incredibly durable, and they will let you know if something is wrong. Trust me, if your little wolf was unhappy, she’d show it.” Alex didn’t say anything. She had her arms crossed softly over her belly and wore the face of a woman over the edge of a cliff. “But,” the doctor said, “if you are really that concerned, I guess I could take a quick look. Very quick. I’m still on call, you know.”
Alex clasped her hands together, interlocking her fingers as if to pray. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! I really appreciate it.”
They eventually found an unoccupied exam room. Doctor Neal checked her heartbeat, the baby’s heartbeat, touched her now slightly protruding pregnant belly, and took urine and blood samples to send to the lab.
He told her she and h
er baby appeared to be in excellent health and not to worry. Alex had no reason to think anything was wrong with her child, but it was still something she needed to hear.
“What are you thinking about?” Teddy asked. They were only a block or two from the front gates of the mansion. The evening had melted into inky night and the stars were beginning to make an appearance. “You got pretty quiet there.”
“Oh, nothing. I’m just happy.” Alex looked at him, then Charlie. “Xavier is going to be okay, your dad and I are friends now, and the baby is in tip top shape. Also,” Alex looked down at her feet, ashamed. “I asked Doctor Neal about something that’s been weighing on me lately.”
“What’s that?” asked Charlie.
“I’ve been afraid that what happened to Hera when she was pregnant might happen to me. I don’t mean to offend you, but I’m just really happy being who I am. I didn’t want to turn.”
Teddy squeezed her arm lightly. “We understand. We wouldn’t want to be turned into humans.”
Charlie laughed. “Yeah, that sounds like a nightmare... no offense.”
“None taken.” Alex’s shame faded. Why did she think they would take it so badly? She needed to start giving the fathers of her child a little more credit. “Doctor Neal said that I wasn’t demonstrating any signs of turning, and that if the baby was going to turn me, the process would have started the moment I got pregnant.”
“That’s great!” said Teddy. “One more thing we don’t have to worry about.”
“Exactly.” Alex beamed.
They made small talk the rest of the way home. Alex admitted to going out on a shopping spree. Charlie was angry at first, but she was able to talk him down, only after promising that she would not leave the house without one of the brothers for the rest of her pregnancy. She was fine with the arrangement, in all honesty. She liked the idea of spending more time with the brothers before the baby arrived.
The BabyMakers’ Shared Property Page 9
