by Taylor Dean
“Does your back ache?”
“Yeah, it’s killing me today. I’ve had an easy pregnancy, but today makes up for my life of ease.”
“I’m sorry I made you get up.” Maybe going down the stairs is what set her off.
“No problem.” Her cell phone chirps and she checks her messages. “Excuse me. It’s Stony.”
She texts something back to him and smiles to herself. “I have to put his mind at ease or he’ll call an ambulance. He’s more nervous than me about all these false alarms.”
“It’s an exciting time.”
She nods and sits back, holding her belly protectively. “Yeah, super exciting.”
Her sarcasm is evident, but on a day like today, I get it.
“So, what’s up, Mia? What did you want to talk about?”
I seriously don’t want to bother her with my insecurities. I feel silly and trivial in the face of what she’s currently going through.
“I wanted to talk with you about a few things, but now I’d rather not. You’re clearly not feeling well and I don’t want to upset you.”
She doesn’t need to be emotionally upset right now and I fear my suspicions might distress her. I’ve already hurt Stony enough. If I hurt his wife in any way, I’d be adding insult to injury. Not going to happen.
Her eyes blink heavily as she studies me thoughtfully. “I’m fine and I need to think about something else besides me. You’d be doing me a favor. Please talk to me. Is it Grayson? If you’re wondering about him, I can tell you that he is smitten with you. I’ve never seen him so obsessed.”
My face darkens. “Is he? Is he really?”
Spencer rests her head on the back of the recliner and looks a little more relaxed. “What’s wrong? Did something happen between you two?”
“No. I’m just very unsure of him.”
“Why?”
“I sometimes wonder about his motivations.” I sigh. “I feel like I can’t talk to him about this. We’re so . . . breakable right now. I don’t want to ruin us before we’ve even begun.”
Her eyebrows furrow. “I’m not following you.”
She seems willing to have this conversation, so I decide to be blunt. “May I be frank?”
“Of course.”
“I know you don’t know me and because of that I’m sure you don’t trust me. But I hope you know that I would never try to come between you and Stony.”
She rubs her hands over her belly and the action worries me, but I think it’s just habit. “I thought we already established that between us. Why do you feel the need to tell me again?”
“I just . . . well, I don’t understand why Grayson is so crazy for me when we’ve only known each other for two seconds.”
“Some couples fall in love quickly. It’s not unheard of.”
I wonder if that’s how it was for her and Stony. Frankly, I don’t want to know.
“I know, but it feels too fast. Look, I know you probably don’t trust me as far as you could throw me and, well, if I were you I wouldn’t trust me either. And I’m sure you want me as far away from Stony as possible and I can understand that too,” I say lamely, wondering if I’m making any sense at all.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“I feel like Grayson adores you and would do anything for you, you know? Even if it meant pretending he was falling in love with someone to keep them away from another man.”
She screws up her face a little. “Hold on. You think I asked Grayson to command your attention so you would stay away from Stony? Do I have that right? Is that what you’re saying?”
That sounds so cutthroat when said out loud. I can see the shock on her face and I immediately know it’s not true. “I’m being silly, aren’t I? Please tell me I’m being silly.”
Spencer is quiet for several moments as one hand rubs her forehead.
“Do you have a headache?” I ask.
“At this point, everything aches. I’m okay, just a little dizzy.”
I stand. “Let me help you up the stairs. You need to lie down. We can talk about this later.”
“No, no, I’m okay. And I think it’s important to talk about this right now.”
Reluctantly, I take my seat.
“It’s true, Mia, I don’t know you well enough to trust you, but you don’t know me either. When it comes to matters of the heart, I don’t play games. I wasn’t even sure I would ever marry until I met Stony. I thought I would never feel true attraction for the opposite sex. Then Stony entered my life, and everything changed.”
She seems a little lost in memories for a moment, then she returns to her point. “Regardless, I don’t play games. Stony is a free agent. Yes, we’re married and committed to each other. But we married each other because he chose me and I chose him. I don’t believe in fighting for a man’s love. He either wants me or he doesn’t. If he doesn’t want me, I expect him to say so. I won’t waste my time trying to convince someone to love me. And I certainly would not sneak around, trying to come up with ways to keep my man faithful. It’s all about trust and I trust Stony. I don’t need to keep you away from him. And just for the record, Grayson would do just about anything for me, but that is not one of them. He’s an open book and there’s nothing deceitful about him. If he says he loves you, then he does.”
I stare at her openmouthed, surprised by her forthrightness. Once again, I have been put in my place.
“You’re a beautiful woman, Mia. And I know you are beautiful on the inside as well. You know how I know that? Because Stony loved you and I know how he loves. He wouldn’t love someone who is hateful. He has no time for that nonsense. And Grayson is as fickle as a two year old at dinner time. We always knew when he fell, it would be hard. You are the lucky woman who has stolen his heart and that’s not an easy thing to do. Stop doubting yourself and your charms. You won Grayson all by yourself. I think we can all see how unsure of yourself you are. It breaks my heart and Stony’s as well. Grayson’s too. No one can give you the confidence you need. You have to find it for yourself.”
I’m stunned and speechless and shocked at her insight. I am also reminded of exactly why Stony loves her. “I don’t know what to say, except I’m sorry. I’m sorry I thought that of you.”
“Don’t apologize. Matters of the heart are not easy to navigate and they mess with the best of us.”
“Thank you, Spencer. You’ve made me see things clearly, as they really are, not as my doubt filled mind sees them.”
“Don’t listen to those doubts. They will just bring you down.”
“I have a confession to make. When I had dinner with you on that first night I met Grayson, I overheard your conversation. I heard you give Grayson the okay to pursue me, but I also heard you ask him to never expect us to be best friends, that it will never happen.”
She doesn’t even blink. She stands by her words.
“I hope that we can be friends, Spencer. I don’t expect us to be best friends, but I really hope we can at least be friends.”
“I think . . . we already are.”
I smile, feeling relieved. “I guess it kind of snuck up on us, didn’t it?”
“I think we’re both surprised by it, but I’m okay with it.”
“Me too. Thank you, Spencer,” I say again. I need to leave before I get way too effusive for comfort. “I think I need to be on my way and let you rest. But I don’t want to leave until Stony gets home. I’m worried about leaving you alone.”
Another ping lets her know Stony—I assume—has texted her again. She looks down and reads the message with a secret smile on her face. I wait while she texts back.
“Stony?”
“Yes. He’s on his way home right now. I’ll be fine.”
“Don’t mind me, you can lay down on the couch. I’ll just wait quietly and let you rest. No need to entertain me.”
“Thank you, Mia. I think it was just another false alarm. I really am fine, no need to worry. I think having you here c
almed me down. I was beginning to panic without Stony. You arrived at just the right time.”
She doesn’t look fine and I can’t really explain why. She just seems as though she’s on the verge of collapse. I stand, acting as though I’m ready to leave, but I’m very hesitant. I can’t force her to let me stay. Maybe I should prolong our conversation. “Do you mind keeping this conversation between us? It will hurt Grayson if he knows I doubted him.”
“I don’t keep anything from Stony, but I won’t breathe a word to Grayson.”
“Thanks again, and I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“You didn’t. You took my mind off of me and that’s what I needed. I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to talk to me about it.”
“Me too.” I can’t think of anything more to say.
Spencer senses my hesitation. “Mia, go. Really, I’m fine. But I do appreciate your concern.”
“Don’t get up, I can see myself out.”
“Unfortunately, I need to pee again because a little human being is kicking my bladder.”
Spencer moves to get up as my cell rings. I walk to the foyer and answer it. It’s Grayson.
“Hey, I’m at your house and you’re not. What’s wrong with this picture?”
I laugh, feeling light and happy. “I’m on my way home now.”
“All right. Hurry up, I’m having withdrawals. I need to see your beautiful face.”
“I’ll drive fast.”
“Not too fast. Get here safely.”
I laugh again. “See you soon.”
I click end call and turn to say one more prolonged goodbye to Spencer. She has followed me to the foyer.
“Grayson, I presume?” she says.
Although she still seems a little out of breath, she’s no longer complaining about contractions. I guess she really is feeling better. The baby is just making it hard to breathe. “The one and only.”
“Give him a hug and kiss from his little sister.”
“Will do. Take care, okay?”
“I’m trying. Thanks, Mia.”
CHAPTER
Thirteen
SPENCER CLOSES THE door behind me and I hear the lock click into place. I still feel uncomfortable leaving her, but what else can I do? As I begin to walk down the pathway, I hear a strange sound from inside the house that makes me pause. I can’t really place the sound because it’s muffled. Maybe Spencer turned on the TV to keep herself distracted until Stony returns. Maybe the volume was loud and she quickly turned it down.
I make my way to my car and open the door. But I can’t make myself get in and sit down. Something is bothering me, screaming at me to not leave. I look up at the huge expanse of sky and notice it has turned cloudy. I think we may be in for some rain soon.
I nearly jump out of my skin as a shrill croaking sound suddenly pierces the air and startles me. I look up to see a jet black raven sitting on Stony’s fence, just above the happily-ever-after sign, like a bad omen. I swear he’s staring right at me with his dark, beady lifeless eyes. He croaks at me again, the sound reminding me of Mickey Mouse clearing his throat. It’s really quite disturbing. I recall studying Edgar Allen Poe’s poem, The Raven, with my students. The raven repeats the word nevermore over and over as the lover laments the loss of his one true love.
The raven sends a few more high-pitched croaks into the air as if he’s warning me of danger and even though his presence is downright creepy, I can’t ignore it.
Warning duly noted.
I can’t let Stony lose the love of his life. I can’t let the word nevermore be spoken of Spencer and her baby. Some biographers believe Poe’s writing focused so much on death because he had lost so many women from his own life. I won’t let Stony become a man whose life is consumed with loss and nevermores.
I didn’t pay attention to my inner voice when Stony needed me in the past. I can’t ignore it now. I just can’t. If anything, I’ve learned my lesson. History will not repeat itself.
I slam my door shut and run back to the front door. I ring the doorbell again, knowing I’m making Spencer get up, but I absolutely can’t leave her alone until Stony gets home. I owe it to Stony to ensure she’s all right. I will insist upon it if I have to. I let him down once and I won’t do it again. I ring the doorbell again for good measure and the charming Windsor chime echoes through the house. There’s no way she can’t hear it.
No one comes to the door.
Okay, maybe she’s just annoyed with me now. And she has the right to not answer the door if she so chooses. But there’s a thought niggling in the back of my mind that tells me to persist.
I ring the doorbell again. And again.
Then I knock loudly and yell Spencer’s name.
“Spencer! Spencer! It’s Mia.”
Spencer wouldn’t ignore me. I’m positive she wouldn’t. And if I am irritating her, I no longer care. I just want to know that she’s all right. I put my ear to the door and I’m met with silence. The TV is not on.
Now I’m panicking. I know I heard a strange sound from inside the house. I just can’t place what it was.
I look in the window to the left of the door and I see a portion of the kitchen. Spotless, I might add. I try to look in the window to the right of the door, but all I can see is the foyer. While the house boasts a huge, open great room, there’s a small privacy wall at the entry that creates a foyer at the doorway. It’s open on either side, gaining entry to the kitchen. I can’t see past it from the right hand window. I run to the next window, but the blinds are closed and I can’t see anything. The next window is the same.
I run back to the door and try the doorknob. It’s locked tight.
Something is very, very wrong. I’m sure of it.
I run around the side of the house and peer into the kitchen window and that’s when my heart starts to pump faster than I ever thought it could. Chills run up and down my spine. Just past the kitchen island, I can see Spencer’s feet. She’s laying on the ground and she doesn’t appear to be moving.
The dining room chair has fallen to the ground next to her as well. I can now place the sound I heard. It was the clang of the chair hitting the tile. It was wishful thinking on my part to assume it was the TV.
That’s it. I’m going in. She needs me. Stony needed me too and I ignored him. I won’t let it happen again. Saving Spencer and her baby are the same as saving Stony. I know they are his life and mean more to him than himself.
I grab one of the outdoor chairs and I hurl it toward the kitchen window just as hard as I can. I hunch down and cover my face to protect myself from the aftermath. The chair hits the window and cracks it, but then falls to the ground. Action movies really do give me a false sense of my own strength. It seems like glass should break a little easier than that. I pick up the chair and hurl it at the window once again. This time a spray of glass showers the room as the jarring sound disrupts the serene happily-ever-after setting.
I’m not about to let Stony and Spencer’s happily-ever-after come to an abrupt end.
I climb in the window carefully, mindful of the shards of glass, yet I’m in a hurry to get to Spencer. In my haste, I catch my hand on a piece of glass as I scramble onto the kitchen countertop and jump down. I cringe as a stinging pain envelops me. My hand is covered in blood within seconds. I search a few drawers with shaking hands and grab a clean dishtowel. I quickly wrap it around the slice.
I run to Spencer and find her out cold on the floor. Her breathing is shallow and she’s white as a sheet. I touch her cheek and yell her name. “Spencer! Spencer!”
She feels cold and clammy. And I can’t get her to respond.
I grab my phone and call for an ambulance. My hands are shaking and I can barely push the buttons on my phone as I call 9-1-1. I tell the operator I need an ambulance right away and give her the address. Fisher County Hospital is only about seven minutes away from Roby. I know because I overheard Stony and Spencer speaking of it during the baby shower when guests asked what they
would do if the baby decides to come quickly. They were hoping to have the baby at the hospital in Sweetwater, but they said it all depended on how fast her labor goes.
Looks like it’s going to be fast. And perhaps complicated.
I ply the operator with frantic information, reminding myself to speak clearly. “She’s pregnant, due in a week, and she passed out. She was having contractions, but she didn’t think she was in labor. She was feeling lightheaded, and out of breath.”
“Is she breathing?”
“Yes, but it seems like it’s fast and short.”
“Is she bleeding?”
“No, no sign of blood.”
“Did she hurt herself when she fainted?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see her pass out.”
“Okay then, make her as comfortable as possible, but don’t move her. Is she lying on her back?”
“Yes.”
Then suddenly, Spencer’s head moves a little and a small moan escapes. I thank God for small mercies.
“Wait, she’s conscious. Hang on.”
I set the phone down and I kneel next to Spencer. “Spencer, everything’s going to be okay. An ambulance is on its way. Just hang on for a few more minutes, okay?”
Her eyes flutter open and her eyebrows furrow as she stares at me with confusion. “Mia?”
“Yes, I’m here for you, Spencer. Just stay calm.”
“How . . .” She closes her eyes. “Oh, I’m so dizzy.”
I run to the couch and grab a small decorative pillow. I place it under her head. Then I grab an artfully draped throw blanket and place it over her. I hope that makes her a little more comfortable.
“Did you fall, Spencer? Are you hurt?”
“What? No, I felt dizzy . . . I grabbed the chair . . . lost my balance . . . lowered myself to the floor . . . my baby . . . didn’t want to hurt baby.” She’s breathing as though she just ran a race and it’s scaring me.
I grab my phone. “Hello, are you still there?”
