by Thorn, Ava
“Says the woman who was crying in her room only a minute ago,” he laughed. Shane walked across the room and stood in front of her. “Grow up and stop thinking about yourself, you didn’t get pregnant on your own, but you concocted this scheme to keep your pregnancy from me and people who love you.”
“It’s my body,” she spat.
“Shay is my child and I put that baby in your belly,” he yelled, pinning her against the wall.
“Yeah,” she laughed hysterically. “You did put that baby in my stomach, but you also called out Sarah’s name while doing it.”
“I did not.” He backed away from Jasmine. His face became red with embarrassment.
“Yes you did.” She turned around to go back to her room. “Shay is our child that we created together,” Jasmine said, before going back into her room and closed the door.
Shane watched the door close. Was Jasmine going to allow a slip of the tongue keep a rift between them? They didn’t even love each other, they had no future together except for Shay. He sat there on the sofa as embarrassment started to sink in. He didn’t realize the mistake of calling her Sarah until now. Shane knew he could blame it on the alcohol or just a simple brain slip. Running his hand down his face, he stared at the ceiling.
Getting up from the sofa, he went to Jasmine’s bedroom. She laid in bed pretending to be asleep, he crept to the bassinet and took a peek at his baby girl, who was perfectly swaddled in a blanket. Sighing, Shane turned and looked at Jasmine, she was a beauty sprawled across the bed. “I know you’re not asleep.” When she opened her mouth to say something, he put his finger to her lips. “Just listen, I will not deny that I still have an emotional bond to the woman I loved since Jr. High. It was a big oops that her name was mentioned during the throws of our lovemaking. I’m sorry.”
“I know you’re suffering from the loss of Sarah,” she whispered.
“Sarah is always on my mind and will always be,” he said softly.
“Okay,” Jasmine leaned forward and kissed his forehead. “We will have to be the best of friends for eighteen-years,” she said, and turned her back to him. Jasmine knew that her crush that she’d hidden from Shane for so long would be just that; a silly crush that she had on the man since the day Benjamin brought him to their house to introduce his new partner on the force.
Chapter Two
Shane needed advice and the only person besides Benjamin he could talk to was his cousin, Austin McBride. Walking outside, he sat on the patio and enjoyed the chirping of red robins in a nearby tree, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
“Hey cousin,” Shane said when his cousin timbered voice came over the phone.
“Ranger McBride, what’s up?”
“Do you remember Jasmine St. Clair?”
“Jasmine St. Clair……Your partner’s baby sister, the cute sassy chick?”
“Yeah. Her.” Shane rolled his eyes. A few years ago Austin tried to tell him that little Jasmine had a crush on him. He turned around and peered into the sliding glass door at the girls were Jazz was sitting there breastfeeding Shay. “Well…. Nine months ago I kind of slept with her and we had a baby together.”
Silence.
“What the hell?” Austin laughed. “A baby?”
“Yes,” Shane grumbled, when the laughter subsided. “I have a daughter, Shay Melody McBride.” His voice was full of pride.
“Oh, shit man,” Austin said, getting serious. “Send me a picture of my baby cousin.”
“I think we can safely say that you’re Uncle Austin,” Shane laughed. “I need you to keep this under wraps, she hasn’t told anyone that she was pregnant.”
“Are you freaking kidding me?” Austin shouted. “How the hell are you supposed to keep a baby a secret?”
“We’re going to tell the family in a couple of days,” Shane said.
“Don’t forget to invite Farrah and me,” Austin said. “I’ll make sure we will bring the popcorn.”
Shane knew Austin had a point, the shit was about to hit the fan. Hopefully, a baby could temper the argument that was coming their way. “How is Farrah?” he asked.
“Farrah is great, but the morning sickness is not,” Austin replied.
Just by Austin mentioning morning sickness, Shane realized how much he missed without being at Jasmine’s side. He thought back to the vacation in Aruba with Farrah, how her stomach was in the beginning stages of swelling and witnessing her vomiting early in the morning. Shane wasn’t there for Jasmine for doctor appointments, or bringing her ginger ale and crackers.
“Did you hear me? I asked how were ya’ll going to work out the whole co-parenting,” Austin said a little louder.
“What am I’m supposed to do? There’s no way I can make a grown ass woman move across a state,” Shane mumbled. He didn’t want to miss anything in Shay’s life, but he didn’t know how to please the stubborn lion in the other room.
“Well, I see that you have the option, you could move your ass to Denver, but cousin, must I remind you that you always wanted to be a Texas Ranger,” Austin reminded him.
“I know,” Shane said as he stared off into the distance.
“What are you going to do about Jasmine?” Austin asked.
“What do you mean?”
“That girl’s been in love with you since the day you walked into her life. Have you ever noticed the way she looks at you?” Austin asked him. “I mean the goo-goo eyes, shit Ray Charles could see the girl had a major crush on you.”
“No,” Shane shook his head. He never really paid attention to Jasmine like that. She was the annoying little sister that got in so much trouble to the point he and Benjamin were bailing her out of sticky situations all the time.
“I remembered the way Jasmine was looking at you, like a glass of water on a hot, sunny day. Boy was she trying to quench that thirst.”
“Shut up,” Shane said. He thought back to the time when Benjamin used to teased Jasmine that she would get all tongue-tied when he came around. At that time, Shane didn’t think anything of it, but now he was wondering if nine months ago, did Jasmine see an opening for herself to act upon that crush.
“I say the hell with it if you’re asking me, Jasmine is single and you’re definitely single. Maybe you guys should date or something and become this one big happy family.”
“Well, thank God I wasn’t asking you,” Shane replied.
“Well, I guess you can try out your parenting skills from afar.”
“How is Farrah, are you back in her good graces?” Shane said, trying to change the subject. A few months ago his cousin had to choose between marrying a woman who was absolutely wrong for him, but was convenient or marrying the woman who was his better half and soul mate. Austin McBride choose wisely, he picked Farrah Rue; the kind, loving, chef from New Orleans.
“We’re working on our relationship; I’m hoping that she will accept my proposal in a few weeks.”
Shane could hear the happiness in his cousin’s voice. “Don’t break her heart, or you’re going to have to answer to me.”
“It’s fitting how I have to answer to you dear cousin, but then again you’re going to answer to Benjamin St. Clair eventually,” Austin laughed.
“Okay, I get it,” Shane mumbled. “On that note, I’m hanging up.”
“Bring Jasmine back home to Texas, you still have the cottage on McBride ranch,” Austin said before hanging up.
Shane sat there for a minute thinking about McBride ranch. That was the only place that felt like home. He could picture Shay running around the pastures when she got older. He was happy that he grew up on McBride ranch; it made him strong, and resilient with good work ethic. Yeah, he was a hick and grew up in the country, but that’s what made him. Shane wanted to his child or children to experience his roots.
Having just put Shay down in her Moses bassinet, Jasmine sat on the sofa. Somehow she managed to feed and put Shay to sleep, and with a few minutes to herself, she was able to shower and do her hair. For the
past two weeks, she’d been lurking around the house like a mad woman with nappy hair. She felt rejuvenated.
The door opened to the patio and in walked Shane, she’d known him for eleven years and the look on his handsome face told her he had something to say and she wasn’t going to like it.
“Jazz, we need to talk,” Shane said, sitting on the other side of the sectional.
Closing her magazine, she looked up at him. “What do you have to tell me? I’d rather you just tell me everything at once.”
“Last night you asked me what I wanted.” He paused and clasped his fingers together. “I’m telling you right now that I want to be a full-time father. McBride men don’t walk away from family or responsibilities.”
“It never crossed my mind that you would settle for being part-time,” Jasmine muttered. “I live in Denver and you live in Texas, I will not quit my job to satisfy your needs.” Picking up the magazine, she flipped through the pages and started to read.
Shane’s face became red, it was taking all his self-control not to get up and snatch the magazine from her. “I need Shay in my life, compromising is the only solution for us.”
“I live in Denver,” Jasmine shrugged, and went back to reading.
That was it. Shane stood up and snatched the magazine from her hands. “I’ll be damned if I’ll be a weekend-only father, I will be there for nightly feedings and seeing my child every day.”
“Shay wouldn’t know if we were in Texas or Denver. You can leave for Texas anytime you want to Shane, I’m not holding any shackles on your feet,” Jasmine sneered. She got up from the sofa and walked into the kitchen to fix herself a cold glass of water.
Shane felt like pulling his hair out. It’s like what he was telling Jazz was going through one ear and out the other. One thing Jazz forgot was that Shane wasn’t going to allow her to make decisions that would affect them all. Instead of going back and forth with her, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.
Jasmine stop drinking her glass of water and look at him. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m calling your mama, I think it’s time for me to inform her that we had a baby together.” He showed her his phone, Dena’s number showed up on the display screen.
“Let’s make a deal,” she said softly.
“I’m listening.”
Jasmine walked over and snatched the phone from him. “I’ll take a six month leave from work, but I doubt they will hold my job for me.”
“I will help you get on at the news station in Dallas,” he replied. “I have a few favors that I can call in.”
“Fine,” she said through clenched teeth. “You will pay my mortgage here.”
“Okay,” he said, without batting an eye. “I have a request.”
“You always have a request,” she groaned.
“You will live on the McBride ranch with me.” He noticed how Jasmine’s eyes became huge. “The cottage has four bedrooms and three baths,” he said in a rush.
“Okay,” she laughed uneasily. “Is that it?”
“We will have a baby party or shower to celebrate Shay’s birth.” He paused and looked at her. “I think the party should be held a week after we arrive in Dallas.”
“Is that it?” she asked.
Shane bounced his head from side to side. “Yep, that’s it for now.”
“Alright.” Jasmine sat back down on the sofa and peeked over at Shay, it was amazing that something so small and precious came from her. “When are we leaving?”
“At the end of the week, Austin is going to allow us to use his private jet,” Shane said.
Jasmine turned and looked at him slowly. “Damn, Shane I know you’re a quick thinker but it’s hard for me to believe that you thought this out all within five minutes. How long have you been thinking about me moving back to Texas?”
“Since the hospital or maybe it was on my long plane ride from Aruba to here.” His eyes bore into hers. “You know you need me.”
“I don’t need you,” she said with a smile on her face.
“That’s what you think,” Shane replied. He stood up and started to whistle quietly, walking up the stairs.
“Uh, I can’t stand him,” Jasmine said. She didn’t understand how she could allow him to get underneath her skin.
***
When Jasmine found out that she was pregnant, it was her choice that she wouldn’t involve Shane and her family. It’s like she could hear their condescending voices in her head.
“You made the worst mistake in your life?”
“How are you going to raise this child?”
“Who is the father?”
Jasmine didn’t want to hear any of that. So she did what she thought was the easiest way out by not telling anyone about her pregnancy. Something that Shane said a few nights ago, about having her mother there to help her with Shay, maybe her mother could have prepared her for bringing a baby home for the first time instead of using Google for everything.
A tear slowly rolled her face. Her hormones were still all over the place, she could cry at the drop of a dime and she could a roaring bitch a moment later. She wanted her mother’s advice even her sister-in-law, Stacy’s, advice would be great right now. It was nice to have Shane around, but she needed someone who understood what she was going through. With her and Shane it was like the blind leading the blind. Even though the provided that comfort, reassurance and presence it was nothing like having Mom there.
“Are you crying again?” Shane asked coming out the bedroom.
“No,” she lied, and looked away from him.
He came and sat down next to her on the bed. Did he have to smell so good? Shane smelled like crisp jasmine, sage and rosewood. His scent was intoxicating and making her light-headed.
“Look at me, Jazz.” When she didn’t listen, he turned her head to face him.
Jazz stared into his deep green eyes; she feared she could get lost in them. She couldn’t focus on what she wanted to say, his scent was driving her crazy. “Our families will be mad….mainly at me.” She shuddered just thinking her parents’ and brothers’ reactions.
“I think Shay will erase some of the animosity that will be emitting from our families,” Shane said.
“Let me guess, because you had sex with baby Jasmine St. Clair, who might I add is twenty-five years old and is a grown ass woman,” she said proudly.
“You’re still a baby,” he laughed. “Benjamin is going to ring my neck like a chicken.”
“We’re grown,” Jasmine shrugged. “Had sex and made a baby. It’s our business and no one else’s what we did and didn’t do.”
“Say that one more time,” Shane said, looking at her with amusement in his eyes.
“It’s our business.” She stuttered and moved away from him. “I’m going to bed,” she said, hoping that he got the drift and go back to the living room.
“I was thinking…” he started to say. “That I could sleep in here, so I can be closer to Shay.”
For the past few days, they’d been sharing the bed since they brought Shay home from the hospital. But this time it was different. She was noticing certain things about him; the way he smiled and watched her when he didn’t thinking she was paying attention to him. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Why not?” he said, looking at her with curiosity in his eyes.
Jasmine sat there and tried to think of a good excuse to use, but nothing came to her mind. “Nothing,” she said reluctantly.
“Then that solves it,” he smiled. “I’m sleeping in here.”
“Whatever,” she said, pounding her pillow with her small fist and laid down with her back toward him.
“Good night,” he said, snuggling up against his pillow.
***
Small kids were running around the doctor’s office, their laughing and smiling were contagious. Shane remembered when he was a kid who would be crying when it was time for a visit to the doctor’s office. But thi
s office was like no other, he’d ever been to. It was decorated like a rainforest, complete with monkeys, birds, and a walk-in indoor tree house.
“Shay McBride,” a medical assistant called from the doorway.
Jasmine stood up, and reached for the car seat that held their baby girl.
“I’ll get it,” he said. “You’re still not cleared to be lifting.”
Standing in the jungle theme exam room, he placed the car seat on the table and removed Shay from her safety restraints as Jasmine looked on. The last time they were in the pediatrician’s office was two weeks and one day ago, when they first brought Shay home for the first time. Shane had a sneaky suspicion that Jasmine made this appointment to stop from traveling to Texas, but little did she know that he was prepared to drive them to Texas if flying wasn’t an option. There was no way in hell that he was leaving Shay behind in Colorado. He loved his baby girl and she was the number one priority in his life.
“I’m just making sure,” Jasmine said as if she was reading his mind.
“I didn’t say anything,” he smiled, showing a mouth full of pearly white teeth. Shane noticed how Jasmine would stare at anything and everything around the room except at him. Did she have a crush on him? He tried to think back to the time he would visit Benjamin at the house, Jazz never exhibited any type of show and tell signs that she was attractive or interested in him but then again he was married up until one year ago. A slow smile spread to his lips as he stared at her from his side of the room. Jasmine was pretty when she wasn’t pouting. Motherhood had enhanced her curves. Shane wanted to tell her that she didn’t have to do sit ups and lunges at night to regain that petite figure because she looked good with the few extra pounds she packed on. Her curly hair was pushed back with a hair band that matched her navy striped sleeveless, short dress.
“What?” she said, looking at him.
“Huh?” he said, looking at her.
“You’re staring at me.” Jasmine frowned, her hands immediately went to her breasts. “Do I have leakage?”
Shane shook his head repeatedly. “No, No.”
