The Two of Us

by Victoria Bylin

  “Well, what do you know?” Jake ruffled his dog’s fur, smiling at the pleasant surprise. “Breakfast is on.”

  Pirate tilted his head, listening to Jake’s tone even if he didn’t understand the words.

  Jake envied him. Pirate was in his prime, undamaged, and content to take life a moment at a time. When he sensed danger, it was real, and when he didn’t, he slept like a log.

  Unlike his dog, Jake slept lightly, worried, and lived with hearing loss. He was also alive, set on starting the camp to honor Connie Waters, and determined to be the best son he could be. Jake had a lot to live for—and a lot to give. He just wished he didn’t feel so dead inside. Since the blast, his emotions had been flattened, a word used by the department psychologist who had guided him through his recovery.

  His gaze went back to the hen on his phone. “Mia,” he said out loud. “Pretty name.”

  Pirate, his tongue lolling, cocked his head as if he were asking Jake what he planned to do next.

  That was easy. Jake liked everything he knew about Mia. Granted, it wasn’t much, but she’d sparked his interest enough to inspire that impromptu breakfast invitation.

  He replied to her text, finished dressing, and put the service vest on Pirate. After pocketing the wedding rings, his wallet, and his phone, he headed to the hotel parking lot, where he’d left his crew cab truck.

  With Pirate in the back seat, Jake drove to the Happy Daze Wedding Chapel, parked in the back lot, and walked around to the front. In the midst of the Las Vegas glitz, the white clapboard chapel exuded a naïve charm. The interior was just as old-fashioned, even rustic, with water splashing over a fake rock waterfall. There wasn’t a gift shop, slot machine, or Elvis impersonator in sight.

  “Jake!”

  Turning, he saw Sam striding toward him. Nerves were to be expected, but Sam was as white as a wedding dress.

  Jake’s brows snapped together. “What’s up?”

  “It’s Lucy.” Sam didn’t speak again until he reached Jake’s side, and then he spoke barely loudly enough for Jake to hear. “She’s spotting.”

  Jake wasn’t sure he’d heard right. “Spotting?”

  “Yes. Bleeding.” Sam dragged his coat sleeve over his brow. “You know what that means, right?”

  “Of course.” A possible miscarriage. Jake felt sick for both Sam and Lucy. “How bad is it?”

  “It’s not much,” Sam said, “but she’s scared, and she wants to talk to her sister. She’s a nurse, and she knows about this stuff. I’m going back to be with Lucy. Would you wait here and tell Mia we’re in the bride’s room?”

  “Mia?” Jake had heard the name as plain as day. He just couldn’t believe it.

  “Mia,” Sam repeated with a little more volume. “Lucy says she’s average height and has brown hair.”

  And blue eyes the color of a mountain lake in the sun. Considering her reaction to today’s wedding, Jake’s different opinion, and especially tomorrow’s date for breakfast, their next meeting promised to be anything but dull.

  Chapter

  3

  Mia climbed out of the taxi, paid the driver, and paused to take in the Happy Daze Wedding Chapel. The wooden building looked like it had been lifted off the set of Little House on the Prairie and dropped in Las Vegas by a Kansas tornado. When “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” floated into her mind, she wondered who was crazier—Lucy for going through with a hasty marriage, or Mia for finding the chapel sweetly romantic.

  She’d read about Happy Daze and been surprised to see how many old-time Hollywood stars had eloped here. The stories were charming, but the passion and excitement made her head spin. Spontaneity? Not her style, something Brad had criticized. You overplan everything, Mia. Quite a comment, coming from a man whose kitchen was as neat as a surgical tray.

  But tomorrow would be different. She was having breakfast with a handsome stranger who had passed the Google test. Love-A-Dog Rescue really existed, and so did Tanner Vending. Jake Tanner had a Facebook account, but it was set to private, just like her own.

  Right on time, Mia walked through the chapel door. Unsure of where to go, she glanced at the empty reception desk.

  “Mia?”

  The familiar voice shocked her. She had heard it two hours ago, though with less urgency. Turning, she saw Pirate, but the man in a black suit didn’t look at all like Jake Tanner. The beard scruff had been scraped away to reveal a strong jaw, well-shaped lips, and a faint scar on his left cheek. His dark hair was shorter now, buzzed up the sides but longer on top, cut with military precision.

  No cowboy hat. No snug black T-shirt. No armload of stuffed animals. But this man was undoubtedly Jake Tanner.

  Mia’s jaw dropped.

  His didn’t. Without a trace of surprise, he approached with Pirate trotting at his side. “Small world, huh?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Lucy’s having a problem. Sam asked me to meet you.”

  The puzzle pieces snapped together with disturbing clarity. Jake was Sam’s best man. He and Mia were here for same wedding, and they disagreed rather strongly about the wisdom of it. But this wasn’t the time to debate. The grim look on his face shoved everything except Lucy to the back of Mia’s mind. “What’s wrong?”

  “She’s spotting.”

  Mia winced. A few drops of blood could mean nothing. Or they could mean everything. The ramifications of such a loss slapped her in the face. If Lucy lost the baby, there would be no need to rush into marriage, but her sister’s heart would shatter into a thousand pieces.

  Swallowing a lump, Mia peered into Jake’s eyes. “Where is she?”

  “In the bridal room.” He motioned her toward a wide hallway with an arched ceiling. It led to a rectangular waiting area with two sofas, the entrance to the chapel, and another hall with a flowery sign that said Brides Only.

  Jake stopped in the lobby, leaving Mia to take the last ten steps to the bridal room alone. Her purse, heavy on her shoulder, held everything from Kleenex to a Swiss Army knife. She could fix almost anything with the contents of her purse, but she couldn’t stop nature from taking its course.

  She tapped on the door and cracked it open. “Lucy?”

  “Mia! Come in.”

  The lush green carpet muting her steps, Mia stepped into a square room with mirrors on three walls. Lucy, wearing the little white dress from Walmart, was lying on a pink satin couch with her head in Sam’s lap, her knees bent, and her face stained with tears. Her blue eyes looked at Mia through her ruined makeup, but what hit Mia hardest was their mother’s floating heart necklace dangling from Lucy’s neck. For a blink, Mia forgot everything except the sweet little girl who brought home a bird with a broken wing because she thought her big sister could fix it.

  Mia hurried to Lucy’s side and reached for her hand. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry you’re going through this.”

  “I’m so scared.” Lucy’s voice came out in a whisper.

  Sam started to ease Lucy’s head out of his lap so he could stand, but Mia shook her head. “Please. Don’t get up.” She offered her hand. “I’m Mia.”

  “Sam Waters.” He looked her square in the eye. “I love your sister, Mia. We want this baby.”

  Lucy sniffed back a fresh flood of tears. “We do.”

  “Of course you do.” But wanting a baby and caring for one were two different things. Lucy was practically a child herself. As for Sam, Mia was both impressed by his demeanor and irked by the circumstances. But that conversation needed to wait, so she pushed it out of her mind and perched on the couch next to Lucy. “Let’s start with some facts. Bleeding is fairly common in the first few months of a pregnancy. How heavy is it?”

  Lucy described the bleeding as light and pinkish, not dark and red.

  “That’s good. Any cramps?”

  “Some.” A whimper squeaked from Lucy’s throat. “What if they get worse? What if—”

  Sam snatched his phone out of his coat. “We can’t take chances. I’m calling 91
1.”

  “Sam, no!” Lucy almost laughed. “Mia knows about these things.”

  “I do,” Mia assured him. “And we have to be realistic. If Lucy is miscarrying, there’s nothing anyone can do.”

  Anguish burned in his dark eyes. Any doubts Mia had about Sam’s commitment, even the secret belief he’d be relieved by a miscarriage, disappeared when he let out a shuddering breath. “So what do we do?”

  Hoping to offset their fear, Mia kept her voice light as she stood. “How about a trip to the ER for an ultrasound?”

  Sam jumped on the idea. “That sounds good.”

  Lucy swung her legs to the side and sat up straight, inhaling to steady herself against the emotions crashing on her face. Sam stood and held out his hand. Staring into his eyes, Lucy squeezed his fingers so hard her knuckles turned white. “We’re not getting married today, are we?”

  Sam dropped back down and held her tight. “Not today, Pudge. But we’re still getting married. I promise.”

  Pudge? Mia’s lips twitched. Only a woman in love would grin at that nickname, and Lucy was smiling through her tears.

  “I won’t be pudgy if I lose the baby.”

  “But you’ll still be Lucy.” Sam cupped her chin and kissed her. “That’s more than enough for me.”

  Mia pivoted to avoid seeing Lucy cradled in Sam’s arms, but the mirrored walls captured the kiss and reflected it all around the room. Her breath locked in her chest, leaving her starved for air like an asthma patient. Brad had never looked at her that way, nor had her ex-fiancé in college or the youth pastor she dated while working on her master’s degree.

  By the same measure, Mia hadn’t looked at them the way Lucy looked at Sam. She was drowning in him, soaking in the strength of his embrace, and holding him so tight her arms quivered.

  Maybe Mia hadn’t loved Brad after all. Maybe that was why he’d found her lacking. Or maybe she was too rigid, like he said. Too quick to follow rules that begged to be broken, especially when she was almost thirty and as old-fashioned as that black-and-white television.

  Get a grip. This wasn’t the time to think about herself. But as she headed for the door, she thought of Jake Tanner waiting outside the room. Something had sparked between them, something strong enough to make her send that impulsive text. But they were no longer strangers flirting over coffee. That kind of behavior wasn’t like her at all, and she needed to be sure Jake Tanner knew it.

  Pasting on the calm expression she had practiced in nursing school, Mia went to speak with him.

  When the door to the bridal room opened, Jake shot to his feet. With Pirate poised at his side, he tried to gauge Mia’s expression as she walked toward him. He couldn’t read her at all.

  “How’s Lucy?” he asked.

  “Scared. So is Sam.” She pulled her phone out of her giant purse. “The spotting is light, but we should still get an ultrasound. I need to find an ER.”

  “Here.” Jake held up his phone to show a hospital four miles away. He’d Googled it while waiting for them. He’d also received a text from his dad saying his mother was fine and that he’d call Jake later.

  Mia’s brows lifted with surprise. “Thank you. That’s perfect.”

  “Just common sense.” Being a cop, even an ex-cop, paid off in the experience department.

  The door opened again, and Sam and Lucy walked out arm in arm. The poor girl looked awful, especially compared to the way she had glowed at dinner last night when Jake first met her. He had taken the couple to a steakhouse to celebrate and discovered that Lucy was sweet, funny, and not a fan of bloody steaks. She was perfect for Sam, who tended to be formal and reserved.

  Lucy already felt like a kid sister, so Jake tapped her on the arm. “How’re you doing?”

  “We’ll see.” She tried to smile. “It’s all so—oh no.” Every speck of color drained from her face. Swaying, she leaned hard against Sam.

  Sam, almost as ashen as Lucy, tightened his arm around her waist. “Pudge! What’s wrong?”

  “I’m . . . I’m lightheaded.”

  Sam and Jake both snatched up their phones to call 911, but Mia told them to wait. Jake lowered his hand. Sam didn’t.

  Mia studied Lucy with a professional eye. “Any pain?”

  “No.”

  “Did you eat breakfast this morning?”

  “No. I was too sick.”

  “How about lunch?”

  “No.” Lucy’s voice quavered. “I . . . I forgot.”

  “Oh, honey.” Mia dug in her purse again. This time she produced a box of Tropicana orange juice and a bag of rainbow Goldfish crackers. “You know you get hypoglycemic if you don’t eat.”

  Lucy winced. “You’re right. I know.”

  “Hypo-what?” Sam asked.

  “Glycemic,” Mia explained. “Low blood sugar. It runs in the family. If we don’t eat right, we get the wobbles.”

  Sam snatched the juice box from Mia, stabbed the straw into place, and wedged the box into Lucy’s hand. “Drink it. Now.”

  While she chugged the juice, Mia opened the crackers. Lucy ate a few, but she was still as white as her dress.

  Jake watched, tense and ready to do something—anything—to help. Standing around didn’t suit him at all.

  Apparently it didn’t suit Sam either, because he placed one arm behind Lucy’s knees, the other around her shoulders, and swept her off her feet. “I’m carrying you to the car.”

  “I’m too heavy!”

  “You’re as light as a feather.” He grinned at his own lie, took three steps, then turned back to Jake, his face tight with confusion. Sam rarely acted without a battle plan. His hesitation now showed how upset he was.

  “The hospital,” he asked. “Where is it?”

  “Four miles from here,” Jake replied. “It’s called Desert Central. I texted you the link.”

  “Thanks, Jake. You’re the best.”

  He shook his head, silently denying the praise. “Go. We’ll meet you there.”

  “One more thing,” Sam said. “Would you tell Mrs. Carson what’s going on? She’s the chapel wedding coordinator.”

  “Sure thing,” Jake replied.

  Sam strode down the hall to the back entrance, leaving Jake with Mia at his side, the wedding bands in his pocket, and the weight of questions only God could answer—and would answer in His own good time.

  Mia let out a slow breath. “So no wedding today.”

  “No.” Jake knew how she felt about the subject, but he saw only worry on her face. “Let’s wrap things up with Mrs. Carson, then I’ll drive you to the hospital.”

  “Thanks. I took a cab here.”

  “I saw.”

  “Oh, that’s right.” She paused. “This is awkward, isn’t it?”

  Not to Jake. “We might have different opinions about Sam and Lucy, but we both want what’s best for them.”

  “Yes, we do.” She clutched her bulky purse to her side. “But I was talking about breakfast tomorrow. I’m a little embarrassed about sending that picture.”

  “Don’t be.”

  “But—”

  Pirate nudged Jake’s knee. He turned and saw a trim, middle-aged woman in a business suit and a frilly blouse. A name tag identified her as Mrs. Carson, Chapel Director.

  Her eyes darted between Jake and Mia. “Are you here for the Robinson-Waters wedding?”

  “Yes,” Mia replied, “but Lucy’s having a health issue. They’re on their way to the ER and have to cancel today’s ceremony.”

  Mrs. Carson touched a hand to her frilly blouse. “I am so sorry.”

  “Thank you.” Mia paused. “We’re leaving for the hospital now. Is there anything we need to take care of? Any expenses?”

  “Nothing,” she said. “Mr. Waters paid in full. I wish I could offer a refund, but—”

  Jake broke in. “We don’t expect one.”

  He ran a business and knew the drill, though he toyed with the idea of paying the bill himself. It was what Connie wo
uld have done, but Sam had a lot of pride. He and Jake butted heads all the time about picking up restaurant tabs. He wouldn’t appreciate the interference.

  Mia reached in her purse and pulled out her wallet. “Sam and Lucy have enough to worry about. I’d like to pay for today. Could you transfer the cost to my Visa?”

  Jake winced on Sam’s behalf.

  Mrs. Carson shook her head. “I can’t do that without Mr. Waters’s permission, but come with me. I have something for Lucy.”

  With Pirate at his side, Jake walked a step behind Mia and Mrs. Carson to the gift shop, where Mrs. Carson retrieved a pretty bridal bouquet from a refrigerated display case. She handed it to Mia with the reverence due a bride. “Take these to Lucy.”

  Mia took the flowers in both hands, raised them to her nose, and sniffed. When her eyelids drifted shut, Jake wondered what—or who—she was seeing. Her eyes opened again, revealing those blue depths that reminded him of sky and water.

  Her mouth formed a tight smile, the kind that came with effort rather than enthusiasm. “The flowers are gorgeous. I’m sure Lucy will enjoy them.”

  Jake hoped so. No matter what happened today, the young couple had decisions to make. Being in love wasn’t always easy, and looking at Mia’s misty expression now, she no doubt agreed with him.

  Mia held the bouquet at her waist with both hands, her fingers tight on the wrapped stems as she walked with Jake and Pirate to the back exit. Pictures of her own canceled wedding flashed in her mind, but there was no other way to comfortably hold the arrangement of roses, orchids, and delicately scented freesia.

  With each step the flowers weighed a little more, especially when she and Jake exited into the heat smothering the asphalt parking lot. The sun beat down on her head, stole her breath, and turned her arms into noodles. When they arrived at his truck, a dark blue pickup with a crew cab, he lifted the blooms with one hand, his fingers brushing hers.

  “I’ll put this in the back.” He opened the door, set the flowers on a shady part of the seat, and signaled Pirate to hop in. Next he offered Mia a hand up to the passenger seat. Hampered by high-heeled sandals, she gratefully gripped his fingers and climbed inside.