My ShadowMy Love

by Sharon Horton

  Cassie sat up and stretched slightly before looking at the clock to verify the time. Too early for Rick to call. “Where are you going at this hour?”

  “Maggie’s sister just went into labor,” he said turning on the light. “She wants Maggie with her, so I’m flying her up. I’ll only be gone a few hours, but I didn’t want to leave without telling you.” He looked at Cassie closely. “Are you all right with this?”

  “Of course I’m all right with it,” she said, pushing him off the bed with her feet. “Go!”

  “Thanks, honey.” Blake kissed her forehead. “I’ll be home for dinner and I’ll bring it, so you just relax today. No unpacking either, understood?”

  “Yes Daddy.” She implied annoyance, but was smiling.

  “That’s my girl.” With another kiss, Blake was gone.

  Cassie yawned and lay back down. As soon as she heard the car leave, she planned on getting up to wait for Rick’s morning call to her.

  The ringing phone jarred Cassie out of a sound sleep. Opening her eyes she knew instantly that she hadn’t managed to stay awake after Blake had gone. Reaching for the phone slowly, she answered, “Hello.”

  “Hello?” Rick’s voice was light. “Where’s my—mmm, hi?” His tone changed. “And why’d it take you six rings to answer, are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” She yawned. “I guess I fell back asleep after Dad left.” There was a silence she hadn’t expected. “Rick?” she asked softly.

  “You’re alone?” Rick asked just as softly.

  “Only for the day,” Cassie said, realizing she’d already said too much. “Maggie’s sister went into labor and Dad flew Maggie up to be with her. It’s only a short trip. He’ll be back by dinnertime.” Speaking quickly to avoid interruption, she also forced a smile to be heard in her voice. “You still feel like Noah?”

  “Actually right now I feel like shooting your father,” Rick said with no amusement in his voice. “You’re not supposed to be alone at this stage!”

  “Rick, please, calm down,” Cassie ordered. “Maggie wanted to be with her sister. Please don’t be mad at them or me. I’m fine and I told you, he’ll only be gone a few hours. I promise not to go skydiving in that time, okay?”

  More silence until she finally heard him sigh. “You have Dad give me a call when he returns, understand? Cassie!” Rick shouted again.

  This time, Cassie let the pause last. “I understand. Now, do you want to talk to me or yell at me?”

  “You talk to me,” he said.

  She smiled. He was trying. “What do you want me to say? I miss you, is that enough?”

  “That’s enough.” Rick sighed, then frowned at a sound he heard on the line. “What was that?”

  “Thunder,” Cassie answered. “It’s showtime again. I swear, this is the soggiest year I’ve ever known. Maybe we really should consider the name Noah.”

  Rick closed his eyes and smiled. “Listen Mrs. Jarrett, I’ve got to run now. I’ll call you later. Only three more days and then I leave this place. Take it easy and make sure that father of yours calls me.” He paused until the sound of more thunder stopped rumbling. “I love you.”

  “You better.” She laughed. “I love you too, Rick. And please don’t worry about anything except whether or not you like the colors I’ve chosen for our bedroom.”

  “I only care about the furniture, my Sassy Cassie, and only one particular piece of furniture at that,” he said with an audible leer.

  “Me too,” she whispered, then hung up the phone softly. Goodbye was something neither of them liked saying to each other.

  Twelve hours after Cassie first heard her father’s voice when he woke her, she heard it again when she answered the phone.

  “Hello, honey,” Blake said in a tired voice, “how are you?”

  “I’m okay. How’s the baby?” she asked urgently. “Please tell me everything’s fine.”

  “It is,” he assured. “A fine seven-pound little boy they named Tyler.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  “Tell me, how’s the weather there?” Blake asked just before a crack of thunder could be heard on his end of the line.

  “From what I just heard, my weather’s the same as yours,” Cassie answered, observing rain pelting the window.

  “I was afraid of that. Listen, Cassiopeia, I’m going to be a while, I can’t get out of here for at least a few more hours. I wanted to let you know so you didn’t worry.”

  “I appreciate that, Daddy dear,” she said. “And will you do one more little thing for me?” She heard Blake’s cautious agreement and continued quickly. “Stay there. I mean it, the last thing I need is to be thinking you’re trying to fly home when it’s this crazy outside.”

  “No, I can—”

  “You can what, worry me to death?” she snapped. “You and Rick are always telling me to relax and take it easy, well, I can’t do that if I know you’re flying out there tonight. Please, Dad, stay until morning. I’m fine and I’ll sleep better knowing you’re safe on the ground. I’m tired too since you felt it necessary to wake me in the wee hours of the morning.”

  “Are you sure?” Blake asked. “Rick isn’t going to be happy about this and I agree with him. He’s right to worry about you, Cassie. You do take it upon yourself to do things you shouldn’t sometimes. And you don’t always listen.”

  “I’m listening,” Cassie said sadly. “I’m listening to my doctor and my husband and my father.” It was obvious Blake hadn’t quite gotten over her turning in Luther without his help. “I’ll be good, Daddy, I swear. Please believe me.”

  “Okay sweetheart, I believe you,” Blake whispered. “I’ll leave at first light. Eat dinner and go to bed. I’ll sleep better knowing you’re on the ground too, okay little mother?”

  “Okay, big father. Good night.” As she hung up the phone she lay back down. For her sake and especially for Rick’s she was going to take it easy before following her father’s orders and having dinner. Then she’d lie down again and wait for Rick to call.

  The phone didn’t wake her, thunder did. As she opened her eyes, Cassie didn’t need to look at the clock to know she had taken more than the catnap she had intended. It was nearly dark outside. The thought of a hot shower followed by time in the tower room with a good book while she waited for Rick to call sounded wonderful.

  After her shower, Cassie smiled as she put on her tent nightgown. Since she was alone in the house, she would wear it and be comfortable. The gnawing in her stomach told her she’d better have something to eat.

  The moment she entered the kitchen two things happened that Cassie could have done without. First, the power went out and the second, she felt her first strong contraction.

  The pain left almost as quickly as it had appeared, but Cassie knew something was happening that shouldn’t be, not yet. Moving as fast as she dared, she headed for the phone. She picked it up then hit the wall with it when she heard no dial tone. The lines were down. The phone was dead. She then reached in her purse for the cell phone. It, too, was silent. Damn those cell towers–they never work right!

  “No!” she screamed and bent forward as she felt something moving inside her.

  Leaning against the wall until the pain passed, Cassie waited. When it stopped, she moved. Go upstairs to your bedroom, a voice inside yelled. Lie down and this might stop. The baby isn’t due yet. I’m not in labor. The pains can’t be contractions—remember what the doctor said about false labor. Following her own orders, she took each step carefully. When she reached the top of the stairs, another pain shot through her. She allowed her body to drop gently to the floor so she wouldn’t fall down the steps.

  “No, it’s too soon,” she whispered. Not trusting her feet, she pulled her body along the floor until she reached her room. Literally climbing into bed, Cassie took hold of the phone and tried dialing again. The silence made it clear she was alone.

  Some daylight still lit the room, but that wouldn’t last. Candles in
the dark entered her mind. When the pain subsided, she managed to reach into the nightstand and find what she was looking for, two votive candles in glass containers that, once lit, would last a couple hours each. Night wouldn’t be as frightening with candles. Another pain reminded her she had more to think about than the dark.

  Closing her eyes, she prayed for her baby. By her doctor’s account, she had almost three more weeks until the baby was due. And many first babies were overdue at that. It was too early. Don’t think about it, Cassie scolded, keeping her eyes shut against the thoughts trying to invade her. Again the pain subsided and this time the relief lasted a while longer.

  When Cassie opened her eyes next it was dark. And it wasn’t pain that had awakened her. She heard a window breaking. The storm, it’s only the storm. The wind broke a window, that’s all it was.

  Turning her head toward the clock, Cassie knew she had drifted in sleep for twenty minutes. Now I get my catnap, she mused. Her muse ended abruptly when another contraction shot through her. Moving forward slightly to ease the pain, her breath caught. She heard something.

  The wind, it’s the wind, she tried convincing herself again. But the steady clipping sound told her it wasn’t wind. It was footsteps.

  Pulling herself into a sitting position, her only thought was to hide. Just as she shifted her legs over the side of the bed, another contraction grasped her, forcing her to lie back down. Unable to move she heard the sound of someone on the stairs. My kingdom for a gun, she thought without humor. Her only strength was that she hadn’t cried out. If she could hide, maybe the intruder wouldn’t find her in the dark.

  The contraction eased enabling Cassie to move one more time. She headed toward the spiral staircase and somehow climbed up to the tower room before a flash of pain nearly knocked the wind out of her. Falling desperately onto the bed, tears filled her eyes. A small sound squeaked from her throat, but Cassie never heard it. As her body tried to scream, someone else screamed for her.

  “Cassandra!”

  It was Rick. The sound of his voice resonated in her ears.

  Once more Cassie pushed herself up and now was able to use her voice. “Rick.”

  The sound was a whisper, but he was close enough to hear her.

  At the top of the stairs, Rick shined a flashlight toward the bed. “Sass…” he said hesitantly. As the beam of light found Cassie’s eyes, Rick knew her thoughts and fears. He was at her side instantly.

  “The phones are out,” she gasped. “I tried to call an ambulance, Rick, I tried, but I couldn’t reach anyone.” Her breathing was becoming erratic.

  “Shhh,” he soothed, gently pushing her back. “Lie down. I know the phones are out, I’ve been trying to call you for hours. It wouldn’t have done any good, anyway. There’re trees down all over. I had to hike the two miles.” Touching her face, he smiled reassuringly. “How long have the pains been coming?”

  “I don’t know,” Cassie said absently. “Rick, it’s too early.” Tears, combined with water dripping from Rick’s rain-soaked clothes, spilled down her cheeks. “We can’t lose him, God help us.”

  “Cass, where’s your father?” Rick whispered, then his teeth clenched. “You said he’d be back early. You’re alone, aren’t you?”

  Cassie nodded. “The storm was worse where he was, I told him to stay. I didn’t want to be worried, so I asked him to think of me and stay there. I’m sorry, I didn’t have any pains then.” Her grip tightened. “Rick, I’m scared. It’s too early. I’m scared.”

  “Don’t be scared,” he ordered softly. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you or the baby. I know what to do. Remember, I used to be a paramedic. This won’t be the first baby I’ve delivered. Remind me to tell you about the time the woman who thought she was having an appendicitis attack ended up firing twins at me in the ambulance on the way to the emergency room.” Squeezing her hand firmly, Rick stood. “I want you to lie still, I’ll be right back.” Eyebrows raised in understanding he turned and left the room.

  In spite of the pain, Cassie smiled in between tears. Why Rick was there didn’t matter—he was there. Lying still as ordered, she braced herself for another contraction, but didn’t dread it as much now that Rick was with her. The dread came anyway when she remembered it was too soon for the baby’s arrival.

  In dry clothes, Rick returned to the tower room with more candles, a supply of fluffy towels, a large pitcher of steaming water and crushed ice. He smiled almost sheepishly. “I read something about crushed ice. We’ll see if it’s true.”

  “Is it for you to have a margarita?” Cassie asked with a grin. The current contraction had faded.

  Her smile left quickly when he sat next to her. Allowing the moment of no pain to take over her emotions, Cassie sat up and fell against her husband. Rick stroked her hair until he felt her body tense with another contraction. Laying her down, he held her hand as the pain rose then dropped. He was quiet, but his eyes felt her pain with her. Another forced smile and it was over.

  The time passed slowly and with each pull of her body, Cassie only tensed. Rick heard no sound to indicate the pain she was in. He lay next to her and held her in between contractions.

  “You can scream, sweetheart,” he whispered against her ear. “This is one time I want to hear you yell at me, hmmm?”

  His attempt to calm her worked. She smiled and touched his cheek. No scream ever came.

  Hours went by, but not quickly. The minutes brought closer together by increased pain passed the time slowly. Rick fed the ice chips to Cassie.

  Finally, with the last contraction Cassie felt before her baby became more insistent, she took Rick’s hand and kissing it whispered, “I love you, my shadow.”

  Moments later in the soft glow of candlelight, Rick and Cassie Jarrett welcomed their child into the world.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “We have a daughter, Sass,” Rick whispered looking at the tiny form in his arms. “A perfect daughter.” Moving close to Cassie, he gently placed the baby beside her. Both their eyes were glassy with tears.

  After several minutes of observing his wife and daughter, Rick lightly touched Cassie’s face. “Thank you,” he whispered. Smiling at her questioning look he explained. “I never thought I’d be able to feel like this.”

  Cassie had no way to respond to that statement, not with words anyway. Lifting her hand, she gently pulled Rick’s face close to hers and kissed him. His smile said he understood her gesture.

  Another few minutes of silence passed until Cassie spoke. “Do I look as tired as I feel?” she asked, staring at her sleeping daughter.

  “You look beautiful,” Rick answered softly. Neither of them spoke over a whisper though the child slept soundly. “But you should get some rest. As soon as the roads are cleared we’re going to the hospital. Now, give me this little one, I want to clean her up a bit. You lie still,” he ordered.

  “I will, but you need to hurry she needs to be kept warm. You’ll find baby blankets in the dresser,” Cassie said pointing toward the staircase.

  Rick smiled oddly. “Will I also find diapers?”

  His look amused Cassie and she laughed. “Yes, you’ll find those in the same drawer.” Tilting her head, she asked. “Do you know how to use them?”

  “I’ll manage,” he answered with a grin.

  As if he would need all the assistance he could get, the power came on flooding the room with light.

  With a smug look saying he was responsible for the restored electricity, Rick walked down the stairs with his daughter. Cassie also wore a smug look knowing the diaper would most certainly fall off before he brought the baby back to her. Closing her eyes, Cassie fell asleep.

  Rick sat near the bed holding his daughter. His glance would go from the baby to Cassie then back to the baby and each time he would smile more. Dawn had come and now the sun could be seen shining through the trees. A sound became noticeable, the sound of the kitchen door opening. Grandpa Dahlgren, Rick surmised. The no
ise woke Cassie and she opened her eyes to the sight of Rick holding their daughter.

  “Good morning,” she said sleepily. “How’s your little girl?”

  “Our little girl,” Rick corrected, then stood. “Here, Mama, hold her while I go greet your father.”

  Cassie’s eyes widened slightly, but she said nothing. Rick kissed his girls and then he was gone. Leaning to the side, Cassie held her baby close and examined her.

  Though she had come early, she didn’t look as small and fragile as Natalie’s baby had looked at Greyson House. Baby Jarrett had light brown hair and though her eyes were closed, Cassie knew they would be blue. Her little fingers were soft to the touch and curled around her mother’s hand instinctively.

  “I love you,” Cassie whispered aloud before kissing the small face of her daughter.

  Blake’s surprise was evident when he opened the door to find Rick standing in the kitchen. “Hi, what are you—”

  His question was cut off as Rick grabbed Blake by the collar and pulled him to his face. “I ought to kill you for leaving my wife alone!” Rick hissed quietly so Cassie wouldn’t hear.

  Blake’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong?”

  “You’re her father!” Rick snapped. Then his face changed from a frown to a smile. “Now, get that stupid look off your face and come meet my daughter.” Not looking back, Rick left the room.

  A moment later, Blake took the stairs two at a time and found Rick already at Cassie’s side.

  “Oh, Cassiopeia,” Blake said softly. His eyes filled with tears as he knelt beside the bed. “Let’s take a look at this little angel.” Pulling the blanket away from the baby, he sighed. He then gave Rick a questioning look. After receiving a hesitant nod, Blake gently lifted his granddaughter in his arms. The tears began to fall as he looked down at his own little girl. “She’s beautiful. What’s her name?”

  A look of panic came over both Rick and Cassie’s face. Their plan to name the baby once it was born didn’t work as expected. Shaking their heads at each other, they laughed slightly.