by Emery Jacobs
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore. You’re here now and that’s all I need.” Her eyes are glassy with unshed tears. I don’t want her to cry. It can’t be good for her or the baby.
“Please don’t cry.” I rest my forehead on hers.
“It’s not a sad cry. It’s just that I’m happy you’re here. I’ve missed you so much.” ‘I’m not crying because I’m sad; it’s because I’m so happy.’ Sara’s words from the day she died fill my thoughts as I listen to Emmie. It’s a Déjà vu moment like I’ve never experienced before. I squeeze my eyes closed for a beat and then open them. Emmie’s expression is so much like the one Sara wore the day she brought our son into the world. Dave was right; Sara would want this for me. She would only want me to have happiness and live my life to the fullest.
I move in slowly and brush my lips to hers. The saltiness of her tears tastes like a punch in the gut. Even though she says they’re happy tears, it’s my fault she’s crying.
I pull away, and as our gazes meet, she smiles.
“Has your family been here?” Changing the subject seems like a good idea.
“Nope, not yet, but I’m sure they will eventually.”
I know I saw Miles walk out of this room just before I walked in. Why would she lie to me?
“Wasn’t that your brother leaving just before I got here?” I grab her hand and slide my fingers between hers.
She blows out a sigh and then looks away. I squeeze her hand gently. “Hey, what’s wrong? I’m not trying to upset you. I thought talking about your family was an okay subject.”
“That wasn’t my brother. It was my ex-husband, Max. He was at the wedding I was working today and was actually the person who called the ambulance.”
“Your ex-husband?” I let go of her hand and stand up.
“Yeah, but he’s gone, and he won’t be back. I promise,” she reassures me.
I don’t know what to say or if I should even say anything, but that man who just walked out of her room was Miles Carmichael.
“Sit back down, Beau.” She pats the edge of the bed.
I can’t sit down, so I take a few steps toward the window and look down at the parking lot.
“I met the man who just left your room several months ago. He came by my shop with a flat tire.” I turn around and face her. Her face is devoid of emotion, but her eyes are watching me intently. “He introduced himself to me as Miles Carmichael, your brother. Remember that day at your house when you were so angry with me because I admitted to following you, but that your brother was behind it?”
She nods and then takes a deep breath.
“It was the man who just left your room. And if he was your ex-husband, then he lied to me about his identity. Because I promise you that when I told you it was your brother who asked me to follow you, I truly thought he was your brother.”
“I know,” she whispers. She holds out her hand. “Please come back to me. Please.” Her voice is quivering. She swallows hard and several tears escape her eyes.
I rush to her side and take her hand in mine. She puts my hand on her stomach and smiles.
“Feel that?” she asks.
The baby kicks directly underneath my hand. I lift my head and look into her eyes. “Does she always move around this much?”
“Always, but what makes you think this baby is a she?”
“I don’t know; that’s just what came out of my mouth. I don’t have any idea what the sex of the baby is. Do you?”
“Nope, I didn’t want to find out. I want it to be a surprise.”
My gaze meets hers, and she sniffles then wipes the tears from her eyes. “I know everything. Max told me what he did, how he made you think he was my brother and manipulated you into doing what he wanted.” She leans in and kisses me on the lips.
“I’m sorry for so many things, Emmie, with that being at the top of my list,” I tell her as I try to pull away from her kiss. She doesn’t let me go though, brushing her lips against mine again and then deepening the kiss.
The sound of the door opening jerks us both back to reality. I quickly slide off the bed and into a nearby chair.
“Hey, girlie, you still got that bun in the oven?” a familiar female voice rings throughout the small room as Ava walks in, followed by the man I saw her kissing that morning at the park.
“Yes, and she better plan on staying in here for at least three to four more weeks.” Emmie giggles.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you had company.” She looks at me and smiles. “Hey, Beau. Good to see you again,” she says.
I nod at her and then glance back at Emmie.
“Did you say she? Is there something you’re not telling us? Because you promised you wouldn’t find out the gender of this baby.” Ava looks at the man standing beside her, and he glances over at me wearing a scowl.
“I did say she, but no, I didn’t find out anything.” She winks at me and then looks back at the pair standing in front of us.
“Miles, wipe that look off your face,” Emmie snaps.
So, this is Miles. Damn, Emmie looks a lot like him—minus the scowl.
“Beau, this is my brother, Miles. Miles, meet Beau, the father of your niece or nephew.”
Miles walks toward me and holds out his hand. I stand and grip it tightly.
“Nice to meet you, man,” Miles says. Even if he doesn’t mean it, I’m glad he’s doing it for Emmie.
“You, too,” I reply before sitting on the corner of the bed.
“So, you two having a nice chat?” Ava asks.
Emmie smiles and nods. “Yep.” She grabs hold of my hand and squeezes it.
Ava and Miles each pull up a chair to the opposite side of the bed and sit down. Miles directs his attention and his scowl at me. This is the time I need to do what’s right because as difficult as this is for me, it’s worse for Emmie.
“I know neither of you care much for me—and with good reason, but while we’re all here together I want you to understand why I haven’t been in the picture during most of Emmie’s pregnancy,” I say.
“All. All of her pregnancy,” Miles corrects me.
I nod. “You’re right. All of her pregnancy.”
“You don’t have to do this right now,” Emmie whispers as she leans in near me. I pull away from her and sit up straighter, facing Ava and Miles—never letting go of Emmie’s hand.
“Yes, it’s time for everyone to know about the demons I’ve been battling in my head.”
I glance over at Emmie. She looks terrified, but maybe once I’m done she’ll understand.
“I used to be married to an amazing woman.” I glance at Miles, and he crosses his arms over his chest and narrows his eyebrows. “We hadn’t been married long when she found out she was pregnant with my son, Rhys. I was so different back then. I didn’t have the worries of the automotive shop going under or how I was going to support my family. My life was full of happiness and hopes for the future.” I look over at Emmie and she smiles.
“Her pregnancy was perfect—she hardly had any morning sickness. I mean, no complications at all. The day she went in to labor, I noticed her becoming more nervous and panicked. This was not Sara. She didn’t have a nervous bone in her body, so when she became nervous and afraid during delivery, I reassured her that everything was okay.” I suck in a deep breath and then blow it out slowly.
“Only it wasn’t okay. Nothing about her delivery was okay other than my son being healthy. Sara’s breathing became labored, and she told me something was wrong.” I glance over at Miles and Ava. He’s now leaning forward in his chair with his arms resting on his legs. He’s taking in every word I say. Ava is sitting up straight, fidgeting with her purse strap, and chewing her bottom lip.
“Then everything happened so fast. I was rushed from the room with Rhys in my arms. Forty-five minutes later, the doctor told me Sara had died from a pulmonary embolism.” I drop my head downward. Reliving that day never gets any easier.
“She did
n’t even get to say goodbye to her son,” I add as I stare at the mattress.
“Well, fuck,” Miles mumbles from across the room.
I lift my head to look at Miles. He pushes up from his chair and begins pacing the small room with his head hung and his hands on his hips.
“Oh my god, Beau. I’m so sorry.” Emmie pulls herself onto my lap and wraps her arms around my neck. Tears are falling from her blue eyes as she nuzzles her face into my neck and squeezes me tight.
“I’m thinking this would be a good time for us to go.” Ava looks over at Miles.
He nods before walking over to me.
“I hate what happened to you before, and it makes me not as angry at you for the way you’ve treated my sister, but she needs you. And from the way it sounds, you need her, too,” Miles tells me.
Emmie lifts her head. She sniffles a couple of times and wipes her eyes.
“If you need anything or if you ever feel like this pregnancy is getting to be too much, please call me. Emmie’s my best friend, and I’ll do whatever’s necessary to be sure she’s okay.” Ava walks around the bed next to me and squeezes my shoulder gently.
Miles moves over to Ava and grabs her hand as they turn to walk toward the door.
“Hey, before you two leave, I want to tell you what happened before Beau got here. It’ll only take a couple of minutes,” Emmie says.
They both stop in their trek toward the door and turn to face us.
“Max was here earlier.”
“What the hell,” Miles huffs.
“Just let me finish. He’s crazy. I mean, really crazy. He’s not the same man that any of us knew before.”
“What do you mean?” Ava asks.
“He begged me to take him back—to marry him. He promised he’d take care of me and the baby.”
“I hope you told him to go fuck himself.” Miles’s deep voice resonates throughout the room.
“Miles.” Ava swats at his arm.
“You did tell him no, right?” Ava asks as her gaze meets Emmie’s.
I look away because this is something Emmie failed to tell me. She only mentioned that he was here and that he admitted everything about mine and his business arrangement, but now that I know he wants her back and promised to marry her and take care of what’s mine…I’m fucking furious.
“Oh my god, Ava. I can’t believe you even asked me that. I told him to leave. And he did, after he confessed to me that he pretended to be Miles and he offered Beau a business arrangement in hopes of saving the automotive shop.”
“I think I need to pay my ex-brother-in-law a visit and set his ass straight,” Miles tells Emmie.
“No. Just leave it alone. I really believe he’s going to stay away.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Miles questions.
“Then I’ll call the police and get a restraining order against him.”
“You two don’t have to worry about Max,” I reassure before looking at Emmie. “Because I promise you that he’ll never bother you again. If he does, I’ll handle it.” She leans in and kisses me softly.
“Thank you,” Emmie says as she pulls her lips from mine.
“Okay, I think it’s time for us to head out,” Ava says.
“Take care of my sister.” Miles looks my way, and I nod.
Ava smiles and waves before they make their way out the door.
“Will you stay?” Emmie whispers near my ear as soon as they’re gone.
“Whatever you want.” I kiss her cheek gently.
“Thank you,” she says as she nestles her body into mine. I wrap my arms around her, and within minutes, her breathing levels out and she’s sleeping.
33
Emmie
It’s moving day, finally. My house sold for the second time a week after I was released from the hospital. The first time it sold, the buyer decided to pull out early in the game. But this time, everything’s good. I’m gonna miss this place, but I need a fresh start. Moving away from all the memories this house holds feels right.
“Ms. Carmichael, this is the last box. Do you want to make one last sweep before we leave for the day?” asks James, one of the movers.
“You guys can go. If anything else turns up, I’ll take care of it.”
He nods and walks out, carrying the last of my kitchen in a box tucked under his arm.
“You ready?” Beau walks up behind me and kisses my neck.
“Don’t start something you can’t finish,” I tease.
“Trust me, I can finish.” He turns me around and presses me against the wall. His lips move quickly to my neck, where he nibbles and licks until he’s near my ear. “Do you want me to prove it?” he whispers as he bites my earlobe.
There’s no bed, no couch, and I can’t have sex on the floor, but damn do I want to.
“Gross! Get off her, and let’s get out of here. Don’t you two have a bed at the new house?” Jane asks with a pinched look on her face.
Beau backs away from me and adjusts himself as Jane rolls her eyes and hollers for her husband to hurry.
“Do you think we can do it in your truck? Because I don’t think I can wait until we get home.” I wink at Beau and then look at my friend.
“You literally live ten minutes away, Emmie. Jesus! If you try to have sex in the driveway, I’m calling the cops and reporting you two,” she spews.
“I’m just screwing with you,” I tell her as I grab my purse and keys.
Jane and Beau’s relationship is a work in progress, but after she found out what happened with Max, she cut my baby’s daddy some slack. As did Miles.
The baby flip-flops a couple of times and I rub my belly. “It’s almost time, sweet girl. It’s almost time,” I whisper.
“She’s moving.” I grab Beau’s hand and press it to my belly. “Man, she’s pissed about something,” he says with a chuckle.
“How can you be so sure your baby’s a girl if you didn’t find out?” Jane asks from behind me.
“We’re not sure. It’s just a gut feeling.” I laugh. “You know, like a mother’s intuition.”
“I’ll meet you at the truck,” Beau hollers as he walks out the back door.
“Okay.”
“See you later.” Jane kisses me on the cheek and heads for the front door. Tristan follows her and waves as he heads outside.
I scan the living room and move into the foyer. I’m going to miss this place, but not enough to stay. This has been my home for so many years; it almost doesn’t seem real that I’m moving out. I take one last look at my past before locking up and heading toward the idling black pickup truck that holds my future.
Epilogue
BEAU
“She’s beautiful.” I lean in and kiss my baby girl on her tiny cheek. She lets out a little grunt or cry. I’m not really sure about all the noises she makes, but I do know that everything about her is perfect.
“What about her mom?” Emmie giggles.
“Beautiful,” I whisper as I brush my lips to hers.
Katie was born almost forty-eight hours ago. Both of my girls did great. No complications or scares at all. I’ll admit I was all kinds of nervous as soon as the baby was born.
Katie weighs a healthy eight pounds and two ounces and is eating like a pro. And my Emmie, she’s better than amazing. She’s given me this new life that I don’t deserve but will happily work hard to keep.
Emmie straps our daughter in her carrier, so we can secure her safely into the car seat. Rhys and my mom are waiting downstairs to follow us to Emmie’s parents. Emmie felt like it would be best if she spent a few nights with her mom before going home. She told me that with this being her first baby, she may need some motherly advice. So I’ve pretended to accept her wishes, but I want to be selfish and beg her to come home with me.
“See? No worries. I told you everything would be okay.” Emmie smiles as she finishes packing her bags.
“Do you know how happy you make me?” A smile pulls at my mouth as my gaze meets h
ers.
“Yes, because you make me just as happy.” Her eyes flick around the room, searching for anything she may be forgetting.
“I know we talked about you staying with your mom, but damn I’m going to miss you. And I’m not the only one,” I tell her.
“You and Rhys will be fine. I promise. I’ll be home in a week tops.” She wraps her arms around my waist and holds me tight.
We haven’t been living together, but she’s been staying at my place or me at her place during the last weeks of her pregnancy. I don’t care where we live. I just want all four of us to be together, but the decision has to be hers. I refuse to push her into something she’s not ready for. She knows that I will wait for her, no matter how long it takes.
The nurse opens the door and walks into the room pushing a wheelchair.
“Hospital policy,” she says.
Emmie gathers her bag and purse. I pick up the carrier with my sleeping daughter tucked safely inside. When we step off the elevator, we’re greeted by my mom and Rhys. I stop so that Mom can give Katie a peck on the forehead. Rhys immediately heads to Emmie. Even though he’s only known her a short period of time, he loves her. They even have a standing date every Sunday afternoon.
“How long will you be gone?” Rhys asks Emmie as I latch Katie’s car seat into its cradle in the back seat.
“Only a week. You can come visit. I’m not far.”
She gives my son a hug and kisses the top of his head. “You take care of your dad while me and Katie are gone.” He nods, even though I know he’d rather go with her and Katie than stay home and “take care of me.”
“I’m proud of you, son,” my mom says as she walks up beside me.
“Proud of me?”
“You didn’t give up, and you’re leaving the hospital with your family.”
“Yeah, but I’m dropping her and Katie off at her parents’.” I shake my head. “Not exactly what I planned, but I haven’t been the easiest to deal with throughout her pregnancy. So, I don’t really have a right to give my opinion,” I tell her.
