Southern Spirits (The Southern Series Book 3)

by Shelley Stringer

  “Chandler, Dr. Delsant has already filled me in on your condition. We need to examine you, and we need to do an ultrasound,” he began.

  I nodded, the nausea rising as I thought about them examining me.

  Dr. Renault sensed my reluctance. “Chandler, this is Ms. Gary, your nurse, and she will be here the whole time to help you through it,” he explained as I nodded.

  “We’ll give you something to calm you down before we start.” Dr. Delsant patted me on the shoulder as the nurse gave me the injection. The three of them moved about, readying instruments and equipment, and after a few moments the nurse raised my bed a bit.

  “I know you are in extreme pain, but I need for you to scoot forward, and bend your knees.” She raised the sheet and helped me as I scooted down. I shut my eyes tightly, steeling myself against her touch and what I knew was ahead.

  She helped me pull my knees up, and spread my legs apart gently as she fitted each of my feet into a stirrup. I began to sob.

  “Shhh, Chandler, it’s going to be fine. They need to examine you. They will be gentle,” she soothed as she held my hand. I stared at the ceiling, willing myself not to panic. As I heard both doctors putting their gloves on, I began to cry. I could feel the medicine taking effect, my legs were relaxed and I was having a hard time keeping them bent.

  Both doctors stayed silent as they worked. I could hear Dr. Renault muttering something, and Dr. Delsant answered him. When one of them inserted a finger and pressed down on my abdomen, I yelled out, “No, please, don’t!”

  “It’s okay, Chandler. They have to examine you vaginally. This will only take a minute,” the nurse tried to calm me.

  I could hear angry voices in the hallway, and Banton’s voice rose above the others.

  “Dammit, let me in there! What the hell is going on,” Banton yelled as Ty’s voice and John’s joined in with Brie’s, trying to calm him down.

  I caught bits and pieces of what the doctors were saying at the foot of my bed. They were both shocked at the amount of damage Dante had inflicted.

  “Chandler, you are definitely pregnant. I suspect you are further along than you think, but we need to do an ultrasound to try to determine the length of your gestation. We need to do it vaginally, and I know that will be traumatic for you because of the state you are in.”

  “No, please. No, I can’t,” I protested.

  “Chandler, we can do this to put your mind at ease. It’s a small wand, and I will insert it just long enough to get a couple of pictures. It may hurt a bit, considering your injuries, but we will be quick and gentle, I promise. Would it help if we bring Banton in?”

  “Oh, please, no! He doesn’t know, not yet,” I pleaded as Dr. Renault’s eyes widened. He didn’t know that we hadn’t told Banton.

  “I heard Brie outside. Get Brie,” I asked.

  “Okay, Chandler. Hold on,” Dr. Renault urged, patting me on the shoulder. He walked over and opened the doors.

  “Gabriella, could you come in and be with Chandler, for a bit?”

  “Doc, let me in. Why won’t you let me in?” Banton shouted. John tried to talk to him in calming tones.

  “She needs a woman right now, Banton. Please be patient,” Dr. Renault urged him as he shut the door.

  Brie smiled at me as she took the nurse’s place beside my bed. As the doctors wheeled the ultrasound machine around beside the bed, the nurse placed a chair beside me. Dr. Renault fired the machine up, and picked up a wand, sliding a condom on it.

  “No, please, I can’t do this, I can’t…please, don’t touch me again,” I pleaded as Brie took my hand in hers.

  “Chandler, calm down. You can do this. I know how you feel, remember? Look at me.” She crossed around the bed, and placed herself between me and Dr. Renault. “Look at me, and hold my hand. You can do this,” she coached me as I nodded at her, trying to be brave.

  As I felt the fullness of the probe enter me, I involuntarily sobbed as my whole body shuddered.

  “No! Please, Please, No!”

  “Chandler, calm down. It’s almost over,” Brie assured me as her own voice began to shake. “I know how hard this is, Andie. It’s over, we’re okay. It’s over,” she repeated over and over as she kissed me on the forehead. I realized Dr. Renault had removed the wand and was printing out a picture.

  “Chandler, the ultra sound indicates you are about eight weeks along. The baby is Banton’s,” he said softly as he handed me the picture.

  “That isn’t possible. How can you be sure? There isn’t any doubt? Can you do blood tests? Please,” I pleaded. I needed his assurance.

  “Dr. Delsant told me you had a cycle about two weeks ago. How long did you bleed?”

  “It’s the only one I’ve had since the twins. I only bled about two days,” I muttered.

  “I don’t think it was a real cycle. I think that was just break-through bleeding, because you were already pregnant. If you would like, we can do an amnio to be conclusive,” he offered as I nodded furiously.

  “Am I far enough along?” I asked.

  He nodded. “It will involve using the ultra sound again, and as you know, the amnio is not without pain,” he added.

  I was determined to know. I felt a certain amount of relief and hope with the knowledge that he thought I was further along. I felt if I had genetic evidence the baby was Banton’s, I could put part of the nightmare behind me.

  “Please, Doctor. I need to know,” I whispered. Brie clutched my hand tighter.

  The nurse brought me some water as the doctors prepared for the amnio. I refused to look at them, at the needle they prepared, or the sonogram machine. As they raised my legs again, I took a deep breath, willing myself to stay silent. Brie continued to grip my hand as she stood over me, gazing at me with tears in her own eyes.

  “We can do this, Andie. We’ve got this, no matter what,” she continued to coach me as I gasped, the needle entering my stomach. As the pain of the fluid being drawn from my body took its toll, I focused on the fuzzy sleeping feeling overtaking my body as the medicine finally took effect.

  * * *

  Bits of a dream flooded back to me as I napped.

  “Her heartbeat is stronger, and so is the baby’s.”

  I’d dreamed about the first time Banton found out I was pregnant. As I opened my eyes, I hoped that was a good sign.

  “Hey, Chandler.” I turned my head to find Constance sitting beside me.

  “Oh, Constance,” I cried out as she hugged me close.

  “Chandler, oh God, what have they done to you?” she gasped as she held me, stroking my hair.

  I shook my head. I had no intention of ever speaking of any of it again.

  “I’m so glad you’re home safe. Momma and Daddy are right outside. Do you want me to get them?” she asked as she fussed over me, straightening my bedcovers. I realized I’d been moved to a private room, and someone had changed me into a regular satin gown.

  I shook my head at her. I wasn’t ready to see anyone, other than her or Brie or Banton. I couldn’t face seeing anyone else.

  She gave me a puzzled look and then her eyes widened as the realization dawned.

  “Okay, Andie. I’ll just tell them you’ll see them later, that you are tired,” she answered as she patted my leg. “I’m going to let you get some rest now,” she murmured, placing a kiss on my forehead.

  She quietly slipped from the room. My head throbbed, with all the memories and thoughts whirling around. I wouldn’t rest until I knew the results of the amnio.

  I heard the door open and shut again, and then I smelled Banton’s cologne. I kept my eyes shut. I couldn’t look at him. It was if all the progress we’d made on the ship had vanished since the trauma of the examination and the ultra sound. He sat quietly down beside me, and then I felt the bed dip as he rested his head on his hands. I opened my eyes slowly and found his gaze fixed on my face. He reached out and brushed the hair from my forehead.

  “Sweetheart, are you okay?” he whis
pered. I nodded, remaining as still and silent as possible. As the medicine took over once more, I drifted off, Banton’s eyes still on me, watching over me.

  * * *

  “Chandler, baby, wake up. You need to eat something, and you need to get up,” Banton’s soft voice urged me. I opened my eyes and found him hovering over me. He grinned at me, his dimple deep.

  “Hey. You look much better this morning.” He sat down beside the bed, looking clean-shaven and rested.

  “You’ve slept,” I murmured, placing my hand against his cheek.

  “Doc put a cot in here, and I slept beside you last night. Best night’s sleep I’ve had in a while,” he said as he pulled a cart toward the bed. “We have oatmeal, orange juice and coffee. Can you manage?” he asked as I nodded. He took the control to the bed and raised my head. For the first time, my ribs didn’t protest.

  “I can actually sit up now without holding my breath,” I commented as I let my breath out slowly.

  Banton chuckled. “It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep and a good ace bandage will do,” he said, helping me with my silverware.

  I reached up and discovered someone had wrapped my ribs.

  “You were really out of it last night. They must have given you some happy drugs,” he said playfully. “The nurse and I managed to get you fixed up. I told her I thought most of the pain you were still in was due to those damn ribs and your shoulders,” he said as he glanced sideways at me, a pained expression crossing his brow.

  "That’s not the real pain,” I muttered as he sat down once again beside me.

  “I know, baby.”

  I ate in silence, not really tasting anything. But I knew I wouldn’t get out of this place until I was eating properly, so I pushed on, trying to eat most of what he brought to me.

  “Banton, where are the twins? Where are our babies?”

  “John and Brie took them to Claudia’s. Your Aunt Sue and Uncle Lon are keeping them there with my mother and daddy.”

  I nodded and relaxed.

  “Doc says you can leave the blood shakes off for a while. They’re giving you injections again,” he said, a puzzled look crossing his face. Then he grinned up at me.

  “You do look so much better, Chandler. Would you like to see?” He rose and left the room. I shook my head. He was so eager to make me feel better. He came back momentarily with a large mirror he’d evidently taken off the wall somewhere.

  “They will arrest you for vandalism in this state,” I teased him as he grinned at me.

  “I’d commit any crime for you, baby, to see you smile,” he replied, holding the mirror up. To my surprise I looked almost like myself. The bruising was still there, but was much lighter. The swelling was nearly gone. I looked up at him, relieved.

  “I told you. A beauty like yours can’t be hidden. And you are beautiful, Chandler. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he tried to assure me as I smiled at him.

  “Banton, I’ve been meaning to ask you,” I began.

  “What is it, sweetheart?” he said as he sat the mirror down beside him in the floor.

  “Alexandra and Reece. Did you ever get the results of the tests?”

  His expression changed instantly, and my heart sank. His reaction could only mean one thing, and he didn’t want to tell me in my current state.

  “We got the results, Chandler. I knew all along Reece wasn’t my son.”

  I sat in stunned silence, staring at him.

  “Are you disappointed?” I whispered, terrified.

  “No, of course not. All of that turned out for the best.”

  “Then what is it?” I was puzzled by his reaction; he seemed unsettled.

  “We are still unraveling everything. Mr. Lon and my dad did some digging while we were gone, and found out that we had video in the driveway on the garage camera. Apparently Astrid forgot about that camera. Astrid walked the twins out to the garage and gave them to Alexandra, and then she drove off with them. Alexandra was involved in the kidnapping,” he said as I gasped. “Then Singleton called Dad. Evidently Alexandra was contacted by Reed months ago, not the other way around. Reed brought her here and put her up to all of this. Money exchanged hands in the process, beginning around the time I came home and the babies were born. We don’t have a clue who Reece’s real father is.”

  My eyes widened. All the tears I’d shed over her involvement, and it had been a setup from the start. I shook my head, unable to process all the revelations.

  “Why would Commander Reed do that? What was he trying to accomplish?”

  “I know it’s a lot to consider. There’s more, Chandler, but I think we can talk about all of that later when you are better. Just know all of this is finally over. You and the twins are safe, and Constance is out of danger.”

  “Yes, until Lucien shows up again. Banton, what if he…” I began.

  “If he does, we will be ready. It won’t be as easy next time for him to pull new recruits together. And if Everett has his way, we’ll hunt him down long before he has time to regroup,” he assured me as I shuddered.

  “How is Everett?” I asked. I felt bad I hadn’t asked before now.

  “He’s good. They released him this morning. He is at his grandmother’s now, but he said to tell you he would be by to see you as soon as he can. Now, let’s get you up and walking, so you will be strong enough for all the visitors knocking the doors down,” he said, pulling my tray out of the way.

  He pulled the covers back, revealing a beautiful pink and brown paisley gown. He reached beside the bed and produced a matching robe.

  “Where did this come from?” I asked as he raised an eyebrow.

  I went shopping last evening with a little help from Constance. I knew you hated those hospital gowns.” He helped me to stand. “I couldn’t have the most beautiful girl in the world wearing that awful blue thing with the snaps.” He steadied me and helped me shrug into the robe. I shuddered as he brushed my shoulders, and I felt him tense beside me. Keeping his reaction private, he just placed his arm in front of me.

  “Hold on to me, and I’m going to support you with my other hand,” he said softly but firmly. I nodded without looking up at him. This was so hard, and I was so confused. I wanted him near, and I craved his touch. But when he touched me without warning, my skin crawled, almost to the point of being painful. Would I ever stop feeling like this? Was this a result of the attack or my further transformation? I desperately needed to talk to Everett.

  “What is it, Andie?” Banton asked as we stepped out into the hallway.

  “I know you want me to talk to you, but there are just a couple of things I need to ask Everett. I need to talk to him,” I murmured.

  “I understand.”

  We walked along, down the long corridor and then back again.

  “Where is everyone?” I asked as we passed my doorway to go down the opposite hallway.

  “Constance and Ty left a little while ago. I think they were craving a little alone time,” he said, a twinkle returning to his eyes. I grinned up at him and he held me closer. I willed myself not to shudder.

  “John and Brie are in the waiting room around the other side of the building with momma and daddy. They’re all staying at Claudia’s. Brie said they aren’t leaving N’awlins until you can come home with us.” He smiled down at me, his smile dimming a bit at what he saw in my eyes. I knew Brie felt she had to stay with me until we had the results of the tests.

  “Chandler?” Dr. Renault called behind us. We turned to find him standing just outside my room.

  “I need to have a word with you in private, if I could. Banton, would you go and find Gabriella for us?”

  My heart sank into my stomach. If he thought he needed Brie to give me the results, it must be bad. I had to make myself put one foot in front of the other. Stumbling, I was light headed. How could I appear to be so far along if the baby…if this thing inside me was a result of the rape? Maybe Dante’s genetics made it grow at an accelerated r
ate. I was nauseated as I held my abdomen, my body shaking from head to toe.

  “Chandler, are you okay?” Banton asked in an alarmed voice.

  “Just get me back to my room,” I whispered as I searched Dr. Renault’s face. He gave away nothing. As we turned the corner, Doc held the door open for him. As he helped me back on the bed I moaned, not knowing how I was going to handle this.

  “Banton, go and get Gabriella,” Dr. Renault urged as he pulled a chair across the room.

  Banton left, and after we heard his strides disappear down the hallway, Dr. Renault rose and closed the door.

  “It’s…it’s bad, isn’t it?” I whispered as I closed my eyes.

  “Only if you and Banton don’t want to be parents again. The twins are young, I’ll admit, but I know you want more children,” he began.

  I opened my eyes and looked at him. “The baby is Banton’s?” I whispered as I clutched my abdomen.

  “Yes, Chandler. The test was conclusive. The baby is most definitely Banton’s. Congratulations.”

  I released my breath, all of the anxiety leaving my body. This was Banton’s baby. I’d been pregnant way before I was kidnapped.

  “Why…why did you call for Brie?”

  “I needed for Banton to leave so I could tell you. And I know how you and Brie are. You probably needed a little girl talk to decide how to break it to Banton,” he smiled at me as he winked.

  I hugged myself, finally happy. The baby was Banton’s. The relief that flooded through my body was unbelievable.

  “Thank you, Dr. Renault. Thank you so much,” I choked out as he patted my arm.

  “Chandler, I know what a hard time you’ve been going through. I just want to leave you with this thought. I talked to Noah extensively yesterday about what he knew about the attack. He told me the attack was fast, and that not too much could have happened after you lost consciousness. Dante left in a rage. He also told me about the numerous attacks Dante inflicted on other women. He was rarely able to…let’s just say that bruises and scars are the only thing he was ever able to leave behind.”

  I nodded, strangely comforted by his words. He rose and left the room, leaving me to consider all he’d said. I couldn’t remember the attack. The last thing I remembered was him ripping my shirt off of me, and then striking me, the blow that knocked me unconscious. It was much like the attack in the tunnels, except that I woke naked and bleeding afterwards. My own imagination had done most of the damage. I took a deep breath. A good, heart to heart talk with Brie would do me a world of good. As if on cue, she opened the door and peered in at me. I smiled at her as she crossed over to the bed.