by J. L. Drake
He closes his eyes and breathes out a shaky sigh.
I cup his face with my hands. “It’s a first for me too.” I kiss him softly. “Promise me you’ll come back to me.”
He tightens his arms around me. “I promise, baby.”
I wake with a start, my eyes feeling puffy. Reaching behind me, I remember he had indeed left me last night. It seems like only moments ago we were tangled in the sheets together, showing one another how much love we had to give. Glancing at the clock, I see it’s nine thirty already. I jump out of bed and head to the shower. I can’t believe I slept so long.
“Hi, Savi.” Abigail hands me a cup of coffee as I take a seat at the island. She slides me a red box with a bow. “Cole left this.” She smiles, waiting for me to open it.
I pull on the bow and slowly open the lid. My hand flies to my mouth as my eyes fill and overflow with tears.
“Well?”
I turn it around to show her the crystal teardrop with the fortified snowflake inside.
“Oh, Savannah it’s beautiful,” she exclaims, clutching her hands together over her chest in a moment of joy.
“I saw it last night in a shop while we were walking to Zack’s. Cole must have slipped away after his phone call.” I pull out a note stuck on the bottom as she helps me clasp it around my neck.
To remember the day we spoke
those special words,
Yours – C
I hold it to my chest as a lump builds in my throat. “Abby?” I sniff, then feel a huge wave of nausea. My head spins so hard I almost fall off the stool. “Whoo.”
“Savannah?” I see Abigail call out, but I barely hear her. Sweat breaks out across my neck, and my stomach turns. Oh, my God, have I been poisoned again?
She shoves a bucket in my face just in time for me to loudly empty my stomach.
“Oh, my,” Sue says from somewhere behind me. “Let’s get her to bed.”
Chapter Nineteen
Savannah
I wake a few hours later.
Sue is sitting with someone at the table by the balcony door.
“Hi?” I say groggily.
“Savannah, this is Dr. Brown. She’s an OB/GYN.”
I move to sit up in the bed.
“Okay.” I shake my head. “Why is—?” Then it hits me—no appetite, nauseated, emotional, tired— “Am I pregnant?”
Dr. Brown steps toward me. “I believe you are, Ms. Miller.”
What? “But I’m on birth control!”
“No birth control is one hundred percent effective. Sometimes these things just happen. I’m assuming you know who the father is.”
Really? I blush when I look at Sue. Oh, God, I know she wants grandbabies, but it’s too soon! What if she thinks I’m trying to trap her son? Hell, we only just announced that we loved each other last night.
“Savannah.” Sue smiles at me.
“Yes, I do. It’s Cole.” I lean my head back, wondering what the hell Cole is going to think.
“Well, that’s good, then.” Dr. Brown smiles down at me. “Do you remember when your last menstrual cycle was?”
I think back but am drawing a blank. “I honestly don’t remember.”
“All right, I will need you to come by my office in a few days. I don’t have the equipment here, but I want to perform an ultrasound examination. We want to make sure the baby is off to a good start.” She opens her bag. “For now, start taking these.” She hands me a bottle of prenatal vitamins. “Have Sue contact me when you can make it in. Please get lots of rest and be sure to eat.” She rises to leave.
“Thank you, Dr. Brown,” Sue says, walking her to the door. “I’ll be in touch.”
Sue turns to me with the biggest smile on her face that I’ve ever seen. “Oh, Savannah!” She tosses her hands in the air. “I’ve never been happier!”
I feel like asking for a time out so I can process what the hell I’ve just been told.
She crawls on the bed next to me. “Are you all right?”
Not really.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly, suddenly remembering her behavior at the restaurant. “You knew, didn’t you?”
She smiles. “I had a feeling, but I was waiting to see if I was right. This morning confirmed it. That’s why I called Dr. Brown. She’s the best in town, and I’ve known her for years.”
I nod, trying to keep my head on straight.
“He told me he loved me last night,” I say, fingering my necklace. “I love him, Sue, I really do.” She sniffs then reaches for my hand. “What do you think Cole will say?” I ask nervously.
She laughs, wiping her cheeks, “He’s going to be so happy, Savannah!”
“You think?”
“I know.”
“It’s terrible timing. It wasn’t planned.”
“That may be, but everything will be fine.”
“Sue,” I look up at her, “can we please keep this between us?”
“Daniel knows.”
“That’s fine, but just the three of us, okay? I don’t want Cole to be the last to know.”
“Of course. No one but us three.”
I let out a long sigh and try not to panic about what’s growing in my stomach. Then I think of Cole, and the idea of a part of each of us in one little body makes me smile. I find myself rubbing my belly as I fall back to sleep.
Cole
Cole holds the satellite phone to his ear while he separates himself from everyone. They’re all exhausted from the day. They had a run-in with a group of Cartels, and their camp was discovered. They had to grab what they could and haul ass to a new location. He glances at his watch—it is just past midnight.
“You guys good?” Keith asks.
“Yeah, just barely,” he says as he briefs Keith on the day’s events and current situation.
“All right, well, everything is quiet on our end.”
“Good,” Cole says, hesitating.
“Savi’s got the flu,” Keith says.
Cole hears the smile in his voice. “So, if you start feeling sick—good luck, because she’s been in bed all day.”
Poor Savannah. He had planned to call earlier and hoped she was close so he could speak to her. The fact that it was against his own house rules to use check-in time for anything personal was totally beside the point. Since Savannah came into his life, all his rules went out the window.
“You want me to wake her?”
Keith’s question throws him; was he thinking out loud? “No, it’s late. We’re watching the house, early tomorrow, or rather today, so this is my check-in for…” he looks at his watch again, “last night and this morning.”
“All right. Stay safe.”
“Will do. Raven out.”
“I see seven men on the east side,” Mark whispers, “five on the west.”
“Copy that,” Cole replies, moving his binoculars to confirm. “Seven on the east and five on the west.” He shifts and reaches for his radio when it crackles to life.
“Fox One to Raven One,” Paul says over the radio.
“Go ahead Fox One.”
“We have a green Hummer heading toward the house, approaching from the northeast.”
Cole spots the truck and follows it. “Copy that, Fox One, I have a visual. I want to know who’s in that vehicle.”
“Ten-four.”
The Hummer passes through the gate without any problem and stops in front of the mansion. Two armed guards open the door and pull out a man in a navy blue business suit and a cream-colored cloth bag over his head.
“Hum,” Cole says, “interesting that his head is covered but his hands aren’t tied.”
“Yup.” Mark nods.
“Seems our mystery guest might be doing business with The American.”
“Guess they don’t trust him to know the location.” Mark squints. “You think it could be the mayor?”
“No, this guy is taller and slimmer.”
They watch as the suit and one of the ar
med guards disappear inside and the Hummer takes off back the way it came.
“Guess he’ll be staying a while.” Mark rolls onto his back and stretches out his neck, then checks his watch and pulls out a protein bar. Cole inches backward and leans against a rock out of view. He spits his gum out and opens his water.
Mark pulls at his vest. “Fuck, I miss the snow.”
“Me too,” Cole says, thinking of Savannah.
“I know that look.”
“Yup, you have it too,” he shoots back, making Mark grin. “All right.” Cole puts the cap on his water then pats his side, looking for…
“Here.” Mark tosses him a piece of gum. Ever since they joined the Army together, they’ve been chewing gum. When they are out on duty, it helps them relax. Cole pops it in his mouth while he studies the map.
“Ahhh, yuck, what the fuck is this?” Cole grimaces.
“Hubba Bubba.”
“What are you, a twelve-year-old girl?”
“It makes for a better chew.” Mark shrugs.
“It’s disgusting.”
“No, what’s disgusting is your old man cinnamon gum.”
“I can literally feel my teeth sticking together. What shit flavor is this?”
“Sweet and sassy cherry.”
“I…I…” Cole shakes his head. “I don’t even know what to say right now.” He spits out the gum and replaces it with one of his own. They both lie on their stomachs and inch back to their post.
Savannah
I sit on the living room couch, holding my purse on my lap, completely lost in a memory.
“I didn’t even know you were seeing someone,” I say, sitting next to Lynn on my father’s couch. Lynn had arrived on Dad’s doorstep looking like she’d just seen a ghost.
“I’m not seeing someone, Savi. I just hooked up with someone, and now I’m late.”
“How many days late?”
“A week,” she says, drying her eyes.
“So,” I quickly do the math and my jaw drops, “was it someone from…” I inch closer, seeing my father in the kitchen, “from the charity event we went to last month?” She closes her eyes for a moment and takes a deep breath. “Oh, my God, was it Jones, that smokin’ hot blond guy from Dad’s office?”
“Luka’s ‘assistant’? No, not Jones!” She shakes her head in disgust. I ignore her bitchiness toward his title, as I know for a fact that Jones works his ass off for my father and everyone else in the office.
“Then who? And was he not wearing a condom? Not trying to sound holier-than-thou, but come on, Lynn, even I have a sta—”
“Have a what?” my father asks, giving me a stern warning not to finish my sentence. He hands Lynn a bottle of water and takes a seat across from us. “So, you’re pregnant?”
Lynn’s eyes widen. She looks to me for help, but I’m just as stunned that he heard us talking.
“Umm, I don’t know,” she says, turning three shades of red.
“Who’s the father?” he asks, like he has a right to, but I don’t stop him because I’m dying to know too.
“I’d rather not have this conversation until I know for sure.”
My father slams his glass down on the table. “How could you be so stupid?”
“Dad,” I shoot back. “Don’t.”
“Be quiet, Savi.” He scowls at me and waves a finger in my face. “I swear if I ever find out you’re pregnant before you’re married, consider it aborted. You will not shame my name.” He looks at Lynn. “You should consider the same thing or get a ring on that finger before the press finds out.” He leans forward, narrowing his eyes at us. “Figure this situation out before I do.” He stands and leaves the room, cursing under his breath.
I reach for Lynn’s hand and give it a squeeze. My stomach turns. If my mother could hear him now, she’d be devastated. Thankfully, later on that night, the pregnancy test comes out negative. I’ve never seen Lynn so relieved, but I never did find out who the possible baby daddy was.
“Ready?” Keith asks, standing next to me.
I didn’t even hear him come in the room.
“Yes.”
Keith held his ground when Sue and I told him I needed to go into town, but once Sue said the letters OBG, he backed off, not asking any more questions. I’m sure he thinks I have some kind of infection. Normally, I’d be embarrassed, but today I find I’m too excited to care. I would love to share this with him, but I want to tell Cole first. Besides, Derek is in the SUV with us, and he’s been a little distant ever since he found out Cole and I are dating.
“Hood up, hair tucked in, and glasses on, okay, Savi?” Keith instructs from the driver’s seat. He glances at me in the mirror.
I nod, doing all the things he told me.
Mike is two cars behind us. He’s the spotter for today.
We pull up to the curb and wait for Keith to get out and open my door.
Derek opens the office door for me, and I see Sue standing in the waiting room.
She rushes over and wraps me in a hug. “Thanks, guys, I can take it from here,” she says to Keith and Derek.
They both take a seat by the door, glancing around at all the women. They look very uncomfortable, which makes me smirk.
With Sue’s arm still around me, she walks me to the back.
I’m guessing they know her pretty well, since they wave and let us go on through.
I change from the waist down and wrap a paper sheet over me, which rips twice as I try to get comfortable.
Lying back, I’m a little nervous as Dr. Brown explains what is about to happen. A very long, cold probe up is shoved up my “wuha,” and I breathe out, staring upward and counting the flakes on the ceiling.
Sue gives a tiny gasp and places her hand on her chest.
“See that right there?” Dr. Brown taps her finger to the screen. “That little round circle is your baby.”
I look back up to the ceiling, crossing my arms over my face, and start to cry.
“Oh, Savi,” Sue says, coming to my side, “don’t cry. Everything is going to be okay.”
“I know.” I sniff and try to catch my breath. “I just wish Cole was here for this.”
“I know, dear,” she whispers. “Me too.”
I wipe my cheeks and look back over at my baby. My heart thumps loudly as I watch the little circle pulse along with mine. “Wow.” My voice hitches, and my whole body floods with emotion.
“Heartbeat looks perfect,” Dr. Brown says with a smile, clicking away on the keyboard. “And I’d say you’re about five weeks.”
I press my lips together, trying not to smile at my dirty thoughts of Cole and me in the shower, in his bed, my bed, my—
“Here you go.” She hands me a picture.
“Can I get one more?” I ask.
“Of course.” She prints another. “Get dressed, then we’ll go over all the dos and don’ts.”
She and Sue start to leave, but I call Sue back as I sit up.
“You need to share this with Grandpa.” I hand her one of the ultrasound pictures.
“Thank you!” she cries, giving me a hug. “I can’t wait to.”
I tuck the goody bag the doctor gave me in my purse and meet Keith at the door. He sees my red eyes and gently reaches for my arm.
“I’m not sure if I want to know the answer to this question, but I promised Cole I’d watch over you like a hawk, so I need to know. Are you okay?”
“I am, actually.” I grin. “I really am.” My stupid eyes water again.
“So why are you crying?”
My heart plays tug of war with feeling unbelievably excited, but terrified for Cole. “I miss Cole,” I admit. “I just wish I could speak with him myself, hear his voice—” I sigh, feeling sappy. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He gives me his famous Keith side hug. “When I spoke with him last night, I could tell you were on his mind.” He leads me to the truck.
“Eggs or waffles?” Abigail asks, handing me a cup of coff
ee.
I look down at the cup and remember I shouldn’t drink it. Oh, shit, I have to break up with coffee too! I look down at my beloved drink and make a promise I’ll return as soon as I can. Oh, this is going to be hard to hide.
“Just toast will be fine.”
Abigail whirls around with a concerned look. “Savannah, what’s wrong?”
Shit. “Nothing, I’m just not that hungry.” And the idea of eating eggs or waffles makes me want to puke.
“What are you not telling me?”
Oh, Lord, I feel awful not letting her know there’s a little fritter on the way.
“Savi?”
“I think I still have that flu.”
Her eyes soften at my lie as she heads toward the toaster.
“Savi,” Keith calls from the hallway, “can you come here, please?”
I follow him to Cole’s office, and he points to the landline, smiling as he shuts the door behind him.
I sit in the massive, leather chair and pick up the receiver.
“Hello?”
“Hey, baby.” His voice rasps over the phone, setting off about a million butterflies in my stomach all at once.
“Hi,” I choke out, trying to keep my tears at bay. “Are you all right?”
“God, I miss your voice.”
“I miss you too, Cole. When are you coming home?” I know I sound desperately needy, but dammit, I am.
“As soon as I can possibly get there, I will. Right now, we’re doing surveillance, making sure we know as much as possible before we make our move.” He pauses for a second then chuckles.
“What?”
“You called the house home.”
I smile. He’s right; I guess I did. “Yes, well, it is my home now.”
“Hmmm,” he hums into the phone, “it sure is.”
I bite my lip and am about to tell him about our little creation when I hear him let out a long sigh.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s a first for me to be struggling with being in the field. Normally, I do my job with no distractions, but knowing you’re there without me…it’s hard to concentrate.”
