Rise: Populations Crumble, Book 2

by K. A. Gandy

  I stiffen, knowing there’s a “but” coming.

  “But, we only release pregnant mothers on a case-by-case basis. Many find it better to stay here until after the baby is born, so they can be monitored and have medical attention available twenty-four-seven. And depending on your individual risk profile, it may be required.”

  My jaw drops. The NLC training courses they’d made us take at the beginning of this had explicitly stated that after a healthy first trimester, we’d all get to go home to see our families. If my stomach was churning before, now it feels like I swallowed fire ants. Hot bile rises up the back of my throat, and I turn on my heel and head straight for the stairs. I keep my eyes locked on the floor, hoping no one stops me before I can make it outside. Tears blur my vision by the time I see a baby blue stripe, and when my sneaker-clad feet hit the last step, which puts me back on the pink floor, tears have started to escape the corners of my eyes.

  I rush to the end of the hall, straight out the door, and descend the front steps, head down to hide my overflowing tears. With no destination in mind except away, I let my feet lead me to the rocky beach outcropping behind the guest house. Sawgrasses taller than my head sway, but I can’t hear the swishing of their blades over the rushing in my ears. I stumble down the boardwalk, and my feet crunch on the pebbles but I still don’t stop. Looking left, I spot our cabins. So I head right, towards the empty stretch of beach, and I just walk. Tears stream down my face freely now that I’m alone, and if any sobs escape me, they are torn away by the ocean wind that relentlessly whips my face.

  I don’t know how long I walk in the cold, leaning into the wind with the dark, stormy ocean waves as my only company. Eventually, I stumble, and rocks bite painfully into my palms and knee, right through my jeans. I gingerly slide back to a sitting position and examine my palms. They’re sore, but not bleeding. My left knee, on the other hand, has a gash that is bleeding down my shin. I press a palm across it to staunch the bleeding, and stare out at the waves, their tumultuous show fitting my solemn demeanor.

  After a few minutes, the tears stop. My mind is finally blank, numbed by the sea, the wind, and the solitude. The blood has stopped rushing in my ears, and my knee still looks ugly but has clotted for now. That’s going to suck to clean, I think absently, before hearing rocks grinding together behind me. I turn, expecting a bird or something, and see Patrick sitting a ways up the beach, watching me without intruding on my private moment. He must have shifted and caused some rocks to slide down.

  He lifts a hand and gives me a small wave. I wave back, and he holds up one of my hoodies in offering. The gesture causes me to self-assess and realize that I am, in fact, freezing. I nod and start to stand, but he pops up and jogs over to me before I attempt to stand with my sore knee. I take his extended hand, and he pulls me to my feet.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. My foot fell asleep, and when I moved, the rocks slid,” he says, looking bashful.

  “It’s okay. How long have you been out here?” I take the jacket from him, and gratefully slide it over my tousled hair, sighing as the warmth engulfs me.

  “Well, I was right behind you when you left the tour. But when you turned away from the cabin, I jogged over and got your jacket before I caught back up with you a mile or so back. I thought it would be best if you weren’t completely alone, since you seemed so upset.” He shrugs one shoulder.

  “Well, thank you for bringing my jacket. I didn’t realize how cold I was until I saw it.” I rub my hands together, trying to get the blood to flow back to my chilled digits.

  “Are you ready to walk back? We should probably take it slow—that knee looks like it hurts.” He frowns, concern etching his handsome face. “Are you able to walk back? I can carry you if you need me to.”

  I wave a hand, dismissing his concerns. “I’m fine, but yes, let’s head back.”

  I appreciate the fact that he doesn’t push me to talk, he just lets me be. We make our way slowly back towards the cabin, the wind at our backs in this direction. I stumble, and his hand wraps around my elbow before I can hit the ground again. Once I’m steady, he lets go, and I instantly miss the warmth of his grip.

  “I’m sorry for dragging you out here. It was all too much, the thought of being stuck in one of those rooms for months, constantly monitored . . .” I trail off, unsure how to describe the feeling without sounding crazy. I clear my throat. “I’m used to a lot more freedom, back home. First they want us to track every intimate detail of our personal lives, and now they say they may not allow us to go home, even when we are having the baby.” A lump rises in my throat, and I have to swallow twice before I can continue. “I can’t imagine having a baby here, surrounded by medical staff, a thousand miles from home. I always thought I’d be back in Jackson Flats, with my mom and Tess, and able to take the baby home the next day. Being isolated and alone here feels like I’m no different than a monkey in a cage.” I look out over the waves, my arms tightly crossed over my chest.

  “I understand why you feel that way. I don’t want to be this far from family when our child is born, either.” His voice comes out in a low, soothing murmur.

  I shake my head, anger still coursing through me in hot waves.

  He stops, turns to me and holds me gently by both arms. “Sadie, I promise you, right here, right now, that I will do everything in my power to make sure you get to go home.” One hand drifts up, and he gently pulls a strand of my chestnut hair back from where the wind whipped it into my face.

  I look up at him, and I’m sure he can see my troubled thoughts in my eyes. His expression is tense, and I can see the muscle tick in his jaw.

  His thumb swipes down my cheek, and over my lip, soft as a whisper. My reaction is involuntary, lips parting of their own accord at his touch—both comforting and searing. My thoughts scatter, the anger sucked away in the icy wind.

  “I wish I knew what you were thinking right now.” His voice is still soft, almost a warm purr in my ear. His thumb skates down the side of my neck, over my frantic pulse, teasing me.

  I feel myself sway towards him once, twice. His other hand slides down my arm, to entwine his fingers with my own. “We should head back and get that knee taken care of.” He gives my neck one last soft stroke, and then releases me so we can start the long trek back.

  ✽✽✽

  I stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, steam fogging the air around me from my long soak in the tub. My hair is tied back in a French braid, and I’m wearing a simple plaid pajama set. Not what I envisioned wearing on a honeymoon, but, hey, if the pajamas fit. My teeth are brushed, I’ve slathered on my lotion, and there is nothing else to do in this bathroom to keep me here. I’m stalling, and I know it. I arch one eyebrow and give myself my sternest face in the mirror.

  “Sadie, you face down angry steers, and wrangle fifteen-hundred-pound horses on a daily basis back home. One single man, who you are married to, is not something you should be scared of. Get your plaid-pajama-clad butt in gear and go tell him he doesn’t have to spend another night on that chaise lounge.” I give myself a quiet pep-talk, but it makes me feel silly more than motivated. I huff out a breath.

  That’s it, I’m done being ridiculous. Turning, I sweep open the door, and a rush of steam escapes into the colder bedroom. Patrick looks up from a book, already settled for the night on the chaise lounge. His ankles and feet dangle off, but the wave he gives me is friendly before he looks down and continues reading.

  It would be a lot easier to stay mad at him if he were a surly jerk. Walking to the end of the bed, I perch lightly, and fidget with the end of my braid. After a moment, he realizes that I’m sitting there and looks up expectantly.

  “Is everything okay? Do you need me to look at your knee again?” he asks.

  He’d thoroughly cleaned and bandaged my knee for me, after we’d gotten back from our walk. I already re-bandaged it after I got out of the tub, though.

  “No, my knee is fine. Thank you
for your help, though.” I hesitate, biting my lip, unsure where to start. He sits up and holds his place with his finger, giving me his full attention. His gray sleep shirt is rumpled, and so is his hair. It’s messy and endearing, and were it not for this awkwardness between us, I would reach over and smooth it out with my fingers. I bet it’s soft.

  “Are you sure everything’s all right? You can tell me if it’s not, I won’t be upset.”

  His question jolts me from my train of thought, and I feel the blush as it overtakes my cheeks. “Yes, it is. In fact, I wanted to talk to you about you sleeping in the bed tonight.” I pat the mattress next to me in an exaggerated manner.

  “O-kay . . .” He seems surprised.

  “I know things are still awkward between us, and I’m not suggesting we put anything physical on the table. It’s just, I can tell you’re uncomfortable sleeping over there, and this bed has plenty of room to share. I feel really selfish making you sleep on that tiny chair when I’m hogging the whole bed.” The words tumble out of me in a rush.

  He smiles warmly at me. “Sadie, that’s really generous of you, but I volunteered to sleep over here until you get more comfortable. Are you sure this is what you want? I really am fine.”

  “Yes, I’m sure. There’s no way you’re comfortable, and you literally fell off that thing this morning and landed on the floor.” The words come out steady and self-assured, and I mentally pat myself on the back.

  “Okay, then. If you’re sure, I’ll join you. Can I ask you one favor, though?”

  “Sure, what is it?”

  “Can we switch sides? I want to take the side closest to the door.”

  “Uhm, okay. Yeah, that’s fine.” I wasn’t expecting the question, but I don’t care which side I sleep on.

  Grabbing my charger and mini-tablet off the side table, I walk around to the other side and plug it back in.

  “Is there something magical about that side that makes you sleep better?” I joke, trying to break the tension I feel as I slip under the covers.

  He slides in next to me, and his face is serious when he answers. “Well, if there is another kidnapping attempt, they’ll most likely be coming through the door. So I’d prefer to be between you and them if at all possible.”

  “Oh.” I pull the covers up, and stare at the ceiling for a long moment. “Do you really think that’s likely? They didn’t succeed at the NLC, and there weren’t any more attempts while we were there.”

  “Unfortunately, I do. There were two more attempts while we were still at the NLC, but none of them made it past the increased guard force. I know this location was notified to increase its security staff, but better safe than sorry.” His mouth is pressed into a grim line.

  I don’t even try to hide my shock. “There were two more attempts? Seriously? Why is this the first I’m hearing about it?”

  He turns on his side to face me, and props himself up on one elbow. “This is the first I’ve heard of it, too. I sent a message to Glitch this afternoon to ask him to do some more digging since Josephine wasn’t here in the medical facility. He called me back while you were bathing and mentioned the two additional kidnapping attempts. Apparently, they didn’t make it past the exterior guard force, so they didn’t notify the inside personnel. We both found that sketchy, so I’m not taking any chances, even with the small details.”

  My stomach feels like I swallowed a rock at that information. “So, did he find out where Josephine is?”

  He shakes his head. “Unfortunately no. There are no transfer records in her file. The last record was of a blood test confirming the pregnancy was still progressing, and it was recorded under this location two days ago.”

  “That makes no sense. Do you think they lied on the tour today about the floor being empty? Or where the heck is she, if not in the medical facility?” The thought is troubling. Either they’ve lost a pregnant woman, or they’re hiding one—neither is good.

  “Right now, we don’t know. Glitch is going to keep digging, and hopefully you and I can keep digging without raising any alarm bells. He promised to call as soon as he sees or hears anything else pop up on her record.”

  “Well, thank you for calling him. Hopefully we’ll get to the bottom of it soon. Something is not right here.”

  He squeezes my hand before releasing me. “I agree. We’ll get to the bottom of this, one way or another.”

  With that, he reaches over and turns off the light.

  Couple’s Massage

  The next week passes in an activity-filled blur. Patrick and I are in an unspoken truce, and I can feel myself starting to thaw towards him day by day. It’s hard to stay mad when he’s so genuine. He is the same man I fell for at the NLC, and my heart is slowly accepting that. I think it’s time to let Teddy and Faith know the truth, too.

  Today we’re all hiking out to the old lighthouse. Patrick and Teddy both have small packs on their backs with lunch supplies. Once we stop for lunch, I’m going to tell them. Or make Patrick tell them, since it’s his secret.

  The guys are a few yards ahead, and Faith is trekking along beside me quietly. Perhaps too quietly.

  “Everything okay today, Faith? I thought we were both excited about this hike, but your heart doesn’t seem to be in it.”

  She gives me a thin smile, with none of her usual boundless cheer. “Yes, I’m fine. Today was the start of my pregnancy testing cycle.” Her voice grows thick. “It was negative, of course. I know it’s still early, really early, so it could be positive in a few days. But after a while, you start to feel like it’s always going to be negative.” She trails off, and I can tell how badly she’s hurting. “Teddy has given me hope again, Sadie. It’s dangerous. What if I really set my heart on it happening this time, and instead I’m right back where I started, again?”

  We stop in the middle of the trail, and I give her my best sister hug. She clings to me tightly, and over her shoulder I see the guys continuing on, blissfully unaware as they chatter about whatever they’re pointing to in the trees. I pull back a little, but she’s still holding me tightly, so I pull her back. We stay like that for a long moment before I decide what I should say.

  “Faith, there are no guarantees in this world. I think you and I are both really clear on that, at this point of our lives.” I choose my words carefully, “But your endless hope, your determination to be happy regardless of your life circumstances . . . Those are the things that I love about you. You are more than just your mothering potential to me. I hope that you can see that about yourself. I don’t believe the tests will always be negative—but even if they were, I would still have chosen you for my sister. Because you are so much more as a person than your ability to spit out another human.”

  Her grip around me becomes almost painful for a second, before she eases up. I can feel her shoulders shaking, and I make soft soothing sounds while patting her on the back. At some point, the guys realized we were no longer behind them and came back, and they’re waiting for us a few yards away.

  When she’s ready and her tears have subsided, she pulls back and wipes under her eyes a few times. She sniffles. “Thank you, Sadie. I didn’t know how much I needed to hear that from someone until you said it.” She squares her shoulders. “Let’s get back to this hike, shall we?” She offers her elbow to me with an exaggerated flourish.

  I take her elbow, but don’t budge yet. “There’s one more thing. Have you talked to Teddy about how you’re feeling?”

  Her gaze drops to the leaf-strewn trail with guilt. “Not really, no. We’re still in the honeymoon phase, and this is all so new to him. I don’t want to be the black cloud that rains all over him, when he’s still getting started.”

  I nod, as that’s exactly what I suspected. “Faith, you need to know something about the Taylor family. It’s very important.”

  She looks confused now. “What’s that?”

  “We are as tough as they come, and we are loyal to a fault. I know that you are coming fresh off a bad re
lationship . . .” I don’t even say her ex’s name, because I don’t want to bring his harmful attitudes to this beautiful fall day. “But, you should know that when Teddy committed to you, he went all in. Just like I did for Patrick. We Taylors don’t take marriage lightly, and however this shakes out, Teddy will be there for you. I know my brother well enough to know that, and I also know that he wouldn’t want you hurting in silence. When you’re ready, you should try to talk to him.”

  Leaving her with that to think on, I start down the path to catch up to the guys. I try not to think too hard about my own words regarding Patrick, because I’m still not ready to look that closely at my own feelings. One thing at a time, Sadie.

  Once we reach the spot where Teddy and Patrick are waiting, I release her elbow. Teddy instantly wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her in for a tender kiss on the forehead.

  “Everything okay, honey?” He looks her over as if the problem will magically present itself in writing.

  I snort, and he looks up.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “I love you, but you’re dumb sometimes. Come on, Patrick, let’s give them some space. Maybe we can find a good place to stop for lunch.” I charge down the trail, knowing the only solution for Teddy and Faith is some one-on-one honesty.

  Patrick follows without question until we’ve rounded a bend in the trail a few minutes later. “Everything okay?” he asks, his voice breaking the wooded stillness.

  “Not really, but it will be.” I give him a reassuring smile. “I wanted to talk to you about something, though.”

  “Anything. What’s up?” his tone is light, but I can hear the worry underneath.

  “I think it’s time we tell Teddy and Faith who you are. I don’t want to keep it from them, and it would be nice to have someone in the know to talk to.”

  His mouth is set in a grim line, and he’s silent for a few more minutes as we walk amongst the towering, red-and-gold-leaved trees. To my surprise, when he speaks next, he doesn’t argue—despite his obvious reservation.