Unacquainted Read online

  I hear my phone is ringing downstairs and as I run to grab it, I trip halfway down the stairs, landing face first, falling on my stomach. A sudden pain makes it impossible to stand and when I do, I fall back down. Crawling down my long hallway and swearing at myself, fear grips me. This pain is not normal. It can’t be. Why did I run down the stairs? I put my hand down my pants to check for blood. The sight of no blood doesn’t ease my fear as the cramps become more intense.

  Pulling myself along the tile floor as I get closer to the kitchen and my purse, which is on the floor, takes me at least ten minutes. I text Ruth to tell her where my spare key is, that I was hurt and to let herself in. The pain continues as I call 911.

  As soon as the operator answers, I hear the key jiggle in the door. “Rose,” Ruth calls out.

  “Ruth, I’m down the hallway.” As I’m talking to the operator and seeing the face of Ruth, I’m even more scared. I can’t lose my baby. I can’t lose Brody’s baby. I answer the operator, “Yes, I’m not alone anymore, my boyfriend’s family just walked in the door. Yes, still send one. I’m twenty-five weeks pregnant. Yes, what hospital will they take me to?”

  “Rose, darling, what happened?” Ruth asks with a fear in her eyes which is not hard to sense.

  “I fell down the stairs. Can you call Brody and have him meet us at Deaconess Hospital?”

  Within five minutes, I hear the ambulance sirens come around the townhouse complex. Henry and Bryn are waiting outside for them and hurry in with the paramedics.

  They walk in and look at me. “Are you Rose?”

  “Yes,” I cry out in fear. As much as I need to be in control, the five minutes made me nervous as the baby has never been more still inside of me.

  “How far along are you, Rose?” Asks the sympathetic EMT.

  “I’m twenty-five weeks.”

  “Okay, honey, I know you’re scared. Who is this with you, Rose?”

  “This is my boyfriend’s mom.”

  “Okay, Rose honey, can you have her call your doctor’s office?” I give Ruth my phone with the numbers listed. Ruth stands to go into the other room.

  I suddenly hear Brody’s voice coming from down the hall as they transfer me to a gurney. I see Ruth try to intercept him, to prepare him for the pain I’m in.

  “Rose, oh my Lord.” When you’re linked to someone like I’m with Brody, even for the small amount of time we have had together, you can hear everything in their voice and see it as if it was written on their face. “Toots, you will be okay, so will the baby.” He’s trying not to cry in fear.

  “You’re the dad?” asks the paramedic.

  “Yes.”

  “Are you riding with us?”

  “Hell yes, I am. Rose, I’m right here, okay, Toots?”

  He looks at his mom the same way I look at my own mother when I’m hurt, regardless of my age. He wants her to fix this. She only replies, “Honey, go with Rose, we will be right behind you.”

  Brody remembers what I need right now as he looks at Ruth and says, “Mom, call Justine.”

  “I have Rose’s phone. I’m calling her doctor right now, then her mom.”

  31

  Justine

  The phone rings and I smile as the picture of my sweet daughter appears on the screen. I have missed her since she has been working on her new relationship with Brody. I really thought after Jones, I could never love her other half as much as him. Yet, Brody is already etched into my heart and he treats my Rose so well.

  I reach for the phone and say, “Rose, my girl, I thought you were having dinner with the Buchannan’s?”

  “Justine, this is Ruth Buchannan. There has been an accident. Rose fell down the stairs and is on her way to Deaconess in an ambulance. Justine?”

  I instantly lose my footing, grappling for the kitchen counter. Nick instantly sees my reaction and picks up the phone without asking me a question. He’s my fixer, he always has been. Taking my phone, I hear him say as tears form in my eyes, “Hi, this is Nick, Justine’s husband, who is this?”

  Nick puts the phone on speaker as I hear her say, “Nick, this is Ruth, Brody’s mom. Rose fell down the stairs. Can you meet us at Deaconess?”

  “Does Gladys know?” This is one of the many reasons I love my man. He knows what I need.

  Ruth explains all the details and by the time the phone call ends, we are already in the car, heading to the hospital.

  I’m allowed in the room with Brody at first, until Gladys arrives. Rose has been unconscious but responsive. Brody thinks he should update his parents as I speak to Rose.

  “Rose.” She finally opens her fucking eyes and I breathe for the first time since getting to the hospital. Kai has been blowing up my phone asking if he needs to catch a flight. Gladys is standing right next to me, I even hear her small sigh of relief.

  “You gave us quite the scare, little lady.”

  “Gladys, the baby. Is he or she okay? Where is Brody?” Looking at me, she starts to cry. “Mom, is the baby okay?”

  Gladys tries to calm Rose. “Brody is out talking to his folks and your crew. You were lucky, my dear. Somehow the baby didn’t experience any stress. I’m concerned about the pain you had. No bleeding, that is good, but we are keeping you overnight and possibly longer.”

  “So, the baby is fine?”

  “Yes, at this point we think he or she will be, honey, but we need to be cautious moving forward. Do you know how scared that boy has been and not to mention your mother? I’m surprised your brother hasn’t sprouted wings to fly up here and I won’t even tell you about your dad or Hildy. The good thing about the pregnant body is that you’re designed to take on the pain and hurt before you do harm to your baby.”

  “I think I passed out.”

  “Yes. You did. It was shock and I barely got your boy out of the room. Listen to me; you have a baby you’re growing in there. You can’t be this careless. Do you understand me?” I stay quiet this whole time because Gladys is doing well giving her hell.

  “Yes, I feel so stupid, Gladys.”

  “Let me go out and help him reassure everyone out there, especially your dad who had a moment of worry. You’re lucky, that kid loves you to death so I will get him back in here. I better make sure that we can get a hide-away bed for him.”

  Finally, with Gladys out of the room, my emotions kick in. “My sweet girl, you worried me, Nick, and your dad like crazy.”

  “I’m sorry, Mom.”

  “I have never seen a person as worried as Brody was for you. When you passed out, he thought we might lose you, until Gladys explained your body being in shock.”

  Gladys walks out of the room to get Rose’s man and within one minute, Brody is back.

  “Rose,” he says softly as it takes him one long stride to get to her side. “You scared the hell out of me. What were you thinking? I should have come home when you asked me to. I’m so sorry.”

  “It was my fault. I took on too much and you warned me. I wanted your mom to know I could take care of you.” Watching the way he cares for my girl brings me to tears.

  “Great, now I made my mom cry.” Rose says.

  “No, I’m just relieved you’re all right and that you’re taken care of,” I say, looking at Brody.

  I stay by her side, not wanting to leave.

  Her dad walks over to her, giving her a kiss on the forehead. “Rose, honey, you okay?”

  “I’m fine, as long as the baby is okay, I just feel stupid.”

  With tears still in my eyes, Rafe gives me a hug. Gladys is only letting Rafe and I back here for now. Man, I need Nick’s comfort right now but seeing my daughter and grandchild are okay, I calm a little. “Can I stay with you tonight?”

  “Brody will be here with me tonight.”

  “Okay, he certainly has first right to be with you, though I don’t think I will get much sleep.”

  “Mom, Gladys is watching me. Please do me a favor. Still have the Buchannan’s over tomorrow. They will go crazy if not.”
She looks at her dad, “Do you think Hildy is still up to it?”

  “You know Hildy, my dear,” her father says, grabbing her shoulder with a light, tender squeeze. “By the way, you scared the hell out of her, too, and her exact words were to tell you not to be jävla dumma. You know Hildy, when she breaks out the Swiss words, it is not good.”

  “Oh, I remember, I lived with you when I was a holy terror. I have heard that phrase too many times, I know what it means.”

  “I don’t. I didn’t think Hildy swore, ever,” I say. Rafe leans over and whispers the meaning in my ear.

  “Oh, I see that Hildy and I are more alike than I thought.”

  “She can come up with some good ones, Justine, believe me,” Rafe says.

  I only say, “Don’t be jävla dumma, you hear me, my daughter?”

  “Yes, Mom. Thanks, Dad, all we need is for Mom to have more ways to say the F word from now on,” Rose teases.

  32

  Rose

  Thankfully, after a month, the baby is growing normally. The scare of me falling down the stairs is behind me, though Brody has enforced a strict holding onto the banister rule. He at one time warned that if I didn’t, he was going to install one of the stair lifts. Thinking he was joking, I saw the look on his face and he certainly wasn’t playing around.

  When I get home one night, Brody has a silly look on his face. “Guess who I just got off the phone with?”

  “Who?” I ask.

  “Hildy’s sister, Heidi,” he says with a satisfied smile, this time bigger than it was before.

  “What? You don’t even know her.”

  “I know, but that has never stopped me. Anyways, she sounds as sweet as Hildy,” Brody says. “So anyway, I wanted to see if we could use the cabin for the long weekend your brother and Jane are here.”

  “Really?” I kiss him on the cheek. “Oh, that is great, I will see if Mom and Nick want to come, too.”

  “Yes, only on one condition, though, Toots.”

  “I know, I can’t cook, clean or do anything to help anyone.”

  “You’re a smart one, Toots,” he says as he takes me in his arms, aiming me toward the bedroom. There is no complaint from me; I’m horny as hell. I can’t seem to get enough sex. “I sure love this side effect of pregnancy,” he says, slapping my ass tenderly as we both quickly make a beeline for our room.

  Brody is home from work early the day we are expecting Kai and Jane. “This never happens,” I say, embracing him from behind. “Okay, that is getting hard to do now with this growing baby.” Leaning over, I kiss his cheek. “What did I do to deserve this?” I ask, looking at the dinner he’s preparing.

  “I wanted to cook you a special dinner. Here lately it feels like all we eat are tacos and spaghetti, plus I want to show up your brother.” Giving me a small wink, Brody continues, “Anyway, the last time we had company, you ended up in the hospital and I would care never to repeat that.”

  I can’t help but laugh. Yes, it has been a month since I scared the hell out of everyone with my impromptu landing.

  “Well, I won’t complain. I love chicken fried steak,” I say, batting my big brown eyes at him.

  “Don’t think I haven’t noticed when we’re out in restaurants.” He smiles, studying me. Somehow, this touches my heart and waterworks erupt in my eyes. He simply kisses my cheek, as he has accepted the emotions and hormones that are taking over my body.

  Sinking on the barstool on the other side of the bar top, I ask, “Well, what can I do?”

  “Sit here and keep me company, Toots. Tell me all about your day.”

  As I try to concentrate on telling him about my day, he’s taking the meat mallet and cubing the steak; flour is strewn everywhere. “For someone so freakishly clean, you sure do make a mess in the kitchen.”

  “I know, this is the one thing I got from my dad and not my mom.”

  I continue to tell him about a new project I’m taking on at work. “Don’t worry. I’m not over-taxing myself.” I laugh as I try to lean over to wipe flour off of his nose. “But onto another subject, have you given any thought to where we might live when we get married or have other kids?” I ask.

  “Well, that question materialized out of thin air, Toots, but why doesn’t it surprise me you’re planning for a couple of years out?” I shrug, not saying a word, just waiting for his reply. “I figured we would stay here for now. We are good here until we add more to our little family.”

  He’s talking about our future together and I know he has given it a lot of thought, even though he teases me about my need for a plan. “I would love an actual house, but wouldn’t you want to stay at home with our babies?”

  “Yes, by the second one, certainly I would.”

  He comes around and plants himself next to me. “See, I want that, too. I guess I’m giving this a lot of thought because for so long, I always had it in my mind I would settle in Pendleton on the family land and live in the second house.”

  “What? What are you talking about?”

  “There is a second house on the lot, a couple miles from my parents’ farm. It’s a ranch-style house. It needs a lot of work, but when you told me we were going to be a family, I gave it up, happily.”

  “I had no idea. I’m so sorry, Brody.”

  “Why be sorry? I want to be with you. That is what’s important to me.” He switches the subject. “Back to our house, I would like to keep the mortgage low and my dad and I can fix up any house we buy.”

  “I would still probably work a day or two a week, if Hildy could help. I know I can contract my services. Bring in a couple thousand a month.”

  “See, Toots, that is good planning on your part,” he half-teases as I stick my tongue out. “I want you to stay at home and I thought we would look for a house once the baby turns one.”

  “You want more babies that close together?”

  “I don’t know, honestly,” he says, cracking open a cold beer.

  “I can’t wait to have a glass of wine,” I say jealous.

  “I have something for you.” He smiles and grabs what looks like a wine bottle. As he pours it, I see it is sparkling grape juice. “Here, it’s not the same as the real stuff, but I thought you could pretend.”

  “This is awfully sweet.”

  “I can be sweet from time to time,” he flirts.

  “You know, we will have time while this is cooking before my brother gets here for ourselves. I watch him as he continues to beat on the meat. “Don’t take your frustrations out on the meat, stud.”

  He smirks at me, “Believe me, I’m just trying to get finished so I can partake in some pre-dinner foreplay before the main course.”

  “Look at you, I can’t believe it!” Kai yells as he sees me waddling down the stairs. “You look amazing!” I haven’t seen my brother since the trip to Sacramento when Brody and I were merely strangers.

  “I should have known you would show up in time for dinner,” I razz, hugging him tightly. Well, as tightly as I can at six months pregnant.

  He extends his hand to Brody’s. “Who would have guessed that this was going to happen all because of our wedding,” Kai jokes.

  “I guess I owe you and Jane a big thank-you. Where is your bride?” Brody asks.

  “I dropped her off at Emma’s. She’s really worried about her; Emma is having such a hard time. Annette’s been there all week. She’ll bring her by later.”

  I have been by to see my sister several times but each time, she gives Tyler some excuse as to why she can’t see me. Before I can focus on Emma’s hard time with postpartum, my brother gives me another hug. “You look really good, Rose, I can’t wait to meet my niece or nephew.”

  Brody finally can’t hold it back anymore and says, “I hope you like chicken fried steak.”

  “Sis, you’re training him early. Don’t let Jane catch you in the kitchen, she will get the idea I belong here a lot more,” he jokes with Brody.

  “Speaking of Jane, how possible wou
ld it be to talk you all into moving up here?” Rose asks.

  “I wish, but my wife’s heart will always be in California so that is where my heart will be, too. But really, Sacramento is just a quick flight and now that I will have this little one to spoil, I will be up here more often.” I look at Brody and he agrees with Kai. He will follow me anywhere and I’m okay with that.

  Jane knocks on the door shortly after 11 pm and I’m the only one still awake in the house. The baby is practicing for the Olympics with all the twists and turns he or she’s performing in my stomach. “Hey, girl! I’ve missed you so much,” I say as I hug my sister-in-law. “Kai was so tired, he went to bed but wanted me to tell you to wake him up. I have some leftovers saved from dinner.”

  “I’m starving,” she says with a look of discontent on her face. She leans back and fully takes in the sight of my stomach. “Rose, good Lord, could you be any cuter?” She stands back again, looking at me a second time. “I wish you wouldn’t have cooked.”

  “Oh, I didn’t, it was Brody.” I smile.

  “Really?”

  “Yes, but Kai didn’t want me to tell you that.” I laugh.

  Jane walks into the kitchen and heats up her plate as I sit at the kitchen bar, joining her. “Rose, you seem so happy.”

  “I adore Brody. He’s wonderful. We have had a small setback but I would be scared if we hadn’t.” I say, thinking about the issue with his finances.

  “The minute I met Brody, I instantly wanted to set you up. But both times you were in Sacramento, he was out of town visiting his folks. At our wedding, I thought it would be a good time but you had told me you were thinking of going back to Jones. I was surprised when you left with him that night. He’s such a great guy.”

  “But he’s really hung up on money, well, more the lack of his compared to mine. We finally got that hashed out, we just opened a joint account.”