Chapter Four #2
“Hormones,” the doctor said. “And even unplanned pregnancies can be wonderful, so don’t worry about that. I’m assuming you want to keep the child?”
Kimberly gaped. “Of course.”
“Good. I’ll do a quick vaginal exam, and then we’ll let the daddy come back in for the fun stuff.”
The next few minutes were filled with the necessary procedures regarding female reproductive health. When the doctor pushed back and removed her gloves, she typed a few things into her laptop and pulled up Kimberly’s file. “Based on your last period, I’d say you’re about six weeks along.”
Hearing the confirmation of what she had suspected made Kimberly a little woozy. In seven and a half months she was going to be a mother. Dear Lord...it didn’t seem real.
The doctor opened the door and summoned Jed. He took a seat at Kimberly’s shoulder, glancing at her face as if to gauge her mental state. She managed a smile. The obstetrician squirted a blob of clear jelly on a wand-like instrument and began the ultrasound.
Nothing on the computer screen looked like anything more than gray and black lines. But the doc seemed pleased. She adjusted a knob and smiled. “There’s the heartbeat,” she said. “You can see it even if it’s too early to hear it yet.”
* * *
Jed held his breath, awe flooding his chest with wonder. Such an everyday miracle, and yet to him and Kimberly, it was unprecedented. He took her hand in his, pleased when she gripped it tightly.
Afterward, the doctor spoke to them about prenatal care and vitamins and dos and don’ts and then departed to see the next patient. Jed tried to take it all in, but he had a funny buzzing in his ears. He stepped out again, this time so Kimberly could get dressed.
When she opened the door, he stared at her. “Ready to go?”
She nodded, her expression impossible to read. After a brief pause at the front desk to check out and hand over a copay, they were free to go.
Outside, he took Kimberly’s arm. The skies were nasty-looking, and the winds had picked up. “Come back to the ranch with me. I’ll feed you lunch and you can take a nap.”
“I’ll be fine at home.”
The fact that she was already drooping gave him patience with her intractability. “Please, Kimberly. It’s a wretchedly hot day. Let me pamper you for a little while. You deserve it.”
Big brown eyes searched his face. Her shoulders lifted and fell. “It’s Drew’s house. I’d be embarrassed.”
“It’s my house, too. And if it’s that important to you, I’ll park around back and sneak you into my room.”
Her face turned red. They had executed just such a maneuver on one memorable night when they were in high school. “Okay. I do love Willowbrook.”
“Good.”
“I’m glad you were with me today.”
The quiet admission startled him. Fierce satisfaction made him grip the steering wheel. It was a start.
Back at the ranch, Jed kept his promise. They slipped inside without witnesses. In his bedroom, he settled Kimberly on top of the covers with her back propped against the headboard. He handed her the television remote. “Entertain yourself. I’ll put together some lunch and be back shortly.”
Despite Kimberly’s desire to remain incognito, Jed enlisted the housekeeper’s help in preparing an indoor picnic. The humidity outside was too heavy to make an al-fresco meal enjoyable.
When he returned, arms laden with all sorts of goodies, he found Kimberly asleep again.
She roused when he made a noise. “Sorry,” she said, yawning. “I can’t seem to stay awake.”
He set down the tray. “I think that’s probably normal, isn’t it?” Without waiting for an answer, he dragged a small occasional table near the bed and pulled up a chair. “Do you think you can eat?”
Kimberly nodded. “Once the sickness fades, I’m ravenous.”
He hid a grin when she proved the truth of her words. Ham sandwiches on homemade sourdough bread, fresh fruit and small slices of pound cake with strawberries disappeared in short order.
Afterward, he pushed the table to its original location and joined Kimberly on the side of the bed. Half turning, he cupped her face in his hands. “I want you to marry me, Kimmie.”
She flinched. And it hurt. “Jed...”
“Jed, what?” He kissed her softly, well aware that her lips and body language were more receptive than her words.
If she had shown the slightest interest in pushing him away, he would have stopped.
But she moved against him, resting her head on his chest. “What if all we have is sex? We don’t really even know each other. ”
“Great sex is not a bad start. And we have history...don’t forget that.”
“You’re taking this too lightly.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I swear I’m not. Maybe we should try the sex thing again. Play to our strong suit.”
Her head came up, and she smiled at him wryly. “You’re such a scoundrel. No wonder no female has ever tamed you.”
“If anyone could, it’s you.” He put his heart and soul into the words, making them a pledge.
Kimberly searched his eyes, looking for what, he wasn’t sure. “Make love to me,” she whispered.
She hadn’t answered his proposal, but no man worth his salt chose talk over action. Jed was no different. Perhaps he could convince her in a more visceral way. “Are you sure?” he asked.
Kimberly unbuttoned his shirt. “You heard the doctor. We won’t hurt the baby. And you’ll make the baby’s mother very, very happy.”
Her smile dissolved the last of his resistance. In hushed silence they undressed. His hunger for her was every bit as biting as it had been the night of the reunion, but today was different. He was different.
Easing her onto her back, he leaned over her and gently rubbed her stomach. “We created a new life, Kimmie.” The knowledge still astonished him...made him grateful and humble.
She stroked his arm. “Yes. But we aren’t a couple, Jed. We’re not the same people we were in high school.”
“No, thank God. Because that young guy wasn’t smart enough to know when to fight for something. I could let you go this alone. But that’s not what I want. Haven’t you ever wondered why neither of us has married?”
“Because no one else would have us?”
Her attempt at a joke didn’t make much impact.
He was mesmerized by her full, lush breasts.
Her raspberry-colored nipples responded to his caress by tightening.
“You are so incredibly beautiful,” he muttered.
“I was a fool to let you go. You hurt my adolescent pride, and I told myself I didn’t need you.
But I was wrong. It’s taken me too damn long to figure that out. ”
She shivered visibly, her lips parting on a sigh. “I’m tired of running from you, Jed. And though you may not want to hear it, I’m pretty sure I’ve always been in love with you. But this conversation wouldn’t be happening if I weren’t pregnant.”
Now he understood. And he felt ashamed for not telling her sooner.
But there had been plenty of distractions.
“Not true,” he muttered hoarsely, wishing he had dealt with this confession earlier so he could concentrate on giving her the best sex of her life.
“I wasn’t in Royal by accident yesterday. I came back to talk to you.”
Her eyes widened. “Truly?”
“Truly. I swear it. I’ve been up to my eyeballs in crises at work.
But six weeks was long enough. I was pissed when I woke up in the hotel that morning and you were gone, but I finally realized that you were probably as scared as I was.
It’s not easy to admit that another person holds your happiness in her hands.
” The urgency of his desire was transmuted by the need to make her believe.
“I can’t walk away this time, Kimmie. I won’t. I love you.”
Emotions flitted across her face. Doubt. Wonder. And finally, a painfully tentative smile. “I believe you, Jed. I really do. Because I’ve walked the same road. Had the same arguments with myself. But we need to take some time and think this through. I don’t want to get married out of necessity.”
He entered her slowly, his gaze locked with hers. Was it hope he saw there?
“It is necessity,” he said, groaning. “Because I can’t live without you.”
* * *
Kimberly felt a rush of pleasure so intense it took her breath. Jed was silent now. He moved in her skillfully, taking them both to the edge. Even as he shuddered in her arms, she came apart, as well. The knowledge that a tiny life grew inside her womb made the moment all the more sweet.
She was almost asleep when an eerie noise caught her attention. “Jed...listen.”
He leapt to his feet and started throwing clothes at her. “Tornado sirens. Hurry, Kimberly.”
Willowbrook Farms was a large-enough property to warrant more than one storm shelter.
They would head for the nearest one just in case.
As she struggled into her dress, she wished they had opened the drapes.
“Do you think we’re in danger?” It had been a very long time since Royal had seen any really bad storms.
Jed wrapped his arms around her for a swift, reassuring hug. “This is probably a precaution. But I’m not taking any chances.”
Her fingers gripped his. Running beside him down the hall, she stumbled and gasped as they lurched out into the hot muggy October afternoon. In the distance, a funnel cloud dropped from the sky. Dear Lord. Fear stopped her dead in her tracks. “Jed. Oh my God.”
For two, maybe three seconds they watched the monster form, huge and ominous. Her skin chilled at the sight of its dreadful power. Unless a miracle happened, life in Royal was about to change irrevocably. The baby on the way would bring its own chaos, but in a much more benevolent way.
Jed took her hand, urging her on. He must have sensed her near panic, because he tried to distract her. “Concentrate on the baby, Kimmie. As soon as they give us the all clear, you and I are going to make some plans for the future.”
Sweat trickled down her back as Jed half dragged her toward the shelter. Despite the fear that consumed her, she clung to the promise of peace. “I can’t wait, Jed. This is finally our time...” They descended the wooden stairs, and Jed pulled the doors closed behind them...
* * * * *