CHAPTER EIGHTEEN #2
My thoughts from earlier are interrupted, as Halo stands from the floor tossing her ball down the hallway then goes to chase it, as Ginger stays close by.
I’m thankful that Glammy and Granddad are allowing us to stay here with them at their LA home and allowed us to bring the dogs with us.
Following behind her to make sure she stays away from the kitchen, Halo bypasses that room and dashes out the front door, where someone left it cracked open.
Rushing after her, I’m two steps out the door when Ryan sweeps her up.
“Thank you, Ryan!” I exclaim. “She’s getting faster every day.”
“No worries, Saylor. We’re staying closer for now,” he says, then tosses her up in the air to keep her from wiggling out of his arms. They are the best of buddies now and Ginger is slightly jealous of the attention Halo gives to Ryan.
I look out over the driveway, and find Mitch and Levi in a heated argument. I’ve never seen him be so aggressive with Mitch, and my legs move on their own accord towards them. The closer I get, the louder their voices carry towards me.
“You said he was dead!” Levi snaps and shoves a package into Mitch’s chest. “And that this was all over.”
“He is. I don’t—”
“What’s going on here guys?” I ask, wanting to break up this tense moment.
“Saylor—” Levi trails off, then wraps me in a bear hug, squeezing all the air out of my body.
“What’s going on, Levi? What could be so upsetting that you’d speak and yell at Mitch like that?”
“Oh, baby. I thought it was over but it’s not.”
“Levi, you’re not making any sense. What’s not over?”
“Where’s Halo?” he asks looking around, and I point over to the front door that is now closed and no sight of Ryan, Ginger or Halo.
“Please, listen to me. Nothing is going to happen to you or our daughter, I’d never let anything happen.” Levi gives me the most pleading look.
“Levi you’re scaring me,” I plead, and take a step back to give us both some breathing room.
“Don’t leave me, please,” he sounds like a child all of a sudden, and I know whatever it is it’s bad.
“Tell me. I can handle it, just tell me.”
Levi never takes his eyes from me and reaches out his hand to the package that Mitch is holding. He holds it to his chest like a spoiled child who doesn’t want to share his toys. Slowly, he lowers it and I look inside.
The first thing I notice is the perfect picture of the three of us walking hand in hand as a family. I actually think we should frame it. But then, the further down my eyes go, I see in big bold red letters a message at the bottom.
I told you what would happen if you didn’t leave them. Did you think I’d make empty threats? I’m coming for them; you and your security won’t see it in time.
The world spins and my stomach drops, but not before my knees buckle. I can hear shouting and the howl of Zeus in the background, but the black spots cover my eyes as my body goes limp.
BEEP…BEEP…BEEP…
The sound of yelling wakes me, but my eyes are heavy.
“Sir, you can’t have animals in the hospital.” A female voice finally rings out.
“He’s not going anywhere but staying beside her.”
“Sir, he’s making it hard for the other nurses to do their job. It’s against policy to have him here,” the female states.
I hear the growl of Zeus, and feel a shift of weight at the bottom of the bed.
“Then get someone in here that he trusts and it won’t be a problem!
Zeus isn’t going anywhere. Get your supervisor in here and don’t come back unless you have answers for me.
No, get the CEO in here, my family has given millions to this hospital in donations, and I won’t have you upsetting my dog or wife when she wakes up,” Levi booms.
The door opens and closes as my vision starts to clear.
“Thank god, you’re awake!” Levi beams and rushes over to me, and Zeus turns so that his head is in my lap.
“What happened? I remember being in the front of the house, then you letting me see that package. Was it real?”
Levi nods and grabs for my hands.
“I promise that nothing is going to happen to you or Halo.”
“Where is she?” I start to panic.
Levi places a hand on my cheek, “She’s playing in an office down the hall. Ryan is in there with Everly, Mom and Mitch. We’ve got two other men stationed right outside the door. Linc is talking to the chief of police.”
“Who would send that? I thought you said Kevin Jenkins was dead?” I lean in to his touch, as my heartrate starts to slow down.
“We don’t know. Mitch, William and Dean are looking into it.” He looks about as frustrated as I do. Maybe the saying ‘ignorance is bliss’ really is something to live by.
“Am I okay? How long did I pass out?”
Levi gives a soft smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Almost three hours.” My eyes widen as he continues. “There is something I need to tell you, and I’m not sure how you’re going to take it but I need you to know that I’m here and we’ll do this together.”
“You’re scaring me Levi. What is it? What’s wrong?”
Before he can tell me, the door opens and a man in a white coat is ushered in. Zeus is on immediate alert and sits up in a defensive stance. Right away, I remember him.
“Saylor, it’s so good to see that you’re awake,” Dr. Hampton says, as he comes up beside the bed. Zeus calms and lays down, but keeps watch. “I hope your husband has told you the reason I’m here, and hopefully we’ll have the results shortly.”
“Results? Of what?” Dr. Hampton looks over to Levi, and he shakes his head.
“Well,” he pauses then turns his full focus to me.
“When you were brought in, I was in the ER at the time and took over your case. Your husband told us of your medical history and when I asked if you were on birth control, he had said yes. When I asked what kind, one of your security handed over the pill package to give us the name.”
“Okay, but why does that matter?”
“It matters because there was a complete recall on that certain brand of birth control.”
“Recall?”
“Yes, Saylor, that type was not effective at stopping pregnancy.”
“What are you saying?” I pause, taking in everything he’s telling me. “Am I pregnant?”
“According to the results taken in the ER, yes you are pregnant.”
“Oh God! Are you sure?”
“Yes, the results were accurate.” I feel my hand get squeezed, and remember that I’m not the only one in the room.
“How far along? This can’t be happening, not with everything going on.”
The door opens and a nurse comes in, pulling the sonogram machine and a folder with papers in her hand. She hands the paperwork over to Dr. Hampton, then starts to plug in the machine.
Dr. Hampton starts looking down at the documents, squinting his eyes at certain parts of the pages.
“What is it? What does it say?” Levi all but demands, and I can feel the sweat form in our joined hands.
This can’t be happening. How is Levi going to deal with me having Brody’s child? Now he’ll always be in our lives. Will Levi want that? Will he leave me because I’m not having his child?
“Saylor, Mr. Thorne, it seems that when we ran your blood panels, to have it on record, that birth control being present in your system came back as negative.”
“Negative? How? I take it every morning when I wake up. Like clockwork!” I turn to Levi. “I swear this isn’t like the last time where I forgot. I take it every morning, and haven’t missed a day since getting back on it right after Halo was born.”
“I believe you.” Levi gives me an encouraging nod, and kisses my forehead.
“According to the results, there is no evidence of any trace of it being in your bloodstream. That means that for at least the past twenty-one days, you have not been taking an effective form of birth control.”
“Then what the hell has she been taking?” Levi demands.
“That’s what I was getting to. My assistant had the pills in the package tested and with a security guy from your team, Mitch, I believe standing over them. The results are that every pill in the package are all sugar pills. But it also showed that the packaging had been tampered with.”
“Sugar pills?” Levi says before I can speak.
“Yes, the entire pack.” Dr. Hampton confirms. “Saylor, do you remember where this prescription came from?”
I try to think back at the name of the pharmacy in Helena, but come up blank.
“I don’t remember. Brody always—” I stop and close my eyes.
No, he wouldn’t. He couldn’t have, could he?
“That motherfucker!” Levi yells, and Mitch comes rushing in at his scream.
Tears are flooding down my face and I’m having a hard time catching my breath.
“How could he do this? Why would he?” I wail as my heart is breaking at Brody’s ultimate betrayal.
It seems like forever before both Levi and I calm down. Our hands are latched together, holding on for dear life.
“We’ll get through this, baby. I promise.”
“Would you like for me to come back another time to scan the baby?” Dr. Hampton asks from a corner, where he and a nurse are waiting patiently. I completely forgot he was even there.
“No, let’s see the baby and make sure that he or she is healthy,” I shakily say. No matter who the baby’s father is, I’m a mother first and foremost and I need to make sure everything is going smoothly for him or her.
After several minutes, Dr. Hampton scans and takes the measurements. He asks several questions about when my last menstrual cycle was and after calculating, he turns back to the screen.
“I’d say that you’re around eight weeks according to the measurements and dates of the last period.”
Levi freezes, and I can see the wheels turning.
“What is it?” I ask him.
“It could be mine.” His confidence shining through. “That’s around the time we got together. It’s possible that this baby is mine.” He places a hand on the side of my belly.
I feel a wave of relief wash over me, but I don’t want to get my hopes up.
“But it was just that one time. Brody and I—” I trail off, not wanting to think about that jackass right now.
“All it takes is just one time, Saylor. And we both know that I have very good swimmers!” We both burst out with a laugh, but then remember how serious this situation is.
“Levi,” my voice trembles and my lip quivers, but then he’s right there with his nose touching mine.
“We are going to be just fine. No matter what,” he assures me, and I can only nod.
“But what about—”
He cuts me off again, like he knows what my mind is saying before I can finish speaking.
“You and me, baby. Against the world.”