Chapter Thirty-Four Caterina
As I stood underneath the stream of the shower head, I reflected on the past four months. How quickly Autumn had melted into winter, and before I knew it, Callum and I had celebrated six months together. When I was in the order, time seemed to stretch on endlessly. But now there was so much going on that time practically flew by.
While I lathered up my hair, I smiled at the memories from December. For the first time in three years, I’d celebrated a traditional Christmas. Well, considering it was an Irish Christmas, it was different from the Christmases I’d grown up with. Orla, Maeve, and Eamon had flown over, and the house was filled with love and laughter. The women and I decorated the house within an inch of its life as well as baking sweets constantly. I couldn’t remember a time I’d ever been so happy.
In a show of solidarity, my brothers had spent Christmas Day with us, and I’d prepared some of the Italian dishes we’d grown up with. Since Callum’s shooting, my brothers had remained estranged from my parents. The fact that the shooting could”ve possibly ended my life as well as Callum’s had fractured the already precarious relationship. The Neretti family now was split into the camps still supporting my father and the ones who supported Rafe.
Once I finished my shower and got dressed, I made my way downstairs. After receiving another playful smack on the ass by Callum as he came out of the dining room, I headed for the kitchen. I needed to grab something quick if I was going to make it to my class on time. When I entered the kitchen and smelled the meat frying, my stomach clenched. As bile shot into my throat, I clamped my hand over my mouth. Without enough time to make it to the bathroom, I sprinted around Lorna to throw up in the kitchen sink.
After retching repeatedly, I wiped my mouth and turned on the hot water. Lorna’s hand pressed gently on my back. “Are you all right, lass?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. That came out of nowhere.” Glancing at her over my shoulder, I asked, “I must’ve picked up a bug on campus.”
Lorna’s eyes narrowed curiously. “When was your last monthly?”
I furrowed my brows. “What does my period have–” Before I could finish, my stomach lurched again. As I threw up, I realized how stupid my question was. My period, or lack thereof, had everything to do with me being sick.
Once I finished, I dried my lips and face with a paper towel. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize it.”
“What?”
“I haven’t gotten my period this month,” I whispered.
Lorna’s brows furrowed. “How late are you?”
I did the math in my head. When I realized how late I was, I gasped. “Two weeks.”
Now it was Lorna’s time to gasp. But then a beaming expression lit up her face. “Oh lass, you’re up the pole.”
I groaned but laughed in spite of myself. “That is the worst expression I’ve ever heard.”
“That might be true, but it’s the best news ever.” When I didn’t respond, she cocked her head. “It is good news, isn’t it?”
“Of course.”
“Callum needs an heir.”
“I know.”
She frowned. “Then what’s the problem?”
“I guess I’m just surprised.”
Lorna shot me an exasperated look. “Considering how many pairs of sheets the two of you go through, it shouldn’t be a surprise at all.”
Heat burned in my cheeks. “Lorna!” I protested.
She grinned. “It’s the truth, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I mumbled with embarrassment.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“It’s just…” Panicked out-of-control thoughts whirled through my mind. “It’s just fast. We haven’t been married long. A year ago I was a sister. I’ve barely gotten used to the idea of being a wife and now I’m going to be a mother.” I swallowed hard. “There’s a selfish part of me who wanted more time with just Callum.”
“Aw, love, I can understand that. I’m sure it does seem fast.” She pushed my hair out of my face. “But if there’s one thing I’m certain of, you’re going to make an amazing mother.”
“You really think so?”
She patted my cheek. “I certainly do.”
As Kellan and Quinn came into the kitchen, I put my finger over my lips. Whispering in my ear, Lorna said, “You want me to make you an appointment today with the Kavanaugh family OB?” At my nod, she turned and left the kitchen.
Kellan sniffed the air before wrinkling his nose. “Why does it smell like puke in here?”
My face flushed and I hurriedly turned back to the sink. As I furiously sprayed cleaner everywhere, I replied, “Sorry. There was some spoiled food I was helping Lorna get rid of.”
He nodded and grabbing one of the croissants on the counter. “We better get going if we don’t want to be late.”
Just before I could argue that I wasn’t quite ready, Lorna appeared. “I was able to make that appointment for you this afternoon. I’ll text you the details.”
Neither Kellan nor Quinn appeared to be paying attention. “Thank you.”
She smiled and then in a low voice said, “I want to hear all about it as soon as you’re done.”
“I will. I promise.”
As I grabbed my messenger bag, I couldn’t fight the anxiety creeping its way up my spine. I didn’t know how I was possibly going to make it through my lab today. I tried burying any thoughts of the pregnancy so Kellan wouldn’t be suspicious. Instead, I put my best college coed face on and prepared to face the day.
After class ended, Kellan walked me to the car. “Want to grab some lunch?” he asked.
We usually had lunch somewhere on campus before heading back to the house. Glancing at my phone, I only had thirty minutes to make it to my appointment. “Actually, I need to get to the doctor’s.”
Kellan’s brows furrowed. “I didn’t know you were sick.”
“I’m not.”
“Then why do you have to go to the doctor?”
Even though I didn’t want to allude to anything to make Kellan suspicious, I knew there was one way to shut him up and get him off the trail. Tilting my head at him, I replied, “Okay, Mr. Nosy, if you must know, I’m going for my yearly appointment at the gynecologist.”
Kellan stared at me, unblinking and unmoving, for a few moments before a red flush crept up his neck and onto his cheeks. “Oh, um, yeah, that’s…right.”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing in his face. “Sometimes it’s just better not to ask, huh?” I teased.
He grimaced. “Fucking yes.”
For the rest of the brief walk, he kept his hands stuffed in his pockets and stared straight ahead. When we reached the car, Owen nodded at Kellan. “Mrs. Kavanaugh informed me of this afternoon’s plan. Are you accompanying her to the doctor?”
Red once again flushed over Kellan as he furiously waved his hands. “No, no. I’ll have Shane meet me there, so you can wait with her.”
Without another glance at me, Kellan hopped into the front seat. When we didn’t make any of our usual small talk about class, I caught Owen glancing curiously between me and Kellan. He wasn’t used to any silence between us.
Rolling my eyes, I said, “He found out what doctor I’m going to.”
Now it was Owen’s turn to grimace. “Exactly,” Kellan muttered.
As I laughed under my breath, I realized that men being mortified of the gynecologist was hopefully going to buy me more time to keep my secret from Callum.
* * *
Although Kellan was off the hook at being in a gyno’s office, Owen was forced to suffer through coming in with me. Apparently being a Kavanaugh meant that there wasn’t any waiting because as soon as I checked in, we were whisked back to a room. “I’ll wait out here,” Owen muttered. His expression pained further when the nurse asked for a urine sample.
After peeing into the cup in the bathroom, I came back out and climbed onto the examining table. While I was used to getting blood taken at labs or in separate rooms, a phlebotomist rolled her cart right in. She eyed me curiously, and I’m sure she wondered what made me a VIP. Once she’d taken my blood, she quickly exited, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
It didn’t take too long before a middle-aged doctor with a dark mustache rushed into the room. “Hello, Mrs. Kavanaugh, I’m Dr. Eilish.”
I shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
With a smile, he questioned, “Which Kavanaugh brother are you married to?”
“Callum.”
My declaration caused him to pale slightly. “Please tell your husband on future visits I’ll have my colleague complete your physical examinations.”
When I realized his meaning, I rolled my eyes. “Your female colleague?” At his nod, I grumbled, “Figures.”
Dr. Eilish’s smile returned. “It’s an honor to deliver the happy news.”
“I’m pregnant?”
“Yes. Your HcG levels look strong and–”
“You were already able to test my blood?” With what little medical training I had, I knew it usually took a little longer for those results to come back.
With a knowing look, he replied, “Normally it does, but for special patients, we can speed up the process.”
Special patients who were married to Irish gang leaders. “So everything looks good?”
Dr. Eilish nodded. “I want to get you started on prenatal vitamins. If Mr. Kavanaugh would like to accompany you, we can do an ultrasound on your next visit.”
Once again, my VIP status was showing since I knew they didn’t usually do those until later in pregnancy. “That would be wonderful.”
As he started for the door, he said, “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
After he left, I sat in a stupor for a moment. I was pregnant. Callum was going to be a father, and I was going to be a mother. A very young mother. Despite the anxiety raging around me, I knew I could do it. I had an amazing support system with Lorna and the boys. My long dormant dream of being a mother had come true.
My thoughts went to Callum, and I took my phone from my pocket.
Just had a quick doctor’s appointment. Don’t worry, everything was fine. Coming to see you.
I hopped off the table and headed out the door. Owen stood ramrod straight across from me. “Everything go okay?”
Since I couldn’t contain myself a minute longer, I blurted, “I’m pregnant!”
Owen stared wide-eyed for a moment before he smiled. “That’s wonderful news, Mrs. Kavanaugh.”
“Thank you,” I replied with a grin. Once again, I checked my phone, but there were no calls or return texts from Callum.
“Let’s get you back home.”
“Actually, I’d like to tell Callum in person, so please take me to his office,” I instructed as we walked into the sunshine.
Owen paled slightly. “Um, I don’t think that’s possible since he’s in back to back meetings today.”
“I’m pretty sure he’ll give me a few minutes,” I teasingly replied.
“No. I better take you home.”
My mouth dropped open at his response. Peering suspiciously at him, I commanded, “Take me to Callum’s office, Owen.”
He grimaced. “I can’t do that, ma’am.”
“Why not?”
“Because I have strict orders to take you home.”
I furrowed my brows at him. “You spoke to Callum?”
“Aye.”
Anger and hurt rippled through me that apparently Callum could respond to my bodyguard but not to me. I fully intended to give him a piece of my mind about it. “I don’t care what he said. I’m telling you to take me to Callum’s office,” I countered.
“With all due respect, Mrs. Kavanaugh, you’re not my boss.”
Red criss-crossed my vision at his response. “Take me to his office now,” I bit out.
Owen ran his hand over his face. “I can’t do that.”
“Why ever not?”
“Because he isn’t there.”
“Then where is he?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.”
With a frustrated grunt, I lifted my phone and pulled up the tracking app that Gianni secretly had installed at the reception. Initially, I hadn’t wanted him to do it, but Gianni had insisted. Since I didn’t even begin to understand the technology behind it, I’d never used it. But like most things in life, there was a first time for everything.
When I read Callum’s location, I froze at the description. “He’s at a strip club?” I choked out.
“It’s not like that, ma’am. The Kavanaugh brothers own the club.”
I jerked my gaze to Owen’s. “My husband is part owner of a strip club and never told me?”
“Aye, but it’s a Gentleman’s Club,” Owen corrected.
“Fuck the semantics, and fuck you!” I spat to which Owen’s eyes popped wide. I couldn’t blame him for being shocked at my outburst, but at the same time, I don’t know how he expected me to act at the news.
“Please get in the car, Mrs. Kavanaugh.”
Ignoring him, I began pacing around the pavement. Bile rose in my throat, which either came from the pregnancy or my overall disgust at my husband. The husband who currently refused my texts not because he was tied up in an important meeting, but because he was at a strip club. Worse than that, he owned a strip club and had never told me. He knew how I felt about honesty, and he had trampled all over it.
Owen’s hand grazed my arm. “Please just let me take you home, ma’am. I’ll send him an SOS text, and he’ll come right away.”
Rage and anguish seethed within me. One thing I was sure of. There was no way in hell I was waiting to confront Callum. “You won’t take me to the club, will you?”
Owen’s eyes bulged in horror. “No, ma’am.”
“Fine.” As I started to hop into the car, I slipped my hand into Owen’s jacket. Before he could react, I snatched one of the guns from his holster. I shoved him away before releasing the safety and aiming it at him. “You will take me to the club,” I ordered.
Both disbelief and anger flickered across his face. “Do you really expect me to take you as a threat?”
“Considering I’m manic with pregnancy hormones at the moment coupled with the white-hot rage I feel towards my husband, I sure as hell would. But by all means, you can fuck around and find out.”
Owen regarded me like I’d grown another head. “Mrs. Kavanaugh, please reconsider.”
“Drive the fucking car, Owen,” I commanded.
With a resigned sigh, he ducked his head. “Fine. But you should take the fall when Callum goes ballistic.”
“If I haven’t managed to kill him, I’ll make sure to spare you,” I spat.