Chapter 26 #2
Doc cleared his throat. “Yes. It’s a condition where the thyroid gland is underactive and is not making enough hormones for your body.
Some symptoms are tiredness, cold extremities and sensitivity to temperature, dry skin, and weight gain, among other things, but as you are pregnant, these might have gone unnoticed.
It can be managed with the drug I mentioned, levothyroxine, and it will be very important that we get it under control, and monitor you and the baby closely going forward.
But this would explain some of your symptoms and your inability to balance your weight since leaving Cain. ”
“Is the baby in danger?”
“At this point, no. Rest assured, now that we have identified your condition, we know how to proceed and can take extra care of you and your baby.”
Hypothyroidism.
My baby was okay.
“Grace, are you still there?” A tremor entered Doc’s voice. The poor man was probably worried I’d pass out again.
“I’m here. Just taking it all in. I will pick up the script tomorrow morning. Are there any side effects I should know about?”
Doc went on to explain the medication and possible side effects and what to look out for. By the time we ended the call, my mind was reeling all over again, stuck in a loop as it kept repeating the words:
Pregnant.
Hypothyroidism.
Closely monitored.
It was beginning to feel like one hit after another as I breathed through my growing anxiety. I was okay. We’d caught it early. Doc would take care of me and my baby.
Trying my best not to dwell on everything more than I already was or let the panic set in, I checked my phone. I saw I had several messages and two missed calls.
One of the missed calls was from Kai; the other was an unknown number. I switched to my messages. I had two texts from Kai and five from two different unknown numbers.
Unknown number 1
He is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance.
Unknown Number 1
Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Unknown Number 2
Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free. Which are you?
Unknown Number 1
Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your own husbands.
Unknown Number 2
From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against — and those against him will be put to death.
My mind only caught on certain words: submit, children, brothers, families…put to death.
What the heck was this? This was getting more and more twisted.
Echoes of these messages ran around my head.
Unknown Number 1 sounded like Cain. How many times had he thrown that Bible verse at me as his justification for how he treated me?
But Unknown Number 2 sounded different, more threatening, more pointed.
My hands were shaking as I attempted to block the numbers and delete the texts yet again, but my phone rang. It startled me so much that I dropped it. Fumbling to pick it up, my heart racing as I accepted the call without thinking.
“Hey sweetheart, are you okay?”
My mind settled as soon as I heard Kai’s deep voice.
“Kai, thank goodness.”
“What do you mean? Did something happen? I’m almost there. Do you need me to call Doc? Did you faint again?” His questions came so quickly that I couldn’t get a word in.
“Kai, I’m fine. I just had some weird messages and a missed call from an unknown number, and I didn’t check the caller ID before I answered. I was just thankful it was you and not whoever has been sending me these ridiculous messages.”
Silence greeted me. I thought for a second we might have been disconnected. “Kai, are you there?”
“What messages?” His voice turned steely as he spoke.
“Just some weird Bible quotes and…” I didn’t want to finish that sentence. I knew these were likely threats disguised as Bible verses. But it wasn’t Cain’s usual M.O. and I didn’t know who else would send me things like this.
“And what, Wildflower?” His voice softened slightly, but still held an iciness that chilled me.
“And disguised threats,” I said with a resigned sigh.
“I’ll be there in three minutes. Don’t do anything with the texts until I get there.” He hung up, and I stared at my phone.
It was less than three minutes later when my door rattled as a fist pounded on it.
“Gracie, it’s me. Open up.” Kai’s voice rumbled through the wood.
I hurried over and unlocked the door, stepping back to let him in.
As soon as I closed the door, he pulled me into his arms in a fierce hug.
“You worried me. Not texting me back or answering my calls, I thought you might have fainted again. I could only just get away from work.” Stepping away from the embrace, he kept me at arm’s length, examining me from head to toe.
“I’m fine, I promise.” I nibbled on my lower lip. It was true I was fine, but there was a lot more going on than that.
Kai visibly relaxed at my words or at the sight of me; which one, I wasn’t sure.
“Can you show me the text messages?” he asked, and I handed him my phone. “Are these all of them?”
I shook my head. “No, I’ve already blocked two other unknown numbers.”
“Do you have access to them on your cloud account or a backup somewhere?”
“I don’t know, probably. Why?” His body was practically vibrating with anxiety, and it was so unlike his steadfast nature that it unsettled me, too.
“We’ve had a few similar threats on the ranch’s social media accounts. I’d like to compare them and see if they’re from the same source or at least a similar style. We should also make note of these if you decide to file an order of protection.”
Kai fiddled with my phone for a minute before handing it back to me. “All done. Please tell me if you get anything else, okay?”
I just nodded.
He took my hand in his and guided me over to my couch, sitting us down and pulling me into his side. “I take it you’re not working today?”
“Not today. Back tomorrow.” I nuzzled into his side, relishing the comfort I felt with his arms around me. Protected, safe, whole.
“So, how was your appointment with Doc?” Kai played with my fingers in his hand.
I chewed on my lip, not sure how to tell him or if I even wanted to. But my mind had other ideas as I blurted out the words that would change everything. “I’m pregnant.”
Kai stiffened beside me, then his fingers stilled on mine. I didn’t even think he was breathing.
“Kai?” My voice wavered as I pulled back to look him in the eyes.
“H-how? It’s been less than a week. Wait, no, shit!” His voice was devoid of emotion as his eyes widened and realization dawned. “It’s Cain’s.”
Tears welled in my eyes as he stood abruptly and paced back and forth in front of me. He kept running his hands through his hair, making it stand up in all different directions. Tension radiated off him in waves, and each wave felt like a knife to my heart.
I’d let him have his reaction, but my heart threatened to break the longer he paced until I couldn’t take it anymore.
Standing in front of him, I cut off his pacing.
I held my hands out in front of me. “I understand this is a shock, and I’m so sorry, Kai.
I wish things were different for us, but they’re not.
” My tears slipped free of my lashes as I said the next words.
“Maybe we can talk tomorrow. It’s okay. We’ll always be friends. I get it.”
I turned to leave, but Kai’s arms enveloped me before I could. “Wildflower, you have nothing to be sorry about. I love you; I’m not going anywhere.”
Now it was my turn to freeze. “W-what did you say?”
His sapphire-blue eyes, shimmered with a kaleidoscope of emotions, as they met mine. He gently ran his finger along my jawline as his light touch raised my chin. “I love you. I’m in love with you. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Kai.” My voice squeaked as my tears overflowed and I sobbed onto his chest.
Once I pulled myself together, Kai guided us back to the couch and sat down, tugging me onto his lap.
“I’m sorry about my reaction earlier. It wasn’t about the pregnancy.” I raised an eyebrow at him. “Okay, not just about the pregnancy. It was about Cain. I’m worried about your safety, even more so now.”
“There’s something else. Doc also says I have hypothyroidism, and I need to get it under control to keep the baby safe.” I paused for a breath. “I’m scared, Kai.”
“Oh, sweetheart. You’ll be okay. You are not alone. We can face this together.” He tightened his arms around me, just holding me. Comforting me and sharing his strength as we sat in the realization of all that had just been revealed.
He nuzzled the side of my head before kissing my cheek. “The idea of you being pregnant is amazing. You were born to be a mother, Gracie. You are going to be an incredible one.” His hand came up to cup my cheek as his other hovered over my belly. “Can I?”
More tears welled in my eyes as I nodded. His large hand settled over my stomach, warming me from the inside out. We sat there, hands clasped over my flat belly, absorbing the moment, just the two of us.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I meant what I said. I’m not going anywhere. As long as you’ll have me, I’m yours, and we can do this together.”
“You really want to do this? Take on a baby that isn’t even yours?” Tears welled in my eyes at the hope this man gave me.
He brushed our noses together. “How could I not? This baby is yours, and I will love anything and everything to do with you, always.” He rubbed his thumb back and forth over my stomach. “This little one has a little of me in there, too. It is technically my niece or nephew.”
Tears escaped my lashes and traveled down my cheeks as I gazed into the face of the man who meant everything to me. He was my rock, and the fact that he so openly wanted to claim me and the baby made my heart threaten to explode in my chest.