Chapter 11
Eleven
“ A re you feeling alright?” he asked as she wiped another tear from her eye. It had been a busy few days, and her emotions were absolutely all over the place as they stood together greeting people for Juliette’s celebration of life.
If she was being honest, she felt terrible. Her stomach was aching, and she was bone tired. But nothing short of delivering her baby was going to make her leave that event, or miss it entirely. She not only wanted to celebrate the amazing woman Juliette was one last time, she wanted to be there for Gia and Gunner too.
So, she did the best she could. Lily nodded, giving him a little smile as he tucked her into his side.
“If any of this is too much, Lil, you let me know and I’ll get you home.”
“I’m fine, I promise. Besides, this is for your mom. I want to be here.”
He surprised her by leaning his face down to the crown of her head and pressing a kiss into her hair. If his arm hadn’t been around her back, her legs would have given out from the sweetness of the gesture.
“I know she was so proud to have you join our family, Lil. Thank you for giving her that one last, sweet memory.”
“Gunner. You don’t have to thank me. I’m so thankful for everything you’ve already done for us.” Her hand swept over her large belly as the baby rolled. “Knowing she was happy about our arrangement makes my own heart so happy.”
They fell into a companionable silence, standing strong together as people from the community offered their condolences. Lily thought back to all the lives that Juliette had touched in the years she was a schoolteacher. All the friends she had left behind. But most of all, Lily thought about Gunner and Gia having to say goodbye to their only other family member. Her heart ached as she thought about all the milestones her baby would make, never to have a grandparent to share them with.
A laugh broke her out of her thoughts and set her body immediately on edge. She winced as a pain rolled through her back, shifting her weight while she tried to pinpoint exactly where she’d heard the laughter come from.
“Gunner,” Lily grabbed his arm, whether to notify him of what she saw, or as a feeble attempt to ground herself, she didn’t know. “I’m so sorry.”
She looked across the room and felt the moment Gunner realized what she was apologizing for. “It’s my fault he’s here, I’ll take care of it. I’ll get him to leave before he can cause a scene.”
“No. You stay here with Gia. I’ll handle him.” He tucked her behind him as he started to walk towards the entrance.
“Gunner, I’m so sorry for your loss. Jules was truly an exceptional woman—” Lily recognized a teacher from their high school taking Gunner’s attention. She knew she needed to act quickly before James saw her and made a big scene .
Lily moved around Gunner, slipping her hand out of his hold, and made her way through all the people there to mourn Juliette. James stood with a group of men, his eyes locked on her.
“Well, lookie-here, gentlemen. My wife has finally found it fit to come speak to me.”
“James,” she hissed. “I am not your wife.”
“Not yet,” he mumbled.
“Never. Why are you here? Please don’t cause a scene.”
“Cause a scene? Lily, I’m here to pay my respects to a lovely pillar of our community. I remember when Mrs. Brooks caught me kissing Brittany Denton on the playground in fifth grade and she sent me to the principal's office.” Apparently, paying his respects included a stop at the bar, because Lily could smell the alcohol pouring off of him. It flipped her stomach and took every ounce of strength she had not to let him see the discomfort she felt as a cramp tightened across her belly.
“W-will you come outside with me for a moment?” she asked.
“I think I’m fine staying right here. After all, I should probably say hi to Gunner, seeing as how he’s taking such good care of what’s mine in the middle of all his grief.”
“Please, James. Just one minute outside.”
“What can I say?” he laughed. “I’ve always been such a sucker for you, Lily.”
She tried to catch Gunner’s eye before walking outside, but he was deep in conversation with one of their former teachers. Lily could do this. She could get James to leave without causing a scene. It was the least she could do for Gunner and Gia.
“Where did she go?” Gunner mumbled as he searched the room.
“Are you looking for Lily?” his sister asked.
“Yeah. James was here just a minute ago. I was about to tell him to fuck off, but I got caught up talking to Mrs. Jacobson and Lily disappeared on me.”
“Oh shit. Gunner, I saw Lily walk outside about five minutes ago. I should have gone with her, but she looked like she was desperate to just get some air….I thought I was doing the right thing, just letting her have a minute to herself. I didn’t know James was here. Should we both go outside?”
“Shit.” Gunner didn’t bother answering his sister, instead moving quickly out of the visiting room and slamming the door to the outside open.
“No, James. Take your hands off of me!” Lily’s voice carried across the parking lot. When his eyes landed on her, he saw red. James was twisting her arm so violently as he pulled her towards his truck that Gunner was afraid he was going to hear her bone snap.
“Take your hands off of her, you fucking asshole,” Gunner yelled as he ran towards them.
“Fuck you. You think you can talk to me like that when I’m dealing with my own wife?” James’s speech slurred, and as Gunner sized him up, he realized Lily was right the other night. There was no way alcohol alone was impairing James.
“She’s not your wife, and even if she was, you don’t ever touch a woman like that.”
“Oh right, here comes Mr. Navy SEAL thinking he needs to save Lily from something. Well, guess what, asshole? She’s mine, and so is that fucking brat she’s carrying. You had no fucking right to take them from me. And I’m here to take them back.” His gaze swung from Gunner to Lily. “Lily Bennett, get in the car right now, or so help me God, I’ll make you pay for what you’ve put me through. We’re going home. ”
Gunner snapped. His arm raised and before he knew it, his hand was wrapped tightly around James’s throat. He watched the skin on the bastard’s face turn a deadly shade of deep purple before he lowered his head down to his ear and whispered, “Lily Brooks . Her name is Lily Brooks. So don’t ever fucking think about putting your hands on my wife again.” He relished the shock that crossed the putrid fucker’s face as he raised his left hand to show off his wedding band. “That’s right Jimbo. Lily and I are married. If you so much as look in the direction of my woman again, even from a mile away, I’ll fucking kill you where you stand. She’s mine. The same goes for that baby in her belly. Mine. I won’t ever make the same mistakes as you, you fucking abusive alcoholic sack of shit. You don’t ever fucking speak to a woman like that, but especially not to my wife and the mother of my child. I’ll protect them with everything I am. Have I made myself clear?”
James sputtered, saliva dripping down from his mouth. Gunner tightened his grip. A pathetic squeak left James’s lips.
“Did. I. Make. Myself. Clear?”
A slight nod was all Gunner needed to release him.
“Fuck you,” he wheezed as he rubbed his neck.
“James, please just go,” Lily’s tear filled voice made Gunner stumble. How could he have been so blinded by his rage that he forgot to check on her? Turning, he saw her hands running over her belly, shiny tear-tracks running down her cheeks.
“Give me your keys.”
“Fuck you,” the hoarseness in his voice brought Gunner more pleasure than it should have.
“Give me your fucking keys. Like I’m going to let you leave here and kill someone.”
James grumbled as he pulled the keys from his pocket and tossed them on the ground by Gunner’s feet. The moment he started walking away, Gunner turned to Lily, his eyes zeroed in on the marks already forming on her arm. Fuck, he should run after James and beat the shit out of him.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m so sorry, Gunner. I’m so sorry he came to your mother’s celebration of life and caused a scene. I totally understand if you want me to leave. I’m sorry.”
“Lil, please stop apologizing. This is on him. You have nothing to be sorry for. Now, are you okay? The baby?”
Lily nodded, still caressing her belly.
“Can I see your arm?” he asked gently.
“I’m fine, Gunner. Honestly. It’ll be bruised, but you stopped him…before…” she sniffled, unable to complete whatever she was going to say.
“Before what, Lil?” he swiped at the fat tears spilling over her lashes.
“He was trying to get me into his truck. Said I needed to learn a lesson for leaving him.”
Gunner didn’t think. He just pulled Lily into his chest and wrapped his arms tightly around her.
“I meant what I said when I said my vows, Lil. I’ll never let him hurt you or Sprout.”
As if seeing James hadn’t been enough for the day, Lily could not shake the pains that had started bothering her when he showed up. As another one wrapped around her belly and her back, squeezing the breath from her lungs, Lily tried her best to walk out of the room.
The last thing she wanted was anyone knowing she was going into labor, not that she was certain she was. But damn, she was hurting worse than any bought of Braxton Hicks she’d ever had before. The rhythm of the pains also pinged in her mind as a sign Sprout’s arrival may be sooner than later .
She’d taken to frequently sitting at the back of the room for much of the afternoon after the fiasco with James, so she prayed no one would pay her much attention as she ungracefully sat down and winced. What a mess everything had been with James. The way Gunner had so possessively claimed her and the baby was incredible, and if she wasn’t already nursing a crush on the man that started nearly two decades before, she certainly would be after that display.
“Are you ready to go?” Gunner’s question startled her.
“Isn’t there still a bunch of stuff that needs to get cleaned up?”
“I think Gia’s going to bring the rest of the flowers home in her car, but she just told me she wants a few minutes alone with mom. She’ll bring mom’s urn home with her when she’s ready.”
“Let me just give her a quick hug and we can go.” Lily held her hand out and Gunner helped her to her feet.
“I’ll bring these pictures to the truck and meet you outside when you’re ready.”
Lily found Gia gently moving a vase filled with beautiful yellow and orange flowers. Juliette would have loved them.
“Are you sure you want us to leave?” she asked, watching her best friend wipe her eyes.
“You think I didn’t see you over there wincing and rubbing your belly all afternoon?”
“What?”
“Lily, go home and rest. You’re going to need it if the baby is on her way.”
“She’s not. It’s just been a long day.”
“Please do not tell me you’re going to be one of those women who refuse to see that they are in labor until the baby is literally exiting their body?”
“G! No. I fully plan on being drugged during her birth. No way am I letting denial get in the way of sweet relief. ”
Her best friend lifted her brow in disbelief as her belly tightened again. Lily refused to move and give Gia anything else to worry over, but she rolled her eyes at Lily and led her over to a chair.
“Want to tell me again how you aren’t in denial?”
“It’s just Braxton Hicks. I’ve been on my feet all day. I just need to sleep.”
“You know I’m going to tell Gunner what’s been going on.”
“No, please don’t. I’ll tell him on the ride home, okay? They aren’t happening frequently, so I don’t think it’s time to panic yet.”
“Fine. I trust you, Lily. But if I come home to you giving birth on our sofa, I’m never going to let you live it down.”
“Trust me, I won’t be. I want the drugs. All the drugs.”
It was Gia’s turn to hug her. “Okay, I won’t be too far behind. I just need to pack the flowers up and then I’m bringing them to Mercy. Mom wanted the flowers to be donated to the Labor and Delivery floor. She said all the new little lives deserved to be celebrated at the end of hers.” Tears swelled in Gia’s eyes, and Lily squeezed her tighter. “Maybe Sprout will get to have some flowers from her Grandma when she arrives.”
“I love you, Gia. I’m so glad we have each other as family now.”
“Me too, Lil. Now go. Rest.”
Lily swiped at her eyes as she left the funeral home.
“You okay?” Gunner asked as he took her hand and helped her into his truck.
“Yeah, just thinking about your mom. It’s been such an emotional day, but these are happy tears for sure. I loved her so much.”
“And she loved you, too. ”
“I know she did,” Lily sighed. “Let’s get home. I’m about to fall asleep.”
The drive was soothing, twilight settling over her hometown, and the gentle bumps in the road rocked her as she rested her head on the window.
“Lil?” Gunner’s voice broke through her dreamless sleep all too soon. She groaned in protest. “I’m sorry. We’re home now.”
“No worries,” she mumbled as she wiped the drool from her face. Pregnancy exhaustion was like nothing she’d ever experienced before.
Gunner moved around the front of his truck and opened her door, holding his hand out for her to take. Always such a gentleman. As she twisted, a contraction started low in her back and wrapped its hooks into her belly. She closed her eyes, squeezing Gunner’s hand as she placed her other hand over the baby.
“Lily?”
“It’s fine. Just a sec,” she huffed.
After a few tight breaths, the hooks loosened and she sucked a deep breath in.
“Did you just have a contraction?”
“No. They’re just practice ones.”
“That didn’t look like a practice.”
“Now you’re sounding like Gia. I’m fine, I promise. If the baby was coming, I’d let you know.” She grunted in a very undignified way as her feet hit the ground. “Is your truck getting higher?”
“I think this is a you thing, Lil, not a truck thing,” he laughed.
“Thanks. That makes me feel great,” she teased, pulling her hand away from his as she stalked towards the house. Her foot hit a box at the edge of the porch and she stopped, looking up in awe. The porch was covered in what had to be fifty different boxes.
“What is all this?” Lily asked.
“Oh, well…” Gunner rubbed the back of his neck as he bent to pick up the box Lily kicked. “I ordered some things for you and Sprout. I hope that’s okay. I researched the highest safety rated stuff and just bought everything off that list.”
She was stunned. “Gunner, what? This is too much.” Looking around, she spotted a big box with the cutest image of a baby strapped into a car. “You got her a car seat?”
“And the matching stroller. One of those mommy blogs said it was a lifesaver. Her kid would only sleep when they took him on walks in it.”
“I can’t believe you know what a mommy blog is,” she gave a watery laugh. “You didn’t have to do all this.” Tears filled her eyes, whether from the sweet gesture or the overwhelming way her body hurt, she couldn’t say. “Thank you.”
“You go inside and I’ll start shuffling all this stuff in while you get off your feet.”
“I can hel?—”
“Don’t even finish that sentence, Lily Kate.”
“Stubborn man,” she grumbled.
“Stubborn woman,” he replied.
By the time Gunner had moved all the boxes inside, Lily had silently gone through two more contractions. She needed to relax.
“I think I’ll just take a shower before I get in bed,” she said as she walked past Gunner in the kitchen.
“You need to eat,” Gunner grumbled, and her stomach rolled. The thought of eating while her whole body hurt was almost too much.
“Honestly, I’m not that hungry. I’ll get something after my shower if I’m feeling up to it.” She paused, waiting for him to argue with her, but he just looked at her with worry in his eyes. “I’m fine, Gunner. Is there anything you need help with before I go?”
“No.”
“Okay. See you in the morning.” Lily walked into her room and shut the door, sinking against it as another contraction ran its course. The hot water of a shower should help calm things down if it was just a false alarm. She’d been on her feet longer than she meant to be. It was probably just that. But if not, she’d try to sleep and call a taxi once things got unbearable.
Grabbing shorts and her favorite oversized shirt from the dresser, Lily made her way into the bathroom. The water flowed quickly from the shower head and filled the room with steam by the time she had locked the door from Gunner’s room and stripped off her clothes.
Pulling her wet hair up into a towel a few minutes later, Lily walked back into her room. There, on the bed, was a peanut butter and onion sandwich, a glass of chocolate milk, and two chocolate cookies. The gesture from Gunner was enough to let all the tears from the day finally break free.
Sliding the tray onto the table next to her bed, Lily curled up and let the tears fall. Tears of sadness for Jules. Tears of grief for Gunner and Gia. Tears of heartache for the marriage of convenience that she wished was real. Tears of thankfulness for the life that she was about to bring into the world, and the family that would surround her with love and support.