Chapter 29 #2
“Well, thank God other people around town picked up on it because Chief was already watching this man. He’s the one who made the connection between you and him. The day you were kidnapped is when all of the pieces started coming together. And thank God I put that tracker in Ellis’s bracelet…”
“Wait, what?”
I rub the back of my neck. “When Ellis went missing that day at your house, it freaked me out so bad that I researched ways to keep track of your kids. Some people suggested using bracelets with location trackers, so that’s why I bought Ellis the Frozen bracelet to match her Frozen Crocs.
There’s a tracking device in the snowflake charm in the center of her bracelet.
I knew she’d never take it off, so it made me feel more confident that heaven forbid anything were to happen to her, I’d be able to find her.
” I blow out a breath. “That’s why I was able to find you guys so quickly, and thank God for that. ”
“I’m sorry, Rhonan. I never thought Cole would snap like he did.” She takes a deep breath. “I’ve been trying to keep my old life out of my new one. Then I met you and everything changed, and…”
I cut off her words as I lean down and press my mouth to hers. Our tongues touch and the nerves that have been humming in my chest since she was missing finally start to melt away.
Vienna clings to me with her good arm, savoring this kiss, and showing me that everything is going to be okay.
A throat clearing behind us forces us to part. When I look over my shoulder, I see the doctor standing there with a smirk on her face. “Sorry to interrupt, but the monitors were going off, so I assumed our patient was awake.”
I take my seat back in my chair, bringing her hand to my mouth again. “She is. Sorry, I just needed a moment with her alone.”
“I understand.” The doctor walks further into the room with a nurse accompanying her. “Well, I’m Dr. Adler. How are you feeling, Vienna?”
Vienna winces as she tries to sit up higher in the bed, but I leap from my chair and help her instead. With her arm strapped to her body, she can’t push herself up. “Not gonna lie, I’m in pain.”
“Well, that’s to be expected. With your condition, we are more limited in pain management options, but—”
Vienna clears her throat. “What condition?”
The doctor glances at me. “Are you okay if I discuss this in front of Mr. Hart?”
My eyes meet hers before she looks back at the doctor. “Yes, of course.”
“You’re pregnant, Ms Lewis, which is why we could give you more for the pain…”
Vienna gasps. “Wait. What? I’m—I’m pregnant?”
The doctor glances between the two of us. “Yes. Around five weeks, but I’m sorry.” She clears her throat. “I wasn’t aware that you didn’t know. It is really early…”
Vienna and I lock eyes at the same time, and my heart is thumping so wildly that it takes me a minute to process everything. But when I see Vienna’s tears slide down her face and her smile form, the same excitement she feels slams into me at the same time. “Oh my God,” she whispers. “Rhonan, I…”
“You’re pregnant.”
She shakes her head. “I had no clue. Oh my God, this is crazy…”
I rest my forehead on hers, breathing her in as excitement and fear rush through me. “Fuck, I love you.”
“It hadn’t even occurred to me that I missed my period last week…”
“Well, I want you to know that we monitored the baby during the surgery and everything looks good,” the doctor interjects.
“The development is right on track as well for how far along you are, and in a few, I can have the doctor from the OBGYN department that monitored you come in and speak with you about your next steps. Luckily, the gunshot wound and surgery wasn’t too stressful on the baby, so in my opinion, your pregnancy should proceed without any complications, but the OBGYN will be able to go into more detail for you. ”
Vienna is crying and shaking her head. “I’m sorry. I’m still wrapping my head around the fact that I’m pregnant.”
The doctor laughs. “I understand. Let Nurse Amy take your vitals, I’m going to assess you as well, and then we’ll leave you two alone to discuss this privately. But congratulations.”
After the doctor and nurse leave, I sit on the edge of Vienna’s bed, staring down at her and toying with her bottom lip. “You’re pregnant.”
“I am.”
“Your worst fear was not being able to have kids.”
“You remember that?”
“I remember everything about you, baby.” My hand finds her stomach, pressing over it lightly. “Ellis is gonna be a big sister.”
Vienna smiles. “She is.”
“I love you, Vienna.”
Her eyes lift to mine. “I love you too, Rhonan.”
“I promise, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
“I know you will.”
“And our child.”
“I know that too.”
“There’s so much to figure out, but right now, I want a minute with just the two of us.” I press a kiss to her forehead. “To remind myself that this is real. That you’re alive.” My heart is thrashing violently in my ribcage, my breathing strong, just like my grip on Vienna. “Is that okay?”
She nods as I lean down on the bed next to her and guide her to rest her head on my chest. “That sounds perfect.”
And that’s where we stay for so long that Vienna drifts off to sleep. But I keep holding her, thanking God that I didn’t lose this woman too. Instead, I’m being given a second chance at a family, and this time, I’m going to search for and hold onto the feeling that it’s going to all work out.