Chapter 36 #2
A part of me worried that I’d come here today and find out I was no longer pregnant. I was prepared for the rug to be pulled out from beneath my feet.
It’s amazing that you can find something out and feel completely panicked in one moment, only to realize that it’s everything that you wanted.
And now that Hayes was on board, this was everything I wanted.
Everything we wanted.
She printed out a few pictures, cleaned the gooey stuff from my stomach, and helped me sit up.
She went over all the things we’d need to be aware of.
Twin pregnancies tended to be higher risk, so she’d be keeping a close eye on me and the babies.
She said we’d have more ultrasounds done than you normally had with a single pregnancy.
She guessed I was around ten to eleven weeks along, and everything was looking good thus far.
She asked a bunch of questions about how I was feeling as far as morning sickness and breast tenderness, and I shared that though my breasts were sore, I hadn’t experienced any morning sickness yet. But I was definitely tired, which she assured me was completely normal.
“Do you have any questions for me?” she asked.
“I think you’ve covered everything on my end,” I said, glancing at my husband, who looked like he was ready to burst. “But I think Hayes may have a few questions.”
She smiled. “Of course. You can ask me anything.”
“She’s determined to work through her pregnancy. Do you think it’s safe?” he asked.
“Yes. There’s no reason for her to quit working, at least not right now.
With Savannah carrying twins, we will be keeping a closer eye on her.
So this first trimester I’d like to see you every two to three weeks.
We’ll do screenings at weeks twelve and sixteen.
Your second trimester, I will ask to see you twice a month, and your final trimester, we’ll meet weekly.
So we can determine along the way how you’re feeling and adjust your work schedule accordingly.
Does that sound okay?” she asked, her eyes soft as she looked at Hayes, making it clear that she understood his concern.
“All right. And we have a dog. Should we get rid of him?” he asked, and I gasped.
“Get rid of Roddy? What are you talking about?”
“I love Roddy, but he’s a puppy, and he likes to climb all over you.” He shrugged.
Dr. Shorting chuckled. “You don’t need to get rid of Roddy. But you can definitely insist that he doesn’t jump up on you.”
“Savannah’s father is in a cancer trial in Dallas, and she travels there every couple of weeks. Is it safe for her to continue flying?”
“Yes, absolutely. You can still travel through your first and second trimesters comfortably. But you will have to listen to your body. If you’re exhausted, then maybe you skip going that week. Does that make sense?”
“Yes,” I said. “I can do that.”
“Listen, Doc, I’m just worried about my wife. This woman right here…” Hayes said, motioning his hand from my head to my feet. “She’s my whole world. And I need to know that she’s getting the best care possible.”
I covered my eyes with my hand because even though it was sweet, I was embarrassed that he was questioning her.
She chuckled, which had me relaxing. “I have a husband at home who is just like him.”
“There’s two of them in Magnolia Falls?” I asked, and Hayes rolled his eyes.
Dr. Shorting looked back at my husband. “I give you my word. I will take the best care of Savannah that I can. I’m going to give you my home number, and you can call me after hours if you have any issues.
We’re a team, and we’re in this together, okay?
” She extended her hand to Hayes, and he shook it before she turned to me and did the same.
She left the room, and I changed back into my clothing, and we stopped at the front desk to make our next appointment.
When we were on the elevator, I glanced up at him. “Get rid of Roddy? Are you serious?”
“I love that little fucker, but if he hurts you, he’s gone.”
I shook my head and laughed. “You’re lucky I love you.”
He reached for my hand, the corners of his lips turning up. “I’m the luckiest man on the planet. I don’t doubt that for a minute.”
And I knew I was the luckiest woman on the planet, too.
Because this man may be overbearing and protective, but he was all mine.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Good, because there’s something I want to do when we get home. And I’m hoping you’re on board.”
“Name it,” he said as we drove toward the house.
“I saved the very last letter for us to read together.”
He groaned. “I’m glad that it’s the last one, at least.”
I chuckled when he pulled into the driveway, and we made our way inside. I told him to meet me on the couch, and Roddy jumped up to sit beside him as I went down the hall to grab the last letter.
I sat down beside him and tore it open. “You never wanted to read these after all these years? Every single one was still sealed.”
“I wrote them. Why would I need to read them?”
I laughed as I pulled out the last letter he’d written me and unfolded it.
“I’m going to read it aloud.”
“Of course, you are. You love to torture me,” he said, as his hand rested on my thigh, and our pup lay sprawled across his lap.
“Sav, it’s been one year today since you left. I said I’d write every week for a year, and if you didn’t answer, I’d stop writing. So, this is the final letter I’m going to send, and I fully expect it to be returned.”
I paused to look at him and smiled. “You gave it a good fight. I wouldn’t have guessed you’d hang in that long.”
“Yeah, well, there you go. I didn’t give up easily,” he grumped.
I looked back down at the paper. “Today I went out to see Abe. That’s how desperate I am.
I don’t feel like myself, even after all this time.
I didn’t mention the letters to him. I just asked if he’d heard from you.
He told me he had and that you seemed to be doing well.
He’s a loyal fucker, so he didn’t give me much.
But I’m not going to lie. It pissed me off.
You talk to him all the time, and you won’t even read my letters or pick up the damn phone and call me. I just don’t get it.”
I sighed and glanced at him again. “I didn’t know you went to see Abe.”
“Yeah. I forgot about that. I was pretty desperate at the time. And then I remember feeling defeated because I imagined you were chained up somewhere all that time, unable to talk to me. But you were talking to him and Lily.”
I squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry. But I love that you went to see him.”
I looked back down at the paper in my hand and continued.
“Abe told me not to give up on you, but he didn’t tell me anything more.
I started to leave, and he stopped me. He asked me if I was still dating Kate, and I said that I was but that I missed my best friend.
And then I made some snide comment that you weren’t a very good best friend if you could just up and leave me the way that you did, so maybe I needed to find some new friends. ”
I sighed, because I could just picture him and Abe having this heart-to-heart.
I looked back down at the words he’d written me all those years ago.
“He asked me if I really felt that way about you. And I told him that I wanted to hate you but that I just couldn’t seem to do it.
I’m so pissed at you, Sav. But I can’t hate you, no matter how hard I try.
And you know that I don’t normally struggle with hating people. It usually comes really easy for me.”
My head fell back on a laugh, and I kissed his cheek. “You do normally find it easy to hate someone, but I’m glad you didn’t hate me.”
He shrugged. “You’re impossible to hate.”
I looked back down and continued reading.
“Abe thought it was funny. He was the only person I’d opened up to about you, and the old dude just laughed at me.
But when I tried to leave again, he said he had one more question.
He wanted to know what I would do if you came back today or in five years or in ten years.
Would I forgive you and just be happy to see you, or would I turn my back on you?
I didn’t need to think about it for long.
The answer was easy. Because even after everything, Sav, you’re still my best friend.
And there would never be a time that I wouldn’t be happy to see you.
Because my world is such a better place when you’re in it. ”
I sniffed a few times but kept my eyes trained on the letter.
“So, I’m going to stop writing now, because it just feels like it’s time.
But just know that if you come back today or in five years or even in ten years, I’ll be waiting for you.
And that’s the truth. I hope you find your way back to me, and I told Abe that.
And the old fucker just smirked and told me only time would tell. ”
I had to pause because the lump in my throat made it difficult to speak. I sighed before moving on to the final few sentences. “I miss you today, and I’ll miss you in five years and in ten years. Because you’re my favorite person on the planet, Savannah Abbott. Peas and carrots. Hayes.”
I just sat on the couch crying, and my husband wrapped his arms around me.
“Well, damn. I forgot about that conversation. I think that sneaky bastard knew I’d marry you.” He laughed as his lips kissed my forehead.
“I think he probably knew you were my other half, and he hoped I’d come back here and figure it out.”
And I closed my eyes and said a silent thank-you to Abe.
Because he’d helped me find my way home.
He’d helped me find my happily ever after.