Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
FERN
“ E verything looks fine,” the doctor says after examining me. “Any chance you could be pregnant?”
I laugh hysterically. Wouldn’t that be funny? Elliot McPhee, the man who doesn’t want to have a family knocking me up. “No. I’m not active and the times I had sex we used protection.”
“There’s always?—”
“I’m going to stop you right there. If I thought there was a remote possibility, I would’ve done a test. My period was about three weeks ago. After the last time I had intercourse.”
She nods as if understanding that she’s wrong. “Sorry, I just need to ask all the pertinent questions to diagnose you. I never meant to offend you.”
A baby wouldn’t offend me, but it’s the last thing I need. More so when the father wouldn’t want anything to do with him or me.
“We’ll go with the motion sickness, but if you continue?—”
“This has happened to me since I was a child. Too many ear infections. At least, that’s what my pediatrician told Mom.”
She bobs her head once, as if agreeing with that explanation. We leave the room, and when we come downstairs, I spot Elliot walking back and forth. He stops in the middle of the living room asking, “Are you okay?”
“She’s fine. If this persists till Wednesday, you have to visit your doctor. I understand your hesitation about my questions but keep them in mind.”
I nod, hoping she doesn’t say it out loud. Elliot walks her out of the house and when he’s back, he asks, “How are you feeling?”
“Well, I told you, I’m fine. You didn’t have to call her.”
He shrugs. “Sorry, I just needed to make sure.”
He doesn’t look apologetic at all.
“It’s fair. Can you take me home?”
His phone rings, he lifts his finger as if saying one moment. “Kyle?”
Whatever the person on the other side of the line says makes him smile but also gasp. “Let me make a few calls, okay? I promised I’d be there, didn’t I? Well, I wasn’t expecting her to push him out early.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask as he starts gliding his fingers over his phone frantically.
“Would you mind coming with me? My sister is having a baby.”
Knowing that his nieces and nephews make him happy, I agree immediately. “To the hospital? Sure.”
When he mentioned the hospital, I didn’t know he was talking about Evergreen Medical Center in Colorado.
“Are you sure this is going to be okay?” I ask as we’re about to enter the room.
He nods, grabbing my hand. “It’ll be fine.”
I wish we had discussed this on the plane, but between my puking and the long nap I took, it was impossible.
The helicopter ride wasn’t the best time either.
I was gawking at the scenery. I’ve been in Colorado multiple times, three of my cousins live here, but I have never flown on a helicopter. It was the best experience in my life.
Now I regret not having a conversation about his family or the baby’s birth before barging into his sister’s room.
“Fern, it’s okay. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have brought you, babe.”
He lifts our entwined hands and kisses my knuckles. “Trust me, okay.”
Trust him? After he’s been lying to me for almost a year, he dares to ask me to… never.
When we enter, a guy who’s maybe two inches shorter than Elliot’s six-two and has light-brown hair grins at him. “Look at you, making it almost on time.”
Elliot releases my hand and walks toward the bed where a beautiful woman holds a blue bundle. “Hey, how are you feeling?”
“Like I pushed a watermelon out of my vagina. And you?”
I try not to chuckle, but it’s impossible.
He hands her an envelope at the same time he takes the baby from her. “Congratulations.”
His sister shakes her head. “We don’t need you to set up a trust. You should save your money for your children and spend more time with us.”
He stares at the baby with such tenderness my ovaries explode. This is when Dr. Ruth should be checking me for pregnancy. I think I just got knocked up from looking at him.
“I’m not having little McPhees, but thank you for the suggestion.”
That makes me sad because I think he’d be a great father.
I can picture him by the ocean, teaching his children how to surf.
The house in Santa Cruz would be perfect for him and that family he thinks he doesn’t want to have.
Maybe not six children but three or four tiny McPhees running around the house, building new things and…
I have to stop because if he ever decides to live his life fully, I won’t be around.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice someone entering the room. “Uncle Elliot, I didn’t know you were coming.” I turn around and find a woman who might be twenty-four. She studies me before saying, “Hi, I’m Teagan. His favorite person, and you are?”
Lost?
“Sorry, I got caught up and forgot to introduce Fern to my untamed people. Fern, meet my family. The nosy teenager is Teagan?—”
“I’m twenty-five.” She almost growls but smiles at me. “Hi.”
“This is Kyle, one of my childhood best friends. The snarky woman who looks like crap is Cassandra, my youngest sister, and the baby is…” He stares at the new parents.
“We don’t have a name yet,” Cassy says while her husband groans.
“My woman is beautiful. She looks like the most gorgeous person in the world, and she just gave me a child so shut up.”
“Sorry,” Elliot apologizes. “So, the baby’s name?”
“It takes time to make decisions. Not everything goes with Maxwell.”
“Try Elliot Maxwell,” Elliot suggests.
“No, but thank you for participating. If you want a kid named Elliot, I suggest you have your own.” Kyle looks at me. “Hi Fern, it’s nice to finally meet you. We’re eternally thankful to you.”
“Me?”
“You kept him entertained for a long time. This is the longest he’s stayed on US soil since…”
“Mom and my sisters died,” Teagan finishes, smiling at me. “How old are you?”
“Teag,” Elliot says her name with a warning tone.
She scoffs. “I just want to know her age, marital status, and hobbies. I don’t see why you have to silence me.”
He glares at her. “I know what you’re doing.”
“Do you surf?” Teagan continues.
“No. I’m a homebody.”
“Oh.” I don’t understand the tone. Is she happy or disappointed?
“Are you married, have children, or are interested in belonging to a big family?” She handles this like a job interview.
She reminds me so much of Cory that I laugh.“You might have to buy me coffee first if you want any information about me.”
“She has seven siblings and a gazillion cousins. She doesn’t need more.” Elliot stops her.
“You never told me how old you are.” Teagan is unstoppable.
“Fern isn’t here to entertain you.”
She winks at me. “Will she entertain you?”
“Fuck, I forgot how annoying you can be. If I could, I would ground you.”
“We’re just friends,” I chime in. “I think he felt bad because my family is gone for the weekend. He doesn’t understand that I don’t need more than a book and a hot tea.”
Elliot looks around. “Where are the kids?”
“At home with the nannies,” Kyle answers.
Elliot’s eyebrows knit up into a frown. “The nannies?”
“Blake and the guys have been in town since last Monday,” Cassy chimes in. “You didn’t know?”
“No one tells me shit.” Elliot sighs.
“It’s been entertaining to see everything you’ve been requesting. Why the doctor?” Kyle glances at me, then at Elliot.
My face heats up. Elliot snaps, “None of your business.”
Kyle exhales, almost upset, and takes the baby away from Elliot. “Whatever man. Are you staying?”
“Nope, I have to take her home, but I came to visit. That’s what matters, right?”
I gawk at him. He used me. Smart… but seriously?