Chapter 3
Genevieve Hubbard waved goodbye as the last bus pulled away from the elementary school where she’d taught for nearly two decades. She returned to her fourth-grade classroom, picked up a few items she’d used throughout the day, and put them in their proper places, readying her room for the next day.
“Hey, Gen, my ex has the kids this weekend so I’m free.
I was thinking about going to the Saturday Market.
You interested?” Valerie Limburg taught in the classroom next to hers.
Ten years younger with ten times the energy, the perky brunette shared custody of their three children with her husband, an active-duty SEAL.
When she’d caught the lieutenant commander fucking one of the civilian women from his office on his desk shortly after working hours, he’d yelled at her for intruding.
On Genevieve’s suggestion, Valerie had immediately filed divorce papers that included fifty-fifty custody to be sure he shared the responsibility of their children.
She’d also reported the activity to the Inspector General.
He’d almost lost his security clearance and his job.
He’d literally fucked up, but Captain Desmond had saved his ass.
Gen had watched military men walk away, carefree, from their families too many times. If she could stop it, even once, she would. Over the nineteen years she’d worked in schools on Coronado, she’d seen dozens of military wives get screwed by their husbands during divorce.
Thank God Evan hadn’t been like that. He hadn’t cheated. His mistress had been the Navy. The SEALs were the brotherhood that was more important than she was. He’d rather hang out on weekends with his bachelor brothers than spend time with her and their daughter.
She’d known from the beginning what she was getting herself into as far as deployments were concerned. What she hadn’t expected was the loneliness even though he crawled in bed next to her every night.
BUD/S had changed him.
Their baby had changed her.
If needed, Gen was happy to share her knowledge with other military wives.
“No hot dates this weekend?” Gen teased.
“I’d rather spend time with you than get to know another asshole.
” Her gaze drifted in the direction of the base.
“I swear, there aren’t any good men over there.
All the ones I’ve met are conceited, self-centered jerks that even if you gave them a map and a compass, they still couldn’t find a woman’s clitoris. ”
Gen giggled. “Oh, they could find it. They just don’t care if you get off. You’re supposed to be thankful that they have deemed you worthy of their cock.”
Both women burst out laughing.
“Saturday Market sounds like a lot of fun.” Getting out of the house and away from Kylie’s silent treatment sounded wonderful. Gen and Valerie decided to go shortly after sunrise yoga, which took place on the beach across from Gen’s house.
Grabbing the papers she needed to correct that night, she headed for her car. She’d planned to swing by the Commissary and do some grocery shopping before heading home.
When the phone rang, she was surprised that it was Kylie. Gen accepted the call through the car speakers. “Did you think of something more you want me to pick up at the Commissary?”
Kylie didn’t respond. Gen swore she heard her daughter crying. “What’s the matter? Are you hurt?”
“Mom, can you come right home?” Her daughter was breathing heavily. “It hurts. Really bad.”
Pulling out of the parking lot, Gen headed the few blocks to her home.
“I’m on my way. I’ll be right there.” She hoped her daughter had read the books that she bought for her.
She’d managed to get Kylie to three of the birthing classes, but after watching a video of a C-section, Kylie swore she’d never go back.
Gen was quite sure that her daughter didn’t want the baby.
As she drove into the garage, Kylie waddled out, the overnight bag that Gen had demanded she prepare in one hand, the other rubbing her protruding stomach.
“I’m ready to go,” Kylie announced as she hefted her body into the passenger seat. “The contractions are four minutes apart.”
Holy shit. This was it.
Gen inhaled the cleansing breath and exhaled slowly. “Okay, then, let’s do this.”
As she backed out of the driveway, the car indicated an incoming call. “Dad” appeared on the dashboard screen. It was Kylie’s phone that was ringing through to the hands-free system.
Fucking great.
“Did you call him and tell him you were in labor? Is he getting on a plane to come out here?” Gen didn’t like the way her daughter rolled her lips into a flat line then lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug.
“Well?” She pressed.
The phone rang again.
“Are you going to answer that?”
She heard Kylie gulp before she pressed to answer the call. When her daughter said nothing, Gen decided to take control of the situation.
“Hey, Evan, Kylie and I are in the car on the way to the hospital. Since we don’t know how long this is going to take, you’re welcome to join us there.
” She wasn’t going to keep him from meeting his first granddaughter or grandson.
Kylie had insisted on not knowing the sex ahead of time so Gen couldn’t even tell him which to expect.
There was a long pause of silence.
“Evan? Did we lose you?” It sounded as though he was in a car. Maybe he was on the way to the airport.
“Won’t that be a bit awkward with the baby’s father there?” His reply baffled her.
“Kylie, did you tell your dad who was the baby’s father?” Gen was instantly hurt that her daughter wouldn’t tell her the father’s name, but she’d tell her father. But if he knew, they could contact the father and let him know. Maybe he’d want to be there.
Their daughter sniffed, then broke out in tears. “I didn’t tell him anything.”
“Okay, so your dad doesn’t know who the father is either?” Gen needed to clarify this point.
Kylie shook her head. “No. I mean I didn’t tell him anything .” She wiped her eyes with a paper napkin she found in the center console. Rubbing her belly, she confessed, “He doesn’t know.”
“Oh, Jesus.” Gen stopped behind the cars at the red light. “Are you telling me your dad doesn’t even know you’re pregnant?”
Kylie shook her head and pointed to the dashboard indicating the still-active call. “He does now.”
“Evan, I was just informed that you know nothing about the pending birth of your first grandchild.”
“What-the-fuck?” His voice exploded through every speaker in her car. “Kylie is…my little girl…is pregnant?” He seemed to spit out the last word.
Their daughter arched her back and burst into tears, screaming. “It hurts.”
“Ah-he, ah-who. Breathe through the contraction like they taught you in the class. Concentrate on your breathing, not the pain.” Gen tried to keep her words calm.
“What the hell is happening? Why is she screaming?” Evan’s urgent voice wasn’t helping.
“Kylie is in labor. That’s why we’re headed to the hospital.
Contractions hurt.” Like a bitch. But Gen didn’t want to encourage anymore screaming.
“That’s the part of our daughter’s birth that you missed.
” She was being a bitch and knew it. They’d been out somewhere in the ocean learning to deep dive when she’d gone into labor.
Kylie had already been born by the time he got back to shore.
“My baby is having a baby?” Incredulity laced his quiet voice.
“Yes.” Gen didn’t know who to be angrier with, her daughter or her ex-husband. She thought he and Kylie talked regularly, like every week or two. “Obviously, you haven’t kept up with her in months.”
But he’d seen her at Thanksgiving, although she hadn’t been very pregnant at the time and probably wasn’t showing much.
She could have easily hidden it by wearing a long sweater, especially since Virginia would feel chilly compared to Southern California.
Gen had noticed that her daughter had put on a little weight at Christmas time, but it wasn’t until Kylie announced she was not going back to college that she realized why.
“I have.” His voice was very defensive. “We talked just a few weeks ago and she didn’t say anything about a baby.”
“I’m sorry, Dad.” Kylie blew her nose. “I knew you’d be disappointed in me and I didn’t want to tell you.”
“And you thought he’d never find out?” Gen accused. “You know better than to keep anything from your father…or me.”
“Ky, you know I love you no matter what.” He exhaled a long breath. “Vivi, what hospital are you taking her to?”
She couldn’t speak.
It was as though he’d punched her heart.
He’d called her Vivi. She hadn’t been called that name in years. The last time she’d heard it, the last time he’d said it, he’d begged her not to file divorce papers. Oh, Vivi, don’t do this to us.
All she could manage to do was stare straight ahead and mindlessly drive toward the hospital over on the mainland.
Kylie’s huge round eyes stared at her, frightened, as though she’d threatened to leave. “Mom’s a little busy driving right now. We’re headed to the Navy Medical Center in San Diego. I’m still on Tricare, your medical insurance. As long as I go to the base hospital, they’ll pay for everything.”
“That’s good, Ky. Good thinking. Where are you?” Evan’s voice was so controlled it was comforting.
Gen got her act together. “We’re about to cross the bridge.
” She needed to cut her ex-husband a break.
This was all new to him. “Evan, I know I’ve had a lot longer to deal with this situation but it’s happening now.
” It was a good thing Gen was used to driving in heavy traffic and knew the way to the hospital as she changed lanes on the bridge.
“I don’t know if you want to fly all the way out?—”
“Vivi, I’m less than ten minutes behind you.”
“You’re here?” Her daughter’s wide eyes were proof that she didn’t know, either. “How long have you been here?”