26. Harmony
CHAPTER 26
Harmony
D r. Jones-Teetering taps notes into her tablet in the office. “I’m going to snap those pictures we talked about, hon.” She uses the tablet to take a couple of pictures of my bruises—or as she called them, contusions—from being shoved into the police car.
“Of course, I can’t tell you for certain, but I think you’ll be fine. Your body is made to cushion and protect the baby. Your ultrasound was clear. You heard that strong heartbeat and saw baby moving around. So your baby is okay.” She reassures me.
“My official recommendation is to take things very easy for the next two weeks. Take acetaminophen for soreness as directed on the bottle. Drink lots of fluids and try to relax. Limit exercise and work, if you can. Enjoy the visit from your family and let them help you. Maybe talk to your dad.” She encourages me. When I arrived I confided in her that the only people who knew about the baby were the police and my cousin and my lawyer, both of whom she met in the lobby.
She smiles softly at me, remembering the closeness I share with him from a previous conversation. But I’m not sure my parents want to visit with me. I expected them to be with James and Gibs when I was released. Or to meet us at the doctor, but nope, I have yet to see them.
She puts her iPad in her briefcase. “You’re in the second trimester, which means your morning sickness should be abating. If you experience cramping or spotting at all, call me immediately on my personal cell.” She hands me her card. “If that does occur, I’ll meet you at the Haven Hospital maternity ward, so we can do another ultrasound and go from there.” She squeezes my arm. “You’re going to be okay, Harmony.”
“Let’s hope I won’t see you until our next appointment.” She leans over and gives me a hug. “Rest. Relax. Doctor’s orders.” She escorts me out of the empty office.
Gibs jumps up from the seats in the waiting room. “Are you okay? What did she say?”
“She says I’m probably fine. I should rest lots and call her if I have any issues.”
When we finally pull onto my street, it’s clear the quiet serenity I’ve gotten used to in Port Haven is gone. The Blind Rebels tour bus is parked alongside my landlord’s property and several SUVs with tinted windows are parked in spaces along the street. My landlady surely isn’t going to love that.
Across the street, catty-corner from my private entrance, there are locals holding cameras. Because now anyone with a camera phone can make it big if they’re in the right place at the right time. I look around. Aunt Mel and a couple of her and Sammy’s younger kids are here.
“Where is everyone?”
“Let’s see,” Sammy’s wife pauses and looks at Gibs and me. “Your moms are at the café. Sammy took Killian surfing because your dad…” she stops and looks pointedly at me, “is completely murderous right now. Sammy said he needed a surfing chill pill. I think your father was two minutes from heading to the station to talk to the police with his fists.” The first genuine smile since I was detained spreads across my face. I can’t help it. That’s such a Sammy thing to say. And it’s his way to help Dad get the perspective he needs before he gets in trouble. And such a Dad type of reaction. He’s usually laid back but when you mess with his family, well, it’s never a good thing. I’m so lucky my dad and uncle watch out for each other.
“Mav, Kady, and Brio are…somewhere, I’m not sure where exactly. Maybe the inn? Jax and Aiden are outside, you probably saw them keeping an eye on the people across the street.” I’ve known Jax and Aiden since I came to live with Dad. They are both gentle giants but you’d never guess that from looking at them. They both wear their hair close, in military style cuts and wear plain shirts.
“Your brother and my Seven are exploring the town with Daiz and Tay because your cousins were bored from the drive up and Callum wouldn’t let Daiz and Tay go downtown alone. Oh, and Harden and Hayleigh are on their way up from Vegas. Harden claimed he wanted a look at the café in person. At least, that’s the excuse they used for coming up. I really think your Aunt Kady just wanted her best friend and shopping partner and talked them into the trip.” Aunt Mel chuckles. Like Mav and Kady, Hayleigh and Harden aren’t related to us by blood, but unlike them they aren’t part of the band. But Hayleigh and Harden are family all the same with Hayleigh and Aunt Kady being best friends since they were children and Harden being her husband.
Gibson takes my arm cautiously at the lull in conversation and leads me over to my couch.
“You should be sitting, cuz. Resting. Isn’t that what the doctor ordered? Guys…come on, off the couch. Harm needs to sit.” My littlest cousins—Ludwig, Allegra, and Axl—all get up and promptly spread out on the bright floral area rug on my floor, various devices in hand. They don’t even give us a second glance.
“Do you want something to eat?” Gibson looks over at me while Mel heads to the kitchen. “There is a lot of food here, but if you want something else, I can go get it.”
I internally sigh.
Am I hungry? Yes. But I’m more tired than anything. “Whatever we have is fine.”
Gibs fixes me a bowl of homemade Chinese food that Kady threw together and gets me a glass of water along with a Gatorade. He disappears down the hall and comes back with my favorite pillow and blanket. I push the food around my plate, eating some of it but I’m just not that into it right now. The only reason I’m even trying is for the nug.
I must doze off at some point, because I wake up to Mom huddled next to the couch, her hand combing through my hair to keep it out of my face like she would when I was younger and sick.
“How are you feeling, baby?”
My eyes instantly water at her soft words as her face wrinkles with concern.
“Mom…” She pulls me to her and hugs me tightly, my nose filling with the familiar and comforting scent of her cherry soap. I sniffle back some of the tears escaping. “I didn’t do anything to Mrs. Kelleher. I was trying to help her remember where her home was.” My words spill out fast. “I didn’t know Toby’s number so I couldn’t call, and I didn’t want to contact the police if I didn’t have to. It’s all a big misunderstanding.”
“Shh, I know, baby. I know.” She pets my hair and squeezes me tighter. This is just what I need. Well, mostly. I’d really like a hug from Dad, but he’s not here.
Taking in a shuddering breath, I ask what I’m afraid to find out. “Where’re Dad and Fend?”
“Last I saw Fend, he was with his bandmates and the girls.” The girls being Daisy and Taylor, our cousins. My mom pulls back so she can look me straight in the eyes. “Your dad’s upset. Livid. But not at you. Gibs told him you got pushed around by the police officer and… Well, he’s not pleased. With the local PD or Toby.” She says the last part quickly. I can tell she’s not the biggest fan of Toby either.
“Toby didn’t do anything,” I explain. “It was the police. I didn’t listen to them when I should have. I never thought they’d push me around.” My mom gives me an odd look, one that tells me she’s not sure if she believes me.
“Sammy and your dad have been surfing and talking it out. I know it seems like he’s mad at you, hon. But I promise he’s not. He’s just…”
“Overwelled.” We say it at the same time. It was always how I said overwhelmed as a kid, and they always said it the same way to make me feel comfortable.
“Mom,” my voice cracks, and I don’t know if I can do this. But I need her to know. I can’t keep nug a secret anymore. “I’m, I’m, uh, pregnant, Mom.”
She pulls me into her embrace again, and I have this feeling she already knew about the baby. She’s always been able to figure things out without being told. Despite my recent fondness for Dad’s too big sweatshirt, she could probably just tell.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper into her hair. “I was scared to tell you. To tell Dad. I didn’t want to disappoint you guys. It wasn’t planned. I was using protection.” I sob into her shoulder, and once I start, I can’t stop. She rocks me like she would do when I was a teenager nursing another broken heart when I figured out my friends really didn’t care about me but about who my dad was.
There’s just something about being loved on by your mom. It fills your soul and makes life more manageable in the moments it’s so cold and bitter.
“And the baby is okay?” The corners of her eyes crinkle and her eyes soften as she pulls back to take a look at me.
“Yeah. The doctor thinks she’ll be okay. If I experience cramping or spotting, I’m supposed to call her right away.”
“She?” Mom looks excitedly at me.
“I don’t know for sure, it’s just a feeling I have.” I’m embarrassed to be in this position and worry about what my unexpected pregnancy will do to her. Her doctor told her it was a miracle she even got pregnant with Fender, let alone carrying him to term. But she did. My parents tried for more, but it never happened and they eventually gave up.
My mom shakes her head at me. “Harmony Carolina, Dad and I love you no matter what.” She waits until I look up at her, my gaze previously set on my fumbling fingers. My blue eyes connect with her hazel ones. “No. Matter. What,” she enunciates. “Got it?”
When I nod, she pulls me to her again. “Nothing you tell us would ever cause us to stop loving you. Ever. You’re stuck with us for good.”
“’Kay.” I rasp out hoarsely.
Her concerned lines turn up when she gives me a smile. But it’s a sad smile.
“Your dad doesn’t know,” she says, looking at my rounded belly where the hoodie is pulled tight. “And honestly, hon, now is probably not the time to tell him. But we will do it together, okay? Once he’s calmed down a little from everything.” She gives me one last quick squeeze.
I know she said he wasn’t mad, but I have to be sure. “You’re sure he’s not upset with me for getting arrested?”
“With you, no. The situation with the police and Book Asshole, yes.” I can’t help but giggle at Gibson’s nickname for Toby.
I sit up from the couch and stretch.
“Where’d Gibs and the others go anyway?”
“Mel took the kids to the inn on the other side of town to swim. With everyone in town, I think we take up half the inn ourselves.”
“You and Dad can stay with me and take my bed. I’ll sleep out here.”
“Gibson wants to stay with you. He’s missed you terribly. Everybody has. And I know you’ve missed him. That’s why the bus is out there. So Gibson can stay here and Muted Anarchy is nearby to work on writing.”
Mom’s phone vibrates with a text message, and a few minutes later, mine does too.
Dad: You doing okay?
Me: Yes! Are you?
Dad: Sammy talked me off the ledge. It was touch and go for a while. James might have had double the work cut out for him.
Me: Will you come see me?
Dad: Mom tells me you’re tired. You rest and I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you, kiddo. More than you’ll ever know.
Me: Love you, Daddy.
I can’t remember the last time I called him Daddy, but at this moment it just feels right.
Dad: Love you, too, my little
Mom stays with me until Gibson comes back with our favorite pizza. She reluctantly leaves to go back to the inn where Dad and Fender stay.