Chapter Nineteen
Reid
Poppy has lived with me for two months now.
I grew attached to coming home and snuggling with her on the couch and it felt too empty without her.
So, I decided to officially adopt the little multi-colored shadow of mine.
Besides, what’s a vet with no pets? She’s spoiled rotten now with my new home decor of cat towers and mouse toys.
As I get ready to leave, I tell her goodbye and to not make a mess while I’m gone.
It’s an off day for me and I’m headed back to my parents to help my dad with some yard work.
It’s a nice, cool day to get out and do some end of season clean-up.
My mom goes all out on the fall decor, but you never know what type of temperature you’re going to get in Indiana during this time of year.
I find her clipping some dead rose bushes in the front yard, and per usual, she doesn’t hear me pull up. “Good Lord, Reid. Warn a woman next time.”
Smirking, I responded with “Sorry, Mom. I thought pulling my loud truck in was warning enough.” I love messing with her.
“Ha ha very funny. Your dad is in the back.” I start to walk around the side of the house before she yells back again. “Oh! Reid! Caroline Baker came into the school today looking for a job. Did you know she was back in town?”
I freeze. Unsure how to proceed. Does this mean she is back for good?
"Oh... yeah, I ran into her a little while ago," I run a nervous hand through my hair, "but I thought she was just visiting." An honest answer, without spilling the whole truth about our run-ins.
“I guess she’s going through a messy divorce and is moved back to the Baker house.” So they’re not getting back together? I’ve wondered if that’s why she was avoiding me, but maybe not. Still, I’m wary to believe they’re actually done for good.
“Yeah, I’m sure she won’t be here long. You know her, always on to the next big thing.” I mutter nonchalantly, trying to walk away from the conversation and not get my hopes up.
“I don’t know. She seemed pretty eager to start over and find a new job.
Things must be pretty rocky over there.” My mom is always giving everyone the benefit of the doubt.
It’s sweet until you want her to agree with your poor opinions of someone.
Regardless, she has always loved Caroline and wanted us to work out.
Something tells me that she’s still holding out hope for that.
I choose not to respond and tuck away that information in the back of my mind, while I try to focus on spending time with my dad. She did always tell me that if I don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
∞∞∞
Our weekly dinner had barely begun, when my dad started to slur his words.
Before the meal had even cooled, I found myself driving behind an ambulance, my father strapped to a gurney and my mother at his side. My mind kept flashing between his drooping face at the dining room table and the image of him being loaded up by the paramedics.
After recognizing the symptoms, we were able to respond quickly, and I can only pray that we were fast enough to save him any added struggles.
Ten minutes later we are pulling up to the emergency room of Lake County Hospital.
I hop out of my truck, leaving it with the valet and run in through the automatic doors.
I immediately ask to be taken back to the trauma bay with my dad.
The adrenaline coursing through my veins makes it hard to even remember how I got here, but security takes me through a side door past the check-in desk and triage area.
I’m unexpectedly met by a chaplain and pulled into a small room.
Fear takes over my body, but he assures me that everything is fine and that I can go in the room as soon as they ensure his stability.
What feels like an hour goes by, but I’m sure it was just five agonizing minutes of me staring at the dirty tile floor and fidgeting with my fingers.
I don’t even have cell service in this room.
Suddenly my mom swings the door open and grabs me for a hug, with tears in her eyes.
The silence is terrifying, but finally she breaks it with.
“He’s okay, please come. Come in here with me.
” And I follow behind her, without a second glance at the poor chaplain.
There are three bay doors lined up in the hall and we enter the first set on the left.
Most of the medical team has cleared out, except for a couple checking on the monitors and charting in the corner.
It’s quiet and it isn’t until he grins up at me that I feel the dam about to break.
I take a deep breath in through my nose and take long strides to go over and grab his hand.
“Hi, Dad.” I croak out, damn near whispering.
“Sorry to scare ya like that.” Is this man seriously chuckling right now?
It’s always like my parents to downplay things, so as not to frighten me.
Sometimes I appreciate it, while other times I feel very left out of the loop on important details.
They try to protect me as much as they can, but sometimes they forget that I am an adult now and want to know what’s going on.
I am not a child that needs things to be sugarcoated anymore.
I ignore his dark sense of humor and continue on. “How are you feeling?” I say, knowing this is a ridiculous thing to ask right about now, but not knowing what else to talk about.
However, the awkward silence and our short alone time is quickly interrupted by the door swinging open again. A cart comes rolling in with a laptop on top and then I see a blonde ponytail behind it.
“Hello, I’m with the registration department. I’m just going to get a few-” She stops and finally meets my eyes. No way this is happening again.
I am not even in the right headspace for this interaction.
But somehow her energy brings me peace in this moment, calming the still pounding beat of my heart.
Except, this time when she steps around from behind the computer, I am distracted by a small bump protruding from her tiny abdomen.
So small that any normal stranger would probably not even notice it, but I am no stranger to that body of hers.
I would never ask a woman the question that's on the tip of my tongue, much less her.
But I don't need to. There is no doubt in my mind that Caroline Baker is pregnant.