Rose In Bloom (31 page)

“Did the assault hurt the baby?” I nervously ask.

“Your baby had been quite distressed coming in, but since we were able to stop the contractions, she’s doing remarkably well, considering. Your wife is a tough lady. She has significant bruising to her abdomen and side, but the ultrasound and tests show the placenta is still attached with no internal bleeding, so that’s very promising.”

“So they’re going to be all right, then?” I ask, hopeful.

“Mr. Thorne, anytime preterm labor occurs, we become nervous. We certainly want the baby to stay inside your wife until full term. In order to do this, we will need to make sure everything remains stable. She’s had no vaginal bleeding and the cervix has remained closed so we will keep our fingers crossed that the medicine continues to work.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“I won’t lie, Mr. Thorne. If we aren’t able to keep everyone stable, we’ll have to deliver the baby. Unfortunately, at this early stage of pregnancy, your daughter’s chances of surviving would not be good. Let’s pray the medicine works and we won’t have to have that discussion, all right?” she says, placing her hand on my shoulder.

“I’m going to finish up my notes and then go check on your wife. Once she gets settled into her room, I’ll have a nurse bring you to her.”

“Thank you so much, Dr. Lewis.”

“My pleasure, Mr. Thorne.”

Walking out to the lobby, I pull out my phone to call Lucas. He is surely on his way here by now. When he doesn’t answer the phone, it makes me nervous as hell. I’m hoping he didn’t run into any problems with Brandon after I’d left. Tucking my phone back in my pocket, I pace the halls until the nurse waves me back. Right now, I need to touch the woman I love and tell her that everything is finally going to be all right. I just pray it is.

Hours have gone by and I won’t let go of her hand. The combination of her soft touch and the steady fast beat of our daughter’s heart soothe me. Our daughter. I smile as I study her bump. I’d known all along what she’d be. Nothing had felt more right than to hear the word
daughter
come out of the doctor’s mouth earlier. Skylar’s still resting soundly and the nurses come in and out of here every half hour double-checking her vitals.

Scooting my chair closer to the bed, I place my hand gently on her stomach.

“Daddy needs you to stay in there and grow for him. Can you do that for me? Nothing excites me more than the thought of getting to meet you, but it’s not time for you to come out and play yet. I need you to be strong and brave like your mommy. She needs you, little one. You’re going to fill a hole in her that no one else can. You’re going to give her back her life.”

“Sebastian,” Skylar whispers in her sleep. She never opens her eyes, just moves her head, and mumbles.

“Shh… sleep baby. Sleep. Everything is going to be all right now.”

The buzzing of my phone in my pocket jolts me awake. Immediately, I wince in pain at the catch in my neck from the position I’d been laying across the bed. Digging out the relentless vibration from my pocket, I see Harrison’s name appear.

“Where the hell is Drake? Is he with you?”

“No, sir. I can’t get up with him on the phone. Were you able to get Mrs. Thorne out safely?”

“We’re at the hospital now. We had a close call with the baby and we don’t know if we are out of the woods yet. She’s resting at the moment.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I just wish we could have reached her sooner. Do you need me to do anything?”

“Just find him!”

“Yes, sir.”

Hanging up, I check my phone once more, but there are no missed calls or messages. Knowing how Lucas feels about Skylar, nothing would stop him from checking on her. Something just isn’t right and my gut tells me that it isn’t good.

Harrison calls again just as I’m pouring another disgusting cup of coffee from the visitors’ station.

“Mr. Thorne, I’m sending you pictures to your phone. You need to see this.”

My phone shakes from the incoming texts. Downloading the attachment, I slide through picture after picture of a burned smoldering warehouse. Putting the phone back up to my ear, I continue our conversation.

“He burned it?”

“I don’t know, sir. I can’t get up with him, and since he’s not made contact with you or anyone else, I’m concerned he didn’t get out of the building in time. I have a contact in the fire department, and he’s supposed to let me know what they find.”

“Very good. In the meantime, keep trying to get Drake on the phone. Call me the moment you hear anything.”

“I will, sir.”

Looking back through the pictures, I can’t help but worry that maybe he didn’t make it out of the warehouse. If that is the case, then the news will devastate Skylar. So I will make the decision that until I know something for sure, I’m certainly not going to mention anything to her. Settling back in the chair beside her, I take my wife’s hand into mine, close my eyes, and listen to the soothing sounds of heartbeats filling the room.

Skylar

Blinking my eyes open, I see Sebastian sitting beside me asleep in the chair, his hand holding mine. Panic fills me as the hazy feeling in my head begins subsiding.

My baby.

Throwing back the covers, I pull up my hospital gown, revealing the fetal monitor firmly wrapped around my body. Purple and black marks peek out from the elastic belt, reminding me of Brandon’s vicious attack. The rapid sounds of her heartbeat are the sweetest song I’ll ever hear. Closing my eyes, I bring my other hand up to my stomach.

My baby. She’s safe
.

It hurts so much to move, and when I do, my head feels so funny. The room is so hot and I’m dying for a drink of water. Squeezing his hand, Sebastian immediately jumps to his feet and by my side, looking so relieved.

“I’m so happy to see those eyes. How are you feeling, sweetheart?” he asks, touching my face.

“The baby. How is the baby?”

“Shh. Our daughter is doing just fine right now.” He smiles.

“You promise? She’s okay?”

“I promise she’s doing great. They are watching her closely.”

“Thank God!” Relieved, I lay my head back on the pillow.

“Did the kicking hurt her?”

“No, it didn’t, but it did cause you to go into preterm labor. The doctors here were able to stop it with medicine. They took you off it a few hours ago and so far, the contractions haven’t returned. They want you to be very careful for a while. So no arguments, I’m taking care of my girls.” He beams.

“You’re proud of yourself. Aren’t you?” I say and he laughs.

“I told you, I’ve felt it from the beginning. I never knew I could wish anything more in existence, and yet I had.”

“What if the contractions come back?”

“Then they’ll try some different medicine, whatever it takes. We are going to think about happy things, positive things. Everything is finally going to be all right.”

“What about Brandon? Did they arrest him? Please tell me he is in jail.”

“He’s dead, Skylar. He won’t ever bother us or anyone ever again.” Sebastian leans in and presses his forehead against mine.

“I am so sorry I couldn’t stop him, baby.” I feel his warm tears on my skin.

“Hey. It’s over now. You couldn’t have stopped him. You and I both know he would’ve killed me if you hadn’t backed down.”

“That son of a bitch tried to cut the baby out of you, Skylar. I won’t ever forgive myself for that. If Lucas hadn’t stopped him, I don’t know what I’d have done.”

“Lucas? He was there, too?”

“Yeah, he came in to back me up. He had to sneak in to take him out.”

“So Lucas killed him?”

“Yes.”

“Where is he? I want to thank him.”

“He’s not here right now, Skylar.”

“Don’t tell me you two can’t get along after all of this. I know what he did was wrong, but he saved me.”

“Baby, I know that. He’ll be here soon. Why don’t you rest a bit and I’ll give him a call.”

“Okay,” I say through my yawn. Kissing me gently on the lips, I catch a glimpse of something in his eye.

Worry.

“Wow! It looks like we have a floral shop in here.” Dr. Lewis smiles as she enters my room.

“Yeah, my husband tends to go overboard with these things.” Looking around the room at all of the pink flowers and bows, I can’t help but shake my head and laugh. Yep, he’s gone really overboard, but he’s just excited about his daughter.

“How are we feeling today?” Dr. Lewis asks as she checks me over.

“Just sore, but so thankful. Thank you so much for saving my baby.”

“That’s my job. Just like it’s your job to take care of yourself. The contractions have stayed gone for 24 hours now, but I’d still like to keep you here for a couple more days just in case.”

Frowning at her words, I want nothing more than to sleep in my own bed. But when it comes to this baby, her safety comes first. I’ll stay as long as I need to in order to carry her to term. Sebastian comes in the door carrying a huge bouquet of pink lilies and a big pink bear.

Dr. Lewis smiles and pats me on the arm. “You’re a lucky girl, Mrs. Thorne. In more ways than one.”

“I know,” I whisper.

“I’ll be back in to check on you when I make my rounds. Be sure to take care of her, Dad.”

“Dad. That’s got a nice ring to it,” he says, winking.

“I got these for you,” he says, moving in to kiss me. He’s been home to shower and change, and God, does he ever smell good.

“They are beautiful, but you really are going to have to stop with all of this.”

Walking over, he looks for an open place to sit the flowers and bear.

“Hmm. Maybe they can move you into a bigger room.”

Laughing, I hold the pillow to my stomach to ease the pain.

“You are too much, Mr. Thorne.” The way he looks at me always takes my breath away. But the way he’s looking at me now just levels me with its purity. There is no doubt the depth of his love for me. Never.

Coming over to the bed, he drags the chair closer and takes my hand.

“I know you aren’t used to this, but you are going to have to get used to me doing it. When it comes to you, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t give you or do for you. You own me. Every part of me. I need you to understand that. Maybe being in a hospital room makes it seem less romantic, but I don’t care. I want you to know that I will love you forever and I will lavish you as much as I want for the rest of our lives together. And this little girl and all of her brothers and sisters to come can expect the same. I do it because I want to, not because I can.”

The gates have opened and my face is flooded with my own tears, happy tears.

“I love you so much Sebastian. So. So. Much.”

Touching my face, his dark amber eyes lock onto mine, “Not as much as I love you, Skylar.”