The Anchor (36 page)

Before we came to dinner Nikki and I decided not to tell my parents about the test results we’re waiting on. My mother would do nothing but worry herself to death and my father would only worry about my mother. But we agreed to tell them the good news we could share.

“So we found out what we’re having,” I announce as I place one arm over Nikki’s shoulders where she sits beside me.

“It’s a boy,” my mother answers, her voice cracking with emotion.

“Why do you think that?” I ask, and I try not to grin like a fool.

“Because look at how beautiful Nikki looks. When it’s a boy, the mother keeps her beauty. When it’s a girl, the baby takes the beauty.” Make-believe knowledge by Adele Hayes, ladies and gentlemen.

Maddie snorts. “Well maybe it just took Parker’s looks. He looks like an ass,” she calls from the sink where she and Joey have been chatting over dishes.

“Madeline Rae Hayes, watch your mouth.”

“Shit,” Maddie murmurs. “Sorry, Ma.”

“Well, you’re right,” Nikki affirms. “It’s a boy.” And she’s smiling, but the concern and fear are evident, at least they are to me. I want to curse or fucking punch something when I think about how scared she’s been. And just when she finally comes around and begins to get excited, this happens. We’re faced with the possibility of something tragic happening to our child. Under the table, I squeeze her leg, letting her know I understand what she’s thinking and feeling at the moment.

“Congratulations, you two,” my father says, his voice husky with pride and emotion. “A baby boy.” He looks at my mother and grins when he sees her getting teary-eyed. “Now you can give them the five thousand things of Parker’s you kept from when he was a baby.”

“It wasn’t that many,” my mother defends. Then she moves her gaze to me and Nikki. “But I do have a few things I think you might like.”

For the next hour, Nikki and I search through the attic and find my old baby crib and a ton of baby clothes. I can’t believe my mother kept all of these things. The women in my family are rat packs. And in spite of that, my mama is the fucking best. When we finally leave, Nikki and my mother hug tightly for a long moment. It’s not hard to tell they’ve bonded and it makes me so damn happy. She’s now one of the three leading women in my life—I’m including Maddie, even though she’s a pain in the ass—and they’re all bonding. And for Nikki, I know having a mother figure means so much. Probably more than I’ll ever be able to understand. I’m blessed my mother is such an amazing woman. Am I a mama’s boy? Hell, yes, I am. And proud of it. My mother helped make me the man I am today. She’s always pushed me to do well, to do what’s right, and she’s never tried to rule or dictate my life. Instead, she’s always loved me unconditionally and I know no matter where I go in life, she’ll always be there. That’s what a parent should do. And that’s what I wish Nikki’s parents would of done for her. Even getting lightly reprimanded would have been better than being ignored or abandoned. The one thing I never felt was alone.

While everyone says their good-byes, I glance in the kitchen and spot Maddie writing something on Joey’s hand. Good grief. Joey does his sideways smirk and says something to her, and Maddie laughs. Oh, shit. They’re flirting. I don’t know how to feel about this at all. And I know Joey is a good guy, it’s my sister that’s the hell-raiser. Poor guy. But for now, it appears she’s only given him her number. Add that to the distance between them and it’s unlikely anything will pan out.

“So, Mama,” I begin, trying to stifle the grin I want to let out. My mother and Nikki turn to me with questioning gazes. “Nikki really wants to cook Thanksgiving dinner and we want you guys to come to our house to join us.” And I barely stop myself from laughing.

Nikki’s face goes ghost-white and her eyes fill with dread. I’m smiling, unable to stop myself. “Well, that would be lovely,” my mother says. “I’m happy to make and bring a few dishes.”

“Thank you,” Nikki manages after a beat. “So we’ll see you in two weeks?” And my mother nods.

They hug again, saying good-bye, and we all head home. The moment we get in the car Nikki gives me one of her infamous side pinches, making me hiss.

“You’re an asshole,” she states.

We’re all laughing when I say, “I’m going to help you, baby.” And I grin widely and try to pat her head. And my hand is halfway there when she leans back.

“I don’t want your help,” she insists. “I’ll cook it by myself.”

My brows rise. “Uh . . .”

“And you’ll eat every damn bit of it and love it,” she adds, her left brow arched, daring me to argue.

I lean over and kiss her cheek. She’s sitting in the passenger seat, seat belt on, and arms crossed. She’s too fucking cute. “Yes, I will,” I promise.

It’s Tuesday. I’m at my shop, turning lights off, getting ready to head home. I had two violin lessons today and they were rough. I thought it’d be easier to teach than it is. I definitely have some tweaking to do with my methods. And honestly, maybe my heart just wasn’t in them.

It’s 4:55 when my cell rings. I don’t recognize the number but I answer anyway.

“Hello,” I answer.

“Yes, I’m trying to reach Nicole Reese.”

“This is she.”

“Hi, I’m Angela, Doctor Morris’s head nurse.”

My heart lodges in my throat. “Hi,” I manage.

“The results came back for the amniotic fluid test.”

I’m holding my breath, my heart pounding fast as I press my hand to my belly.
Please let him be okay. Please. Please. Please.

“Dr. Morris planned to call you but she had a delivery and asked me to. She wanted you to have the results as soon as possible.” And I swallow hard.

“Yes, okay.” I breathe in deeply, preparing myself for the worst case scenario.

“Everything came back negative,” she says, simply as can be.

In the release of one breath, all the tension I’ve been carrying around for days rolls out of me.
He’s okay.
Our son is okay. Suddenly, I’m racked with sobs, shaking with relief as warm tears fall down my flushed cheeks.

“Are you okay?” the nurse asks from the other end of the line.

“Yes,” I cry, half laughing. “I’m so okay. Thank you so much.”

She reminds me of the date of my next appointment and we hang up. Sitting down, I rub my belly and say, “Thank you, little dude. I love you so much. Everything is okay.” I lean back, my heart hurts I’m so happy. I have never been so scared in my life . . . ever. And to think, I thought the day I found out I was pregnant was the scariest day of my life. Nothing compares to this. I let out a few long breathes. “Now we need to tell Daddy.” This morning Parker told me he had to work a little late tonight, but I can’t wait to tell him and I want to tell him in person. I hop out of the chair and lock up, my smile a mile long, and climb in Dierk’s Expedition I’m still borrowing, and head toward Parker’s office. I really need to return it and either use Parker’s car or buy a used car of my own.

Leaving the radio off, I start humming to myself. My poor cheeks feel stretched; I’m grinning so damn hard. And I’ve made it a little over halfway there when it starts pouring down, the raining making the windshield wipers work overtime. I flip on the hazard lights and proceed slowly down the street. “Come on, come on,” I whisper, as if my chant alone will motivate the rain to let up. Nothing is going to stop me from getting to Parker. Not when I feel an elated strength like never before. I’m a few blocks away when the car starts to sputter and breaks down. “Son of a bitch,” I groan as I manage to get the SUV parked. This is what I get for driving a borrowed car. Whipping my head to the backseat, I start looking around for an umbrella, a poncho, or hell, a plastic bag will do at this point. Nothing. Shit. Quickly, I unclick my seat belt and climb into the back. He has to have something I can use. I scan the second row of seats and then the third. Of course he doesn’t have an umbrella or anything of use back there. The only thing I find is an old condom wrapper stuck deeply in the back corner. “Gross,” I mutter as I head back to the front and peek out the driver’s side window. The rain continues to pound against the SUV. Once upon a time I would’ve whined and probably broken down. Not anymore. Screw it, it’s just rain and Parker’s office is only three blocks away, so I decide to woman up and climb out. The rain soaks me in minutes as I rush determinedly down the sidewalk, wiping my face as I go. By the time I reach the building and catch a glimpse of my reflection in the lobby window, I look like a wet dog. Jesus, I look worse than a drunken Jenn after a long night at Earl’s. As I ride the elevator up, I try to smooth my hair down as best I can. I know I look like utter hell, but I don’t care. I’m so excited to tell Parker the baby is healthy, nothing else matters.

When I walk off the elevator, the office is quiet, much like it was the last time I showed up. I make my way down the hallway and see the light from Parker’s office just as Leanne walks in and shuts the door. My brows furrow as I near the door, wondering why she needed to close it. There’s no one else here that I can see. I’m trying not to jump to conclusions, but when I hear Parker’s voice, heightened and . . . angry, definitely angry . . . my fists clench.

“I’m not interested,” Parker booms. “What the hell is wrong with you? Stop unbuttoning your blouse.” My heartbeat picks up speed and mouth drops open with his words. And I realize had I not walked in last time, she probably would have tried to give him a full strip show at this rate. The woman has worked for Parker for a short time, knew he was in a relationship, and still felt the need to undress for him. That dirty little whore. I’m going to kick her—

“But I thought—”

“I don’t care what you thought,” Parker interrupts her. “You need to turn around and walk out that door right now,” he says, his voice adamant, and my chest tightens with continued anger.

“I see the way you look at me,” Leanne argues. Did she just purr?

“I don’t look at you. In fact, I make it a point not to look at you. Open the door and go. Now!”

A second later, the door flies open and Leanne rushes out, buttoning her flimsy blouse and mouthing
asshole.
When she realizes I’m there she halts, her eyes widen a fraction, then her mouth turns up, curling in the corners in a fictitious smile. The bitch has some nerve.

“Oh, hi,” she greets. “Lovely to see you. Nikki, is it?”

“Nikki,” Parker calls, his tone almost gasp-like and he rounds his desk, but I hold a hand up, stopping him.

I give Leanne my best pageant smile, the one I’ve used to glamour many judges with in my heyday. “I’m going to give you two seconds to get your scrawny ass out of his office and my face,” I seethe through clenched teeth.

Her smile drops and she inhales.

“Learn to differentiate when you’re wanted and not wanted.” And I smile again as I step closer. “Go near him again, make a move on him again, and I will fuck you up,” Yeah, beauty queens can get gangster, too. Parker is mine and she damn well knew it. She slips by me and grabs her purse from her desk and hustles down the hallway. She may be a slut, but at least she’s a smart slut.

My eyes narrow as I watch her leave, and I turn on my heel and tromp in his office, shutting the door behind me.

“Baby,” he begins.

“Shut up, Parker,” I croak out, and his head rears back.

“I didn’t do anything,” he retorts, ignoring my demand. His nostrils flare as he continues to defend himself. “She came on to me.”

Slipping off my saturated coat, I let it fall limply to the floor and rush him. My body slams to him as my mouth locks with his. I kiss him hard and passionately. He’s a little stunned at first and it takes him a second to get his bearings, but then he’s right there with me. Lifting me, he sets me on the corner of his desk, his fingers threading my soaked hair. As we kiss, I moan against his lips and unbuckle his belt and he pulls back.

“You believe me?” He breathes heavily.

“Yes, I do. I overheard what was said. But even if I hadn’t, I would’ve believed you, Parker. I know you love me.”

His dark eyes rove over my face, his thumb grazing my cheekbone. “Fucking beautiful,” he whispers before biting my lower lip and slowly drawing it out with his teeth. He pushes back and pants as he stares at me. When he pulls my shirt over my head, I can’t help wrapping my arms around myself. My belly is definitely getting bigger. It’s very obvious that I’m pregnant and even though I’m excited about the baby, and even though I know Parker loves me, I’m still self-conscious.