Chapter seven

Erica

I woke in a tangled mess of limbs with Devon. Last night felt like a dream but her naked body pressing against mine told me it wasn't. She's the first since Alexis and hopefully the last. After last night I can't imagine my life without her.

I rub the back of my fingers lightly up and down her arm as she continues to sleep. She lets out a content sigh, turning her face in my neck. I couldn't stop the smile from forming on my lips. I'm falling for her hard and I knew I'd wait for her. I know we're testing waters right now and it's up to her in the end.

I caress her tiny bump and let my thumb lightly sweep at her skin. "Mmm, that feels good," she says in a husky whisper from sleep. "Don't stop, please?"

I obliged what she asked for and kept going. "Did you sleep okay," I ask in a soothing whisper.

"Mmm, I slept like a baby. You were amazing last night, I didn't want to stop," she says in a seductive whisper and looks at me with a hunger in her eyes. "Have any spare time before work?"

Before I could answer, she straddles me, grinding her core against mine. My breaths hitch and grab her hips. She looks at the clock on her bedside table and pouts. God she's adorable. Tears fill her eyes and looks down at me. I have a little over an hour to shower, have breakfast and leave for work.

She shakes her head as the tears start falling and climbs off me. She enters the bathroom across the hall and I go in after her. She doesn't want to be alone and I don't blame her. I step up behind her while she sets her desired water temperature. "Let me go in and explain to Miss Clark that you're hysterical and are supposed to be stress free the next two weeks. Maybe she'll let me come back," I say in a soothing whisper and she lets out a relieved breath.

I was entering the school this morning and made my way to Julie's office. Julie was sitting in her office and I knock on her doorframe. She looks up and I realize she's on the phone. She waves me in and I close the door. "She just walked in my office Miss Vasquez," she says in a soothing tone and I was wondering if she was speaking with Lucia or Devon. "I can ask her Miss Vasquez, but I can't garentee you she'll be willing to stay with your daughter for the next two weeks... I'll call you back Miss Vasquez.

"Miss Vasquez was run down my a customer as she was walking in the parking lot of the diner. Her leg is broken, three bruised ribs and a fractured clavicle. She's going to be in the hospital and asked me to ask you to stay with Devon so she isn't alone," she says with a sigh, rubbing her temples. "Are you okay with that?"

"Of course, I was about to ask you to go back to her house. I was picking up her homework and she was hysterical. She's not supposed to be under stress for the next few weeks," I say with concern. "I can only imagine how she'll take the news of her mother in the hospital."

She studies my face and asks with a knowing look, "You care about her, don't you?"

"I just understand what she's going through," I choke quietly as tears fill my eyes and play with the wedding band I haven't been able to take off. I let the tears fall and say in a wavering whisper, "Alexis was setting up dinner reservations at our favorite restaurant when she was killed in a car accident. The dinner was so she could tell me she was pregnant after our fourth attempt with IVF.

"Devon watched Jennifer get run down after getting pushed out of the way. Jennifer may not have died, but her memory did. Her mother works from dawn till dusk and Devon has been left alone when she needs someone the most," I say in a choked whisper and let out a breath.

Julie offers me tissues with a sympathetic smile. "This is the most I've heard you talk about your wife since she died," she says in sympathy.

"I haven't needed to. I keep my life private," I say quietly and look at the inscription on my wedding band 'forever' her band had 'always'.

"How much do you care about Devon," she asks curious and I look up at her. I knew my face showed the truth and I didn't care to hide it in this moment. "Does her mother know? Does anyone else know?"

"Her mother knows and just you," I say quietly, wiping my eyes. "I tried ignoring it, but I can't. She's the first I talked to about my wife, but after Jennifer lost her memory.

"I understand if it means I can't teach anymore and you bring it to attention to the school board. I'll resign..."

"Now I understand why her mother requested for you," Julie says with a light smile. "As far as I'm concerned you're her tutor and not her teacher. I don't know anything about what goes on outside of this school."

I let out a relieved breath as tears roll down my cheeks. "Why aren't you firing me," I ask confused.

"I'd be a hypocrite," she says quietly with understanding of my situation and I nod lightly with understanding.

"I won't say anything about it," I say with a light smile.

"Go, I'll look for a substitute until you return," she says with a light smile.

I don't hesitate, I leave her office and back out to my car. As I drive back to Devon's I think about her reaction about her mother. It's going to cause her stress and I know she's going to want to see her and I definitely needed to be there for her. She's had so much happen this month and she can't handle more with the pregnancy.

I pulled into her driveway and let myself in. I could hear her sobbing in the living room and ran to her. She was rocking herself with her phone laying a few feet away from her. There was still a call going through and I pick it up. "Hello? Can I ask whom is calling," I ask curious.

"Yes, I'm a doctor at Glens falls hospital. I'm calling about Lucia..."

"You do know her daughter was a patient over the weekend and not to be under any stress? Do you have any idea what you could have done," I ask in an angry whisper. "Her mother called the school and I was sent to inform her so she wouldn't be stressed out. If she loses her baby, it's on your hands."

I end the call and kneel in front of her. "I don't know what she told you, but she's going to be fine. She asked Miss Clark to allow me to be here for you," I say in a soothing whisper and she shutters a calming breath. I lift her off the floor and sit with her across my lap on the couch. "I'll take you to see her if you want."

"Can I see her now," she asks in a shaky breath as she calms down.

"Of course," I say in a soothing whisper and she climbs off my lap. "Would you like to drive? I drive when I need a distraction."

She gives me relieved eyes and I hand her my car keys. We walk out and I open the driver's side door for her. She gives me a light smile and I close the door before walking to the passenger side. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.

Devon

I pictured my mother getting hit and it was bringing back memories of Jennifer shoving me away in time before she was hit in front of me. Tears roll down my cheeks as I tried to calm my nerves before driving Erica's car. I feel her slide to the middle of the seat and wipes my eyes. I look at her and she knew what I was thinking.

She slips her hand under my shirt, caressing my small bump and I let out a calming breath. I start the car and back out of the driveway. The drive was in comfortable silence and she never took her hand from my stomach. She was right, driving was a nice distraction. I was feeling relaxed but I wasn't sure if it was the driving or her hand on my stomach?

We soon pulled into the hospital visitor's parking, but I couldn't find the will to get out. We sat in silence as tears found their way down my cheeks. I feel her hand moving from my stomach and I place my hands over hers, shaking my head vigorously.

She puts her hand back and I lean my head back against the seat. "She still has her memory," Erica says in a soothing whisper and I break into uncontrolled sobs as she knew exactly what I was thinking. "I'm sure it will do you both some good if you go see her. I'll come with you if it'll help you."

I look at her with relief and she smiles lightly. She wipes my eyes and we get out the driver's side door, mostly because I wouldn't let her hand go. We walk into the hospital and to the visitors reception desk. I couldn't find the words to speak as fresh tears roll down my cheeks.

"Devon Vasquez is here to see her mother, Lucia Vasquez," Erica says for me and I let out the breath I'd been holding.

The receptionist gives me a sympathetic smile and says, "She's down the hall, third door on the right."

"Thank you," Erica says in a soothing tone and leads me to my mother's room.

I squeeze her hand as we make it to her door and she sweeps her thumb at the back of my hand. I was reaching for the door when it opened from the inside. It was the same doctor that treated Jennifer. Seeing her triggered an anxiety attack and my breathing quickens.

Erica braces me against the wall and holds my face in her hands. "Breathe, Devon," she says in a soothing tone, but I could tell she was scared for me. "You need to calm down for your baby's sake."

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She nods, instructing me to do another. I do as she says and close my eyes as I felt calm. I feel her kiss my forehead and I let out a calming breath. "Are you okay to go in now," she asks with concern and I meet her eyes. "I'll be there with you, okay?"

I nod lightly and we enter my mother's hospital room. "Mama," I choke quietly and she looks at me with surprise.

"Mija, you should be resting," she says with her left hand held out to me. She looks next to me at Erica as I take her offered hand and asks, "They're letting you stay with her?"

"Yes ma'am," Erica says in a soothing tone.

My mother and I start laughing and Erica looks between us confused. "Cariño (Honey), call me Lucia," my mother says with a smile. She smirks, looking between me and Erica and says, "I heard you last night. Is there something I should know?"

"We're testing waters right now Mama, but you can't say anything please," I beg in a pleading tone and she nods with understanding.

After the stressful morning I had, I was feeling lightheaded. The room was starting to spin and I collapse into Erica. "Devon," Erica cries out in a panicked tone.

I woke to arguing and realized I was laying in a hospital bed. Erica was yelling at the doctor who called me about my mother's accident. I immediately think of my baby and the heart monitor I was hooked up to was going off. Erica rushes in and takes me in her arms. "Shh, the baby is fine, she's fine," she says in a soothing whisper, rocking me as she caresses my stomach.

I shutter a calming breath and hear the monitor decrease. Erica lets out a relieved breath and kisses the top of my head. "You scared me, you know that," she chokes quietly and I meet her eyes.

Tears looked ready to fall and they were for me. "I'm sorry," I say quietly and she kisses my forehead repeatedly. "Can I lay on you?"

She giggles quietly as a few tears roll down her cheeks and adjusts herself for me to lay on her chest. I nuzzle my cheek against her breast and let out a content sigh. "Thank you for being here for me and my baby. Without you there to help calm me down, I would have lost her," I choke quietly and hold her hand to my stomach.

"You're welcome and I'll always try to be there for both of you," she says in a soothing whisper and kisses my temple.