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Chapter 34 - Alyson
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2021-05-20 21:32:52I need a drink. A big one. With lots and lots of alcohol. I close my eyes in a long blink, praying I misheard Rose.
“That’s less than a year away!” Mom exclaims. “Do you think you can get everything ready
in time?”
March isn’t that far away, she’s right. And there is a lot to do before then, and I’m not thinking about the wedding.
“I think we can swing it,” Rose says. “I’ll have to get right to work, I know, and my mom’s already on it.” She looks back at Jacob, smiling. “We don’t want anything fancy, anyway.”
I bring my hand to my head, subconsciously rubbing the space between my jaw and my ear. It’s been hurting off and on since last weekend, and I knew I should have listened to Jim about a sinus infection lingering for longer than normal now that I’m pregnant.
“Are you okay, hun?” Mom asks, and I flick my eyes up to her.
“Oh, yeah. I think I have an ear infection, that’s all,” I blurt. I should have made something up, but I’v
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THERE ARE ONLY TWO PLACES TO STAY WHEN VISITING EASTWOOD IF YOU DON’T HAVE A FRIEND OR family member to crash with. One is the Whippoorwill Bed and Breakfast, and the nicer of the two options. It’s where I stayed weeks ago, the first time I came back to Eastwood in years. And it might be where I’m staying tonight, based on how the situation goes when Alyson and I break the news to her parents. Currently, I’m parked on the street downtown, waiting for Alyson. No one knows I’m coming into town with her, and she thought it was best to arrive together. She’s getting panicked about this, and as much as I’m trying to tell her—and myself—that it’s really not that big of a deal, her anxiety is getting to me. Not because I’m worried what will happen to my friendship with Jacob. I already know he’s not going to react well. It’ll hurt to lose him. Hell, it’ll hurt to lose Ben and Logan, but it’s not me I’m worried about. I can handle it. But Alyson…it’ll kill he
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The air leaves my lungs, and if it weren’t for Jim’s arm around me, I might have fallen over. Mom’s eyebrows pinch together, and she tips her head looking at the images. “Where did you get—” Mom tips her head, eyeing the photos. The blood drains from my face, and I can’t open my mouth to form the words to warn Jim. “This has your name on it, Alyson,” she says quietly. And then it hits her. Her mouth opens, and she lets out a gasp. The ultrasound pictures fall to the table, and Dad picks them up. It doesn’t take him long to come to the same conclusion. He stands up so fast his chair scoots out from behind him and falls over. “You knocked up my daughter?” A hush falls over the room, and I swear even the dogs stopped sniffing around the table to look. “Alyson,” Mom starts, still looking confused. She picks up the chair and reaches up for Dad’s wrist, pulling him back down. “What…when…are you sure?” “Wait a minute,” Ben says, reachin
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“All things considered, that went as well as I thought it would.” I put my arm around Alyson and push off the ground, sending the glider back. It’s getting late, and everyone but Weston and Jackson has left already. Wes is working the night shift tonight, so Jackson is staying here with Alyson’s parents. Alyson rests her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes. She looks exhausted. Physically, I know she will be for the rest of the first trimester at least. Emotionally, she’s spent. And I still think she’s one of the fucking strongest people I know. “Yeah. Only my dad and Jacob want to take you out back and cut off your testicles. But don’t worry, I won’t let that happen. I happen to like them. Well, more so what they’re attached to.” I laugh and press my lips against the top of Alyson’s head. “Thanks for looking out for my balls.” The sound of katydids and crickets echo through the yard, reverberating off the tall corn that surrounds us. The sounds o
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“JIM, CAN I HAVE A WORD?” MR. LANGFORD STEPS OUT OF HIS OFFICE. IT’S FRIDAY AFTERNOON and I’m getting ready to head out. Alyson is staying for dinner, and then is leaving too. It kills me thinking about her driving back up to Chicago alone and I hate that we’re headed in separate directions. “Yes, sir,” I say and stand from the couch where Alyson and I were sitting. “Close the door,” Mr. Langford says when I get into his office. “Alyson is my only daughter. My youngest. My baby. She’ll always be those things to me, do you understand?” “I do.” “Now, I know this wasn’t planned, but I expect you to be there for her. No matter what.” “I plan to. I care about her more than anything, and now that she’s carrying my baby, she’s my priority.” Mr. Langford rubs his chin and nods. “Do you love her?” “Yes.” “Does she love you?” “Not yet.” Mr. Langford’s frown slowly turns. He steps around his desk and gives me a pa
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“Can you tell?” I smooth my shirt over my stomach and turn to the side. “No.” Marissa shakes her head. “I know you and you’ve always been a skinny bitch, so I guess I’m able to pick up on that slight bump you claim is the baby, but to anyone else, you look like you ate a big meal.” “It’s weird,” I say, wrinkling my nose, and grab my shoes. I take off my heels and put on my running shoes, not caring how silly it looks with my dress pants and blouse. It’s Friday, and we’re leaving work for the week. “I’m almost looking forward to showing.” “Just don’t turn into Bethany.” I widen my eyes and shake my head, showing my horror. “If I do, slap me.” Bethany works with us and had her first baby last year. She made sure everyone knew everything about the pregnancy and complained nonstop about her symptoms. Though I can emphasize now, and after throwing up three times yesterday, I broke down and took an anti-nausea pill this morning. I still feel
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“SEX AND SLEEP PRETTY MUCH MAKE UP OUR RELATIONSHIP,” I MUSE, NESTLING IN DEEPER INTO Jim’s embrace. It’s Sunday morning, and I’m feeling too queasy for sex right now, but could easily fall back asleep. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” “It’s not. Give me a few more weeks and we can probably throw in eating.” “Sex, food, and sleep. Sounds pretty perfect to me.” He pushes my messy hair back out of my face. “But next weekend when I’m in Chicago, let’s do something else. I still plan on having plenty of sex though.” “Oh, me too. What do you want to do?” “I’ve always wanted to go to the Science Museum there, unless you think that’s lame.” “I love the museum. You can really come next weekend?” “Yeah. And if you want to hook me up with your private jet connection, I wouldn’t object.” I laugh. “I’ll see what I can do.” “I was joking. I don’t mind driving, actually.” “It’ll get old.” “We won’t be making that drive for
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A LOUD POUNDING SOUND WAKES ME UP WITH A START. I SIT UP, CONFUSED FOR A SPLIT SECOND, AND then remember I’m at Jim’s. I look at my phone; I’ve only been asleep for forty-five minutes. Someone knocks on the front door again, hard, heavy, and desperate. I unlock my phone and call Jim, not expecting him to answer. He doesn’t, and I swing my legs over the bed, peering out into the hall. The door is locked. Jim made sure of it before he left. A few seconds go by, and I think whoever was outside must have left. I let out a breath and prepare to go back to sleep. And then the person outside knocks again. “Jim!” the man outside the door yells. “Are you in there?” They know Jim? “I know you’re in there, man!” And they’re angry. What the hell? The pounding on the door starts again, so loud I’m scared they’re going to bust through the door. Swallowing my pounding heart, I unlock my phone, thinking I might need to call the cops about this crazy guy.
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“You’re needed in the ER.”I give the medical assistant a quizzical look. “The ER? Are you sure?”She’s sitting behind a desk in the PACU and just got off the phone. Her eyes dart to it and she nods. “That’s what they said. I asked twice since it’s not your area, but you’re being requested by Dr. Harris.”Sam is in the ER asking for me? He’s off today and he’s never in the emergency room. Why would he—oh shit.Alyson.My phone battery was low, so I plugged it in and left it with my clothes when I changed into surgical scrubs. I rush through the recovery area to get it and see I have missed texts from both Alyson and Sam. The most recent one is from Sam, and I have to read it twice because my brain refuses to believe what I’m seeing.Someone tried to break in and Alyson got hurt. We’re at the ER. I’ll have you paged.I
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I look in the mirror, making sure my hair is okay. It’s the morning of Jacob and Kara’s wedding, and I’m not feeling the greatest. I’d say I’m nervous, but I don’t think that’s the case. I got invited back into the wedding party at the last minute, and I really do think Kara feels bad about going psychotic over the details of her wedding.I wasn’t the only one who felt her wrath, and after her sorority sister threatened to drop out, Kara changed her ways. Still, things are tense between us, and Jacob was given shit by Kara for hanging out with Jim. It bothered me, pissed me off even, and then I hit week thirty-nine and stopped caring about pretty much everything except getting this baby out of me.She’s still in there, chilling with no signs of making her debut into the world. She finally dropped a week ago and hasn’t progressed since then.“You look beautiful, babe,” Jim says, coming into t
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“Is it just me or is this really awkward?” Alyson leans in, resting her plate of appetizers on her belly.“It’s awkward. I feel like we should leave.”Her aunt Belinda comes over, arms extended. Alyson’s eyes widen, and she nods, putting on a fake smile. We’re at Jacob and Kara’s wedding shower, and Alyson and Jacob’s relatives are more excited about Emma’s upcoming birth and the house Alyson and I are building together than the wedding.Kara has been giving Alyson the stink-eye all afternoon, and Alyson and I retreated to the back of the venue, trying to escape the limelight. Alyson hands me her plate and gets up to hug her aunt. She winces when she stands, making me even more glad she’s done with her job in Chicago. Emma is due in a month and the round ligament pain has gotten worse, as well as Braxton Hicks contractions. She’s been a trooper though, hardly complaining at all. I’ve b
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“You’re such a bitch for leaving,” Marissa says, standing next to my desk. “I’m going to miss you.”“I’m here for two more weeks,” I remind her. “And Eastwood is two hours away. Less if traffic moves quickly.”“Which happens so often.”“I know. But I’ll be in the city at least once a month.” “You better tell me every time you’re here.”“I will,” I say and look up from my desk. I put in my two weeks’ notice today. I’d been dreading doing it and actually put it off for a full week before talking to my boss. I’m sad to leave, and part of me will miss this place. But it’s mid-January and I’m so ready to go home and be with Jim.We have a small apartment downtown and have been finalizing plans for our house to be built this spring. Feeling like I’m becoming my mother, I’ve been pinning an
Further to Fall in Love Chapter 67 - Jim
“Everything was perfect at the latest scan,” I say, taking the ultrasound photos from Alyson. We’re at her parents’ house again, two weeks after getting engaged. It’s Thursday afternoon and a bit early for dinner, but Alyson has to drive back to the city tonight for work in the morning. I was able to get back in for an interview at the local hospital, and after talking with the head surgeon again, I think things went as well as they can after you turn down a job because you didn’t think it’d be challenging enough.“The OB thinks she’s going to be big,” Alyson says, cutting into her chicken. “You are looking like a beached whale already,” Owen tells her with a wink. “I think you look radiant,” Logan counters. “Simply beautiful.”“Flattery isn’t going to make you be the godfather, dumbass,” Owen spits, rolling his eyes at his twin.“We already kn
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“No?” Jim echoes, face paling.“I want to hear the speech.” I chose Jim’s fingers around the ring. “Ask me like you had it planned.”Jim looks down at the ring. “Are you…are you going to say yes?” “Yes!” I say, and tears fall from my eyes. “I love you so much, Jim.”“I love you too,” he says, wrapping his arms around me. He pulls me onto his lap, and when we kiss, everything fades away. Breathless, I break away, cupping Jim’s face with my hands.“How tired are you?”“Pretty damn tired.”I gently kiss him. “Do you want to get a good night’s sleep and make sure this is what you want?” I ask with a smile.“It’s what I’ve always wanted.” He shifts his weight, holding me close. “I brought the ring to Hawaii with me.”“You’ve had this since the
Further to Fall in Love Chapter 65 - Jim
Isink into the driver’s seat, squeezing my eyes shut for a second before starting the car. I just got home from Boston, and I have a headache. Both from lack of sleep and from everything going on. But after talking with my mother, I knew what I had to do. You make sacrifices for your children, and in the end, they’re worth it.I have two missed calls from Alyson, and it’s been killing me not to call her back. I wanted to wait until I was in the car though, so she wouldn’t hear the sounds of the airport. Leaving the parking garage, I call her, and she answers after the first ring.“Hey, babe,” I say. “Sorry I missed your calls. I was in back-to-back surgeries.”“You’re at work?” she asks, voice flat.“Yeah. But I’m out now.”“Sure.”“Are you still in Eastwood?”“Yep. That was my plan. Stay here this weekend.”&
Further to Fall in Love Chapter 64 - Alyson
“Your tummy is big, Aunt Winnie.”“Thanks, buddy. But if you think this is big, just wait.”Jackson scrunches up his nose. “I still don’t get how Jim put a baby in there.” “Hey,” Weston says, shaking his head. “We talked about this.”I try not to laugh, knowing the reaction will only perpetuate the situation. “What did you say?” I quietly ask Wes.“A lot of stuff that confused him even more. But I told him it’s not polite to talk to women about things in their bellies.”“Good call. Raise him to be a gentleman.” I put my hand on my lower abdomen, wincing as I straighten up.“You okay, sis?”“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ve been having more round ligament pain the last few days. My OB said it was more common in the first trimester, fades in the second, and comes back at the end. Some lucky people get it the whol
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“Your frequent flyer is back.”“Are you serious?” I look up from the paperwork I’ve been filling out for the last twenty minutes, knowing by the nurse’s face she is.“Popped stitches. ER sent him up.”“They can’t do stitches down there?” I grumble.The nurse rolls her eyes. “Apparently ‘it’s internal,’ and he needs to see a surgeon. Like we can just put him in front of our other patients. Do you want me to send him back down?”“No, I’ll deal with it. Thank you, though.”I finish my paperwork and deal with the difficult patient, who had a hernia repaired a month ago and hasn’t followed post-op instructions at all. He’s been in three times since his operation. I do rounds after that, finish my paperwork and finally go home after a twenty-six-hour shift.Another resident who’s been in the program with me sin
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I hang up without leaving a message and set my phone down, feeling a little uneasy. I haven’t talked to Jim since yesterday afternoon. Things still weren’t quite resolved between us when we got off the plane, and it’s making the missed calls seem like a bigger deal than it is.I know Jim was in surgery throughout the night and is working again today. He doesn’t usually call if he gets off in the middle of the night, not wanting to wake me up. Though given the way things are unsettled between us, it’s making me worry. And when I worry, I tend to obsess and assume the worst is going to happen. That way if something slightly less traumatic actually does happen, I’m not as devastated.“My bitch is back!” Marissa throws her arms up and comes into my office. “It was so boring around here without you last week. How was vacay?”“Fun,” I tell her with a smile. And it was, up until the plane ride home
