She swallowed, knowing that his real question had nothing to do with addresses or phone books. He was asking if his suspicions were accurate, and she couldnt bring herself to answer. There was a huge difference between not tracking down a man to deliver life-altering news he probably didnt want to hear and actually lying to his face.
He took a step closer. You seemed so startled to see me the other day. Terrified, as a matter of fact.
Feeling cornered, she took deep breaths, trying to lower her elevated blood pressure.
Maybe Im completely off base, he continued, but extenuating circumstances have made me more distrustful than I used to be. If Im wrong, you can laugh at me or indignantly cuss me out. But tell me the truth, Arden. Are you carrying my child?
Chapter Four
Garrett had mentally rehearsed different ways this confrontation could play outfrom her scoffing at his ludicrous accusation to her tearfully confessing all and begging his forgiveness. But he hadnt imagined her collapsing.
Her eyes rolled upward and she crumpled in on herself.
Arden!
He bolted toward her with just enough time to get his arms around her before she fell. What was he thinking, intimidating a pregnant woman? What if hed caused harm to her or the baby? He lowered himself to the floor awkwardly, supporting her weight as he cradled her against his chest.
She blinked up at him, and it was such a relief to see those blue-green eyes open. At least she was conscious, although her chest rose and fell with alarmingly rapid exhalations. G-Gar
Shhh. Catch your breath first. He stroked her hair back from her pale face, feeling like an ogre. If he was right about the baby, then Arden owed him a major apology, but no matter how angry he was, he never would have deliberately hurt her.
She raised one shaky hand to press against her heart, her expression pained. Water?
He shrugged out of the lightweight denim jacket hed been wearing, rolling it up as a makeshift pillow beneath her head. There was a water dispenser in the corner of the room, and he half filled a paper cup. You have a history of fainting? he asked. Maybe if this was something that happened routinely, he wouldnt feel like such a bastard.
Only twice. She sipped her water, her words halting. Overheated camping. Blacked out another time. When...I got bad news.
He wasnt sure whether this technically counted as faintinghad she lost consciousness completely? Was there a chance it would happen again when she was alone? Should we get you to a doctor?
She bit her lip, still struggling to breathe normally. Probab Probably overkill, but... The baby. Her eyes filled with tears, the palpable fear in her gaze knifing through him.
Better safe than sorry. He helped her to her feet, noting her rocky balance.
We have to lock up, she said. Keys in my purse. Second desk drawer.
He got everything she asked for, then helped her out to the truck. She leaned against the seat, eyes closed. There was a lot they needed to say to each other, but it was challenge enough for her to give him rudimentary directions to the hospital.
The emergency room was fairly empty on a Tuesday afternoon. A mother sat in the far corner trying to coax a little girl to stop crying, and a burly man watched a daytime talk show with one eye while holding some kind of compress over the other. The blonde nurse working the admissions counter gasped softly when she spotted Garrett and Arden.
Arden! You okay, hon?
Probably. I feel silly being here, but I think I fainted. Heart beating too fast, got dizzy...
Then you did the right thing by coming in. The blonde eyed Garrett with blatant curiosity but didnt ask who he was. You two have a seat and fill out the forms on this clipboard. Oh, and this one for Obstetrics. She passed over a pale green sheet of paper.
Garrett caught sight of a long list of questions. None seemed as crucial as the one looming in his mind. Who the hell is the father?
Need any help with those? he offered.
No! Arden clutched the paperwork to her chest, not meeting his eyes. I got it.
They sat down and she fumbled through her purse, retrieving her license and insurance card. Her hands were shaky as she muttered, Damn, I hate hospitals.
Hed never thought much about them one way or the other. It occurred to him that Will Harlow could be in a hospital bed at this very moment, praying that his biological son agreed to give up a kidney.
Fury filled him, resentment at the secrets that had been kept. He struggled to keep his voice soft, nonthreatening. Arden, you owe me an answer. At least here, if she became overwrought by his questioning, there were medical professionals twenty feet away.
I know. She turned to him, the tears shimmering in her apologetic gaze an unmistakable reply. Still, he couldnt quite force himself to accept the truth until she added out loud, Its you. Youre the babys father.
Garrett hadnt thought he could ever be more shocked than when hed learned about his mother and Will. Hed been wrong. Im a dad? If he hadnt retreated to Cielo Peak to cope with the last bombshell a lying woman had dropped on him, he never would have known.
He clenched his fists against his thighs. What were you planning to tell the kid? Children should know who their fathers are!
The clipboard trembled in her grasp. To be honest, I hadnt thought that far ahead. I was already a couple of months pregnant by the time I realized what had happened, and the discovery was mind-blowing. I needed time to adjust.
He knew the feeling. But he was too angry to sympathize.
Garrett, I
Someone from Obstetrics is on the way down with a wheelchair. The blonde admissions nurse walked toward them. Theyll get you in a real room instead of one of these E.R. cubicles, probably put you on a fetal monitor for an hour or so to make sure the babys not in distress. Ask you some questions, maybe take some blood, check for anemia. You want me to contact either of your brothers, hon?
No! The last thing Colin needs is another phone call from a hospital E.R., Arden said adamantly. And I figure calling Justin would be awkward for you.
You mean because he dumped me? the woman asked with a wry smile. She seemed more amused than heartbroken. Dont worry, I knew what I was getting into with that one. It was fun while it lasted. Talking to him wont upset me, I promise. Would you like him to be here?
Not unless Im going to need the ride. Arden slid a questioning glance in Garretts direction. Are you planning to stick around?
He folded his arms over his chest, smiling for the nurses benefit. You couldnt get rid of me if you tried, sweetheart.
* * *
ARDEN STUDIED THE ceiling intently, as if the answers to her problems might magically be found in the speckled tiles overhead. Shed gained a momentary reprieve when Garrett stepped out of the room so she could change, but hed be knocking on the door any second. She hadnt missed his smirk when shed asked for the privacyafter all, hed already seen her naked. That was how theyd landed in this mess.
Not that I think youre making a mess of my life, she whispered guiltily, as if the baby had heard her tormented thoughts. Arden was plenty grateful for her child. She was just second-guessing her decision to raise the child alone, Garrett none the wiser. But I am alone. She and Garrett had no real history or future. How was she going to share the most precious thing in her life with a man she barely knew?
Not that I think youre making a mess of my life, she whispered guiltily, as if the baby had heard her tormented thoughts. Arden was plenty grateful for her child. She was just second-guessing her decision to raise the child alone, Garrett none the wiser. But I am alone. She and Garrett had no real history or future. How was she going to share the most precious thing in her life with a man she barely knew?
Instead of knocking, Garrett cracked the door open a quarter of an inch, calling out before entering. You decent in there?
In a thin piece of fabric that tied behind her and left most of her back exposed? Hardly. Close enough, I guess.
He strolled into the room, filling it with his size. Having grown up with brothers, she normally found the presence of a strong man comfortingly familiar. But now trepidation rippled through her. Her brothers had never been as furious with her as Garrett seemed.
She expected him to interrogate her about the baby, but he surprised her. That nurse downstairs he began.
Sonja.
She asked about your brothers. Not your parents?
Arden kneaded the hospital blanket that covered her lap. Theyre both dead. My brothers are pretty much all I have.
Two of them, right? Colin and Justin? At her nod, he continued. Is this why Justin looked like he wanted to put his fist through my face at the grocery storebecause I got you pregnant?
I think... She averted her gaze. Im not sure what he picked up on between us, but I think he suspects youre the dad. He couldnt know for sure, though. I never told anyone who the father was.
No kidding. Despite his soft tone, the biting sarcasm in his voice made her flinch.
Garrett, Im sorry. I
Dont! This time, he wasnt soft-spoken at all. Even he looked taken aback by the vehement outburst. He cleared his throat. Ive heard that particular phrase far more than any man should in one week. Enough already.
She frowned. Someone besides her had reason to apologize to him? Whoever it was should feel grateful to Ardenit was doubtful anyone elses transgression topped hers.
Garrett paced the room. Although he might have regained verbal control, forcing himself to sound calm, he couldnt mask the tension radiating from his body. So is there a specific reason you hate hospitals? You mentioned Colin and emergency rooms. Did
Knock, knock! The cheerful voice preceded a gray-haired doctor poking his head inside the room. Im Dr. Wallace. I hear were having some dizziness and tachycardia today?
Why did doctors speak in plural like that, Arden wondered, as if using the royal we? Does tachycardia mean my heart tried to pound through my chest? she asked wearily.
Its when your heart beats abnormally fast, yes. There are several reasons it can happen during pregnancy. Dr. Wallace went over the possibilities while looking at the vitals the nurse had collected. Then he checked the babys heartbeat. Just a precaution, of course. We have no reason to think anythings wrong with the little guy. Or gal.
Arden had grown accustomed to the use of fetal dopplers in her OB appointments and the reassuring whoosh-whoosh sound, but shed forgotten this was Garretts first time. He went completely still, the restless anger that had been palpable a few minutes ago fading into wonderment. His eyes widened.
Thats the heartbeat? he asked reverently. Its fast.
Well within the standard range, Dr. Wallace assured them. But as Nurse Sonja had predicted, the doctor wanted to monitor Arden and the baby for some readings before letting them leave the hospital. He pushed Ardens gown up farther, the preliminary gel a cool tickle against her skin.
Although the sheet on the hospital bed kept her lower half covered, embarrassment heated her face. The last time Garrett had seen her unclothed, shed looked a lot different than she did now.
When she was younger, Arden had stayed in shape by trying to keep up with her two athletic brothers. Shed been trim most of her life, and grief after Natalies and Dannys deaths had robbed her of her appetite. Since her pregnancy had begun to show, shed often felt awkward, but never fata growing baby was a healthy one. At the moment, however, vanity reared its head. Would Garrett be repulsed by her swollen body?
Why should you care if he is? Their night together had been amazing, but it had also been a one-time occurrence. It wasnt as if she wanted him to find her attractive. Even if she did, she suspected not contacting him about the baby had forever tarnished her in Garretts eyes.
Within moments, the doctor had the sensors in place. You try to relax, young lady, and Ill be back to check on you later. Meanwhile, Ill have the nurse bring you some water. Its important to stay hydrated.
All too soon, he was gone, leaving her and Garrett alone once more.
You want to have a seat? she offered. It was a small room, and the only chair would put him in uncomfortably close proximity to her. Yet almost anything seemed preferable to his earlier pacing. His taut strides made her think of caged predators.
He sat, but kept shifting position, obviously ill-at-ease. Have you, um, had other problems during the pregnancy? Everything okay with you and the baby?
The doctors say everythings normal, even my being sick as a dog well into the second trimester. But she worried sometimes. It was frustrating to wake up with a sharp pain at three in the morning and have no one she could talk to about her fears. Early on, shed posted a question to an online forum for soon-to-be-mothers. Despite a couple of helpful responses, the possibility of misinformation and the discovery that some people were far too willing to share horror stories had kept her from doing so again. Apparently nausea can be a good sign that the babys nice and strong. Plus, my being too sick to run the office alone led to hiring Layla, and she became a good friend. I...needed a friend.
Did Garrett hear the ache in her voice, the echo of solitude that had plagued her for so many months? What hed said down in the emergency room was true. She did owe him answers. Starting with the night theyd met.
My brother Colin married my best friend several years ago, she said haltingly. Natalie and I had been best friends since kindergarten, the year my mom died. Colins a great guy, but hes always had too much responsibility. He rarely laughed. Natalie changed that. She changed him. He doted on her and their baby boy. But then Nat and Danny were killed in a car accident.
Garrett watched her silently, obviously unsure what to do with this information but not interrupting.
It destroyed Colin and devastated me. The day your friend Hugh got married? That was Natalies birthday, the first one I didnt get to spend with her as far back as I could remember. I was in a lot of pain that day. Meeting you was about the best thing that could happen to me. You were... She broke off, assailed by memories that seemed excruciatingly intimate with him sitting only inches from her side. Hed been by turns tender and passionate, driving her need to such a sharp peak that thered been no room in her for any other emotion.
On sheer impulse, she reached over and squeezed his hand. Thank you.
He looked taken aback. Uh, my pleasure.
Having a baby was the furthest thing from my mind, she added. At first I was too shocked to be scared or happy. But Ive been around death, too much of it, and the idea of bringing a new life into the world... This may sound insane to you, but it almost felt like a goodbye present from Natalie. Some sort of cosmic full circle.