Finding Stone (The Stone Brothers Series) (Volume 1) (13 page)

It’s been two hours since I heard from Evan. What’s taking so long? I can’t stand the thought of Molly being with another man. Thinking about it feels like a punch to the gut. My phone vibrates. Finally.

“Hey. What took so long?”

“Your girl and her bodyguard wouldn’t keep their yaps shut. She seemed pretty torn up about you. She said she just wanted to feel beautiful, to feel wanted.”

What? Molly thinks I don’t think she is beautiful? She thinks I don’t want her? God. That’s a stab straight to the heart. I tried showing her and telling her that night how much I wanted her. How beautiful I thought she was. Then again, after it was over I told her we must remain a secret. I’m such an ass.  

Evan continues. “She’s pretty, she’s feisty. I think she’s going to be able to handle whatever you’re dishing out. She’s like a Chihuahua, keeps biting off more than she can chew. Still she comes back for more. That Aaron fucker showed up as we were trying to get her out of there.”

“Aaron? The cop whose nose she broke? He didn’t do anything did he?”

“Nah. He flexed his muscles. It was relatively harmless. Ran his mouth. I’ll say this. You’d never be bored with Molly in your life. She’s a spitfire.”

Evan’s right. Even if my feelings are all over the place, I know I have them. She has unlocked what I’ve kept locked away for years.

“Thanks for keeping an eye out for me.”

“No problem. We still on for the Cubs game?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there.”

Two weeks after I said goodbye to my V-card, I am five days late.

I called Missy and asked if she would come over to my apartment for support. We have been spending time together. We both quickly realized that we needed each other, the friendship that we could offer one another. I've met her son, Cade. She brought him to lunch one day. He is cute and quiet, just like his mommy. At work, it's nice to have someone like her. It helps my day go faster when she's there.

She is quiet, but fun. She's my opposite. I guess the whole opposites attract thing is true. We have had such a good time getting to know each other. Just the other day at lunch, she said a swear word, the first I have heard come out of her mouth. Her eyes got big, she covered her mouth, and then we both burst out laughing. I haven't laughed like that since I moved here. It's been fun watching her come out of her shell.

It's early in the afternoon when she arrives. Cade is at a summer day camp and we both have today off. I asked her to pick up a few things for me. She did so without question.

"Hey. I brought it," she says with concern.

"Thank you," I say.

"Are your periods irregular?"

"Nope, every twenty-eight days she shows her ugly face." Is this really happening?

"Well, lets get it over with," she says and walks me to the bathroom.

"Thank you for doing this and for being here."

"Hey, I know the fear. When I had Cade, I was all alone. I found out the day of my high school graduation. Whatever this says, I want you to know I will be here," Missy says.

I start crying. "Can you stay and watch me pee?" I say laughing through my tears.

"Yes, but the nurse in me won't allow me to hold your hand," she smiles.

Three minutes later, I know for sure. Dr. Hotty Asshole's baby is inside me. I sink to the floor and cry harder.

"Who is the father?" she asks.

"I can't tell."

"Is it Brayden?" she asks quietly.

"What? NO? He is in love with you." Oh, shit. I am a shitty friend. I didn't mean to blurt that out. I just didn't expect her to ask.

"What? Wait, we will come back to this. This is your WTH moment. We’ll deal with yours first," she says.

"Can we deal with yours? I need time to process," I say.

"Brayden is in love with me? How do you know?" she asks.

"Well I figured it out. He told me he has been in love with someone for three years. He didn't tell me who. The night at the bar when he saw you, I knew it was you. Later that week at lunch, he confirmed it." I explain.

"He never said anything. Three years I've wanted him to make a move. He never did. I thought because I had a child he wouldn't want me," she confesses.

"Where is Cade's father?" I ask, curious.

"I don't know who Cade's father is." She looks ashamed. It dawns on me. My heart feels like it’s in my throat. I don't know what to say.

"I'm so sorry. Want to join me on the bathroom floor for a good cry?" I laugh and cry.

"Okay, we are both going to need a shower," she says and we both laugh. Dealing with our own world of emotions, we cry for her past. We cry for my uncertain future.

It's been two weeks since I took that life-altering test. I am still trying to find a way to tell Noah. Avoiding him has been difficult. Hiding morning sickness has been even harder.

Dr. Hotty Asshole's baby does not want to be kept a secret. I'm feeling miserable and overwhelmed; I just want to cry. I have been thinking about moving back home to Kentucky. I will not let my child grow up being ashamed, not having his father in his life. I know that my Dad would help fill in that role. I want my child to have what I had in my life.

I am sitting at the nurse’s station catching up on some charting when I see him walk into the supply room. Finding the courage from God only knows where, I decide to follow him and tell him. I push open the door.

"Noah, we need to talk." I look up. That skank-nurse Avery is touching his chest. I turn around and walk out the door, letting the door slam behind me.

"Molly, wait."

Really!! He thinks I would wait for him. Screw him; I'm not waiting. I keep walking out the front door to get a breath of fresh, polluted Chicago air. Great, now I feel nauseous, too.

"Molly, I said wait. Just fucking wait," he's frustrated, running his hands through his hair.

"What Dr. Stone?"

"I've been wanting to talk to you," he says.

"Yeah right, I can clearly see you've moved past complicating your work and professional life."

"What are you talking about?" he sounds confused. Guess I'll spell it out for him.

"You tried to tell me. It's my fault. You want a one-and-done type of girl. I get it. I just thought you wouldn't flaunt your next one in front of me. God, Noah, or Dr. Stone, why her? Oh, I get it. She’s beautiful and someone you don’t need to hide."

"What the hell are you talking about? I'm so confused." He just stares at me.

"Sneaking in the supply room. Avery touching your chest. She seems to always have her hands on you! We aren't anything, so what's it matter."

"Avery has always done that. She is always trying to find ways to touch me. I've never touched her. I wouldn't touch her. You walked in on her pretending to stumble. That's her usual MO. I didn't even know she was in there. She is always pretending to have to squeeze by me so she has to touch, pretending to fall into me. She's always doing shit like that. I hate her touching me. I don’t want Avery. I want..." I cut him off. I don’t need to hear him say he wants a secret.

"You know Dr. Stone, for someone who hates it, you seem to let it happen an awful lot without saying a damn word." He comes closer to me.

He starts crowding me. I need to get out of here.

"I need to go." I walk off.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"It's nothing, nothing to concern yourself with. Goodbye, Dr. Stone."

I start mumbling to myself, "I know I'm making the right decision."

"What did you say? What are you talking about? Molly! Wait, don't walk away. God, you piss me off!"

I turn around and yell at him, "Good, 'cause you piss me off too!" It's all I can get out because I’m about to cry.

I now know what heartbreak feels like. She looked so hurt. How could she think I was interested in Avery? I told her the truth when I said Avery pretended to stumble. She touched my chest trying to get a feel. Molly is right though I should say something. I haven't because I want her to feel ignored. Obviously, it hasn’t worked the last two years.

I wonder what Molly meant when she said she made the right decision? I've been racking my brain for hours trying to figure that out. Maybe I can stop by her place after work? We need to clear the air.

When I told Molly to keep it a secret, I didn't think it was that big of a deal. We'd talked about it. After talking to my brothers, I realize it was an ass thing to do. I realize that she and I were thinking of two different things when I said that. I just didn't want to deal with shit at work. She thought I meant that I didn't want to deal with her. I see that now. With the amount of thinking I have done over the last three weeks, I've come to a conclusion.

The night I was with Molly was the first time I have ever made love. I have played that night with Molly over and over in my head. I have never treasured being inside a woman like I have with her. It scared me; it still scares me. I have needed this time to figure out what I want. Thing is, the moment Molly gave me her virginity I knew I could love her. It had nothing to do with the sex and everything to do with her trusting me.

I broke that trust the moment I told her to keep us a secret. I just didn't realize it at the time. Now, I know. Now, I want to make things better. I want her to give me another chance. I want to make things right. Yes, I've decided. I will stop by her place tonight. I will make her talk to me. I will make her listen. She needs to know I am done with secrets. I want everyone to know that Molly is mine.

I walk out to the hallway by the nurses’ station and I see Missy kicking the vending machine.

"Did it steal your dollar? I ask.

"YES! Stupid thing. I just want CHOCOLATE," she says, giving it another kick.

"Move over, let me try," I say, and smack the side and Cheetos fall out.

"Well, it's not chocolate, but here you go. Lots of processed cheese, that's close enough, huh?" I laugh.

"Stupid periods," she complains. I start cracking up; I wish I could say that. I sigh.

"You girls need some anger management,” Brayden says as he walks up.

"Hush Hulk boy! You're just as violent." I pinch his arm.

"Do you need me to beat the shit out of it too? I will." He says jokingly. We all start laughing.

I start to turn around and I'm instantly light headed. I don't feel good. I feel like I am going to pass out. I can tell the sounds are muffled. Shit. I'm going down.

I'm finishing up with a patient when I hear a bunch of yelling. Someone just scared the shit out of my eighty-year-old diabetic. I am thankful because it's the first bit of humor I've felt today. I step out into the hallway.

"Dr. Stone, help her!" Missy yells.

Molly is lying on the ground. I immediately run to them and start checking Molly's pulse and asking questions.

"What happened? Has she been sick?"

"She just fell over. We were joking around."

She's starting to come around. "Molly, can you hear me?"

"Brayden?" Okay, I am trying not to hate this guy, but it's nearly impossible. Brayden comes toward us with a washcloth and some juice.

"No, Molly. It's me, Noah. What happened?"

"I must have turned too quickly. I've been running all day," she explains. I extend my hand to help her up. She takes it. This is the first time I have touched her since that night. My whole body comes alive, only the feeling is short lived when she slumps over into my arms.

I pick her up and carry her. "Gurney. Now," I shout. Brayden takes off in a run.

"Dr. Stone. It's not my place to say this, but I feel like it's important here." Missy says.

"What is it? Do you know what's wrong with her? I ask curiously.

She whispers near my ear, making sure I'm the only one to hear. "Molly is pregnant.” PREGNANT? Molly has my baby inside her!

Brayden is back with the gurney. I place her on the bed and raise the side rails.

"Brayden can you go check on my patient in three please." I don’t want him to be around when I bombard Missy with questions.

"She's my friend; I want to help," he says. Instantly I feel better about him. She needs all the friends she can get.  

"I know. I understand, but we have to undress her. I think she would be more comfortable with Missy doing that." I say and I watch as he gets what I am saying. He leaves without argument. Molly has come back to. She just moans and says she needs a nap. She turns to her side and falls fast asleep. I am not overly concerned because she looks exhausted.

"Missy, when did Molly find out she was pregnant?"

"She found out a little over two weeks ago?" She replies.

"You're sure she's pregnant?"

"Yes. I was there when she took the test."  

FUCK. Why didn’t Molly tell me? What are her plans? Does she want to terminate the pregnancy? Is that why she didn't say anything? Is that the right decision she was talking about? I am getting pissed that she has kept this from me. I call for an OB consult. I let her sleep undisturbed for about half an hour.

Finally, she is starting to wake up. She looks around. Fear comes over her.

"I'm ok, I've just been stressed. I need to get up and get back to work." She looks at Missy with tears in her eyes.

"Molly, just stop! I've called for an OB consult," she looks at me and turns pale.  

"I'm sure you'd feel more comfortable if Missy waits outside while I ask you some questions before Dr. Chaney gets here," I say, hoping to get a moment alone with her.

"No. I would like Missy to stay."

"Okay, have it your way."

Why would she want Missy to stay? Why hasn't she talked to me? Missy said she found out over two weeks ago. Oh, shit. She wanted to talk to me earlier today when she walked in on Avery touching my chest. She must have wanted to tell me then. Did seeing me with Avery help make her decision to have an abortion? Could that be what she meant when she walked off and said she knew she was making the right decision?  

I believe in a woman's right to choose. I know I offered her the morning after pill. I didn't push it, though. I honestly thought we would be okay. My chest feels tight. I feel like I can't breathe. What's happening to me? I have never wanted children before. However, I never had someone like Molly either. I want her. I want them both. I don't want her to get rid of my baby. Our baby. I feel crushed. How do I convince her to change her mind?

"Molly, please don't k..." Just then, Dr. Chaney shows up.

He eyes me when I stay put. Hopefully, Molly doesn't kick me out.

"Okay, lets get started," he says. He picks up her chart and starts reading. "It's say here that you had a positive home pregnancy test. Have you passed out before today? When was your last period? Have you had blood work done? Do you have a regular Ob doctor?"

Molly tells him when her last period was and just shakes her head no.

Dr. Chaney continues, "Do you want us to call the father for you?" I am pretty sure he is still wondering why I haven't left. Again, Molly shakes her head no and starts to cry.

"Okay, no need to get upset. I am going to order some blood work and do an ultrasound to see how far along your are."

I know the exact date and time of conception. He lifts her gown. I can't help but stare at her stomach. My baby is in there. I feel so overwhelmed.

"Here you go. It's right here," he says pointing to the screen.

There it is. My baby. A little bean. Everything looks good. Actually, everything looks perfect. She won't make any decisions without talking it over with me.  Sitting here looking at the screen I realize that I'm desperate to be a father to this baby. I want to do this with Molly. I want to be in their lives. This baby, though unplanned, was made with no regret. If she wants Missy and Dr. Chaney here to witness this, that’s fine by me.

"Are you planning on having an abortion? Jesus, Molly. Were you even going to tell me?" I ask, all of my emotions on my face clear for everyone in the room to see. I am mad, sad, but most of all scared of her answer.

I hear Missy inhale sharply. She quietly exits the room. I need to thank her later. Dr. Chaney gives me a glaring look but also leaves the room.