Second Chances (27 page)

“Lay your head down on the pillow for me, baby.” Stacy did what he said and then he gingerly placed the ice pack over her swollen eye and cheek. She sighed as the coolness settled over her and it felt good. Because that eye was swollen shut, she couldn’t see what Dustin was doing. Stacy closed her eye as he stroked her hair over and over. She didn’t want to lose this with him, but she had to be prepared for anything. As the pill took effect, Stacy felt the weight of sleep pull her under.

***

2 weeks later…

Dustin sat at his desk, looking over the schedule for the construction job in Hilton Head. They finally had all of the permits they needed and were ready to start. It felt good to be back to work. As much as he wanted to hover over Stacy, he knew it just wasn’t possible and things were finally starting to get back to normal, or as normal as things were going to get for a while. He’d gone home a week after Stacy’s attack. Dustin hadn’t wanted to leave her and her parents said he could stay, but Stacy had insisted that he go spend time with his brother and get back to work.

He would be forever grateful to Dylan for what he did for Stacy. His brother, being a good guy, had brought Stacy flowers the day after everything happened. She’d been surprised and overwhelmed by the gesture. Dylan continued to make daily visits to make sure they were doing okay.

Dustin knew it was going to take time and her physical wounds had pretty much healed, but it was the shadows under her eyes that worried him most. She slept all of the time and her mom was worried because she was hardly eating anything. He knew Stacy looked like she’d lost some weight, but every time he saw her she was always laying down in bed, so he couldn’t really judge for sure. Her first therapy session had been on Monday. From what little she told Dustin, she talked about meeting with the police and the federal agents who all had been surprisingly good to her.

Mark’s co-workers had been surprised by the turn of events. He’d been an exemplary agent, and it wasn’t until the last year that things started to seem off. The media had tried to contact Stacy, but between family and friends, no one had gotten close to her. They worked hard to keep her name out of the press mainly because Dustin’s worry was that Mark’s family would start sniffing around asking questions that Stacy wasn’t ready to answer.

A knock on the door pulled Dustin out of his thoughts. Bellamy came in with Carrington on her shoulder. All of the stress he was feeling seemed to float away when he picked up his niece. He kissed his sister on the cheek and then put the baby on his shoulder.

“What are two of my favorite girls doing here?” he asked as he sat behind his desk.

“We’re just on our way to visit Stacy, but Care Bear wanted to see her favorite uncles first.” His sister looked beautiful as always with her long dark hair pulled up into a ponytail. She was dressed in her daily uniform of sweat shorts and tank top, It was starting to get a little cooler, so she wore a zip up hoodie over it.

“I’m sure Stacy would be happy to have the company. School starts in a week, so I know her mom has been busy getting things ready in her classroom. She’s been home alone a lot.”

“So how is she doing?”

Dustin took a deep breath and looked down at the floor. “Not great. She’s very quiet and withdrawn. She’s been sleeping a lot and not eating very much.”

“How’s therapy going?”

“Okay. I mean, she goes, but she really doesn’t talk about it, which is fine. I’m just worried about her. We’ll find out in a couple of weeks how far along she is. I try to bring it up to her, but she shuts me out. I just keep thinking what if it’s his baby and not mine. Bell, I think she’ll lose it if it’s his. But what if it’s mine?” Dustin shifted his niece so she was cradled in his arms.

“You’d make an amazing father, Dustin. I know this has got to be hard on both of you, but don’t let her push you away. Once she finds out the baby is yours—yes, I know it in my gut that she’s carrying my niece or nephew—you’ll work it out together. Right now it’s the fear of the unknown that’s getting to her. Just be there for her, even when she pushes you away.”

Dustin stood and walked around his desk until he was in front of his sister. He handed her the baby and bent to kiss her cheek. “When did you get so smart?”

Bellamy gave him a sad smile. “Unfortunately it comes from experience. I made bad choices, and granted, I know now that the outcome still would’ve been the same, but at least I would’ve had my family with me when I lost the baby.”

It was still hard for Dustin to wrap his head around the fact that his baby sister had been pregnant at eighteen and lost the baby a month before she was due. Her husband, Luke, hadn’t known he was going to be a father and didn’t find out until last summer. Dustin’s heart broke for both of them at what they lost and the lies that were told. Bellamy and Luke worked hard to get past that and he couldn’t be happier for them. He hoped that Stacy would be strong enough not to shut him out completely.

Their visit was cut short when Patrick, Luke’s dad, came in to steal Carrington. When Bellamy stood up, she wrapped her arms around Dustin’s waist and squeezed him tight. “I love you, Dustin. I’ll talk to Stacy, feel her out and see where her head is at. Maybe seeing Carrington will lift her spirits. Don’t work too hard. I’ll see you later.”

Dustin watched his sister walk out of his office and shut his door behind her. That girl was something else. He scrubbed a hand over his face and got back to work.

***

Stacy was dozing on the couch when knocking at the door woke her up. She looked down at what she was wearing and cringed. Her shorts were hanging off of her hips and her shirt was looser than normal. It was obvious when she looked in the mirror that she’d lost weight, but Stacy had no appetite. Her mom insisted that she at least drink protein shakes, but even those she had to choke down. Stacy showed no signs of pregnancy yet, so she was hoping that she really wasn’t.

Maybe it was wrong to think that way, but her therapist told her it was normal to feel that way, especially since it was something forced on her. Stacy shook her head to get those thoughts out of her head for now. She slowly walked to the door, looking through the peephole. Bellamy stood there with a baby carrier in her hands and a diaper bag on her shoulder.

Stacy took a deep breath, put on a fake smile and opened the door. “Bellamy, hi.”

“Hey yourself. Can I come in?” Bellamy asked as Stacy stepped back so they could come in the house. As soon as Stacy shut the door, Bellamy let her have it. “Sweetheart, I love you, but you can cut the fake smile shit. Let’s sit and talk, okay?”

Stacy could only nod and followed her best friend to the sofa. Bellamy didn’t hesitate to hand over Carrington, who Stacy snuggled against her chest, she buried her nose in the baby’s hair loving that fresh baby smell. She felt her chest tighten as she looked at the sweet baby girl in her arms. Stacy looked up at Bellamy and nodded.

“How’s therapy going?” Bellamy asked as she put her hand on Stacy’s leg.

“Um, it’s going okay. I-it was really h-hard at first to talk about it.” Her voice sounded thick with emotion in her own ears. Stacy smiled down at Carrington when the baby pulled one of Stacy’s fingers into her mouth and started gumming it.

“Bell, what am I gonna do? What if I am pregnant and it’s Mark’s? Worse, what if it’s your brother’s? He didn’t ask for this—hell,
I
didn’t ask for this.” She felt tears pool in her eyes but Stacy refused to let them fall.

“Have you talked to Dustin about both possibilities?”

“No, but I’m scared to. What if this ends up being more trouble than he wants? Maybe he’ll realize I’m not worth it at all,” Stacy whispered before the tears started to fall.

“Sweetie, that’s crazy talk. Dustin loves you. He’s not the type to just jump ship because things get rough. Now, you keep snuggling the princess. I’m going to make you something to eat.”

Stacy watched Bellamy walk to the kitchen and start tinkering around. Bellamy had spent plenty of nights at her house when they were younger, so she knew exactly where everything was. She smiled down at Carrington as she cooed and smiled at Stacy. “Are you my little princess? Your auntie loves you so much. Yes, I do.” Care Bear was starting to laugh and smile. It filled Stacy’s heart with love when she did that but it caused tears to burn her eyes and throat.

“You may be getting a little cousin to play with when you’re older.” She closed her eyes as the tears started to fall and lifted her head up. “Please, please let it be Dustin’s baby,” Stacy cried softly over and over.

She started when she felt arms wrap around her.

“Shhh… it’s okay.” Stacy buried her face in Dustin’s neck as sobs tore through her body. She hadn’t even heard him walk in. Stacy felt the baby being lifted out of her arms. Dustin held her close while she cried. When he started kissing and stroking her hair, she finally was brought out of her crying jag. The crying jags weren’t getting any better, either. Sometimes she burst into tears for no reason. Stacy would sometimes wake herself crying.

When her cries quieted to hiccups, she lifted herself off Dustin. Stacy quickly turned her head to hide her face that was probably a mess. She was embarrassed when she realized that Carrington was crying on Bellamy’s shoulder.

“Oh no, I scared her. I’m sorry, B-Bell.”

“Don’t be sorry, Stacy, she’s fine. I’m gonna get you a glass of water, okay?” Bellamy stood up with the baby in her arms.

“Y-yes, please.” Her eyes followed Bellamy out of the room. Stacy didn’t want to do it, but her eyes drifted to Dustin. He was watching her with eyes that didn’t hold pity. Instead they were warm as he looked at her.

“We’re gonna get through this, sugar. Whatever happens, I’ll be right by your side. I love you and nothing is going to change that.”

Stacy wanted to believe him so bad, but she was scared that if things didn’t go the way she wanted he’d bolt and never look back. She bit her lip as she tried to reason with herself that she was going to stop being scared and lean on Dustin for support through everything that had happened and that was going to happen. Stacy had her family, of course, but having him by her side would make it so much better. She slowly nodded her head finally, and the relief on Dustin’s face said it all.

Bellamy came back with a glass of water and handed it to Stacy. She whispered her thanks and then turned to Dustin. “Why aren’t you at work? I thought you had to finalize the plans for the apartment renovation that you’re doing.”

“I do and I’m going back, but I just wanted to check on you and see how you’re doing. I want you to come stay with me at my place tonight, okay?”

Stacy nodded and lifted her face as he kissed her gently on the lips. “Yeah, okay.” She watched him walk to Bellamy, giving her and the baby a kiss then he was gone.

***

Dustin pulled up in front of Stacy’s parents’ house shortly after five. He still couldn’t get the heartbreaking image of Stacy with her face up crying out almost silently hoping that the baby was his when he showed up at her parents’ earlier. Dustin had had a feeling that something was wrong, so he took his lunch break to check on her.

Tonight he was going to make her talk about things. Dustin wanted to know where her head was at, but he also wanted to let her know where his was. Dylan told Dustin that he’d pick up dinner for the three of them and then he was going to Zach’s to hang out for the night, so Dustin and Stacy could have some privacy. He didn’t want to force her to talk about it, but it was something that couldn’t wait anymore.

When he got to the front door, Gary opened it to greet him. “Hey, Dustin, how’s it going?”

“I’m good. I just came to pick Stacy up. She’s staying at my place tonight.” Dustin followed Gary into the house.

“Her momma’s upstairs with her right now. Come join me on the deck for a quick beer.”

Dustin followed Gary into the kitchen, where he grabbed a couple bottles of Bud, and opened the sliding door. He took a seat in one of the lounge chairs and took a pull from the beer that Gary had handed him. Dustin watched so many emotions cross over the man’s face as he sat there. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to talk to him about, but he knew it was about Stacy.

“I just wanted to thank you for being there for my little girl while she’s been dealing with everything. I know it’s not easy, and until she has her ultrasound, things are up in the air. I just want to say that if things—if things don’t go the way we all want and you want to back out, promise me that you’ll do it gently. I wish she wasn’t even in this predicament, but I would like nothing more than to know that it’s your baby she’s carrying. You’re a good man, Dustin.”

He was speechless. He couldn’t imagine if that happened to his own child. Dustin took a long pull from his bottle. “I love her, Gary. If it’s not my baby, I will stand by whatever decision she makes. I’d never walk away from her.”

Gary gave him a sad smile and nodded. They finished their beers in silence and when they walked back in, Stacy was sitting on the sofa with her mom. Her overnight bag was on the floor by the door. Renée stood up and walked towards Dustin. “Hi, sweetheart.” She reached up and kissed his cheek. Dustin couldn’t help but smile at her as she walked by and into the kitchen. He held out his hand to Stacy and when she grabbed it Dustin pulled her into his arms.

Dustin could feel how thin she’d gotten over the last couple of weeks. Where Stacy used to have curves was now bones protruding. He stroked her hair as she snuggled into her spot under his chin. “You ready to go, baby?” She nodded against him.

Renée came back out from the kitchen with a bag in her hand. Dustin accepted the bag from her and looked inside. It was several bottles of the protein shakes that Stacy’s mom had been making her drink since she wasn’t eating like she should.

Stacy hugged and kissed both of her parents then Dustin grabbed her overnight bag and her hand to lead her out to his truck. She was especially quiet on the way back to his house but when he grabbed her hand, she squeezed it and didn’t let go. Dustin was going to have to tread carefully when they had their long overdue talk. Too much too soon could cause her to break down and that was the last thing he wanted. Stacy was so fragile now and he just wanted her to know that even if that bastard had succeeded in getting her pregnant, he still was claiming the baby as his.