Cut to the Chase (23 page)

I
f he would have left five minutes later for work, Chase would have witnessed a scene reminiscent of the morning following their first overnighter. Kneeling over the toilet, Erin expelled everything she had in her stomach from the night before. When she had nothing left, the dry heaves began and lasted for another five minutes. No fever, no stuffy nose accompanied her heaving spell. She was not fighting a sinus infection. No, what she now suspected was causing her to feel fatigue and lightheadedness, and to vomit upon waking was much more serious.

Weak and shaky, Erin washed her face and rinsed out her mouth. She needed to get to her phone. Erin walked back into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. She reached for her cell on the nightstand, pulled up her calendar and scrolled back to find the date of her last injection. She had marked the date with a red dot so it would be easy to spot. But it occurred to her after a few frustrating moments that the marked date was on the phone she had discarded. Her calendar and contacts had been wiped clean.

Shit.

A quick internet search enabled her to retrieve her doctor's number and she placed the call. “Ms. Whitley, it's so good to hear from you. We've been trying to reach you for several weeks. Have you moved?” asked the medical assistant.

Erin felt irresponsible and incredibly embarrassed for not only missing her last appointment, but for appearing to have fallen off the face of the earth. “Um…yes. And I also changed my phone number,” Erin said.

“And your email? Do you have a new email address as well? We sent you an appointment reminder a few weeks back, but it just got bounced back to us,” the kind woman said.

“Yeah, I closed that account and haven't created another as of yet,” Erin said, mortified.

“Well, no matter. I have you on the phone now and we can get your new contact info. Would you like to schedule an appointment?”

“Yes. I know this is a long shot, but do you have any openings today?” Erin asked with her eyes clenched shut and prayed that they weren't booked.

“We don't have another opening until next week. Can I put you in for Wednesday at two?”

There was no way she was going to be able to wait that long. So she decided to just tell the woman on the other line, a complete stranger whom she had never met before, why she needed to be seen immediately. “Is there any way you can fit me in tonight? I think I may be pregnant.” Saying the words aloud made the possibility of her condition that much more real. What would Chase say if she was pregnant? She had told him that she was on birth control. He had every right to assume that she had lied to him or even planned for this to happen. Would he view this possible pregnancy as a way of trapping him?

“Now, that changes things, doesn't it?” the nice woman chirped. “Let's see what we can do.” Erin heard the medical assistant type away on her keyboard. “Dr. Martinez cushions her schedule for situations such as these. Are you available tonight at seven o'clock?”

Erin would have kissed the woman if she had been standing in front of her.

Chase technically wasn't lying when he told Erin that he needed to go in to work today. He would eventually make it into the office, but first he had to stop off at the bank. With the small box tucked safely away in the inside pocket of his suit jacket, he couldn't wait to get the day started so he could get home to Erin.

Chase had never been away from the office for such an extended period of time. He thought that going back to work today would be stressful due to his absence as he picked up the pieces of his company. But as he walked toward his office, he didn't encounter any panic on his employees' faces. No, everyone seemed to function as if he had been there the entire time, which was wonderful to see. He knew that he had Lydia to thank for that, for putting his company on autopilot.

“Good morning, Mr. Montclair,” Lydia said, looking up from her computer screen.

“Lydia, would you join me in my office? We have much to discuss.”

“Of course.” Lydia grabbed her iPad and followed him into his office.

He closed the door behind her and then took his place behind the desk. He couldn't believe how nervous he was, now that the little square box was burning a hole in his suit's jacket pocket. Chase needed to show someone, tell anyone who would listen that tonight he was going to ask Erin to be his wife. And what better person than Lydia? Over the years, she had proven her loyalty to both him and his father. She was devoted to the company and rarely spoke her mind or challenged him. She had never commented on his breakup with Gabrielle or probed for information about why his ex-fiancée was in his life one minute and out the next. But as tight-lipped as Lydia was, minding her own business and not falling victim to mindless workplace gossip, she was cognizant of everything that went on in his building. She was his eyes and ears and as he'd learned recently, very aware that without Erin, he was lost.

Lydia Jackson was the perfect assistant.

Chase took the box out of his pocket and opened the lid. “Do you think she'll like it, Lydia?”

Lydia leaned over and peered at the simple but flawless diamond. “That belonged to your mother, did it not?”

Chase stared at the ring and envisioned it on Erin's finger. “Yes. I can't imagine giving something so precious to anyone but Erin.”

Lydia smiled and then without warning, she stood and walked over to him. “Your father would be very pleased. And he would have loved to have seen you so in love…like the way he was with your mother.” She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. The sudden display of affection was out of character for Lydia, which made it all the more special and heartfelt.

C
hase had called on the hour every hour to check in and ask her how her day was. As much as Erin loved hearing his voice every sixty minutes, it was becoming increasingly difficult with each passing call to pretend that everything was fine. She even found herself sighing with relief when he told her that he had to work later than anticipated, which was fortunate considering her game-changing doctor's appointment.

Erin waited until the last possible minute to tell Andrew about the appointment he was clearly going to accompany her to. She didn't want to give Andrew hours of time to inquire about the appointment and alert Chase.

“Of course I'll take you wherever you need to go. I wasn't aware that you had a doctor's appointment tonight. Does Mr. Montclair know?” Andrew asked. Erin kept her head down as she retrieved her purse from the kitchen counter. With her eyes diverted, she could feel him staring at her.

“Um…no. I don't think so. It's just an annual checkup. No big deal.”

“Ms. Whitley, if the appointment isn't urgent, you should consider rescheduling it. Mr. Montclair doesn't want you leaving the penthouse right now unless it's absolutely necessary.”

“No can do. I planned this appointment months ago. If I cancel, it could be weeks, most likely months, before they can see me.”

Andrew pressed on, making her more flustered by the second. “I'm sure Mr. Montclair's friend, Robert, would be able to make a house call. We wouldn't need to leave the penthouse and you could still receive the medical treatment you seek.”

Erin had no desire to make Andrew feel uncomfortable, but she had a feeling that if she played the woman card, he would abandon the conversation. “Robert is a great physician, but he's not a gynecologist.”

Andrew actually blushed before clearing his throat. “Well, shall we go?” he asked, grabbing his car keys.

In just a paper gown and white socks, Erin sat back in the elevated chair and told herself to breathe. Waiting for results wasn't foreign to her; she'd voluntarily subjected herself to monthly blood tests after her rape. Actually, this month, the month that had changed everything, was the only month she had foregone testing. Her mind had been on other things, like Chase, and not her ridiculous obsession with having her blood tested.

Erin's hand rested on her belly and she wondered what she was going to say to Chase if she was indeed pregnant with his child. Several ways of unloading such news were flooding her brain when she heard a quick succession of knocks at the door. Startled and beyond nervous, she heard herself say, “Come in.”

Dr. Martinez was a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is physician. Which was exactly what Erin wanted and needed right now. “Okay Erin, feet in the stirrups. Let's have a look.”

Erin had been hoping for an external ultrasound, but no such luck. If she was pregnant, a transvaginal ultrasound would be more effective at this early stage. Erin complied and braced herself for the discomfort from the lubricated probe.

“Try to relax, Erin,” Dr. Martinez said, as she gently slid the rod into position. Erin exhaled and accepted the intrusion.

Dr. Martinez shifted the probe within her and stared at the monitor. Erin didn't know whether to look at the doctor and analyze her facial expressions as she probed away, or gaze at the monitor and attempt to decipher what looked like gray, swirling fuzz.

“Well, calculating pregnancy from conception isn't an exact science, but I would say you are right around the sixth-week mark, Erin.”

Erin just stared at the monitor, trying desperately to see what the doctor was seeing. “I'm pregnant?” she asked. Suspecting pregnancy and having it confirmed were two totally different things, invoking separate fears and emotions.

It was at that moment that the door swung open and Erin met Chase's gaze. “You can't be in here, sir. This is an exam room. You must leave immediately,” Dr. Martinez said, her voice firm and unwavering.

“Erin, what's wrong?” he asked, ignoring Dr. Martinez completely. He rushed over and grabbed Erin's hand.

“Erin, do you know this man?” Dr. Martinez asked. “Do you want him here?”

Erin swallowed. This was the moment of truth. Nodding, she said, “Yes, I want him here.” Erin looked into Chase's eyes and saw the concern, that all-encompassing love that he never withheld from her.

“Okay, then. I want both of you to look right here,” Dr. Martinez said, directing them with her finger to a slight flicker on the monitor. Chase squeezed Erin's hand with both of his and obeyed the doctor.

“The answer to your question, Erin, is yes. You're pregnant and that flicker that you two are fixed on right now is the baby's heartbeat.”

“Baby?” Chase asked, staring at the flicker on the computer monitor. Erin felt him squeeze her hand even tighter. Oh God! Was he angry?

Erin wanted to look back at Chase but she was interrupted by the curious expression on Dr. Martinez's face. “What is it?” Erin asked the doctor.

“Ahh…there you are,” Dr. Martinez said, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. “Twins like to hide sometimes.”

“Twins?” Erin and Chase asked in unison.

“To answer your question, sir…”

“Chase,” he supplied.

“It's not baby, but babies. Two healthy sprouts that are measuring equal in size.” Dr. Martinez clicked a few more buttons and then provided them both with a printout of Baby A and Baby B.

“Erin, I'll be back. I think you two need a moment.” Dr. Martinez withdrew the probe. “Erin, you can get dressed whenever you're ready. We're finished with the exam, but we need to discuss your prenatal care. Okay?”

Erin nodded, appreciating the doctor's discretion and sensitivity.

Once alone, Erin felt the panic set in. She closed her eyes, which didn't prevent the tears from forming, and said, “I'm so sorry.”

“Look at me, Erin.” It was a reasonable request. He had every right to demand her attention right now.

Staring into his deep blue eyes, she couldn't hide and that was the time the flood gates burst open. “I missed my birth control shot…not intentionally, but…Chase, I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to trick you,” she said, through uncontrollable sobs.

He gathered her into his arms and said, “The only thing that could make me happier than I already am…”—Erin felt one of his arms slacken—“is if the mother of my children says ‘yes.'”

Chase sat back and flipped open the top to a very small box. “Marry me, Erin,” he said, extracting the ring and slipping it onto her finger. She looked at the beautiful diamond and then at the man who had captured her heart. Her typical, even-keeled, reserved businessman was overcome with emotion and she saw his eyes well.

“I love you, Chase…and our family,” she said, placing her hands on her belly. His own hand covered hers as the first tear slowly ran down his cheek. “Yes, I'll marry you.”

He leaned over and kissed her slowly, taking the time to show her just how much he cherished her.

S
cott was tired, but not physically, as his body was in top shape—a machine fed only the finest food and drink. No, he had grown weary of going so long without obtaining closure. So much so that he taken the time to research how one can track another through the use of cell phones. As a result of his diligence and perseverance, he now knew the location of Paul Whitley, Montclair and his Whore, and, of course, his Angel.

Scott didn't know when Montclair and the Whore had returned to New York, because according to the tracker, Montclair's car was still in Philadelphia. For whatever reason, they had come back to the city by some other means. But it didn't matter now. This method was more discrete.

According to the map on his phone, his Angel and Paul Whitley were at Montclair's penthouse, which pissed him off. He knew his Angel was hard at work, trying to help people that didn't deserve her to solve a mystery that would come to an end. But it would be on his terms. Since neither his Angel nor Paul Whitley were accessible at the moment, Scott focused his attention on Montclair and his Whore. He was happy to see that the vile couple had ventured out, leaving themselves beautifully exposed and within walking distance.

“I love when you smile,” Plain Jane said, sipping her coffee. Scott hadn't realized he was donning such a wide grin until she called him on it. Just a little while longer, he thought, and there would be no need to keep Plain Jane around.

“Want to take in a movie tonight and order some Chinese?” Scott asked, staring at her across the small stone-top table for two on her balcony. He had stopped over at her place after work in hopes of claiming a home base. Which seemed to be working out better than he had envisioned.

Plain Jane beamed with delight. “That sounds great. I think Lee Wu's delivers,” she said.

Scott shook his head. “I have a better place in mind, but they don't deliver. I'll just run and pick it up. In the meantime…” he bent over and kissed her gently on the lips, “you order any movie you like.” He could stomach watching a romantic comedy, but there was no way he was going to consume food from an establishment that didn't meet his standards.

“Swear you won't mind if my movie choice falls within the chick flick category?” she asked, her eyes wide and unsuspecting. Pitiful.

“You have my word. I'm in such a good mood, I could even stomach a Julia Roberts movie,” Scott said, standing up.

“Chicken or beef?” he asked, reaching for the briefcase he now carried with him everywhere he went.

“How about a little bit of both…and dumplings?” she asked.

“A woman after my own heart.” He smiled and gave her a quick kiss. “Be back soon, sweetheart.”

Josh had spent months trying to forget his parents and even longer trying to forgive them for just being the cold and inhuman people they were. But his father was making it increasingly difficult for Josh to cut them out of his life. His father's phone calls had started over a year ago, the night after his father's attorney had bailed Josh out of a heap of trouble and aggravation. Still, Josh felt he owed his father nothing. Richard Graham was expecting more than a thank-you and Josh wasn't even prepared to say those two painful words. He deleted his father's voicemails without even listening to them.

The texts came next, which again he deleted, though only after reading them first. Surprisingly, his father was not waiting for his son to voice his appreciation. Rather, within each text, he had asked Josh to contact his mother because she missed him and wanted to meet for dinner in the city when he was in between semesters. Josh wanted to believe that his mother was willing to wait to see him so his studies wouldn't be interrupted, which suggested that she actually respected what he was doing with his life. Even after everything that had happened, Josh couldn't pretend any longer that her approval didn't matter or that he didn't miss being part of a family. Finally, just three weeks ago, he had picked up the phone, dialed his mother and arranged to meet her in New York at her favorite restaurant.

Driving into the city for many was a headache and a source of unhealthy stress, but for Josh, he always marveled at the city's beauty, the life it exuded, the bright lights against a darkening sky. But his appreciation dimmed significantly as he stared into a sea of taillights, which caused him to adjust his speed from seventy to a complete standstill. With some extra time to kill, Josh thought about how this night could go. It wasn't an accident that he had chosen this date, this particular night to spend time with his mother. The anniversary of Julia's death was always difficult. He had hoped that for the first time, he and his mother could grieve together and remember a woman who had left this world too soon.