Into the Storm (49 page)

“
Do you want to keep this baby?” I asked quietly.

She looked shocked. “Of course I do, Joshua! You don’t understand! I need to tell you …” her voice trailed off as I placed my fingers on her lips silencing her.

“
Then I will love this child like it’s my own,” I vowed.

Her eyes widened and more tears fell down her cheeks. She pushed my hand away.

“
Joshua, it
is
yours.” As she spoke she shoved the paper in my hand.

I looked down, confused. I had no idea what I was looking at. I looked up at her, hating to dash the hope I saw in her eyes, knowing she didn’t want to tell me what had transpired. I shook my head. “I can’t have children, Rabbit.”

She shook her head right back at me. “Then it’s the second coming, Joshua. I know what you’re thinking. But Brian didn’t touch me while I was there. I swear he didn’t. He hasn’t touched me since the first couple weeks of our marriage. The only person I have been with is you.”

I stared at her, unable to process what she was saying. He didn’t touch her?

Her hands came up, cradling my face. “I love you so much knowing you would stand by me and love someone else’s baby, Joshua. But the baby is yours.”

“
How?”

My thoughts were chaotic and I lifted my hands to her arms, grasping them. I didn’t understand. The baby was mine? How? Was it possible?

God, I wanted it to be possible.

Rabbit’s hands stayed on my cheeks, her thumbs constantly stroking in small circles of comfort. She smiled, keeping her tear-filled eyes on mine.

“
Rabbit, I can't ... they 
told
me I can't ...”

Her eyes were shining and her smile widened as another single tear slipped over her cheek.

“
Yes, Joshua, you can.”

She took my hand and I watched as she placed it over her belly, holding it there. “You
did,
Joshua.”

I felt like all the breath had been knocked from my body, like I'd been hit with a wrecking ball.  I couldn't form words or thoughts; all I could do was stare at my shaking fingers as they spread wide over her tiny form, rumpling the thin cotton of the hospital gown.

“
How?”

I lifted my bewildered eyes to her again. Keeping my gaze, she called out calmly for Daniel. A moment later, I felt his comforting hand on my shoulder.

“
Sit down before you fall down, Joshua. We’ve had enough surprises today.”

Reluctantly, I moved my hand from Rabbit’s belly and lowered myself shakily onto the examination table beside her. I looked at Daniel.

“
I don’t understand. They said there was too much damage after the attack. That I would probably never father a child,” I recited what I had been told like it was gospel.

Daniel smiled. “The key word there is probably, Joshua. It was never conclusive. And, you never pursued it did you? Did you have any other tests done?”

I shook my head. I had been too overwhelmed with everything else that was happening at the time to pursue anything.

“
When we got the blood test results, I had the OB-GYN come and do the transvaginal ultrasound immediately. Lizzy is roughly five weeks pregnant. Doing the math, I would say she was with you at that time.”

I stared at him, trying to comprehend what he was saying.

Rabbit was pregnant.

With
my
child.

Our child.

I was going to be a father.

I looked at her, staring back at me with nothing but love and joy in her eyes, waiting for me to come to terms with the information I had just been given. I stared down at the photo in my hand. The little blurry blip on the paper was my child. I felt my eyes fill with tears, and ignoring the fact that Daniel was still there, pulled Rabbit into my arms, weeping with joy.

Laughing and crying, I looked up after a minute as he stood, grinning widely at us.

“
Is everything okay? Are they all right?”

Daniel smiled. “All looks well, Joshua. I want Lizzy resting and eating more. Her body has been through a lot of emotional and physical trauma so we want to give her a chance to recuperate and get stronger. The OB-GYN as given her a prescription for some vitamins. They’ll do another ultrasound in a few weeks and give you some more definite dates.” He clapped me on the back. “This most definitely explains the exhaustion. You need to take care of her, Joshua.”

I nodded, burying my head in Rabbit’s neck.

“
I’ll take such good care of both of you, Rabbit,” I promised fervently.

“
I know you will. You already do,” she responded.

I tightened my arms. I had so many questions. I looked up at Daniel again. He smiled in understanding.

“
I’ll come see you both in a couple of days, and answer all your questions. Take her home. Celebrate this miracle.”

I nodded and held out my hand. Daniel shook it firmly. “Congratulations, both of you.”

He left, closing the door behind him. We sat quietly for a moment.

“
I would have told you,” she whispered.

I pulled away and looked down at her.

“
Rabbit?”

“
If he had done that. I would have told you.”

I stroked her cheek. “I thought you were trying to protect me.”

Her voice was soft. “You would have still loved it?”

I nodded. “The baby would still have been part of you, Rabbit. How could I not?”

She smiled tenderly, turning to kiss my palm.

“
The baby is a part of
us,
Joshua.”

I smiled widely, still overwhelmed with the news and nodded. “Us.”

I stood up. “Let’s go home. You need to rest and I need to cook you some more steak.”

Rabbit smiled and then her face turned serious. “I think we have things we need to talk about.”

I nodded. “We do. But not today. Today is all about you, me, and this little miracle blip I’m already in love with.”

Rabbit sighed and smiled, her eyes shining. “Then take
us
home, Joshua.”

I smiled widely.

I needed to take my family home.

My family
.

Chapter Forty-One

Joshua

I fumbled around, my hands shaking, trying to help Rabbit get dressed. Smiling, she pushed my incompetent fingers away. “I can get dressed on my own, Joshua. Go sit in Daniel’s office.”

I leaned forward, grasping her face in my hands and kissing her softly. I had no words at the moment. Her sweet smile was full of understanding as her hand reached up and stroked mine that was resting on her cheek.

“
Go,” she instructed quietly.

I placed one last lingering kiss on her forehead and I left her to get dressed. I sat down, legs shaking, in a chair in front of Daniel and he looked up at me smiling. “Okay there, Joshua?” he asked, but didn’t seem overly concerned.

“
Are you sure she’s all right, Daniel? That the baby is okay? She’s been through so much,” I asked quietly, my fear evident in my voice.

Daniel leaned back. “She’s a strong woman, Joshua. Everything looks fine. And now that we know she is pregnant, you can take extra precautions for a while; make sure she gets lots of rest, eats well and takes her vitamins. She needs to try and avoid as much stress as possible. She has certainly had enough of that.”

I nodded. “What about … what about the drugs he had her on?”

Daniel shook his head. “Not a trace of them showed in her blood work. Your girl is smart and it would appear she took very few of them. They never got a chance to build-up in her system. The bastard was trying to keep her head fuzzy. He is quite the piece of work.”

I growled in anger. “Fucker.”

Daniel leaned forward. “Help her avoid stress, and make sure she gets lots of rest, Joshua. That’s the best advice I can give you right now. Give her and the baby a chance to catch up. Gain some weight. Catch up on sleep. Let her body recover. I suggest some fruit smoothies with protein powder.” He smiled. “And, some rich ice cream added in. Easy for her to digest and full of calories.”

“
Anything else?”

“
Limit the alcohol. An occasional glass of wine is okay. And no hot tub. The heat isn’t good for the baby.”

I looked at him, panicked. “We’ve been in the hot tub a lot.”

He laughed. “And she is fine, Joshua. Going forward, either stay out or lower the temperature to bath water.”

I sighed in relief. That I could do. I shifted in my seat. “What about … um ... what about physical restrictions?”

He looked at me. “Physical restrictions?”

I heard a small snort behind me as Rabbit came through the door.

“
Physical restrictions? Seriously, Joshua. Are you asking me if it’s okay to still have sex?” Daniel asked, trying to keep a professional face.

I nodded, squirming slightly in my chair.

Was that allowed when someone was pregnant?

I had no idea.

Internally, I grinned. I had never gotten anyone pregnant before.

Daniel chuckled subtly. “Yes. That isn’t an issue. I don’t suggest over-strenuous positions … no acrobatics. But sex is perfectly safe.” He arched an eyebrow at me. “I think it’s safe to assume you can simply continue as you have been.” He grinned and winked.

Behind me, Rabbit giggled quietly at my discomfort and squeezed my shoulder. My hand drifted up to hold hers, squeezing it gently in return.

I smiled at Daniel in relief. “Good to know.”

Adam was waiting for us and we quietly shared our happy news with him. He was pleased for us and understood our need to keep it private for the time being. He informed us that he needed to get back to Toronto immediately, so once we got back to the house, he would get his things and depart. I looked at him, silently beseeching him to keep the latest news of Brian quiet for the time being and his silent nod told me he understood. Wordlessly, I handed him the vial from Daniel, knowing he would take care of what had to be done. Until we knew for sure what was happening, I didn’t want Rabbit stressing.

“
Is Frank going back with you?” Rabbit asked as we made our way down the hall, my arm wrapped around her, holding her close.