Keep Me Safe (28 page)

“But Parker, the baby,
our
baby. We didn’t even know, and now it’s…gone.” Tears continued to stream down my face as he leaned forward to kiss me. I could taste the saltiness between our lips.

“We can’t change that now, baby. You were
pregnant
, though. Pregnant!” He smiled but quickly stopped. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I hate that that bastard did this to you. Did this to us, to our baby, but that doesn’t mean it’s over. That means we can fight like hell to make sure it happens again.”

I looked into his eyes, hoping for some sort of promise that what he said was true. Could I really get pregnant again and actually have a baby?

“I just can’t believe it happened. Then to think I stalled our relationship because of it, and now it’s over before it even began…” I was rambling again.

“Stop.” He laughed. “One day at a time. Our relationship is perfect. Don’t worry about what happened back then.”

I just looked at him and smiled. He was right. I needed to step back and gain a little perspective. “Thank you.”

He rubbed my left cheek softly with his thumb. “For what?”

“For just being you. For being everything I’ve ever needed when I needed it. You saved my life Parker. I could say thank you every day for the rest of my life and it still couldn’t possibly be enough.” I put my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek before nuzzling back in.

“Being with you is thanks enough. I told you I’d always be here for you and I meant it. I told you I’d keep you safe, right?”

“Yeah, but you cut it a little close this time didn’t ya?” I laughed and the panicked, worried feeling lifted like a heavy burden off of my shoulders.

Parker’s cell phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. He must’ve hit ignore before sticking it back in his pocket. I noticed his gun wasn’t in the holster.

“Do you need to get that?”

“No, it’s fine,” he assured me. “It’s just Beth. I texted her and Stephannie when they brought you to the room to let them know you were okay. I told them they could come in the morning when visiting hours started.

I noticed that his holster for his gun was empty. “Where’s your gun?” Not that it mattered, but it was a part of everything that happened tonight.

“Oh, they had to take it. Because it was part of a shooting and ongoing investigation, they take it and I get put on administrative leave until it’s over.”

“Oh,” I felt bad. “You’re not in any kind of trouble or anything are you?”

“No, not at all. They just need to go over everything and make sure it was done by protocol, I did everything possible to diffuse the situation, yadda yadda. Not that I wouldn’t have shot the bastard anyway.”

I yawned and laid my head back on the bed. “Okay. Are
you
okay, though?”

Parker crawled onto the bed the rest of the way and carefully laid down next to me. He intertwined our fingers and kissed my temple. “Me? Only you would go through what you did and still worry about me. I’m fine. It’s all over now. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. You should rest.”

“Yeah right,” I scoffed. “Stephannie and Beth will be here soon and you know how they get.”

“That’s okay. That’s in,” he checked his watch, “four hours. Until then, you sleep. Just close your eyes and clear your mind.”

I closed my eyes when he started running his fingers through my hair. My mind replayed everything from the last twelve hours. I thought about how happy we were at Beth’s house, thankful that we’d be able to start the New Year together. His family was amazing and I was so grateful that they welcomed me with open arms. Even in the short time Parker and I had been dating, they treated me like a member of their family. Not that I minded or would be unhappy to become one. The corner of my lips turned into a slight smile.

Everything with Brent. What went so wrong with him? And then for him to be killed when it was all over? There had been no doubt in my mind that he was going to kill me. So I didn’t feel sorry that it happened to him instead of me. But it just seemed like such a tragic end to his life. His parents, his siblings…I couldn’t think about that right now.

Then my mind wandered to the doctor and what he just told me. Well, told us. Parker and I could’ve had a baby by this time next year. The thought was overwhelming, given what I thought I already knew. Parker and I were serious, but neither engaged nor married yet. Is this even something we wanted yet? I couldn’t think about that either. We could revisit and talk about that later. I let out a soft sigh.

“You’re not clearing your mind, are you?” he asked against my forehead.

“Would you be able to?” I rubbed my hands up his arm and held onto him.

“No, probably not. I’m here though, if you want to talk. I’m not going anywhere.” He kissed my forehead. “Not now, and not ever. You know that right? I will be here forever or as long as you’ll let me.”

One more tear fell down my cheek onto the bed.

“I love you so much, Parker. I don’t think I could ever let you stop loving me.” I slid my head back on the pillow to look up at him. I could always see that gleam in his eye that told me he meant everything he said to me.

“But for right now, just stay with me in this bed and keep me safe until morning.”

He smiled then quickly ran the tip of his tongue between his lips. They met mine and my heart fluttered again. He never failed to make me feel like there was no one more important to him than me. And I needed that
and
him more than he knew. He was my forever.

He smiled against my lips before pulling away.

“You couldn’t stop me if you tried.”

Epilogue

“Why is it so freaking hot here?” I brushed the damp hair from my forehead, cursing Florida weather for being at its worst during my busiest time of year – marching season. Granted, it was hot ninety percent of the year, but summertime was miserable.

Tonight was the Kick-Off Classic, the first home game of the season. Band camp went extremely well over the summer and the program had reached an all-time high number of members. I had gotten really excited about our “Maleguena” themed half time show and the kids had already picked it up really well.

I walked into the band room after finishing the last bite of my dinner while sitting in my car, something I often did on Friday nights. The band booster parents were already in the supply room taking the bright white and blue uniforms out of the bags, pulling the hats and gold-flecked, feathered plumes out of their boxes. The familiar smell of dry-cleaned polyester filled my nose and I smiled; I doubted there were very many people who got such joy out of something so random and strange.

I waved and said hello before I headed into my office. I locked my purse in the bottom drawer of my desk and put my cell phone and chapstick in my pocket. Just as I put my phone away, it vibrated. I pulled it out, “Message from Parker” lit up the screen.

I’ll be there in twenty minutes. See you soon gorgeous.

This was going to be the first time Parker had really seen me in my element, doing the band director thing. He had been to a concert performance during the spring, but the two atmospheres were completely different.  We were playing our rival team, which always meant extra security. The police department was going to have extra officers at the game, including Parker. I thought now that he was a detective he didn’t have to do stuff like that anymore, but I never really questioned it. I never complained about seeing him in a pressed, dark blue uniform.

Once all of the students arrived, we went through our usual pre-game routine. Each section rehearsed alone, we practiced as a group, then uniform inspections. After the section leaders were done with their inspections, I walked back into my office to get my binder I always carried with me. Two of my students, Katie and Laura, were hanging out in the hallway rolling up a huge piece of paper when I walked back out.

“Ready to go girls?”

“Oh, yeah, just one minute Miss Montgomery. My mom made this huge sign to embarrass my brother, so I had to get it out of my locker for her. She’s waiting for me outside.”

“My kind of mom,” I teased.

We all went back outside to the courtyard and everyone lined up. They marched in unison over to the football field and headed up to the bleachers where their assigned seats were, the same routine we had practiced earlier so there would be no problems.

Katie and Laura were in the front row right in front of me, as the flute section always was. Katie was shoving the rolled up sign under her seat.

“I thought you were giving that to your mom? You weren’t supposed to march with anything but your instrument in your hand,” I lectured. I considered myself a fun teacher, but I took my job very seriously. The band at Prine always prided itself on being one of the best, and I made sure that continued when I took over.

“I’m sorry, she wasn’t here yet. It’s my brother’s first game playing Varsity and she really wanted him to remember it.”

“Just keep it under your seat until she gets here, okay?” I smiled, hoping I didn’t embarrass her too badly in front of her friends. She nodded.

I pulled out my binder, getting my sheet music in order for the start of the game. The cheerleaders were running onto the field, no doubt preparing for the tunnel they made every game for the players to run through. I noticed the increased number of police officers on the far side of the field and squinted to see if I could spot Parker. I didn’t see him, but from that far away, they all looked the same.

The announcer’s voice came over the loudspeaker and thanked everyone for supporting the football team and attending the game. I was getting ready to have the band stand up to be ready for the Star Spangled Banner when Katie called my name.

“Miss Montgomery, look!” She yelled as she pointed towards the field.

I turned around and saw a human-made walkway that ran at least half the length of the field. Cheerleaders lined one side, nothing but police officers lined the other. Two cheerleaders came running through the path holding a giant sign. When they got to the end of the sea of people, I realized the sign they were holding was upside down. Everyone started to laugh simultaneously and the two girls immediately realized they were the cause of so much laughter. They turned the sign right side up and stood in the middle of the field.

WILL YOU MARRY ME SADIE?

As soon as I realized the sign had my name on it, Parker tore the sign in two from behind it and stood there facing me. He was dressed in his police uniform and honestly had never looked so amazing. There was noise buzzing around me but I couldn’t have deciphered a single word. I realized I had put my hands up to cover the shock on my face.

“Miss Montgomery, go down there!” Laura yelled, breaking me from the trance I was apparently in. I quickly ran down the short amount of bleacher stairs to the bottom, silently praying that I didn’t fall flat on my face. I ran onto the field where Parker was and wrapped my arms around him, “hi” was the only thing that would come out of my mouth.

He pulled away and reached into his pants pocket. He pulled out a black velvet box, grabbed my left hand and dipped down chivalrously to one knee.

“Sadie,” he choked out, just loudly enough for me to hear him through the roar of people. “I can’t think of anything that I need in my life more than you. I never want to be without you, and I certainly don’t plan to go another day without making sure you know that. We’ve been through so much together and I never want you to go through anything else alone. Would you
please
make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?”

I stood frozen, completely flustered yet obliviously happy all at once. The only thing my body would allow was for my head to almost violently shake up and down.

“Yes?!” he yelled the joy waiting to burst out of him.

“Yes!” He jumped up and grabbed me, spinning me around with my feet off of the ground. He kissed me so deeply I would’ve fallen over if he wasn’t gripped so tightly around me. The overwhelming sound of applause rang through my ears, and I heard the yelling from the people standing on the field behind us. He put me down and we both looked towards the sidelines, taking in all of the people who had just witnessed our engagement. He faced me again and held both of my hands.

“I love you Sadie. You are the most important person in my life.”

The memory of my appointment this morning ricocheted through my brain as quickly as a bullet would have.

My gynecologist started my exam after explaining what was going to happen. It wasn’t my first exam. I don’t know why doctors needed to tell you every time what they were going to do. Especially while down between my legs. Especially as many times as I had been here.

She looked up over the sheet, eyeing me curiously. “Um, did you take the urine test before she brought you back here?”

Seriously? “No, they were doing blood work or something and told me to wait. Then the nurse called me back here before they called my name again. Why?”

“Just walk back out front and tell the tech to go ahead and do your urine test. Then you can just walk right back in here, okay?” What the hell?

I got redressed and did as she asked, finishing the uncomfortable task of peeing in a cup. When I walked back into the exam room, Dr. Hamilton walked back in right away.

“I suspected as much when I started your exam. You’re pregnant Sadie.”

I blinked rapidly, silently willing my brain to function and my mouth to work. “I-I’m sorry. Say that again?”

“You’re pregnant, Sadie!” She said excitedly.

I looked down and placed both hands on my stomach. “Really? Are you sure?”