Little Red (18 page)

“Are you okay, honey?” I hear James question as he sits up to look over at her

“I’m fine,” she mutters.

“Just a little...” She stops, looks at me, and jumps from her seat where she rushes
to the bathroom for another round of choking, coughing, and I don’t want to imagine
what else

I step toward the door and lightly knock.

“You want me to come in?” I ask

“No.” I can hear the agony in her voice.

I can feel the weakness radiating from her.

I sigh and tell her I’ll be waiting

“That’s like the fifth time in an hour,” Eli says

I give them a nod and shrug.

“She hasn’t been doing so well,” I admit.

“Seems like the further along she gets, the sicker she gets.”

“I mean, it could be normal,” Eli says.

“Every woman is different.

I mean, I remember mom throwing up for weeks with you.”

“But all of her energy is gone,” I say

Eli shrugs.

“Mom was tired with Ian.”

I make a face as I hear another round of coughing and gagging come from the bathroom

“That’s six,” Aaron says

“This will sound stupid,” Ian begins, “but, what if the baby is stronger than a normal
baby? I mean, as of right now, until Ethan holds her, she has the curse.

She is wolf-like.

Red may even feel rage and feel the moon the way we do if the baby passes it to her.”

Eli cocks his head and stares in disbelief.

“I don’t believe I’m saying this, but he has a point.

The baby is bound to be strong with the curse.

The pull of the moon, the emotions, the baby would feel all that.

Since Red is carrying him, it may filter through her.

The farther along she gets, the baby is obviously getting bigger and stronger in every
way.

Honestly, Ethan, with her carrying him, she may in some weird way have the curse.

You’ve said yourself that she feels certain things the way that you do.”

“So, in other words, the further along she gets, this could get stronger for her,”
I say, running a hand through my hair

Eli shrugs.

“I’m not an expert, but think about how the curse affects us.

Right now Red is carrying the curse inside of her.

We’ve never dealt with this before, so we have to take it one day at a time.”

“You know,” James says.

“I’m not getting these papers any time soon, so why don’t you take her down to the
E.R., Ethan, have her checked out?”

I give him a nod as she finally emerges from the bathroom with the palest face we’ve
seen

“How do you feel?” I ask

“Like I’m dying,” she replies, heading toward a seat

I shake my head and put an arm around her.

“Actually, we’re going to go to the E.R.

just in case.”

She looks at me, too sick to argue, and simply nods

* * * * * *

The wait in the E.R is surprisingly quick.

They rush Red and me back to a room where they have her change into a gown.

She complies, slowly undressing and slipping on the gown.

She sinks onto the odd-looking table they have set up for her and sighs.

“I’m sure it’s just normal,” she tells me

“Well, we were thinking that…” I pause.

“Since the baby is,” I stop and think, “special…” I use her special little term.

“He might be fairly strong, unlike a normal baby.”

She passes me a look as though she understands

When the older woman enters the room, I can immediately tell she’s a good person.

She smiles at Red who is now lying on her side on the odd little table

“I hear someone is having some issues with horrible morning sickness,” she says

Red gives her a feeble nod

“Aw, poor dear, I hate when this happens,” she says softly.

“And about how far along are you?”

“Nine or so weeks,” Red answers

“Have you had your first check up?” the doctor questions

“We’re actually moving,” she says.

“To Louisiana.

Figured it best to wait ‘till we got there.”

“We’re supposed to leave today; my brother was here in the hospital, and we were just
waiting on his release,” I add

She gives us a nod.

“Well, you do look uncomfortable.” She gives Red’s legs a tender pat.

“Alright, I’m just going to have you lay on your back and put your legs straight out.”

Red nods and lies back slowly.

The doctor helps adjust a pillow under her head which Red doesn’t seem to mind at
all

“First things first; I’ll just check your cervix.” She smiles at me.

“Dad, you might want to look away.”

I look at Red with wide eyes as the doctor helps her feet into the funniest things
I’ve ever seen before in my life.

I watch as she washes her hands, slides on gloves, and then grabs a tube of some gel.

It’s then that I put my back to her and look down at Red as I give her a reassuring
smile.

When she makes a strange face, I can tell the doctor’s definitely checking around
where no woman would ever want someone to check.

I brush a few strands of hair from her face and, finally her face relaxes

“Absolutely perfect,” the doctor beams, as she changes out her gloves.

“Now, this is probably the easiest and best part: the ultrasound.

We’ll try it on your belly first, make it more enjoyable.”

She adjusts the gown so Red’s flat belly is showing and begins to squeeze a gob a
blue goo onto her lower abdomen.

She then takes an odd instrument and begins moving it along her belly, pushing the
gel along the way.

A black and white screen flickers with an odd, striped haze, and then she smiles.

“Well, that could be one heck of a reason why you’re so sick.”

Red’s eyes move to the screen, looking as clueless as I am.

The doctor points out two little ball figures that both have a flickering dot in the
middle.

“Those would be your twins.”

“There’s...” Red pauses.

“There’s really two?”

The doctor smiles.

“There sure are, and healthy, too.

Two beautiful heartbeats; measuring just over ten weeks.”

For some reason, even though I have no clue what I’m looking at, I can’t help but
to smile

“I can print you off some pictures, if you’d like?”

Red smiles and nods as though in a happy little daze

The doctor grins and begins clicking a few buttons.

“I think I’m also going to give you something for the sickness, just a little to take
the edge off.

Might make you a little sleepy, but should take care of that pesky nausea.

The good news is you’ll be able to eat again.” She cleans the goop off Red and begins
scribbling a prescription.

“You can have it filled right in the hospital pharmacy.”

“Are we free to go?” I ask

“You sure are.

Congratulations, and good luck,” she says, before heading from the room

I look down at Red and help her to sit up.

“There are two.”

She grins back

“Well, if Ian’s theory was right, it’s no wonder you’re so weak.”

“I really hope this medicine works like magic,” she says, waving the piece of paper
around

I laugh as she gets up to change.

Part of me swells with pride.

Part of me fills with terror.

Twins.

Of course being a twin myself, I should have known there was a possibility, but with
so much on our plates as it is the thought never crossed my mind.

I’m not entirely sure how to care for one baby, let alone two.

Somehow it doesn’t take away from my excitement, and I can’t wait to tell my brothers

* * * * * *

By the time we make it back to room 214, Red has already chewed one of the tiny white
pills and looks more peaceful than I have seen her in weeks.

I still wrap an arm firmly around her as we walk inside.

I only smile as I help her to a seat

“Well?” James says, staring hard at me.

“Is everything okay?”

“Well, if Ian’s theory is correct,” I start, “there’s good reason why she’s so sick.”

Their eyes grow large as they stare and wait

I smile and look at Red.

“Would you like to tell them?”

She shakes her head.

“You.” She smiles.

“You’re the proud daddy.”

I grin and reach for her hand as I look at my brothers.

“We are having…” I pause and look at Red who grins.

She knows I’m teasing them

“What?” Ian asks.

“What are you having?”

Eli laughs.

“They’re having a baby, you idiot.”

Red laughs as Ian makes a face at Eli.

“I know that, but I mean what? What’s the news?”

I let out a laugh, “Looks like one shot is all it takes for me.” I give them a wide
smile as I hear Red beginning to laugh so hard she has to steady herself on her seat

Ian gives me a funny look.

“What the hell does that mean?”

“That means we’re having twins,” I say

I feel Aaron pull me into a hug as Colt pats my back.

Ian bends to hug and congratulate Red who is completely well and at peace

James gets up from his bed and bends to kiss Red on her cheek.

“You do realize,” he starts, “once we get back, you’re never being left alone.”

She laughs and nods

“We’ll just take shifts,” Aaron says

She laughs as she gets comfortable again in her seat.

She smiles, but there’s a little pang of fear and worry that sweeps across her.

I reach for her hand again and give it a squeeze, hopefully signaling to her that
everything would work out perfectly

James smiles.

“They gave you something to take, huh?” He laughs

Red nods and smiles.

“I feel so much better.”

“Good; get some rest and some food in that belly.” James says and turns to me.

He pulls me in for a hug.

“My baby brother is going to be a daddy.” He gives my back a slap and laughs as he
pulls away.

“You treat that beautiful lady right; raise those boys like we were raised.”

I hear Ian huff.

“They’re girls.

We have been through this.”

I laugh and give James a nod.

“I’ll treat her like dad treated mom,” I tell him

He gives me a smile and another pat to my arm as he turns to Red.

“I don’t have to tell you to be good to him.” He laughs.

“I already know how you feel.”

Her cheeks flush.

“It’s hard hiding things from you, isn’t it?”

He laughs.

“You’re a good fit for him.

If he ever gives you any grief, you come to any of us.

We’ll put him in his place.”

She laughs and nods

James turns to me.

“Let’s get the hell out of Kentucky.”

I smile and look at Red.

“You ready to go home?”

She smiles.

“Yeah, I am.”

“You sure you can put up with all of us, Red?” I hear Ian laugh

She gives him a nod.

“I’ve never had brothers, but always wanted one,” she admits

Aaron laughs.

“I’m pretty sure you have six now.”

I give her a nod.

“You get me and them; it is a package deal.”

She laughs.

“I should be asking if you guys are ready to put up with me, the sick pregnant lady.”

“Well,” James starts, “let’s hope that medicine works for you.

It’s not easy hearing you so sick.

Makes us all feel helpless.”

I nod.

“You’ve had us all a little worried.”

“A little?” James says, shooting me a look.

“He’s been worried out of his mind.” He laughs.

“You’ve done something to him, Red.

Hope you don’t mind being stuck with him.”

Her cheeks regain some color as they turn a cute shade of pink that’s just right on
her.

“And, you’re pretty much stuck with me, too.”

I look down at her and smile.

For some reason, I don’t mind that thought at all.

I reach down for her hand, and I help her from her seat.

I bring her hand to my lips and place a tender kiss on the back of her hand as I’d
seen my own father do to my mother so many times before.

Her cheeks flush more, and she smiles as I nod toward the door, “Let’s go home,” I
say as we all pile from the room and finally get the chance to leave Kentucky behind
us.

Permanently

When we finally return to Louisiana, Ethan takes me to my new home immediately.

I’m excited, but at the same time I’m nervous and scared.

Not only do I have a track record of losing all my homes, but the only person I’ve
ever really lived with romantically was Josh.

If you can call living in fear on a daily basis living, that is.

It was more like I was confined to a pink bedroom and left to my thoughts.

It’s strange to watch the trees go by as he drives down the long dirt road to my new
home.

I have to control my noises as I see that my new home is a large log cabin.