Stolen Moments (And Then Came Love Book 2) (5 page)

Chapter Five

April 7th

Arianna unlocked the house. “I’m almost done, I just have a few more things to pack up.”

Trevor shadowed her inside. “So this is where you grew up?”

She walked over to a radio and turned it on, leaving it play softly in the background. “From the time I was fifteen until well into college.” Arianna glanced around she picked up a box and started to take pictures off the wall. She held one up. “This is Scott and his parents. It’s the last picture they took before he died.”

Scott was dressed in a blue football jersey. He had ginger colored hair a bit of a goofy looking smile.

“Mina took after you.”

“You can see a little of her father in her, but she got more of my family traits than she did his.” Arianna chuckled as she put the picture in the box. “The first time I met his parents I was three months pregnant and had just been kicked out of my house.”

“You’d think he’d want to introduce you to them before then.”

“I’m sure he did, but his parents were older. Scott was a surprise. Ruth was forty when he was born and Glenn was forty-two. I don’t think they knew what to expect and by the time I came in the picture, they were leaving him alone on weekends so they could travel and such.”

“They were better at being grandparents then parents, I gather?”

“I bit. I never met my grandparents and the only example I had of parents was abandonment, so to say they treated me like I was their grandchild would be presumptuous of me.” Arianna shrugged.

“After Scott died, they stayed home more than they had before. They helped me take care of Mina, let me finish high school, and then encouraged me to go to college. Tuition was covered and they made sure Mina and I had a place to live.”

“And emotionally?”

Arianna shrugged. “They were a lot better than my own parents ever dared to be.”

Trevor cocked his head to the side. “If you had the chance to find your Dad do you think you ever would?”

“I’d love to find him. Find out what he’s been doing all these years. Ask him why he never came back after Mom kicked me out?” She put the final picture in the box and looked around the empty room. “The place is sold, everything I don’t want is being donated and everything I do want is being put in a truck to be driven back to Indiana.” Her words fell flat.

Trevor took the box out of her hand, placed it on the floor, and pulled her into his arms. “It is okay to be sad or have feelings about this place.”

“But that’s just it ... this doesn’t feel like home anymore. It’s an empty shell of a house that I used to live in. The only thing that was alive here were the people, and they’re gone.”

He kissed her lips as She’s Everything started playing on the radio. “I believe this is your song.”

She smiled and let him sway her to the music. She rested her head on his shoulder.

“It almost feels like our song.” Trevor chuckled.

Arianna glanced up at him. “I’ve never had a song with anyone before. I think Scott and I joked about it once, but beyond that never.”

Trevor laughed. “Funny story. I was dating this girl when I was seventeen and she swore up and down that our song was I Do Cherish You, by 98 Degrees. I hated the song and my brothers teased me mercilessly every time it came on the radio. It was the worst three months of my life. To this day I wonder what made me stay with her as long as I did.”

“The sex was good?” Arianna winked.

Trevor shook his head. “We never went there.”

“Really? A late bloomer?”

“I didn’t say I hadn’t been there. I said, I didn’t go there with her.”

“How old?”

“Sixteen.”

“Still later than me. I was fourteen. Looking for love in all the wrong places.” The song ended and Arianna stepped out of his arms.

“It sounds as if you may have had it with Scott.”

“I’ll never know.” Arianna sighed and sat down on a closed box.

“How long before you started dating again?”

“Med school. In high school and early college, the idea of bringing someone home to Scott’s parent’s home was weird. They had to assure me that it was all right and that I should be dating before I brought anyone back here. It was hard though. I had a young daughter and when men find out you had a baby at fifteen they tend to be there for one thing.”

“Not all men.”

“I should say boys. I’ve dated off and on, but nothing super serious because no one’s ever wanted to take on the responsibility of Mina.”

“You’re a packaged deal, darling. It’s not like you’re going to give her up just to be with a man.”

“That’s exactly right, but most people don’t see it that way.”

“I guess you’re right. I could have walked away when I found out about your daughter, but then I never would have gotten to know you better and I think that’s worth the daughter any day.”

Arianna laughed and shook her head. “Well this conversation has turned heady fast. Did you get to see your friend?”

Trevor pulled out his phone and showed it to her.

“Can’t make it, my daughter’s having her baby,” Arianna read. “I guess that does put a damper on the whole getting together with an old friend.”

“He texted right before we got here. She had a baby boy, ten pounds five ounces and twenty-one inches long. He wants me to come over there and see him.”

“That could be fun. If you don’t mind introducing me to your friend. We are still hiding our relationship and all.” Arianna winked.

“Only with my overbearing, over the top family. Friends are another story all together. Especially the ones with no ties to my crazy family.” Trevor laughed.

“Good. I’ll take these last two boxes out to the truck and we’ll get going.” She stooped to pick up the boxes.

He stopped her. “It’s been two weeks since you’ve seen me. I’m off the cane and doing a lot better. I think I can handle these.”

“You take one and I’ll take the other. The last thing I want is to set you back.”

“All right.” Trevor hefted one of the boxes. “Let’s get going.”

*****

Trevor tapped lightly on the door of the hospital room.

Three faces looked over at him.

His friend smiled, stood, and walked over to him. “Good to see you.” His voice was hushed. He glanced at Arianna.

“This is my girlfriend, Arianna Halsey. Ari, this is Neil Hudson. We served together.”

“Nice to meet you.” She shook Neil’s hand.

Neil led them into the room. “This is my wife Penny, my daughter Susan, and that little sleeping bundle of joy over there is named after me.” He grinned from ear to ear.

Arianna’s brow puckered as she looked at Susan. “How long has it been since he was born?”

“About two hours.” Penny brushed her daughter’s hair back from her face.

“She looks awfully pale.” Arianna walked over to inspect her further. “Has the doctor been in?”

Penny and Neil exchanged glances.

Trevor smiled. “She’s an OB.”

Neil nodded. “The doctor was in about five minutes ago, but didn’t do much. Asked her how she was feeling and then left.”

“How’s your bleeding?” Arianna reached for the blanket and then pulled her hand away. “Sometimes, I forget I’m not every one’s doctor.”

“She’s already been through two pads.” Penny patted her daughter’s shoulder. “We told the doctor, but she didn’t seem concerned.”

Arianna pointed to the blanket. “Do you mind if I look?”

“Go ahead.” Her eyes drifted closed.

She grabbed the curtain pulling it around Susan, pushing the parents and Trevor to the other side. Hospitals were pretty much laid out the same way. She lifted the blankets to check, then scrambled into the drawers, flicked the nurse call button, and pressed a new paf to the peritoneal area. “Penny can you come here?”

Penny joined her with Neil and Trevor beside her.

Arianna covered Susan and shook her head.

“Is something wrong?” The lines in Neil’s forehead deepened.

“Yes, I think there might be.” Arianna nodded.

Penny pressed the nurse call button. “If that doctor screwed up and something happens—”

Arianna held up her hands. “Some women bleed more than others. I think she may be hemorrhaging, but I can’t make that call without a complete examination. But I don’t work here, so I can’t do that.”

The nurse stepped into the room. “Can I help you?”

“She’s awfully pale and her mother said she’s been through two pads already. I know you don’t know me, but I’m an OB, I used to work at the county hospital and I’m sure her parents would feel a lot better if you checked her out.”

The nurse looked at Susan and her eyes grew wide. “I’ll call the doctor stat and get some people in here.” She rushed out of the room.

Arianna looked at Penny. “Keep the baby. Your daughter may need surgery.”

Penny’s lower lip trembled as she took the baby from her daughter’s arms. “Thank you.”

“We’re going to get out of here, so they can do their job.” Arianna motioned for Trevor to follow her.

“No! Please, will you stick around and make sure they’re doing what you think?” Penny bit her bottom lip, while clutching her daughter’s hand.

Arianna put her hand on Penny’s shoulder. “You’re in good hands now. Sometimes when you’re making rounds you can miss things. If you have any trouble though, call Trevor and I’ll come back.”

Trevor shook Neil’s hand and then they headed out of the room as the nurses were rushing inside.

“Did you want to stick around?” Trevor took Arianna’s hand as they were walking out of the maternity ward.

“Only if you want too. I think they’re in good hands.”

“I don’t see how doctors don’t catch things like that. I noticed she was pale right away.” Trevor let out a sigh.

“Some don’t care. There are some OB’s that only care about their patients through delivery and then let them fall through the cracks after the baby is born. She’s also young. There are doctors out there who still see teenage pregnancy as something that should be dealt with through abortion rather than full term delivery.”

“Of course, I’ve dealt with enough triage situations to know there may have been a more pressing issue somewhere else.” Trevor shook his head. “I can’t image telling a teenager to have an abortion. I’ve seen the destruction of strong grown women who’ve gone through that. A child who doesn’t have the same reasoning capabilities? I couldn’t in good faith suggest that.”

“I will let them know all their options. Will I ever tell them that’s the course they should take? No. Although, I can’t judge if they do decide to take that route.” Arianna shrugged. “I was told by three different doctors I should have an abortion. Honestly, if Scott’s parent’s hadn’t taken me in, I may have done just that. I wouldn’t have had much of a choice.”

“Life doesn’t play by our schedule does it?”

Arianna let out a sigh. “Nope. I love my daughter and I’d never give her up for the world, but at the time, I do have to admit I thought about it.” She stopped.

He stopped too. “What?”

“Does that make you think less of me?”

“If I thought less of you, I’d have to think less of myself.”

Arianna raised her eyebrow.

“I never got a girl pregnant, but I’ve performed my share of abortions in the military.”

“I guess that would be expected, especially if the female wanted to stay in the military.” Arianna nodded.

“Some don’t have a problem dealing with the aftermath. Other’s it rips them up so much they end up leaving anyway.” Trevor’s phone chimed, he pulled it out of his pocket, and clicked the message. “Neil said she was hemorrhaging and to tell you thank you. You may have saved their daughter’s life.”

“Tell him he’s welcome.”

Trevor took her hand and glanced at the clock. “It’s about time to get Mina, isn’t it? Our flight leaves in three hours.”

Arianna looked at the time. “Yep, her workshop ends half an hour.”

“Lead the way.” Trevor smiled as he motioned for Arianna to go ahead of him.

Trevor sent a text to his friend. We have a plane to catch.

I owe you big time, well, Arianna. Have fun and if I hear of you ever hurting that woman, I’ll track you down. Neil replied.

Trevor laughed.

“What?” Arianna glanced at his phone.

“Neil said he’d kill me if I ever hurt you.”

Arianna laughed. “Good to know.”

*****

Trevor tracked Arianna into the large brick room that housed the pool.

Mina walked up to them and scowled. “Are you stalking my mom?”

“Should I be? She is pretty.” Trevor grinned.

“We’re in different rows on the plane right?” Mina’s eyes narrowed.

“I thought, I’d sit on your Mom’s lap all the way back to Indy. And then when we get there, she can ride on my lap in the truck.” He put his arm around Arianna. “I’ll kiss her a lot too and do everything I can to make sure everyone knows you’re with us.”