Chapter 26

Genevieve

I wakeup with my right hand being gripped tightly and loud beeping coming from somewhere close by. I blink a few times at the bright light and look to my right to see Barrett sitting in a chair beside me with his head down on my bed. His eyes are closed, but I can see the dark circles under them telling me that he hasn’t slept much recently.
I see the monitor next to me and realize that’s the source of the beeping. There are two threads going, and one is much faster than what I think my normal heartbeat should be. When I see the words at the bottom, a lump rises in my throat: Fetal rate. It’s then I notice that one of Barrett’s hands is resting on my belly in a protective hold. Even in his sleep he keeps me from danger.
Using my free hand, I run my fingers through his hair and I smile as he leans into my touch. He’s so handsome when he sleeps. He’s so big and strong when he’s awake and looking after me, but right now he almost has a boyish quality to him. I don’t get to watch him like this often, so I’m going to soak it in before I wake him up.
I remember coming to the hospital after the accident but not much else. They gave me something to help me sleep, but Barrett must have told them about the baby since I have the monitor. I haven’t taken a test, but all our suspicions have been confirmed. Our baby is growing inside me and though we’ve just gone through something horrific, I’ve never felt happier in my life. We are beginning our family, and Barrett is here with me. I know nothing can ever touch us as long as he is near.
The door opens silently, and Gabi slips inside. I put my finger to my lips and she nods as she walks over and kisses me on the cheek.
“You okay?” she whispers, and I nod. “I think you can be discharged in a couple of hours. They wanted to monitor you to make sure you didn’t have a concussion. Your ankle is sprained but it’s not broken.”
“How’s Steph?” I remember she had a lot of blood on her, but I didn’t know if it was hers or Mark’s.
“She’s okay. She had a pretty bad gash on her arm, but they stitched her up and sent her home. She’s with Lynn right now. I just got off the phone with her and she sounds good. John and the kids are on the way here. He didn’t want her to travel back alone.”
I didn’t know I was so worried until I feel overwhelming relief that she’s okay. I don’t want to ask about Mark, but Gabi can already read my mind.
“He’s dead,” she says, her voice solemn. It’s not like any of us regret it, but the whole situation is awful. “I was listening outside the room when the cops were interviewing Steph. She said she was wrestling Mark for the knife and when they fell it went into his heart.”
I shake my head thinking how happy I am it wasn’t Steph who fell on it. We were so lucky. Mark has been a plague on her since high school. I can’t imagine what she went through, but now it’s all over. And we can finally put this behind us.
“Where’s Neal?”
“He’s getting me something from the vending machine. I wanted to make sure you were okay and they were going to let you go home before I left.”
She leans down and kisses my cheek one more time just as the door opens and her husband walks in.
Barrett stirs and then opens his eyes. They’re still heavy with sleep, and I run my hand down his face and jaw as he wakes up. I say goodbye to Gabi and Neal as Barrett sits up and smiles at me.
“Lady, you scared the hell out of me,” he says, his voice hoarse.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, and he moves closer, pressing his forehead to mine.
“Don’t be sorry. Just tell me that everything is going to be okay.”
“Everything is going to be okay,” I promise. We kiss softly. “We’re going to have a baby.”
“I know,” he says, rubbing my belly with his big hand. “I heard your sister catching you up on everything.”
“You were listening?”
“Of course,” he says. He doesn’t even apologize.
“I’m just ready to go home. I want to be in my own bed.”
“Me too,” he says, kissing my hand and looking up at me. “There’s just one thing she didn’t tell you.”
“What?” I ask, worry building inside me.
“Our parents are on the way.”
“Which ones?” I groan, knowing if it’s my mom she’s going to be so worried.
“Both. Yours and mine. Get ready, Genevieve. They’re going to smother us with love and worry.”
“I guess there could be worse things.” The wedding is still a couple of weeks away, but I’m sure that won’t matter to anyone. Heck, I can even see Barrett wanting to move it up now that everyone will be home.
“I’m so glad you’re safe. And I promise to never let anything like that happen to you again. Steph told me you stepped in front of her and…” He gets a little choked up and clears his throat. “You’ll never know what it means to me that you protected my family when I couldn’t be there.” He caresses my belly again. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met, and I love you so damn much.”
“I love you, too,” I say as I pull his face close and kiss him. I can feel his need for me just below the surface and I know the second we’re home he’s going to strip me bare and possess my body in every way possible.
I ache for him to connect us. All this stress about Mark has weighed so heavily on us. Now that we are free of everything all I want to do is spend the rest of my life loving him.
He wraps his arms around me, and just as I deepen the kiss the door flies open and both sets of parents come crowding in. I laugh as all four of them start talking over each other, asking if we’re okay and what happened, and then someone shouts about babies.
I can’t help but giggle at the commotion, and I pull Barrett against me and close my eyes. I say a little prayer of thanks to whoever it is that watched over me and my baby. I won’t take a second of my life for granted.