Page 35 of Tore Up

“Hello, Margo. It’s Grissele Cash.” She paused, then gave me a reassuring smile. “Yes. I need a prenatal appointment for a new patient with Connie, please. Immediately.” She lifted her eyes to me. “Fourteen weeks along?” she asked.

I nodded. “That’s what Dr. Hurl said.”

How was she calling a doctor’s office on a Sunday?

“Fourteen weeks. Tomorrow at ten is perfect. She’s family. Halo Talley. Thank you.” She ended the call and smiled at me. “Connie Stella is the best. She’s delivered so many babies in this family. She delivered Crosby. She had only been in practice two years. Her dad had delivered Bane. You’ll love her.”

She’d just heard me tell her that I didn’t have insurance. This doctor didn’t sound like someone who was going to take Medicaid. They were limited and not normally a place that this woman would think was good enough. But then what did I know? I was assuming.

“I don’t have Medicaid yet,” I said, not sure how else to say it without sounding ungrateful.

She gave me a pointed look. “Halo, this baby is my grandchild. We will handle all medical costs. I want you and the baby to have the best care available. Connie is that.”

I had never known families like this. Sure, I’d watched similar ones from afar, but not to this extent. Where money was never an issue. Where I’d gone to school, the wealthiest kids were middle class. Anyone higher than that went to private schools.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. But I should be the one thanking you.”

A doctor’s appointment, lunch, and now five shopping bags later, I followed Grissele’s driver, who was carrying all my bags of things. I’d tried to tell her I didn’t need help to get up to the door of Bane’s house.

The images from the ultrasound were tucked away safely in my new purse, which I wished I’d never seen the price tag on. I was going to be scared to carry the thing around in public.

When Grissele had noticed my anxiety over costs, she’d stopped letting me see the price of things. Like the skirt and blouse I was currently wearing with my new bra—because Bane was right; my bra had gotten too small. Dr. Stella had informed me it was from pregnancy and completely normal.

The driver, Ledbetter, rang the doorbell.

“Thanks for carrying all that for me,” I told him.

He gave me a nod. “Of course, ma’am.”

I wasn’t a ma’am, but I let it go. He was real formal about things. He was also very large. As in tall, muscular, and broad. He reminded me of a bouncer at a club instead of a driver for a rich lady.

The door swung open. Than looked from Ledbetter with my bags to me, and then his eyes widened in surprise before a smile spread across his face.

“Grissele got ahold of you, I see,” he said, then reached forthe bags. “Thanks, Led,” he said to the driver. “Come on in, Hollywood.”

I grimaced. “Is it that bad?”

Than closed the door and gave me a once-over. “You look good.”

I felt like a little girl, playing dress-up.

Voices and music filtered from somewhere in the house. I looked toward where the sound was coming from.

“I’ll introduce you to everyone, then take these upstairs for you,” Than said.

Everyone? Who was everyone?

“Maybe I should go upstairs,” I suggested.

He frowned. “No. It’s time you met the rest of the guys.”

Bane stepped out into the hallway, blocking our path up ahead. He didn’t even notice the bags. His gaze went past Than to me. “Halo,” he said. “Come with me.”

Than let out a sigh. “Now?” he asked.

Bane lifted his brows slightly. “Unless you want to take that up with Linc?”

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