Page 25 of Cayden

“You told your mother.”

He stiffened at the accusing note in her voice.

“I did, yes. She wanted to know what is going on and I told her. For your information, it will become obvious soon enough.”

“I wanted to wait…”

“Until what. Exactly?”

“Until I am safe enough. Until I know what is happening.”

“You mean until you know if you are carrying multiples.” It still pissed him off that she could not or would see the danger she had unnecessarily put herself in.

“Yes.”

“I am sorry if that offended you, but it’s done. I will see you tomorrow. Would you like me to pick you up?”

“No. I will meet you there.”

“Alright then, goodbye.” He hung up before he could say something to drive them further apart. If that was at all possible at this point. He did not want to take a turn into the driveway. The last thing he wanted was to go upstairs to his suite, to the scent of her perfume and look at her stuff.

He had become that person. A man who could not survive or function without his woman and it was officially pissing him off. He was also upset that she had not cleared with him before deciding to spend the night at her dad’s place.

As if saying it to him would have him objecting. They were husband and wife for God’s sake and spending nights away from each other was unacceptable. But so was freezing each other out and behaving like complete strangers.

He sat there for a moment, running his hands through his hair, the weight of their strained relationship pressing down on him. The car felt like a sanctuary, a place of temporary escape from the escalating tension that had woven itself into every conversation they had.

He had trouble remembering the last time they had spoken without an underlying current of frustration or misunderstanding.

The house loomed before him, dark and silent, an uninviting fortress. He knew he had to go inside eventually, but the thought of facing the emptiness was almost unbearable.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the car and made his way to the door, each step heavy with dread. Fortunately, he did not encounter any of his family. He knew his parents were out for the evening as well as his brothers. He declined the offer from the maid, who offered to take him up a tray.

He trudged upstairs to their suite, avoiding looking too closely at the pictures on the walls or the knick-knacks on the shelves. It was only when he reached the sanctuary of their bedroomthat he allowed himself to collapse onto the bed, exhaustion and sorrow washing over him.

Yet, even as he tried to convince himself of this, a small, nagging doubt gnawed at the edges of his resolve. What if this was the first stage of failure? What if the love they once shared was irreparably broken?

These questions haunted him as he lay there, the silence of the room pressing in on him, amplifying his fear. Hissing out a breath, he rose and went into the bathroom.

Chapter 7

They both stared at the doctor in something akin to shock as he imparted the news, but Cayden was the first to recover.

“Quadruplets. As in four babies? Is that what you just said?”

“Yes.” Dr. Melbourne looked back at Blair, his expression a little guarded. “We will be carefully monitoring…”

“No. No.” Cayden lunged to his feet, his face a mask of fury. “We are not skipping past this. My wife is not equipped to carry four babies, and you damn well know it. David, let’s talk about the incredible risks, shall we? Tell us right now, what we are up against and I don’t want it sugar coated.”

“Cayden…”

“No!” He repeated, turning to spear her with angry green eyes. “You wanted this. You fought for it, went behind my back to do it. Now we are going to hear the consequences.” He looked back at the doctor who had moved away from the monitor. “Well?”

“I… It’s a risk as we discussed before,” he intoned reluctantly. “As with every pregnancy…,” he paused as Cayden snorted. “The risk is increased four times.”

“You are playing around with words,” Cayden snapped.

“I am doing my best to ease the fear you have created for your wife.” The doctor responded tightly. “Look, I know you’re scared…”

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