Page 4 of Come For Me
Chapter Two
Olivia’s body continued to hum an hour later despite the fact that the only thing protecting her from the chill of the patient room in which she waited was a thin paper gown. She hadn’t lied to Dain; she did have a meeting, just not at work. With her doctor. She hadn’t wanted him to worry—when Dain worried, he drove her absolutely crazy. She was already worried enough for the both of them, and maybe a dozen more controlling husbands besides.
When the door to her room opened with a peremptory knock, her heart jumped into her throat.
“Morning, Olivia.”
“Maryann.” Olivia and Dr. Maryann Paton had graduated from Emory University together. They’d been friends before they became doctor and patient, and Maryann knew her well. When Maryann’s assessing gaze ran over Olivia, she couldn’t help shifting on the paper cover sticking to her thighs and butt.
“Nervous?”
Olivia tried to read into her friend’s tone but couldn’t. “Of course I am. I know something’s not right; otherwise I wouldn’t be here, for God’s sake.”
Maryann turned to set Olivia’s file on the small counter in the room, and Olivia swore she saw a smile tugging at her friend’s lips. That was good, right? She couldn’t be dying of cancer or something if her friend was smiling.
The tension in her muscles doubled as Maryann turned to face her. Her friend chuckled when their eyes met. “Relax, girlfriend. I’ve got you.”
Olivia tried, she really did, but until she knew what was going on… Her mind sought the memory of this morning, of Dain’s strong arms supporting her, holding her close. She pulled that strength around her now, wishing contrarily that she’d told him about this meeting and had him here in the room with her for real. “Would you please just get on with it before I shake out of my skin?”
Maryann sat on the tiny wheeled stool and slid it close to Olivia, placing a chilly hand on her bare knee. “Okay, ready?”
Olivia searched Maryann’s intent eyes. “Yes.”
A sharp nod, then, “You’re pregnant.”
Olivia sucked in air so fast she choked on it. “What?”
The word was more strangled sound than an actual question, but Maryann got the gist of the meaning. “You’re pregnant!” She shouted the words this time, standing quickly and throwing her arms around Olivia’s shoulders. “It finally happened, my friend! You’re going to have a baby.”
“But… What…” Olivia searched her brain, but only jumbles of questions and emotions surfaced. “How…?”
Maryann quirked an eyebrow up. “With that stud of a husband, do you really have to ask how this happened?”
That did draw a smile, however small—Dain was a stud, no doubt about it, and fertile enough to impregnate a woman at fifty paces. Just nother. “I thought…”
Maryann shrugged. “I thought so too. All the tests certainly indicated that this was unlikely. But if I’ve learned anything in this practice, it’s that miracles happen.” She paused, staring deep into Livie’s eyes. “Are you okay with this? What about Dain?”
“Oh, Dain will be ecstatic.” They’d wanted a child since they married ten years ago, but after years of trying and testing and the strain of treatments, they’d given up. They had each other, Dain had told her. That was enough. And so they’d built their life around each other and no additions except Dain’s team. He treated the men and women he worked with like family, sort of a replacement for the children they couldn’t share. Some small part of her had never been able to give up the dream, though, even when science and common sense told her it was impossible. And now…
Good God.
“Maryann, what about… I mean, I’m too old for this, aren’t I?”
“You’re only thirty-nine, Olivia. Women are having children later and later. We’ll keep a close eye on you, but there’s nothing to indicate that you can’t carry and deliver this baby just fine. Your hormone levels are perfect. I’ll be doing some extra blood work to make sure it stays that way, be sure you’re progressing like you should. Get you started on prenatal vitamins. But”—she waved a hand toward Olivia’s file on the counter—“you couldn’t be more textbook at the moment. Olivia…” Maryann hugged her again, her tight clasp somehow reassuring Olivia in a way nothing else could. “You’re doing this. You’re going to be fine, and so will this baby.” She leaned back, a huge grin on her face. “Dain is gonna freak.”
“You know he will.” And finally, thinking about her husband’s reaction, a real, full smile took over her lips. “He really will.” She shook her head. “I’m having a baby.”
“You are.”
And then Olivia was on her feet, paper gown floating around her as she and Maryann shared a total girlie moment of hopping around the room clutching at each other and squealing out their joy.
She was still riding the high when she arrived at the office a little while later. All the way up to the fourth floor, she considered ways to tell Dain her news. She’d given up having a moment like this years ago; surely there was a way to make it special. But it had to be tonight. She’d never keep a secret from Dain longer than a few hours—he knew her too well, not to mention he was in the business of secrets. Working at JCL Security, he handled client safety, investigated cases, did security reviews—the man knew his stuff, and he certainly read her well enough to know when his wife wasn’t telling him something. She’d almost told him this morning in the shower, when she’d flinched from his touch. Her breasts had become so sensitive; she just hadn’t made a connection between the sensation and pregnancy, not when she’d thought it was an impossibility for her. Overactive hormones, maybe, or something else, like cancer or some kind of disease, yes. Never pregnancy.
Her hand fluttered down to her still-flat belly as the elevator doors slid open. No, definitely not pregnancy, but oh God, how fantastic was this little miracle?
She stepped out of the elevator when it arrived at the top floor. Would their baby take after her or Dain? Her husband was exotic, half-Caucasian, half-African American, a beautiful blend with his dark bronze skin and near-black hair and eyes. He had sharp features that only added to the intimidation of his thick muscles and the Mohawk that curved along his head. Would a son look like him? What about a daughter? Olivia’s grandmother had migrated from Ireland, passing down her Irish looks to each generation. Would Olivia do the same? Or would their child blend the two cultures somehow? As she pushed open one of the glass doors leading into Georgia Financial, the possibilities whirled in her head. Could she wait till tonight to talk to Dain? Maybe she could call and see if he was busy for lunch.
She didn’t notice the quiet until she was well into the office. Usually an hour into the workday the place was bustling; despite what people thought about accountants, her team was a lively bunch. But silence met her as she entered. Rosie’s desk, right up front, stood empty, and beyond the half wall that separated the receptionist from what they’d dubbed “cubicle land,” nothing moved. No Felicia charging back and forth between desks. No Stan popping up to yell questions across the room. No…anyone.
