Page 71 of CHASE: Captive to the Dark

“What about activities? Should she not do anything in particular? I wanted to take Kit to a few stores when we left here. Should she not be walking around so much?”

I tried not to smile at Chase’s concern, but I was curious, too. I didn’t know much about babies or pregnancy and I hadn’t thought to ask. It never crossed my mind.

“Walking should be fine unless there are complications. Staying active does well with most expecting mothers. As long as she’s not pushed out of her comfort zone, I think she’ll be okay. If she’s doing a lot of walking outside, make sure she’s careful of icy areas or anything that may cause a hazard to her balance. Falls can be common in the winter months. It’s best to be cautious.”

“Thank you,” Chase said, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and following the doctor out. As we headed back to the receptionist, I couldn’t stop the joy I felt. Although I was afraid about the pregnancy, excitement was quickly taking over. The tug on my heart every time Chase showed how much he cared was changing me. It was changing my mind on what I’d decided. Home wasn’t as appealing as before.

“Kathleen Walker,” the woman said quietly, messing with the computer. “Your next appointment will be in four weeks. Would you like morning or afternoon?”

“Four weeks? I…I’m not sure I’ll be here then.”

The brunette looked between me and Chase.

“Let’s make it just in case. It’s better to have one than to try to get one at the last minute.” He gave my shoulder a squeeze and I felt myself nod. Roots. He was starting to find ways to make me put them down. First with him wanting to measure my stomach this morning, now with a returning appointment weeks away. I lived for stability. For routine. He’d done the measuring first, but now I’d have to continue because even though I didn’t come up with the idea, I’d be curious to know the progression. And each time I checked, it would remind me of him. Just like sandwiches, churches, sex, floggers, mountains, snow, doctors, guns…darkness. I was doomed not to think of him at every waking moment. Not like I didn’t already. I had just been hoping life would become easier once I left.

The woman handed me a card. I placed it in my purse and let Chase lead me out. Once again, his eyes roamed, scanning everything around us. His arm was wrapped around my shoulder and we kept a swift pace until we made it back to his SUV where Palo and Weston were waiting.

“How are things looking?”

I climbed in the passenger side, looking back at Palo. “Everything’s great. We heard the heartbeat.”

“I’m going to be father. And a great one.” Chase smiled back at him, shutting me in. Within seconds, he joined us and pulled out of the parking lot. We didn’t make it a block before he parked in front of one of the stores on the main road.

“Time to get you some warmer clothes.”

We all got out of the car and Palo immediately took rank beside me. As we headed to the front of the car, Chase immediately moved in on my other side. The small boutique resting before us had clothing displayed in the windows and I looked over the wintery styles as we headed through the main door. A younger woman looked up from behind the counter, gasping as she glanced at us.

“Father, Palo, Weston,” she said excitedly.

“Bell,” they all said at the same time.

She rounded the white counter and brought her attention to me. “I don’t believe I’ve met your friend. Who’s this?”

Chase already had his hand on my lower back. He brought it up to my shoulder, moving in closer. “This is Kit. The soon-to-be mother of my child.”

“Oh...wow.” The woman’s mouth opened and she let out a small laugh. “Well, now, someone’s been busy. I…congratulations.” She leaned in, giving him a hug, and turned, moving to me. As she broke away, her hands came up, questioningly. “So, what happened? I mean, I know what happened, but are you still at the church?”

“No. It’s not my path anymore. I have a new journey ahead of me now.”

“You sure do,” she rushed out. “How exciting. When’s the baby due?”

“December seventh,” Chase beamed.

“My birthday,” she exclaimed. “How cool is that? Do y’all have any preference on a gender?”

I looked up at Chase. We hadn’t even talked about it.

“I’ll be happy with either,” he said, pulling me in to kiss the top of my head.

Shoulder length brown curls bounced while she nodded. Her lips parted to speak when explosions and breaking glass sounded around us. I was completely consumed by Chase as he wrapped himself around me, dropping us low and edging us around a rack of clothing. The gun was already in his hand, but I couldn’t process what exactly was going on with screams echoing in my ears.

The sounds of tires squealed, mixing with shots and cries.

“Palo!” Chase held my shoulder as he lifted enough to scan the store. A flash of movement on the opposite side revealed Palo dragging Weston’s body behind another rack. He was fumbling with something in his hand while using the other to apply pressure to the man’s back. I couldn’t stop the cry that left me.

“Dennis!” Palo yelled into his phone. “Weston’s down. Bell’s hit, too. Did you see him? Did—” He didn’t say anything else before he let the phone fall to the floor. I looked up, noticing Chase was already gone. He was back at my side with Bell before I could even grasp that he’d left.

“They’re gone,” he yelled over to Palo, ripping a shirt from the rack to apply pressure to the side of Bell’s neck. “What did Dennis say?”

---