Baby Daddy (28 page)

I could hear the sounds of sirens getting closer and with a quick glance back at
the other bodies on the floor, I ran to the front door to let the firefighters and paramedics in.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

I jumped in the back of the last ambulance after they had loaded everyone.  Liberty was, once again, strapped to the cot
with a paramedic leaning over her, taking her vitals.

“Will she be okay?” I asked.

The paramedic glanced over at me.  “We won’t know for sure until it wears off.  Luckily, since she ingested it in a drink, it will have been diluted and shouldn’t have any lasting effects.”

I sat on the bench on the side of the ambulance and was trembling so violently I had to grip the edges to keep from sliding to the floor.  Now that it was all over, I felt myself falling apart and started sobbing uncontrollably.  The paramedic looked at m
e again, but there was nothing he could really do, and Liberty needed him more.

The ambulances screamed through the quiet night stree
ts, finally screeching to a halt in front of the emergency room of a large hospital.  I scrambled out and watched as they wheeled everyone in.  Once inside, I was detained at the registration desk, trying not to cry as I gave them all the information I knew about the patients…which, as it turned out, wasn’t much.  I knew some of their birthdays, but I was so rattled, I could barely remember mine.

Finally, I was able to go back to where they were being treated.  I was pleased to note that the
police were walking alongside of Terry’s gurney as they wheeled him into the operating room.

They made sure Harlan, Christopher and my brothers and sisters were stable, then moved them into three rooms.  I kept flitting from room to room, checking their progress until they transitioned from the wide-eyed coma state to sleeping off the lingering effects of the drug.  The doctor assured me this was natural and a very good sign.

“Why don’t you go home and get some sleep,” he suggested.  “Unless you want me to check you in.  You look worse than they do.”

I
knew I was on the ragged edge of a nervous breakdown.  I probably looked like shit, and I felt worse.  But I didn’t want to leave.  “I need to be here when they wake up.”

“They’ll probably sleep the rest of the night.
  There’s nothing you can do for them.”

I pretended to leave, but sneaked back into Liberty and Tulsa’s room.  I wanted to be with Christopher, but I suspected that seeing me when he woke up wouldn’t help his recovery.  I curled up in a chair between their beds and tried to sleep.

“Killeen,” a croaky voice woke me.

I looked up, disoriented for a few seconds, then saw that Tulsa was awake.  I hurried to her bed. 
“How are you feeling?”

“Like I got run over by a
semi,” she answered, her voice so low I had to lean closer.  “How is everyone else?”

“I haven’t checked this morning, but the doctor said they would be okay.”

Tulsa weakly moved her hand, calling me closer.  “I wanted to tell you that I know what you’re going through.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, totally confused.

“The baby.  I got pregnant when I was fifteen,” she whispered and her eyes filled with tears.

Tulsa crying?  I was shocked.

“Long story…,” she said, cutting me off before I could ask.  “I gave it up for adoption.”  She sniffled and seemed embarrassed that I had witnessed her moment of weakness.  “They were so happy…the couple, I mean.  They had been married for fifteen years and couldn’t have children.  They said he was a gift from God.”  She turned her head away.

I felt helpless.  I had no idea how to comfort her.  That had happened about six years ago, and it still affected her this much.  I wanted to hear the whole story, but I could tell she was
n’t ready to tell it.  I reached out and squeezed her shoulder.  In a surprising move she sat up and hugged me.  Her tears soaked through my blouse and I could feel my own tears falling onto her black and purple hair.  We hugged and cried and bonded for a couple of minutes before she pulled away.

“That never happened,” she said, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. 
Without all that black eyeliner and black lipstick, she looked younger and more vulnerable.  I realized then that the harshness of her looks was one of her defenses.

“It’s yo
ur secret.  I won’t tell anyone,” I assured her.

“Thanks.”

I heard Liberty move in the next bed, and I looked over just as she opened her eyes.  I rushed over to her.

“Hanging out with you guys is dangerous,” she managed to mumble.  “Don’t call my mom.”

“I won’t,” I added another promise to my list.

The doctor came into the room right then
, and I took advantage of his visit to go check on the boys.

Reno and Dallas were already sitting up and had breakfast trays on their tables.  They still looked a little groggy, but they said the doctor
had given them an all clear.  Never willing to pass up a meal, they were planning on checking out as soon as they finished eating.

“Would you call Anthony and see if he could come pick us up in about an hour?” Dallas asked.

“Sure thing,” I told them, then went down the hall to Harlan and Christopher’s room.  I paused outside their door.  I could hear them both talking, so I knew they must be alright.  I sighed and leaned against the wall.  Everyone was going to be okay.  It was time for me to go.

I
backtracked down the hallway to the elevator and went to the ground floor lobby.  The heavy glass doors slid open with a woosh, and I walked outside.  A taxi had just pulled up, so I waited until the passenger got out, then I flagged him down and got in.  I didn’t even have my purse with me, but I figured he would know I was good for it once he saw the mansion.

He kept looking back at me in his rearview mirror, but he didn’t say anything.  We pulled under the portico
, stopped and he waited as I ran inside to get some money.  He smiled at my generous tip and drove away.

I went inside again and saw that a cleaning crew was hard at work returning the kitchen back to normal.  John saw me, ran forward and gave me a spontaneous hug.

“You’re a hero!” he exclaimed.

“Not so much.”  I didn’t really want to talk about it.

“Why don’t you go take a long, hot bath?  I’ll have your breakfast ready when you come down.”

“Thanks, John.  But I’m not staying.
”

“Oh, you’re going back to the hospital?”

“No, I’m going back to Arizona.”  I had realized in the hospital that I wouldn’t be able to tell my siblings goodbye face-to-face.  I would call them once I was on the road and explain my decision.  They would understand…I hoped.  “Would you call Anthony and ask him to pick everyone else up at the hospital?” I asked him.  “I don’t know what happened to my phone after I talked to the cops last night.”

He looked at me with surprise.   “Of course I will, but…”

I didn’t wait to hear the rest as I ran down the hall and up the stairs to my room.  I did take his advice on the long, hot bath.  I had planned to make it quick, but it felt so good, I relaxed in the soothing water and soaked out some of the soreness from sleeping crooked in the chair.

I felt a little better as I blow-dried my hair, dressed in a pair of shorts and a t
ank-top, then packed all my cosmetics into my suitcase.  Sadly, I said goodbye to John, Paul, George and Ringo, lingering a little longer at Paul’s photo because he was my favorite.  It was a beautiful room and so comfortable.  Maybe I could stay here when I came back for a visit at Thanksgiving or Christmas.

I stepped into my flip-flops and zipped
my suitcase closed.  I looped my backpack over one shoulder, pulled my suitcase off the bed and carried it downstairs.  I didn’t see John or Gerald and didn’t take time to find them to say goodbye.  I could do that later, too.

I went into the garage and loaded my things into the Mini.  I noticed the key fob for Scandals still attached to my key ring.  Damn, I should have left it in the house.  Christopher was so concerned about me losing it.  I thought about it a moment longer, then shook my head.  I’d mail it back to him or bring it with me at Thanksgiving.  He didn’t trust me anyway
, so what the heck?

I backed the Mini out and shut the garage door with my mansion key fob.  At least once I was gone, my key ring would be a lot
lighter.  I pulled into the drive and headed toward the gates.  I was almost there when the gates opened and a yellow cab zipped in and slammed to a stop, blocking my path.

The back door swung open and a very upset
Christopher climbed out.  He stalked toward me.  His knuckles rapped so hard on the glass that I thought he was going to break it.  Reluctantly, I rolled down my window.

“Could you ask the taxi to move please?” I asked, as politely as I coul
d.  I was too exhausted to hear any more accusations.

He grabbed
the handle and jerked the door open.  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he demanded.

I held my hands out in surrender.  “I’m leaving.
”

He reached in, unbuckled the seatbelt and practically pulled me out of the car.

Okay, now I was getting pissed.  I stood straight and tall and looked him in eyes.  “Is there really anything else we need to discuss?” I asked, struggling to keep my cool.

“I think there is.”

My eyes narrowed. I glanced over at the taxi that was backing out of the driveway.  No one else had gotten out.  Apparently, Christopher had felt it so important to confront me one more time that he hadn’t waited for Anthony. “How did you…?  John called you, didn’t he?”

“Yes, and I’m glad he did.”

“Why? You were right…it was all a big mistake.  We can’t work together, and you belong at the agency.  I don’t.”  I shrugged.  “So, I’m giving up my share of Scandals.  That’s more for you.”

He grabbed me by the shoulders, gently but firmly. 
“You can’t leave.”

“Of course I can,” I forced myself to sound strong and confident when I was actually a quivering mass of despair inside.  “Watch me.”
  I bent down to get back into my car.

“Killeen, please don’t.”

The utter misery in his tone stopped me cold.

“Why should I stay?”

“Other than all the obvious reasons like you’re Roger’s daughter, this is your inheritance and you have a family that loves you…you and I need to figure this out.”

“There’s nothing to figure out.  I’m pregnant. 
You’re not the baby daddy.  You don’t need that kind of baggage.”  I sighed and straightened. Even though he was still wearing the same clothes from last night, rumpled, splattered with blood and reeking like alcohol, he was the most gorgeous man I had ever seen.  He had everything going for him, looks, money, honor, integrity and a thriving business.

His gaze didn’t waver.  “
I have a lot going on right now, and I’ll admit that I wasn’t expecting to take on the responsibilities of a family so soon.  To be honest, I’ve been a little bit in love with you for years.  You were…you
are
my dream woman.  No one else measured up to the myth.  Now that I’ve actually met you, I can’t imagine my life without you.”

My voice was little more than a whisper as I said, “You deserve
so much more.”

“
This last week has been hell.  I was miserable not being around you.  I got absolutely nothing done.  I like being with you.  You make me happy.  You’re strong and brave and amazing.  You make me laugh and cry.  You challenge me and keep me on my toes.  Killeen, I want you.”  He shook his head.  “No, it’s more than that…I
need
you.”

I wasn’t sure that would be enough. 
“You went through a traumatic event last night.  I think you’re not thinking clearly.”

“I
’ve never been more lucid.  I saw you last night…when I was lying helpless on the floor.  I wanted to tell you to run…to save yourself.  I thought we were goners, but I wanted you and the baby to live.”

“I couldn’t just leave you…”

“You came to help me first.  Not your brothers or sisters…but me.  You risked everything.”  His hands moved from my shoulders to cup my face.  He stepped closer until we were only inches apart.  “You have no idea how much it hurt me not to be able to protect you, not to crush that maggot under my shoe and to make sure he didn’t lay his slimy hands on you.  I realized that I’ve never cared about anyone like I care about you.”

I had never felt so confused.  It tore at my heart to hear him tell me how much he wanted and needed me because that was exactly how I felt about him.  But I was so afraid he was just being the honorable gentleman I had always known he was.  “Christopher, I don’t think you realize everything that’s going to happen in the next few months.  Shit, I don’t even know…and I’m scared to death I’m going to make the wrong decision.”

He grimaced and looked ashamed.  “I’ve been such an ass.  Please forgive me and let me have a second chance.  The decision about the baby is all yours…and it’s a big one.  I won’t try to influence you, because it’s your body and your choice.  But I will be with you all the way.  I’ll support whatever you decide.  If you want to keep it, I’ll be its father in every way possible.  If you want to give it up, I’ll hold your hand through the delivery and help you let it go.  And if you want to end it now, then I’ll be with you every step of the way.  Just let me love you.”