Cowboy Town (18 page)

“Darlin’, you just go and sit down.  I’ll get you some gear.”  Jackson pulls me into a hug and I melt against him.  He just calms me in a way I can’t explain.  I can’t deny it either.  Kissing my forehead, he releases me and I collapse on the lounge while he packs a bag for me.

My phone ringing wakes me.  Yesterday after Jackson packed my bags he drove us to his place and after I’d had a long, hot, relaxing bath we snuggled on the lounge watching movies until I fell into an exhausted sleep in his arms.  Sometime during the night he must have moved me to the bed because that’s where I am now

“Hello,” I croak.  Noticing a cup of water beside the bed, I take a quick sip and then repeat my greeting.

“Hello, would Miss Eden Cross be available?”  A man’s voice asks.

“Speaking.”

“Good morning Miss Cross, Doctor Tobin from Darwin Memorial Hospital calling.  I have the results of the blood work you had done yesterday.”

“Oh, okay,” I say hesitantly.

“Congratulations, Miss Cross, you’re pregnant,” he announces.

“Um, wow.”  I fall silent because I don’t know what else to say or what to do.  I thought it was negative.  The test yesterday said negative.

“From your reaction, Miss Cross, I take it this pregnancy wasn’t planned?”

“Ah, no not really,”

“Well, there are many options that we can discuss,”

“Options?”

“Yes, because you are only early into your pregnancy abortion is still an option, otherwise there is adoption.”

“Oh no!  I could never consider abortion.  I will be keeping the baby – it’s just this positive result after yesterday’s negative result has shocked me.  I don’t want to get too excited or anything just in case this is a false result as well,” I hastily explain.

“I can assure you that the blood test is one hundred per cent accurate.  The reason for false positive, or as in your case false negative, results in the urine testing is based on the levels of the pregnancy hormones in your body.  The levels of hCG increase rapidly in pregnancy and the first morning sample has the highest level of concentration, so for early detection we recommend using that however it simply could be that the level of hCG in the sample you provided was too low for the test to detect.”

“That makes sense, and the sample I provided wasn’t the first morning urine.”

“Now, I would like you to make an appointment for a scan so we can ascertain how far along the pregnancy is, and if you’d like me to be your Obstetrician during the pregnancy, we’ll need to make you an appointment to see me.”

“That sounds perfect to me – I’m relatively new to the area so that saves me researching if you’re an obstetrician.”

“Currently, the machine we use for ultrasounds is having repairs but we are expecting it to return next week sometime so if it suits you I’d like to make you an appointment for the week
after
that – so that will be two weeks from Friday.  Does ten am suit you?”

“Yes, that sounds good.”

“Right.  Now I will transfer you to my receptionist who will take your details and make you an obstetrics appointment, if you’d like to let her know the time and date of the scan she can make your appointment after that; save you an extra trip.  Thank you, Miss Cross and have a great day.”

“Thanks Doctor Tobin.”

The doctor transfers me to his receptionist and after giving her all my personal details she makes an appointment for noon on the day of my scan.  Even as butterflies nervously flutter in my tummy, I’m starting to feel excited.

Jackson must be out working because I can’t find him anywhere in the house.  I plod into the kitchen and turn the kettle on to boil and see a note on the counter:

Babe,

Gone to check how the boys are going with the harvest.  Won’t be long.

Jack xo

So that’s where he is.  They must have gotten the machine fixed; otherwise he’d be out doing that instead.  I hear the kettle click off so I turn to pour the boiling water into my cup and the front door bursts open.  I spin around in shock and immediately a grin spreads over my face.

“Ace A-C-E,” Oscar shouts.

“Hey Oscar.”  He comes running towards me so I crouch down to his level.  He surprises me but ramming straight into me and hugging me tight.  “Sore,” he frowns as his finger traces the bruising on my face.  “Ace sore,” he murmurs repeatedly.  Tears prick my eyes at his sweet gesture and I swallow to keep them at bay.  I don’t want to upset him more by crying.

“Oscar, what did I tell you about knocking,” Jeremy chastises.

“It’s alright.  How’re you doing, Jeremy?”

“Good thanks, Edie.  How are you?”

“Great,” I smile.  I’m not going to tell anyone about the pregnancy just yet (except Jackson, of course, and Jules).  I want to have the scan and make sure everything is okay before I go shouting it from the roof tops.  And isn’t there a danger period or something – three months?  Maybe that’s an old wives tales.  I’ll have to visit the library and stock up on pregnancy books.

Oscar runs off down the hall in the direction of the study and Jeremy shakes his head.

“I wish I had his energy,” I say.

“Don’t we all,” Jeremy laughs, “Jack told me what happened with your ex,” he sobers.

“It’s nothing, really.  It hurts like a bitch but it could have been worse,” I say and then immediately touch my hand to my belly. 
What if he had kicked me in the stomach?  What if, instead of falling backwards when I fainted, I had fallen forwards?

“Asshole needs a bullet right between the eyes.  Although, Jackson said you hope he gets fucked in the ass with the rough end of a pineapple and I gotta say, that sounds like more painful than a bullet,” he grins the same cheeky grin as his brother.

My face heats and I shake my head.  “Jeez, does he tell you everything?” 

“Pretty much,” he shrugs, “What can I say?  We’re twins – we got no secrets between us.”

“I get that.  Jules and I aren’t twins, but we don’t have secrets. 
Shit.
”

“What?”

“Oh, I just remembered I haven’t told Jules about what happened yet,” I say. 

“Jack charged your phone yesterday and saw she’d called and left messages – she was worried – so he called her back while you were sleeping and filled her in.  Told her you’d call her when you were feeling up to it,” he explains.

“Oh, okay.  That’s good.  I’ll call her a bit later then,”

“Yeah, we better head off; I’ve got a big muster in the morning.  We just stopped by because Oscar heard Jackson talking about your injuries and he had to make sure you were okay.  He’s been pestering me to come over here since late yesterday when he got back from Preschool.  He’s got a real soft spot for you, Edie.”

“The feeling is entirely mutual, Jeremy.”

I wave them off and decide to call Jules.  She’s understandably worried and wants to get on a plane and fly back immediately but I manage to convince her it’s fine and she relents, but only after me promising to send her pictures so she can put her mind at ease – she’s got this weird image in her mind of my face being covered in gaping wounds and huge black stitches.

“I want to get myself thrown in jail so
I
can be the one to fuck him in the ass with the pineapple, Edie.  Fuck, that man is a waste of space,” she hisses.

I decide now is the perfect time to tell her about the pregnancy because it will get her mind off the
incident
.

“So, I have some other news,” I say casually.

“Do share.”

“I’m pregnant,” I say, then add a little squeal.  Although, my little squeal is drowned out by Jules’ very
big
squeal.  “Oh my god,
oh my god!
  I can’t believe it.  I’m going to be an aunty,” she chants.

“Yep, you sure are.  And a godmother,” I reply.

“Woohoo,” she yells.

We talk about babies and appointments for a while longer and then Jules mentions something that makes me ecstatically happy.

“I’ve been thinking, Edie.  You know how I told you I slept with my boss and now things are awkward?”

“Mm-hmm,” I nod even though she can’t see me.

“Well, I’m going to change jobs anyways so I thought if I’m changing jobs, why not change states as well.  I could move to be closer to you.  I know you’ve got Jackson and his family and all the new friends you’ve made, but you’re going to need your best friend more than ever now that you’re pregnant, so it makes sense.  What do you think?”

“I think it’s great.  When are you thinking of coming?  I’ve been thinking of renting a place in town for a while now because I just want something bigger than the cottage, and now with the baby coming I definitely need something bigger, so you can move in with me,” I tell her happily.

“Sweetie, won’t you be moving in with Jackson?”

“I don’t think so,” I say hesitantly.  “I mean, we haven’t even talked about moving in together, and honestly, this baby is a big enough thing for us to deal with.  We don’t need to be rushing everything else in our relationship.”

“Somehow I don’t think Jackson Henley is the type of guy to let his baby mama live separately from him, especially when he feels the way he does about you,” she utters.

“Anyways, we can figure all that out later, I can’t wait until you move here,” I gush.

“Me either.  I’ve got to sort everything from my end so it probably won’t be for two or so months.  Oh, I’ve got to go, there’s a client here.”

I end the call and decide to have a quick shower before Jackson gets back and then I can share both lots of good news.

I’ve just lathered my entire body with my frangipani scented shower gel when I feel two rough calloused hands glide over my soapy hips.

“Hey,” I say softly.

“Hey baby.  Get my note?”

“Yeah,” I lay my head back on his shoulder and enjoy the feeling of his hands running over my body.  His hand dips between my legs and I gasp softly.  His fingers find the slickness between my legs and he growls in my ear then suckles my lobe causing a shiver to run through me.  His finger hits the spot and rolls at the same as his other hand does the same to nipple.  I moan softly and open my legs wider.  I can feel his erection pressing into the small of my back and coupled with the heat of the shower and all my pent up stress, it doesn’t take much for me to fall over the edge.  I feel my knees give way and Jackson’s arm tightens around my waist, holding firm against him.  I turn in his arms and take his length in my hand.  I slide my wrist up and down, swiping my thumb across his sensitive head.  I squeeze my fingers and work him harder and faster until he groans and shoots hot come over my hand, up my arm and onto my stomach.

“Have you heard from the doctor?”  He asks as he softly massages shampoo into my hair; taking care to avoid the bruising.

“Yeah, he rang earlier.”

“And?”

“The test results came back positive.  I’m pregnant.”

“Are you happy?” He asks.

“Yeah, are you?” I answer softly.

“Fuck yeah, baby, I am.  So happy.”

“Me too,” I smile.  “Are you going to tell Jeremy?”

“Yeah, if it’s alright with you?  We don’t keep shit from each other and this is pretty big.”

“Of course it’s okay.  Just make sure he doesn’t tell Oscar or your parents or anybody.  Not yet.  I just want to have the scan and make sure everything is okay before we shout it from the rooftops.”

He tenderly takes my mouth, kissing the edge and then sucking my bottom lip gently in between his.

“Jules rang yesterday.  I filled her in on what happened.  Told her you’d call her when you felt up to it.”

“I know.  Jeremy and Oscar stopped by earlier and he told me.  I already called her.”

“You tell her about the baby?”

“Yeah, she’s really excited.  She’s moving up here.”

“That’s great news, darlin’.”

I rinse my hair and we step out of the shower.

“I’m going to look for a bigger place in town and I told Jules she could move in with me if she wants to,” I say as I gingerly brush my hair.

“Come again?”

“I’m going to look for a bigger place in town and I told Jules she could move in with me if she wants to,” I repeat.

“I thought that’s what you said.  How about you find a place in town for Jules to live in and you move in here with me.”  Even though it sounds like a question, it really isn’t.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit soon to move in with each other?  I mean, just because we’re having a baby, doesn’t mean we have to live together.  We can do that later if you still want to.”

“Darlin’ ain’t no fucking way the woman I love and who is pregnant with my child is going to be living apart from me.  I don’t care if you move in today or in three months or whatever, but I want you moving in before you get too big and swollen.  I want you decorating this place the way you want it and I want you making a beautiful room for our baby in
our
house.”

All I got out of that was he loves me.  “You love me?”  I ask, shocked.

“Yeah, darlin’, I love you.  Been waiting for the right time to tell you,”

I stay silent.  I don’t know what to say.  I can’t believe he loves me.  I thought he liked me a lot, but never did I imagine that he would love me back.  I should tell him how I feel.