The Best Laid Plans (Brothers of the Bayou) (13 page)

He stood up and shook Beaux’s hand. “Once Lacy wakes up, I’ll come back and introduce the two of
you to your new security men. Now go on, I know a man in love when I see one.”

Beaux raced back to the room and Lacy still hadn’t stirred.

“Thanks for staying with her,” Beaux offered to his brother.  “Are you sure you’re okay? You really look like hell.”

“You don’t look so hot yourself, little bro.”

“When are you heading home?”

“That’s up in the air right now.”

“Why are you really here Jared?” There were no accusations in his voice, just genuine concern for his brother.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” he answered, then stood to leave making it clear he would not elaborate.

Lacy finally woke at eleven o’clock. Her brain was fuzzy, trying to remember where she was.  Memories of conversations flowed through her head. Were they real or part of a dream she had.

“Good morning sleeping beauty.” Beaux was by her side at her first movement.

“Good morning. What time is it?”

“Almost afternoon. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes.” She paused, unsure how to ask her question in case it was just a dream. “Beaux was I dreaming or did the doctor tell me I’m...”  She trailed off unable to say the word.

“You weren’t dreaming ma chère. We are going to have a baby.” She smiled now that she knew it was real. That meant all Beaux’s assurances were also real.  Rubbing her stomach as
though trying to connect with the life inside of her, she looked up to Beaux. “I don’t understand how it happened. We were always protected.”

“That’s what I thought. Then I remembered that first night in the bed of the truck.”

A hot blush crept up her neck at memories of that night. “That was a pretty amazing night.”

“Yes it was”. They were deep in love as they sat there, dreaming of their future. The whispers and laughter of lovers filled the room.  They were interrupted by a nurse coming to take them to the ultra sound room. They gripped hands eager to see their baby.

The room was dark and Lacy was lying on a thin hospital bed while the technician gooped some warm gel on her belly.  As she moved the wand around, there was static until they heard a sound similar to a far off train.

“That sound is your baby’s heartbeat. Its heart rate is right where it should be
.” She moved the wand around stopping several times to click a button. When she was done, she printed off an image for the parents to be. “Your baby looks fine. By its size, you are between four and five weeks pregnant.  I’m surprised I found the heartbeat so quickly at this stage.”

Beaux and Lacy shared a private smile, knowing exactly how far along she was. They studied the picture, trying to make sense of the image in front of them.  Giving up, they asked the technician. She chuckled, and pointed to the jelly bean shaped object. “This end is the head.  As your pregnancy progress, you will see more detail.”   They returned to their room, still staring at the picture, in awe of the life they created together.

At two o’clock Detective Martin knocked on the door accompanied by two other men and a female.

“Glad to see you up and about Ms. Landon. How are you feeling?”

“Much better, thank you.”

“I won’t stay here long
. I just wanted to introduce you to your new security.  Brad, Matthew and Angela will be your new protection. They will always be close by and if you need anything from them, just ask.  And again, you have all my numbers.  If you need me day or night, don’t hesitate to contact me.”

“Thank you detective.”

“Were you able to decide when you’ll be leaving South Carolina?”

“First thing Monday morning,” Beaux answered.  “We will go pack what she needs from her apartment tomorrow, around ten.”

“I’ll make sure I have an officer there with you.”

“That’s much appreciated.”

“I’ll leave you two love birds alone now.  Take care.”

The doctor came in immediately following the detective’s departure.

“Good news Ms. Landon. You are free to go as soon as the nurse brings your discharge papers.  Make sure to drink lots of fluids and take the pre-natal vitamins we are sending with you.  You will want to follow up with an ob in the next week or so to set up your pre-natal care.”

Later that night, they lay in their bed at the hotel.  Lacy leaned over, luring Beaux into a passion
filled kiss. Desperate to escape the tensions they had been under, he returned the kiss and their fervor led to its natural progression. He leaned over to the nightstand, to grab a foil packet and the box was empty.

“We’re out of condom’s Lacy.”

“I think it’s a little late for worrying about them now.  I think we’ve gone beyond what they can help,” she teased. He abruptly rolled off of her, running his hands through his hair.

Lacy couldn’t help feeling hurt. “Beaux, what’s the matter?”

“The baby, we can’t make love with a baby in you. What if I hurt it?”

He looked so pitiful in his ignorance of the
issue; Lacy couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Beaux, you can’t hurt the baby, no matter how big you are. Sex is perfectly safe during pregnancy.”  Actually, she had thought the same things as him until Sara gave out too much information during one of their girl talks.

“Are you sure?” he asked still in doubt.

“Yes,” she answered and then pulled him back to her. He gave in unable to restrain his need for her. Once again, they retreated to another time and another place, where the world was only them, and there was no danger lurking about.

Sunday morning they reluctantly left the hotel and went to Lacy’s apartment.  Everything she decided to take fit into two boxes.  This apartment and its furnishing held no happy memories for her and she would rather leave them behind.  When she closed the door behind her for the final time, she felt a long, unhappy chapter of her life had at long last come to a close. She dropped her key off at the office with instructions that a representative from the charity would be coming this week to clear out the remaining items.   She also left a key to her car for the company who would be coming to transport her car to Louisiana.  There was no way she would drive it back alone and she preferred to spend that time in Beaux’s truck.

They went to bed early so they could get an early start the next morning. Lacy stepped outside to breathe in some fresh air.  This is the first day of the rest of my life she thought.  Part of her couldn’t believe she was leaving Charleston. She had lived here for her entire life and until Beaux; it was all she had known. Now she was embarking on a new adventure, moving a thousand miles away and beginning a new life with a man she loved and baby growing inside her. A noise drew her from her thoughts, and she turned her head to see Beaux coming out.  He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and she leaned back against him.  They stared out at the ocean, breathing in the salty air.

“Do you have any regrets about
leaving?” he asked.

“None at all.”

“I love you Lacy.”

“I love you too Beaux.”

“Are you ready to go home?”

“Yes, let go home.” Standing there in the arms of her love, she was already home.

Chapter 10:

Beaux pulled off at the Louisiana welcome center.   Lacy was having some nausea and he was all too happy to stop and relish being back in his own state.   This was the land he knew and loved.  Lacy had went running to the bathroom, so Beaux went inside and poured a cup of coffee for himself and went to the vending machines to get a water for Lacy. He stood outside the restroom waiting for her, wishing he could be by her side.

She came out, face flushed. Beaux would have done anything to ease her misery.

“Feeling any better?” he asked.

“A little.”

“I got you a bottle of water. Would you rather a soda to settle your stomach?”

“The water is fine. Thank you.”  They sat outside until the sickness subsided then continued the last few hours of their journey.  The sun was setting when they arrived home and Beaux helped Lacy inside, before carrying their bags in.  By the time he carried the last bag in, Lacy was fast asleep on the sofa. Not for the first time, he carried her to bed and tucked her in.

He went to the kitchen and threw a frozen dinner in the microwave too tired to cook just for
him. When the timer dinged, he sat down at the table with this dinner, going through his mail. Nothing needed immediate attention and he set the pile aside. Tomorrow he would have to call work and arrange some time off; he had accumulated six weeks’ worth of vacation time and said a prayer they could arrange for him to use it on such short notice. 

His phone rang and Beaux looked at the caller id. His mom was calling and he wondered how much Jared had told her.

“Hi mom,” he answered, trying to keep the weariness from his voice.

“Did you and Lacy make it home?”

“We just got in about an hour ago.”

“How is Lacy feeling?”

“She is fine. She is sleeping now.”

“Take care of her Beaux. Those first few months are rough on a woman.”

“I’ll always take care of her mom.” Then the latter part of her statement dawned on him.

“Wait a minute, how did you know that?”

“A mother knows everything son.”

“Jared and his big mouth.”

His mother sighed. “Jared called drunk last night and it slip.  I worry about him.  Do you know if Jared’s had any girlfriends named Monique?”

“Not that I know of mom, why?”

“No reason.  Do you think Lacy would be up for a trip to see me this week?”

“I’m sure she would. She really likes you.”

“I like her too.”

“Mom, are you okay her being pregnant?” He held his breath, hoping for approval for the number two woman in his life.

“Yes Beaux I am. There is a reason for everything and even when our best laid plans get thrown out, there is always a reason why. Please just tell me you plan on making an honest woman out of her.”

“If I had my way, she’d have a ring on her finger now mom.”

“Go get some rest son. Call me later this week and let me know when would be a good day.”

“I will mom. Good night.”

“Good night Beaux, I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Beaux hung up and decided he was too tired for anything else.  The night was still early for when he’d usually go to bed, but life was wearing him out, physically and emotionally. He could use a good night’s sleep, so took a quick shower than crawled in bed next to Lacy, holding her tight and fell asleep before the sun fully set.

Lacy woke up the next morning with a dash to the bathroom.
How I can possibly have anything left in my stomach is beyond me, she thought as the heaving continued. Beaux came in, still half asleep, providing any comfort he could.

“I’m sorry I woke you,” she said miserably.

“Shush, I’m here,” he soothed.  Lacy wrapped herself in a thin blanket and moved to the sofa.  Beaux made her a cup of herbal tea that the doctor had suggested may help.

“How long does morning sickness usually last?” he asked her.

“It varies, but usually by the second trimester it goes away. Sara barely had any.”

Beaux winced inwardly. Knowing he was responsible in part for her misery was breaking him. How have other men stood by watching the woman they loved go through this.  Lacy saw the concern on his and sought to assure him she would be fine.

“It’s a natural part of pregnancy. Really, I will be ok. My body will adjust soon and we’ll be back to normal.” Though, their relationship had proved to be anything but normal, she thought but kept that to herself.  She did not want to give him any reason to think she was regretful. 

“I have to call work. Can I get you anything first?”

“I’m good, but thank you.”

Beaux made his phone call and after explaining the dire circumstances, his boss approved the first two weeks, and would see what he could work out after that.  He went back in to check on Lacy, his phone call having taken longer than he expected.

“Tomorrow is the Fourth of July.  I was thinking of having a small cook-out if you felt up to it.  Just Sara, Justin, Jared if he’s back yet and maybe some of the bar staff.”

“Sure.”

“Have you talked to Sara yet?”

“No.” Her response came out clipped and she couldn’t explain why.

“We can take a drive over there if you’d like.”

“I’m not up to it.”

“What’s wrong chère?”

“I’m fine.” Lacy felt her annoyance growing but she was helpless to stop it.

“Talk to me Lace, you know I’ll do anything to make you happy.”

“Just leave me alone,” she snapped.  The pain on his face was almost more than she could bear, so she turned away, unable to face him and unable to give him the apology he deserved. When he tried to embrace her, she shrugged
him away.  “Just go,” she told him. He hesitated, and then walked away, going outside.