Claimed by Her Web Master (Web Master #3) (11 page)

I
sent
Kate back to the hotel for Sophie’s insurance card and driver’s license. Shelby was there, and after I informed her of the situation over the phone, she promised to help Kate find everything, and said she would come to the hospital with Kate. That ought to cheer Sophie up. In the meantime I did my best to answer the nurse’s questions and fill out the paperwork for her while they took her back to the triage area. Whenever anyone asked, I told them I was her fiancé. Wishful thinking perhaps, but I didn’t expect anyone to correct my status at this point.

By the time they let me back to see her, Sophie was hooked up to an IV that I gathered was dripping pain medicine. She was waiting for surgery for her ankle, which the doctor agreed was fractured and would need to be operated on. Recovery time would be at least eight weeks, but they’d know more after surgery.

Before they took Sophie off to surgery, the obstetrics doctor wheeled in an ultrasound machine.

“Good afternoon,” the doctor said. “I heard you took a little spill.”

“Yes, I did,” Sophie said.

“Well, the baby’s heartbeat sounds good, but I’m going to check on everything just in case. We want to be on the safe side.”

“I appreciate that,” I said.

“Are you the father?”

Sophie squeezed my hand, and I squeezed hers back. “I am,” I said, and I couldn’t have felt more proud.

“Well let’s see here.” He squirted some sort of lube on Sophie’s belly and proceeded to drag a plastic wand over her stomach. “You can see here,” he pointed to a flickering image on the screen, “that’s the heart beating.”

I swallowed hard. Seeing the beating heart of my child for the first time rendered me speechless. The idea that Sophie and I could have made something so incredible, so beautiful moved me. As I watched my baby’s heartbeat on the screen go bump bump bump bump—I was awestruck.

“Is everything okay?” Sophie asked.

“Looks good so far. When was the date of your last period?”

Sophie told him, and he informed us the baby was the perfect size for its age.

“Is it too early to tell the sex?” I asked.

Sophie frowned up at me.

“No, I might be able to see. It’s a bit early, but if not now you’ll be able to tell in the next couple of weeks. Probably at your next OB visit,” he said.

Sophie shook her head. “I’m not ready to find out,” she told the doctor.

“Not a problem, he or she is not giving me a great view today anyway.” He smiled. “Being shy and keeping those legs closed. Just take it easy and keep taking your prenatal vitamins and everything should go fine with the baby.”

We thanked the doctor.

After he left with his machine and closed the door behind him, I asked Sophie, “Why didn’t you want to find out about the baby’s sex?”

“I’m not sure I want to find out. I’d like it to be a surprise.”

“Well, whenever you find out it’s a surprise. Whether it’s next week or the day the baby is born. The only difference is that you get a chance to prepare in advance. Buy the right kind of clothes and things if you know what you’re going to have.”

She made a face at me. “I just thought it would be more fun to find out in the delivery room.”

I pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Whatever you want.” I was determined to show her I would be a good partner for this journey, and if it meant compromising upfront on trivial things so be it.

She seemed reassured that the baby was fine, and even though she was very pale, she was in much better spirits now that the painkillers coursed through her veins.

“Thank you, Quentin,” she said, and I kissed her hand.

“Anything for you, my love. Anything.”

She smiled wanly and closed her eyes. Soon the nurses came for her, and I kissed her on the forehead as they took her off to surgery. Then I called everyone from her dog sitter to Bunny. I assured her mother that Sophie was in good hands, that I would take good care of her. I promised to have Sophie call her later after she woke up. While she was being operated on I paced up and down the hallway, praying that nothing would go wrong.

Fortunately, the surgery went well. Sophie was mostly out of it the rest of the night, and I occasionally dozed in an uncomfortable chair in the corner. I had no intention of leaving her. I made it my job to make sure she had everything she needed. I wanted to be sure that when she woke up, she saw that I was there. Taking care of her was my number-one priority.

I had already spoken with the doctors about her situation. Usually people would go home from a surgery like this, get in bed, set up a physical therapy schedule and recuperate at home. But Sophie had to get on a plane, which required a good bit more planning. She didn’t have an external cast because the screws the surgeon had implanted in her ankle acted as a cast, therefore there was nothing external to protect her leg from being bumped as she traveled. I arranged with the doctor to get her a soft boot for the occasion. With all this in mind I booked flights for both of us in first class to Dallas in two days. Sophie would stay in the hospital until then and I would accompany her to her mother’s house in Fort Worth where she would tend to Sophie until she was able to get around by herself.

Bunny seemed thrilled with the arrangement.

Sophie not so much.

* * *

T
he next morning
Shelby and Kate showed up at the hospital, and Sophie was thrilled to see them, if a bit groggy. I had told them not to bother coming by the night before since Sophie was so out of it, and the nurses told me the paperwork could wait until the next day.

“Sophie, I’m so glad you’re going to be okay. I was so worried about you. Bryan even asked if he needed to come back from Texas for this.”

Sophie lay in the bed looking weak but better overall. “Thank you, Shelby. But you don’t need to worry. I’m going to be fine. And tell Bryan to focus on his race. What day is it going to be?”

“Tomorrow. I was hoping to get back for it but now I don’t want to leave you.”

“Oh, please don’t fret over me. I’m fine. They are taking good care of me, and Quentin is staying. He’s going to get me home.”

Shelby looked at me strangely. “I’m glad you’re here. But are you sure you can manage all this?”

“Of course. It’s my pleasure. I’m going to fly with Sophie to get her settled in at her mother and father’s house,” I turned to Kate “and I’ve got you booked on a flight this evening if you’re ready to go.”

Kate said, “Is anyone ever really ready to leave Hawaii?”

We all laughed.

Later, after everyone else went home and Sophie and I were left just us in the hospital room, she took my hand between hers and said, “Thank you, Quentin. I know it’s a lot of trouble and I don’t know how I’d make it home without you with all the luggage, changing concourses and hobbling around. I’ve never really had crutches before. I don’t even know how to carry my purse while using them. I’m sure I’ll get good at it by—”

“Like I told you, I’d do anything for you, Sophie. You mean the world to me.” As terrible as this accident had been for her, and I certainly wouldn’t have wished it on her, I was grateful to have an opportunity to help her.

I only hoped that it would help her to think of me in a better light.

T
wo days
later with Sophie loaded up on painkillers, she and I took an early taxi from the hospital to the airport. I’d had Kate pack all our things and bring them to us before she left the day before.

I made certain that we arrived at the airport in plenty of time to check our bags, get a wheelchair for Sophie, and make it through security in plenty of time to get to our gate. As we waited, Sophie sent me to the souvenir shop and asked me to get her some gummy bears and magazines. I wondered if the candy was a pregnancy craving but I thought it better not to ask. During the flight she slept most of the way while I hovered over her protectively. We were the last ones off the plane because we had to wait for a wheelchair. As much as we tried to avoid running into things, occasionally something bumped her ankle, and every time she winced. I felt sorry for her and couldn’t wait to get her to her mother’s house and in bed resting comfortably. The flight had been long, and her sleep fitful. It amazed me how my world had gone from worrying about myself and
my
needs to now completely revolving around the needs and desires of this woman. And to my surprise, I was happy about it.

Sophie’s parents met us at the baggage claim. They made a big fuss over her, and her father went to pull the car around. I retrieved our luggage and followed along behind Bunny, who pushed Sophie in her wheelchair. I lifted Sophie into the car and on the drive home she told her mother all about her ordeal. Her parents were particularly impressed with the part about me rescuing her.

“Quentin, we’ll never be able to repay you for bringing our baby back to us,” Bunny gushed and Sophie rolled her eyes.

I had to admit the story was going to be a great start to our future family’s lore.

Bunny ensconced Sophie in a large guest room with a queen-sized bed with beige satin linens. She had a wide-screen television, a laptop computer, and a little bell for her to ring in case she needed anything.

“Now don’t you get up by yourself,” Bunny fussed. “I know you have these crutches but let me know or Daddy or Quentin if you need to get up and do something, and we will help you.”

Sophie made a face. “Yes, ma’am.” It was obvious she was tired of Bunny’s attention already.

After she got Sophie all tucked in, Bunny looked at me. “Now, Quentin, I wasn’t sure about your plans, so I went ahead and fixed you up the room next door. You’re welcome to stay with us while Sophie is recuperating.”

“Thank you, Bunny. That’s very kind of you.” I went and unpacked my things before telling Sophie that I had an errand to run. She didn’t seem to mind so I went by her dog sitter’s house and picked up her puppy Felix. When I asked, Sophie’s parents said it would be okay to bring him over.

“Yes, that’s a great idea. I’m sure having him around will be good medicine for her and Martha my housekeeper can walk him until she gets well enough. Plus we have a fenced-in backyard so I can let him out in the evenings. Quentin you think of everything.” Bunny had given me a dazzling smile that made me feel like part of the family.

When I got back to the house, Felix and I went to Sophie’s room and the little dog jumped on the bed and started licking Sophie in the face.

“Felix!” She seemed delighted to have her dog back, but then she turned and glared at me. “So you just went and got my dog without asking me?”

“I asked your mom, and she said it would be okay. I wanted to surprise you.” I knew how much that dog meant to her. I couldn’t figure out what I’d done wrong.

When I pressed her about it she blew me off. “Never mind,” she said dismissively. Each time I asked if I could bring her anything she said no, but whenever her mother asked, she sent
her
to fetch a drink or a book.

There was a new tension in the air between Sophie and me, and I wasn’t sure where it came from. Could it be that she didn’t like my helpful side? Lots of women were drawn to “bad boys.” Could it be that once a man came around and treated them like they ought to be treated they didn’t want them anymore?

Dr. Beckett had once said that humans tended to want what they don’t have. Single people wanted to be married. Married people wanted to be single. She explained that was human nature—the whole grass is greener thing. Could it be that was how Sophie felt about me? She wanted me until I wanted to commit to her, and now that she had me she didn’t want me anymore?

Fuck. That was almost the opposite of how it had been for me. When I had Sophie I’d taken it for granted that I’d always have her. I misused her trust and I lost her.

The whole thing was so fucking complicated. I just wanted to love her and our baby—give them a good home, take care of them. But things just weren’t looking good for that possibility.

That night we watched a movie and Sophie fell asleep early so I went to my room and caught up on some emails. The next day I puttered around—at loose ends. Finally, I went to Sophie’s room and we watched another movie. When it was over, I asked her what was the matter.

“You have to stop all this controlling, crazy behavior!”

“What behavior are you referring to?” I asked, knowing full well it could be any number of things.

“Oh, I don’t know … kidnapping me, pretending to be some other man you were sharing me with, um—stalking me!”

“Stalking you?” I pretended I didn’t know what she was talking about.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Quentin. It’s ridiculous. If you weren’t stalking me how in the world would you have known I was missing? Or where to find me when I disappeared?”

“If I hadn’t been, you might still be in that ravine. Or dead.”

“So I should thank you, right? For stalking me. For being a crazy man.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“It sounded like that’s what you meant. Quentin, you are not a puppet master who can control everyone and everything!”

“I realize that, Sophie, but don’t you know why I’m like this?”

“No idea.” She threw up her hands.

“My therapist says it’s because people around me keep dying. Or close to it. I think it’s because I like to hurt people, and I’m being punished for it.”

“That doesn’t sound right. What do you mean you like to hurt people?”

“The way I like to spank you, torture you …”

“But I agree to that. I consent.”

“Doesn’t matter. Its fucked up to want to do that. And something bad happens to everyone I care about.”

“I feel like you’re using this situation to manipulate me,” she said, arms crossed.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that you’ve forced your way in here, behaved like the perfect son-in-law.” She lowered her voice and hissed, “If my mother knew what you’ve done to me, there is no way she would be treating you this way and you know it!”

Her words stung like a slap. After all I’d done to try to get past that …

It finally hit me.

Sophie would never get past it
. No matter what I did. No matter how long I tried. Sophie would never forgive me for deceiving her.

With leaden feet, I walked out of the room.

In the guest room, I packed my things and went to tell her mother goodbye. “Please give Mr. Davenport my best.”

“Quentin, I hate for you to leave so soon! You’ve been such a hero to our Sophie. Must you go so soon?”

A bitter laugh rang in my head. If Bunny Davenport only knew … Sophie was right about that. If the woman knew half of the things I’d done to her daughter she’d throw me out faster than I could say “safeword.”

“I’m sorry, Bunny. It’s a work thing. I’ve been putting it off while we’ve been in Hawaii, and they just won’t let me put it off any longer.”

“I can’t believe that you and Sophie were worried about us knowing your little secret. Her father and I—we’re not
that
old-fashioned. We’re trying to get with the times. I hope Sophie told you how understanding we’ve been. At least you’re planning to get married. That’s the important part.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Sophie was asleep when I walked past her room,” I lied. “I kissed her, but she didn’t wake up. Will you be a dear and please tell her I love her and I’m sorry I didn’t wake her to say goodbye. I think our girl needs her rest, don’t you?”

“Absolutely. Such a thoughtful future son-in-law I have,” Bunny beamed, and I kissed her hand before walking out the front door, never expecting to see the woman again.