Defying Fate (35 page)

Speak of the devil, looking up, he walks into my office.

“Hey Sparkplug, whatcha’ working on?” He smiles and laughs seeing the stack of papers on my desk.

Rolling my eyes. “Funny man, why don’t you sit down and help me with this mess.”

He snickers holding his hands up. “Oh no, sweet girl, you are so much better at that stuff. I like to get my hands dirty, not push papers.” He winks coming closer and pats my nose with this finger. “That is why I hired you, I get to look at you all day while you push my papers for me. It’s a total win-win for me, beauty and brains…the whole package.”

“Smooth talker, you’re pretty happy this morning.” I can’t help but blush at his playful banter, arching my eyebrow. “What gives?”

“Besides you sweetheart, I got news from the doctor’s office. All good, I am free and clear on my blood work, told ya’, all that worrying was for nothing sweetheart.”

While he is talking to me, I am just admiring the tight black t-shirt he has on. It fits him like a glove. Showing off his biceps and part of his tats, he’s totally mouthwatering. Yep, I’m dizzy and head over heels for this man.

“That’s great,” dropping my papers in my hand. “One less thing to worry about,” I say blowing out an extended breath. My phone suddenly rings, I quickly grab it. “Hello.”

“Izzy Parker, this is Pam from Dr. Fields office.” She says with a chipper voice.

“Yes, how are you?” I raise my eyebrow, expecting to hear the words ‘all is clear’.

“Great, we got the results back from your blood work.”

I’m so excited, I can’t help but interrupt her. “Yes, Braxton just told me his good news with his results.”

“Yes, he is correct. Is there a time you could come into our office?” She then pauses.

I stop and look down at my phone, and then over at Braxton. He stops what he’s doing and looks back, puzzled.

“I don’t understand,” I reply quietly.

“We think it’s best to go over your results in person, nothing to worry about.” She says in the same sweet voice, but now it is starting to annoy me.

I laugh nervously. “You may not think so, but why can’t you tell me over the phone?”

“Dr. Fields would like to talk to you in person. Can you come in around five o’clock?” Not giving anything away.

“Um yeah, I can be there. Thanks.”

“Bye Izzy.” She says before she disconnects.

“Yeah.” I press ‘end’ and sit back in my chair unsettled.

“What was that all about?” Braxton arches an eye at me confused.

“Not sure,” I say, pulling my hands through my hair. “She wouldn’t tell me over the phone. They want me to come in person.”

“Hey,” he says as he walks over to me, kneels down next to my chair and takes my hand. “Whatever it is, we will get through it, together. Don’t borrow trouble, not when there may not be any.”

I sigh. “Easy for you to say, you got a free and clear over the phone. I get, you need to come in so we can talk with you in person.”

What the hell? Now my brain is running wild with all sorts of possibilities. Life threatening diseases, cancer, to God knows what. Whatever it is, it can’t be good, otherwise why not tell me on the phone, like Braxton? My last thought is quite chilling. Maybe they want to tell me the bad news in person so they can help pick up the pieces when I fall apart, that or send me straight to a padded cell.

Sensing my worrying, Braxton clears his throat. “Stop it Izzy, stop thinking the worst.”

Seriously, I look at him annoyed. “How can I not? You tell me that?”

“Come here.” He stands and pulls me with him. Walking us over to the couch he added since I returned. I imagined he had more naughty things in mind when he bought it, but for now it’s a place for me to sit on his lap. He needs to comfort me, and to be honest, I desperately want him to.

“What if it’s bad Braxton, what am I going to do?”

“Stop it baby, don’t do it. I can’t take it to see you sad. We have been through too much to have you taken from me, so stop the nonsense.”

I go to say something else, but he squeezes my lips shut with his fingers. Instead, I cry on the inside, all of the emotions I don’t want to show on the outside.

My office door opens wide as Kara strolls in with Liam, of course, hand in hand, it’s so damn cute. Big bad biker and my sweet best friend, what a sight!

“Why the long faces?” Kara seems surprised looking at Braxton and myself.

Liam’s expression changes as he arches his eyebrows. “Heard all is good with you man, that should have smiles on both of your faces, what gives?”

Both Braxton and I are quiet.

“Well,” Kara speaks up. “I still want to kick Tiffany’s ass though. She is not getting off the hook for being a clean whore, she’s still a whore.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Don’t hold back Kara.”

Throwing me a wink, she slugs Liam’s arm. “Damn straight.”

“Izzy needs to go to Dr. Field’s office for her results. They want her at five, so we should get going.” Braxton says to Liam while he rubs my shoulder.

Eyes wide, I whisper, “We?” glancing back toward him.

“You're not going alone,” pointing at us with his finger, “we go together, none of this alone shit.”

I panic. Do I want him to be with me, on one hand yes, of course. But then if it’s bad news, I want time to absorb it without him telling me it will be okay. If it’s bad news, I need to get it delivered to me alone.

Trying to think fast, I look up at Kara. “Why don’t I take Kara with me and you can finish some work here. We can come back here right after the appointment.” I am trying to convince him, I don’t want to tell him I don’t want him there.

“Absol…”

I cut him off.

“Hey,” I say holding up my hand. “You’ve been gone for weeks around here. They need you here.” I motion towards the garage with my finger. They are behind, and Braxton needs to get things moving again. He knows that, this is the only way I am going to win this argument.

Wrinkling his face in frustration I sense he is struggling to know I’m right. Leaning over I kiss his cheek, whispering, I will be okay and to call him as soon as I have my results.

While Braxton’s attention is on me, Kara nudges Liam to get him to back me up.

“Brax man, the guys are crazy busy. I’ll stay and help your ass out. Let the girls go and when they come back, we can close up shop and go eat dinner.” He pauses and we nod our heads in agreement, waiting for Braxton to respond.

“Shit, I don’t like it,” Brax replies with a growl.

“Don’t be pissy, you work with the boys and get all greasy.” Eyes wide, “It’ll be fun for you.” Not waiting a moment longer, I give him a loud smack on the lips. I earn a playful slap on the ass in return.

Kara steps over to the couch and puts her arm around me. “Let’s go girlfriend, most likely it’s just some woman’s issue anyway.” Holding out her hand to help me up, she says, “She told you not to worry, right?”

I nod.

“Then,” she shrugs her shoulder, saying, “no worries then.”

The drive to the doctor’s office is very quiet. Pulling into the parking lot, Kara glances my way.

“Izzy, come on.” She says patting my hand. “It’s going to be okay. I’m here for you.”

I stare out my window, running all sorts of possibilities through my head. All of them have the same common ending, my death.

“I am going to slap you silly, stop Izzy, don’t do this to yourself.” She’s crying as she wipes under her eye. “I can’t stand to see you so sad.” She then clears her throat. “I’m a little freaked out myself here. You’ve had so much shit to deal with, it’s not motherfucking fair.”

Reaching my hand over to touch her shoulder I give her a warm smile. “Life’s not fair, we both know that.” Getting out of the car I think we both try to find the courage to walk into that damn office.

I’m a bundle of nerves chewing my nails nervously while my leg bounces up and down. Sitting here I notice the receptionist eyeing me out of the corner of her eye. Her glances are seriously screwing with my mind. I am very aware she knows Braxton since she made a point to have me say ‘hi’ for her when I see him. Maybe she knows my results and is lining herself up with him as soon as I’m out of the picture. Oh Jesus, please stop torturing yourself Izzy.

I feel my phone alert me with an incoming text.

Braxton
: I love you...stay strong.

Izzy
: Luv U too. No worries.

No need to let him know I am scared out of my mind.

Pam walks into the reception area calling out, “Izzy Parker.”

Christ, she knows it’s me, why say my last name? I eye Pam letting out a staggered breath, as I stand. Coming to get my fate, she looks like a happy, busy bee.

I happen to look over my shoulder to Kara, not asking her if she was coming back to me, she stands not giving me an option. Thank God.

Pam walks us back to Dr. Field’s office where we are to sit again, only to wait longer for my news. Eyeing the office, I notice his many degrees and accolades hanging on the walls. They comfort me some hoping all of these impressive certificates proves he knows what he is doing.

“Stop it, just breathe.” Kara keeps eyeing me while I’m biting my nails off.

“You're making me regret taking you with me, stop eyeing me. You're starting to freak me out. I’m doing a bang-up job on my own, don’t need your help.” Sticking my tongue out at her; I love her dearly, but she is making me more anxious. I swear I’m going to throw-up.

Dr. Fields walks in… whistling. I about drop my mouth to the floor, I have no idea what kind of bad news I am going to get, but he is whistling like he is having a great old day. I can feel Kara’s eyes on me, so I look at her with a manic smile that’s frozen on my face out of pure shock.

“Izzy, sweet girl. I’m so glad you could come in as quick as you could.” He walks over and sits at his desk opening up a file. Presuming it is mine. Eyeing the page nodding his head, I’m mentally preparing for the worst-case scenarios he is about to tell me, I’m sure of it. Flipping a few more pages, the look of satisfaction crosses his face, he then shuts it slowly shifting his eyes till they meet mine.

“How are you feeling Izzy?” Nothing else! Just how you are feeling?

My throat is so thick I find it impossible to swallow. Clearing my throat, I stutter, “Fine, but I must admit freaked out right now,” I admit honestly. What the hell does he think?

“Look the only reason I wanted to see you is because something did come back on your blood work. I re-ran them twice to make sure.” He looks at me trying to read my mind with his brows drawn up.

“Well, let’s just get to it. Am I dying?” I let out a nervous laugh. Kara reaches out taking my hand in hers. She is dead silent, so I know she’s freaked as well.

“Izzy, you’re not dying.”

“I’m not?”

“Nope, not today.”

I laugh again and lay my head back with a sigh of relief.

“Okay, well what the heck do you need to tell me then?”

“I was concerned with the fact that you were so adamant about your pregnancy chances when we spoke earlier. That with the risks we might be dealing with concerning Brax and that other woman. So when my tests showed that you were indeed pregnant, it threw me off.”

I open my mouth and it just stays like that. I know there is no way I could have heard him right. There is no chance of me being pregnant. What in the heck this is a sick joke.

Kara scares the hell out of me when she just burst out laughing. Her being overjoyed is an understatement.

“I love it, yes. Could not have happened to a better person, Izzy you are going to have Brax’s baby. Oh, mother of pearl, that man is going to be on cloud fucking nine when he hears this.” Kara looks like she is about to jump out of her chair as her fingers are digging into the arms. Dr. Fields is looking at me with a slight uneasy look, probably because I’m stunned speechless.

“Izzy say something. Is this a good thing or not a good thing?” Dr. Fields says slowly.

“Um. Happy, of course, just confusing. I was led to believe I could not have any more children. I’m in total shock.”

I grab onto Kara’s arm in disbelief. Yelping I damn near slap my cheeks to make sure I’m awake. Was it all a lie, did Dominic lie to me this time? How is it possible, we had unprotected sex plenty of times…? How come I never got pregnant again? This is so confusing, I should be overjoyed not sitting here shocked trying to figure out my past with Dominic.

“I’m so stunned,” I say breathlessly, “How far along am I?”

“Great question, your levels are high. I would like to do a quick ultrasound to find out some measurements if that is all right with you? It would be a vaginal ultrasound of course, due to the fact you are so early in the pregnancy.”

I nodded since my words fail to form. Should I text Brax, do I wait. How do I tell him? In my shocked state, I decide to wait.

“Relax Izzy; this will go easier if you relax.” I try to relax, but I know Dr. Fields is going to see all of my scars. What will he think, will he think Braxton gave them to me. Oh God, I hope not.

Kara is holding my hand and staring at the screen. Dr. Fields is now eyeing my lower region on full display for him. I can see it in his eyes. I need to say something.

“They are from my past, from a man better off forgotten doctor. I don’t need you to think Braxton had anything to do with these.”

“Of course, not Izzy, I have known Brax, all his life. He is not a monster. I would say the boy is damn near smitten with you. Is this his baby?”

“Yeah.” It’s all I can get out before I let the tears fall.

“Oh, honey it’s okay.” Kara bends down and kisses my forehead.

“You're going to be a momma and good lord with Brax as the daddy, woo-hoo that is going to be one great looking kid.” Whispering in my ear, he says, “Love you girl.”

“Oh my God Kara, how is this even possible? He swore I could not have any more kids, every day it was torture. With him, I never wanted more and then with Brax, I was so upset I couldn’t give him any. Now, I’m pregnant with his baby. How can I be so happy and sad at the same time?”

“You’re thinking about Willow honey. It’s okay to feel, just feel, don’t question it.”