Faith, Honor & Freedom (5 page)

“What the … oh my God,” she yells, turning around and shouting, “Jack, don’t come in!”

“Who is this?” Alec shrieks angrily.

I regain some of my consciousness and look up to a frantic Alec. I can’t believe he talked me into doing any of this, especially the breath play, but I also can’t say I didn’t like it either. Hell, I didn’t even know most of this stuff existed.

“Untie me,” I shout.

He looks uncertain but grabs a hold of the soft ties and unbounds my wrists and then my ankles. I jump up off the bed and attempt to run to Vi, but my legs feel weak, and I fall to the floor. Vi rushes to my side.

“Are you okay, Lana?” she asks. I see her giving Alec a dirty look.

“I’m fine. I’ve just had too much to drink.” She passes me my robe, and I slip it on quickly. “Vi, what’s wrong?”

“I’m so sorry, Lana, but something’s wrong with Gavin. I need you to come fast,” she says, desperately. “Jack was bringing him over here, but I just told him to bring him back to the house.”

I don’t give a second thought to the fact that I’m naked and dripping with sweat and sex. I grab Vi’s hand and rush outside, my ass flapping in the wind as the breeze catches my robe. I hurry into her house, finding a panicked Jack.

“What’s happening,” I ask, feeling myself sober as the adrenaline courses through me.
Shit, did I really just sleep with a guy I didn’t know and allow all of that to happen? Whatever. Now’s not the time
.

“Well, you know how he’s been spitting up, right?” Vi asks.

I nod and pick up a pretty lethargic Gavin. I thought it was just a touch of reflux, totally normal for babies. What did I miss?

“Well, tonight he started projectile vomiting, and when I say that, I’m not exaggerating. Just a few minutes ago, he shot ten feet across the room. That’s when I came running over to get you. He’s been sleepy all night, but I thought it might be a growth spurt. I have no idea what I’m doing, Lana. Please just fix him,” she pleads.

“I’m not a doctor, Vi,” I say, flustered. I grab the phone from her nightstand and call the hospital to let them know we’re coming in.

“Okay, let’s get him into his car seat and hurry to the hospital. I’m just going to run and change into some of your clothes. Meet me in the car. Sit in the back, and don’t take your eyes off of him. If he starts changing color, take him out, flip him onto his belly and pat him on the back. All right?” I say, rushing into her bedroom.

I could very well be wrong, but I remember another babe Grams delivered who was also throwing up like that—a little boy who was diagnosed with pyloric stenosis. He had surgery to correct it, but I could be so far off the mark, I decide to say nothing to Vi and Jack about it. I’d rather not scare them into thinking he needs surgery if he doesn’t.

I pull on a pair of jogging pants, commando, a shelf bra tank top and a sweater. I steal a ponytail holder and throw my hair up as I rush out the front door and into Jack’s waiting SUV. He pulls out before I barely get the door closed. I look down at Gavin who’s fallen asleep again. I place my finger an inch beneath his nose so I’m able feel his hot breath, letting me know he’s still okay.

I notice his chest clip on his car seat is down by his belly, but decide to slip it up silently, as I’m sure Violet was upset and didn’t even think about it. I’ve drilled car seat safety into her ear for nine months, and I know something had to penetrate. I just want to keep the little guy safe.

“Can you tell us what’s going on?” Jack asks in a shaky voice from the front seat.

“Take a deep breath. He’s going to be fine. I think he just needs to be checked out by a doctor. I may have seen it before, but I’m not certain. It could be nothing but a touch of the flu, too. I didn’t see it while it was happening,” I answer, trying to keep my cool.

I look over at Violet and Jack who are absolute messes. I would have loved to be wrong, but Gavin is now in surgery to repair his pyloric stenosis. It’s a fairly simple procedure, we’re told, and is pretty common in first born males. It’s a narrowing of the opening between the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. The doctors said that we were incredibly lucky to have found it so early. He was barely even dehydrated when we arrived, unlike most babies who are suffering from it. After spending hours running tests, pushing fluids, and then prepping him for surgery, we’re all beat.

“I’m going to go grab some coffee, do you girls need anything?” Jack asks.

“I’ll have one, too,” I reply.

“Me too,” Violet says. Jack nods and walks out of the room, shoulders sunken in, utterly defeated.

“I’m so sorry, Vi. I wish I had been wrong.”

“He’s tough, he’ll pull through,” she says, giving my hand a squeeze.

I nod, and we sit in silence for a moment before she speaks up again.

“Who was that, and what was going on, Lana? To be honest, I’m pretty freaked about that, too,” she says in a worried voice.

“Oh shit, I left him in my house!” I whisper, my anxiety rising.

“I’m sure he can find his way out. Now, stop avoiding the question. I didn’t know you were into that stuff Lana, and I’m your best friend,” she says, hurt.

“Honestly. I’m not; he just has this way about him. His voice, his body, I was extremely intoxicated, and I just wanted to get laid. It’s been years since I’ve been with someone, and he was good looking. I swear I didn’t know he was into that stuff. I can’t even believe I let him do it,” I say, feeling humiliated.

“I guess … it just doesn’t seem like you at all,” she says cautiously.

“Says the girl who once had a threesome with two guys from our high school football team,” I say with a tired laugh.

“Shut your dirty mouth. Jack would freak if he knew that—also, so not the same thing. None of them tied me up, and did weird things to me,” she whisper yells.

“I know. I honestly have no idea what came over me. It was fun until …” I stop, wondering if this is the sort of thing I should even be telling her. For heaven’s sake, her son is in surgery, and I’m rambling on about my sex life.

“Until what?” she asks, intrigued. I notice it’s taken her mind off Gavin for a while, and I know she can keep a secret from anyone but Jack, so why the hell not.

“Well, he kind of choked me. But not in a bad way,” I say hurriedly.

“WHAT!” Vi screams.

“Shut up, someone is going to hear your big mouth,” I scold. “He asked me if I trusted him and then put his hands around my neck. At first it was really hot, you know, giving someone that kind of power, but then I started to panic a little,” I say uncomfortably. What the hell had I been thinking?

“Did he notice you panicking and then let go or something?”

“No, no he didn’t see my face, he couldn’t have known. It was really dark in there. I mean I was totally fine; you came in just then. The sex was … interesting to say the least.” I laugh.

“Did you just pick him up at a bar, Lana? That’s incredibly dangerous!” she scolds.

“I can’t believe I’m being lectured by you, of all people. Queen of the one-night stand,” I retort and immediately regret it. “I’m sorry, Vi … I didn’t mean that, I’m just sick of being alone.”

“I know. I’m sorry, too. I guess I’m not one to judge. That stuff just freaks me the hell out. I thought it was like for gothic people or something?” she asks.

“Shh,” I say, hushing her as I spot Jack coming down the hall with a tray full of coffee cups.

We spend the next hour watching cartoons on the tiny television in the waiting room before the doctor arrives with good news. Gavin did wonderfully and after a few days recovery, should be able to return home. We pull into a group hug, thankful that our little man is such a trooper.

I realize I’m without a wallet or a vehicle. Jack and Violet clearly aren’t leaving. Shit. I’m going to need to suck it up, pull up my big girl panties, and be prepared to grovel. Only I’m not wearing panties at the moment. This should be interesting.

I watch as Hoss’s black Avalanche pulls up in front of the hospital. He leans over and opens the door for me, and I climb in sleepily, barely able to keep my eyes open.

“Hey, you don’t look so good,” he says as I lay my head up against the window.

“Gee, thanks Hoss. You really know how to make a girl feel beautiful,” I mutter, eyes closed. I feel him reach over and pull my belt around me. I don’t protest. I’m seconds away from passing out.

“Why didn’t you guys call me last night? I could have at least brought you better coffee than that hospital swamp water,” he says.

“It was hard enough to form a coherent thought,” I say yawning. “I thought I told you to go and have a good night anyway.”

“I was worried about you all night, so I waited for you to call me to come pick you up.”

I yawn again. “Don’t worry about it. I made it home just fine,” I say, vaguely aware that I’m falling asleep.

I wake up to Hoss scooping me up under my legs and pulling a strong arm around my back. I tell my mind to argue, but I just can’t seem to get the thought processed from my brain to my mouth. I sigh and lay my head against his chest.

“You smell good,” I mutter, without thinking. I feel his chest rise and fall as he chuckles. His keys jingle, and soon he’s carrying me into my house.

“Whoa, Lana wake up,” he shouts, as he sets me down roughly. I start to sway and open my eyes curiously.

We’re in my bedroom where my pillows are thrown on top of my dresser; picture frames are knocked over, blankets and sheets thrown across the room. Unfortunately, that’s not even the worst of it. The satin ties that bound my wrists and ankles are still attached to the bedposts. Luckily, the rest has disappeared along with Alec. I look over at Hoss, who has gone into full detective mode, gun drawn as he starts searching my room.

“Easy there, Colombo,” I say, plopping down in my bed. I’m far too tired to be mortified. “I left it like this.”

“What the hell do you mean you left it like this?” he snarls.

“Look, thanks for the drive home. Must sleep now.” I curl up into a ball, wishing I had picked up my pillow and blanket first.

“Lana, mind telling me what the hell is going on here?”

“I did what you do every night. I made it a good one. Now pass me my blanket and pillow, and leave me be,” I whisper.

I hear Hoss shout, “Fuck!” just before I hear him slam his fists into my beautiful, pale yellow walls.

“What in the hell!” I yell, rolling over to see the damage.

“Who?” he hollers back at me. “Who in the hell ties up a girl?” He is absolutely furious, and his face shows no signs of remorse for the damage he did to my poor wall.

“Oh, like you’ve never done it. Don’t act all high and mighty on me, Weston Hoss. Get out of my house now!” I shriek, using all the energy I have left in me.

He picks the blanket up off the floor and chucks it at me. “This conversation is not over! Did you even know the guy Lana? Do you know what kind of fucking sickos are out there? I do! I deal with them every single day,” he growls, storming out of my room.

I groan in frustration and then roll over, falling asleep without a second thought as to what an idiot friend I’m stuck with.

I wake up sometime later, feeling incredibly thirsty. I stumble out of bed, use the bathroom, and brush my teeth before heading into the kitchen. I grab a glass and fill it from the tap. I turn to sit down at my kitchen table and notice the time. Seven o’clock! Holy crap, did I seriously sleep that long? And did Hoss actually punch a hole in the wall? I forgot to look on my way out.

Hypocritical maniac.

My house phone rings, and I grunt. I pray my next mom didn’t go into labor weeks early. I’m so not ready to deal with that right now. I check my caller ID, and as luck would have it, it’s my mom.

“Hey Mom,” I answer.

“Hey Lana, finally. I’ve only been calling for the last five hours. Where have you been?” she asks, worrying in her typical Mom fashion.

“Asleep, Mom. I was at the hospital last night; Gavin had surgery.” She had stopped by earlier in the week to meet Gavin and bring a gift for him, and lasagna for the rest of us. That’s my mom; she hasn’t slowed down any, even in retirement.

“Weston was saying.”

“When were you talking to Hoss?” I ask, now worried about what he told her. He wouldn’t … I’ll kill him.

“Now, don’t change the subject, Lana; that’s not very polite,” she scolds gently.

“I have no idea Mom. I seriously just dragged myself out of bed. I was going to call in a minute. He was fine when I left this morning; Violet and Jack stayed the night. The hospital gave them a cot beside his incubator. Now when were you talking to Hoss?” I ask again.

“Oh, he stopped by here earlier, mowed the lawn and everything. I gave him some of my freshly squeezed lemonade and some blueberry cobbler to take back home. I should have cooked him a dish, though. Drats! Why didn’t I think of that earlier? That boy can’t boil water. Maybe I’ll make him some …” she drones on, but I stop listening. I’m content that at least he didn’t tattle, as Rhett would have done.

“… Does that sound good, Lana?” she asks.

“Ah, sorry, what?”

“I was just saying I think I’ll invite him up for dinner tomorrow. You should come, too. I’ll make chili and corn bread,” she says excitedly.

I weigh my options: Mom’s chili is incredible; her corn bread is to die for. Unfortunately, my hatred for Hoss may just outweigh that right now. The man punched a hole in my damn wall after trying to make me feel like shit for something he does almost daily!

“I’m busy tomorrow Mom, but maybe I’ll drop by another day this week,” I promise.

“All right Lana, make sure you do. Your dad and I really miss you around here. Now call and check on that baby, will ya?”

“Will do Mom, love you. Give Dad a kiss for me, too,” I say, hanging up the phone.

I call the hospital and punch in Gavin’s room number. Violet answers on the second ring.

“Hey Vi, how did things go today?”

“Not bad; he’s awake now. They’re giving him something for the pain, but they’re still saying the same thing. He’s going to be just fine. We’ll probably get to come home the day after tomorrow,” she says longingly. “I have to admit, after all of this, I’m so thankful you talked me into that home birth. It’s just so nerve-wracking around here.”