Judged By You (Judge Me Series) (32 page)

When I turned my head to look at Nicole she was crying. I put my arms around her and hugged h
er. “What is wrong with you now?”

“You are doing so much for me Savannah. I don’t know how I will every repay you
.” She whispered.

“I don’t want you to repay me Nic so stop with all the tears. This is always going to be your home. Even when you find someone special and get married you don’t even have to leave than. I want you here always
.”

“What if you get married and want to move out
.” She asked me looking from me to Damon.

I looked up at him too. He stood there not saying anything; the smile on his face wasn’t shocked or worried. I had never talked about marriage for anything with Damon so I had no idea if that was a possibility one day. Firstly we needed to get on the same level, and I wasn’t sure if he left the same about me as I did him.

“If and when it happens.” I said simply.

“Come on seriously
,” Nicole shouted, looking at me then Damon. “You two are going to get married right.”

“Nic…..” I started.

“One day.” Damon said, before walking over to me and sealing his lips over mine.

Chapter 13

It’s been five days since the comment that Damon made in the kitchen, and I am still thinking about it. I didn’t ask or say anything after wards. Nicole got all mushy on me by telling me that he was in love with me, and she asked me if I was in love with him. I denied it of course; I didn’t need her pestering me to confess to him. I don’t think she believed me though, she does know me too well. Damon has stayed at my house every night since then, and it feels so good to fall asleep and wake up to him. I don’t actually get up with him of a morning though; he is up way too early for my liking. Derek has also been staying with us. He has helped me the past two days clean out Stephens’s room for his impending arrival home….. Which is today.

The doctor told us yesterday that his recovery would be slow, but he will get there. He has Physio to attend three times a week, which starts next week. We are still waiting on news from Carter about Anger Management, Drug Rehab and community service. I haven’t heard from Carter since that night, but I have a feeling he will be there today when I go with Derek to pick up Stephen. I and Damon have not talked anymore about that night either. For some reason
,  I don’t doubt that Damon has demons hiding in his closet, but until he is ready to talk about them, I guess I have to be patient and not ask.

Derek is coming to pick me up on the way to the hospital. I have been so busy and caught up in life that I haven’t had a chance to take the Dodge to get a service. But since Stephen will be home I will make him, and Derek do it. I know it’s overdue for one; it’s been ages, not to mention my poor baby needs a good wash. I did however
, take demon on the Harley the other day, and he loved it. I smile at the thought as I throw on my yellow sundress. I rummage through my cupboard to find my sandals knowing that Derek will be back soon. He had to go and do some work for a friend from what I understood.

I finish apply a light cover of makeup and head down stairs. Nicole has an appointment at the hospital today to meet her OBGYN, so she is also coming with us.

“You look hot Savannah. Is Damon coming to the hospital to?” She asked, assessing my outfit again. “Yellow suits you Sav.”

“Thanks
Nic, and no. He has a crucial meeting or something today.” I say. I did ask him if he wanted to come, but he couldn’t get out of a meeting he had planned. He had works to Derek about keeping me away from Carter and not leaving me alone with him. It kind of worried me that maybe he was worried about Carter telling me something he shouldn’t. And as much as I wanted to know, I wanted to trust Damon, and I do.

“Oh that’s right. He said something about that last night
.” Nicole poured two cups of coffee, handing me one when she finished adding milk.

“I never asked you, but do you have a problem with Da
mon being here?” I know it was my house and all, but I have been drilling into Nicole lately that it’s her home too. And I honestly should have asked her what she thought about it. I knew I would be having the same conversation with Stephen today.

“I like him Savannah. I don’t care if he stays here you know this. I’m so happy for you seriously. I have never seen you so smitten before. It’s lovely to see you less on edge and happy. Since he has com
e into your life, you seem….. I don’t know…. Free?” Nicole waves her hand emphasising the word “free”.

“He makes me happy and free as you say. I’m worried about Stephen’s reaction
.” I admit sitting down at the table.

“He is OK with it. He commented on how happy you look
ed the other day when I went to visit him.” Nicole said sipping her coffee.

“I can’t wait for Stephen to come home. Life’s going to get busy, but
it will be worth it in the end.” I smile at the thought of having him home.

Silence washes over us as we just sit and drink our coffees. Nicole has been a little stressed lately. Her talk with her mum and dad didn’t go to well, they wanted Nicole to look into fetal reduction, but she refused. And I fully supported her choice to refuse. I will be here to help her every step of the way, Derek has also said he would pitch in and do “night shift feeds” when the babies come along which I thought was totally sweet, and a hugely responsible thing for him to say. Damon also said he would be here to help when she needed.

A knock came from the door.

“
You expecting someone?”I asked Nicole.

She shook her head in response.

When I opened the door, I was greeted by a large wicker basket over flowing with flowers. The basket dropped, and an old man’s face came into view.

“Savannah
?” He asked.

“Yes
.”

He handed me the basket with a smile and wink before retreating down the stairs and down the path. I closed the door and walked over to the table.

“Someone loves you.” Nicole said plucking the card from the basket.

Nicole’s eyes scanned the card than she looked to me. My heart sank. Was it awful?

“Savannah, this is beautiful.” She whispered.

Right at that moment Derek walked through the door. He looked at the basket than grabbed the card out of Nicole’s hand as she went to hand it to me. I rolled my eyes and tried to grab it back off him. He ran around the table like a child while he mumbled what was on the card.

“Holy shit, he loves you Sav.” Derek said handing me the card.

It read;

“
Each night when the world is quiet and still,

You smile and the magic moments we share

Crowded my mind. Then I find myself missing you

Even though your there with me”. Damon xo

It was so sweet of him, something pulled on my heart strings a little and I wanted to cry.
Tears of joy and happiness. But I held them back. I smiled, then leaned in to smell the natural scent of the flowers. They were beautiful. And all my favourite flowers too.

“He is sweet
.” I said to whoever was listening.

“He’s soft. Now it’s time to go
.” Derek said picking up my coffee and finishing it.

“Hey. I wanted that
.” I complained.

“You can get one at the hospital
.” Than he was walking out the door.

Nicole and I followed Derek out to the hummer. Like a five year old, Nicole called “shot gun” and attempted to run down the path. I laughed when she
almost went arse up, but she quickly recovered herself to get to the passenger door first. I didn’t mind riding in the back, the car was spacious enough, and it was just as comfortable.

I noticed Derek’s driving was unusually calm and slow, which was not him at all.

“Did you get a notice or something?” I asked with a smirk.

“No, why do you say that
?” Derek asked to look at me through the revision mirror.

“You’re driving like a grandma
.” I laughed.

“We have precious cargo on board you know
.” Derek said reaching out and rubbing Nicole stomach. Nicole hit his hand away when he touched her.

I shook my head at them. Nicole and Derek got along remarkably well. They were both easy enough to get along with, come to think about it they were both every much alike. I saw both of them as family without a doubt. I could never
imagine my life without them in it. They were both too valuable to me. Derek still hadn’t heard from Angel, but he seemed more relaxed and happy.

When we arrived at the hospital
, my nerves kicked in. I was nervously happy that Stephen was coming home; I have waited years for him to be back in the house. And I was going to do everything to keep him on the straight and narrow, Derek and I talked about it for hours a few days ago. His former boss told Derek he would give him his job back as soon he was ready to return to work. Derek grabbed my hand, and we walked inside.

“I will catch up with you at home
.” Nicole said when we got to the elevators.

“How are you getting home
?” I asked.

“I will come back and get her when she is done
.” Derek said with a smile.

“Okay. Good luck and see you at home
.” I gave Nicole a quick hug then entered the elevator with Derek.

As soon as the doors opened on the surgical floor Carter was standing there talking to the prison guards. He stopped talking and looked at me. I didn’t know what to say or do at this point. I owed him a lot really, for everything he has done, but I didn’t want to upset Damon. He nodded his hello, and I waved, Derek didn’t say anything he just dragged me along the corridor to Stephens room. The single guard got up off the chair when we entered the room and offered it to me.

Stephen was sitting on the other chair with his eyes glued to the television to notice us walking in. Derek slapped him on the back, and Stephen registered our presence.

“Hey Sav
.” Stephen said with a smile.

“You ready to come home
?” I asked, leaning into him.

“
Abso-fucking-lutely,” He replied with a huge smile. “I have to wait for the Doc to give me the discharge papers and than Carter has to give me some shit. But after then I’m good to go.”

“I can’t wait to have you home. I have those plans ready for you to
.” I had spoken to Stephen about the house renovations the other day, and he was just as keen as I was for them. This shocked me to be honest.

“Sweet.
Get the fucking ball rolling as soon as possible, so it’s done.” He replied.

I talked to Stephen about what plans I had in place and what I wanted his opinion on to pass the time. Derek put in his two cents worth, and we agreed that he had some pretty good ideas. I wanted to renovate the lounge, dining and kitchen and open it all up. Then I wanted to get another bathroom built upstairs and renovate the side of the house were Nicole’s room was. We decided not to build a flat as the house was more than suitable for her to stay inside. Derek told us what his plans were for his house, which wasn’t much since it had been principally renovated just before he moved in, but he still wanted to change a few things.
One being, removal of the stripper pole in the main bedroom. He tried to tell us about the time that Angel landed in an awkward position and hurt his private parts. We were all pretty quick to tell him to shut up. He just laughed it off. The question was; what was he doing with his legs wrapped around the bottom of the pole in the first place?

The doctor entered with Carter in tow almost an hour later. We all left the room while the doctor did a final assessment.  Nicole was waiting outside when we exited the room.

“You’re finished already?”

“More like traumatised.
I have been told that I can’t run anymore after twenty weeks that I will have a caesarean section, and I will be on bed rest a lot.” She huffed.

“You can still do yoga though
? And you need your rest, your growing my nieces and nephews in there.” I said with a smile.

“They are all boys okay. I don’t want girls
.” Nicole bit out. I noticed she got cranky when she was hungry. I dug around in my bag and found a muesli bar. I handed it to her; she snatched it off me and opened it.

“Thanks. I’m always fucking hungry
.” She said biting off a bit.

We all laughed.
Including Carter who was standing opposite me. His eyes met mine, and he winked at me. What the hell?

The doctor came out and told
us we could go back inside. Once we all got inside, the doctor began talking.

“My final assessment is good. Stephen will do Physio three times a week for six weeks th
en it will be once a week for ten weeks. He needs plenty of rest, no vigorous activities. No drinking or doing drugs,” The doctor opened his chart and flicked over a few pages. “Your drug test came back clear. Anyway, you can’t drive for another five weeks either. I want you back for a follow up appointment in four weeks. For the pain,  you can take the over the counter pain relief which was opted by you.”