CHAPTER 26
Ainsleigh
T he baby’s room was officially complete. Aspen and I spent countless hours making sure all the finishing touches were placed. We ordered several items we found online, and I swore I’d drive Gentry nuts with each item I continued to buy, but he seemed excited to have each piece arrive just as much as I did. I couldn’t believe we were this prepared with two more months left to go. The first time he felt the baby kick a few weeks ago we both cried. Now I longed for each movement he or she made. Even if it was to my bladder which seemed to be every five minutes. I’d never take any kick or punch this little one gave me for granted. No matter how uncomfortable I got at night, I welcomed each and every one.
Today Aspen and I decided to follow Dylan and Gentry into town. Dylan was helping Gentry with picking up some items for the ranch, while Aspen and I decided to enjoy lunch at a sandwich shop and go window shopping.
With a full belly, we walked down the sidewalk. Winter was in full force, and it was freezing outside. The shops windows were covered with Christmas decorations and people hustled around us to get their shopping completed. I took a sip of my hot chocolate as we walked past one of the country stores. The owner made all of the woodwork by hand, and his pieces were beautiful.
“Let’s go in here. I’m freezing, and I love looking around this shop,” I told Aspen as I pulled open the door.
The smell of wood hit me as soon as we walked inside. I loved the smell of this place almost as much as I loved admiring his work.
“This place is beautiful,” Aspen replied as she took in the beauty before her.
He made everything from bed frames to tables to rocking chairs. My favorite was this wooden cradle that I’d been eyeing since I went shopping for the nursery months ago. The wood was stained a dark cherry. The cradle stood about as tall as my waist. I walked over to it, and I ran my fingers along the grain as I admired the piece once more.
“Well, well, well. I see you’ve gotten your hooks in my son yet again,” I heard from beside me. That woman’s voice alone made my skin crawl. It was worse than hearing nails go slowly down a chalkboard.
I turned to face her without showing an ounce of fear. She took in the sight of me, immediately noticing how round my stomach was.
Her lips pursed together just before she spewed more of her venom.
“Don’t you think one mistake was enough? You had to go and get knocked up yet again. Did you not learn enough from the last time?”
“Listen here, you evil…” Aspen started from the other side of me, but I held up my hand to stop her. This was my fight. I loved that she wanted to fight this battle for me. But it was past time I stood up to this evil witch. She wouldn’t say one hateful word about my unborn child. Not in front of me at least.
“I, personally, don’t care what you think. You don’t need to ever utter another word about my daughter. Your granddaughter. Or have you forgotten that lovely fact? You don’t even know what you’re mad about anymore, do you? My great-grandfather purchased that land. Get the fuck over yourself. Everyone else in my family has. The Parkhurst’s started this feud. My family wants nothing to do with it anymore. Your son has been welcomed with open arms into my family. I guess they had no other choice. Especially now that we’re married,” I seethed.
She gasped at the last words I said letting me know she hadn’t heard the good news.
I smiled at her shocked expression, thankful that I was the one to tell her. Seeing that made my damn day.
“He wouldn’t have married you. He wouldn’t have crossed his father and I that way.”
“Oh, but he did. You can even check public records. Our marriage license is on file. He even wears my grandfather’s wedding band on his left finger,” I told her, knowing she’d hate that fact even more.
“You’ll never be part of this family. I’ll see to it. You nor that brat you’re carrying!”
That’s when I snapped. She tried to walk away, but I grabbed her arm and gripped it as tight as I could as I turned her around so she could hear what I had to say.
“That’s the last fucking time you say anything about my unborn child. I’m part of your family whether you agree or not. My last name is Parkhurst just like yours. This baby’s last name will be Parkhurst. Courtright and Parkhurst blood runs through his or her veins.”
“I don’t give a damn. I’ll get my son back from your grasp.”
“I don’t think so, lady. Your son loves me. I love him. He loves this baby. He won’t choose you. I guarantee that,” I warned.
My stomach started to cramp from the stress, but I ignored it and rubbed my stomach as I continued my rant.
“Your son doesn’t even care that you’re not in his life. You should be proud of yourself. You succeed in turning him against you. I had nothing to do with that. You did. And you alone. How does your husband and other children feel about that fact?”
I let go of her and went to walk away from her. I was done with this conversation. I’d had enough of her hatred, and I felt better now that I’d stood up to her.
“You don’t get to walk away from you me, you little bitch,” she said as she pulled me by the arm back to where she stood.
“I advise you to let go of her now, Mother,” Gentry said from behind me causing me to jump.
“Gentry. You didn’t hear the awful things she said to me. She started this mess,” his mother tried to say, but he wasn’t having it.
“She’s a damn liar, Gentry. Ainsleigh said nothing to her until she started in on her,” Aspen said with a look of satisfaction on her face.
I looked over my shoulder to notice that Dylan stood tall right beside Gentry, both instantly on protective alert.
“Gentry,” his mother started to plead, reaching out to touch his arm.
He backed away just before she could touch him.
“Don’t even try it. This is what you wanted. Live with it. She’s my wife and mother to my children. Don’t you dare even try that innocent act with me. I’m where I want to be. You’re where you want to be. End of story. Don’t come near her again or you’ll regret it. You won’t be allowed near our child. That’s your cross to bear. Not mine. I don’t regret my choice. Do you? If so, I don’t care. I’m not coming back.”
“You’ll give up your birthright for her? How could you?”
“She’s worth it. I’m where I belong. Live with your decision. It doesn’t even cross my mind anymore,” he said as he linked his fingers within mine and led us out of the store.
The coldness hit me when we walked outside and another cramp hit, causing me to stop walking and grab my stomach.
“What’s wrong, Ainsleigh?” Gentry asked, worry filled his tone.
“I don’t know. It started in the store. I’m sure it’s nothing,” I said, trying to stand up straight, and without the ability to do so. The pain didn’t ease up like it had the last time.
“We’re going to the hospital. Don’t fight me on this. Dylan, can you drive my truck? I’m going to take her in the Jeep.”
Dylan agreed as we all walked to the parking lot of the feed store.
I tried not to let the worry show, but I knew I failed in my attempt.
I kept my arms cradled around my stomach and prayed inwardly that I didn’t let that woman get to me enough to put our baby in harm’s way. I’d never forgive myself if I had.
We arrived at the hospital in record time thanks to Gentry breaking every speed limit on the way. Dylan followed closely behind us and arrived just as we walked through the automatic doors. I was rushed up to the maternity floor and immediately placed on monitors. We waited patiently for the doctor to arrive to examine me.
I looked over at the monitor. The heartbeat echoed throughout the room causing some of the worry to ease. A steady one hundred and forty-two beats per minute showed on the screen.
“You’ve got to be okay, little one. It’s not time for you to come out just yet, okay?” I whispered to the baby while I rubbed my hand back and forth above the monitor. A soft kick greeted my caress like he or she was trying to give me sign.
Gentry sat in the chair beside the bed. His foot bounced up and down at a steady pace. He wasn’t looking at me. His elbows rested on his knees. His hands held the weight of his head.
“Give me your hand,” I said to him as I held out mine.
He looked up at me with tears in his eyes as he complied.
I placed his hand on my stomach and waited for the little one to kick yet again.
“Give your daddy the same sign you gave me, sweetheart,” I said as I rubbed his hand over my baby bump.
Seconds later, I felt the jolt beneath my stomach right under where his hand laid.
“See. He or she is perfectly fine,” I tried to reassure him.
He smiled a weak smile as he continued to rub the spot the baby had just kicked.
Every few seconds the baby kicked Gentry’s hand.
We sat there in silence as we both enjoyed the confirmation from the baby that everything would be fine.
A knock sounded at the door before it opened, and the doctor walked in.
“How are you feeling, Ainsleigh?”
“The cramping is gone now.”
“That’s good. The baby’s heartrate is strong, and there aren’t any contractions on the monitor. Your blood pressure was a little high when you got here, but it’s slowly going down. I’m going to keep you just a little longer before I let you go home. But I want you on bedrest for the next week and no stress. I’m not taking any chances,” she said.
The baby was okay.
He or she wasn’t going to be born early.
I could handle bedrest.
As long as the baby was okay, I’d do anything to keep him or her safe.
I nodded my understanding before she made some notes and walked out of the room.
“The baby’s fine,” I repeated, taking Gentry’s hand in mine.
“This is all my fault,” he whispered so low I almost didn’t hear him.
“How can you say that?”
“Because she’s my mother.”
“You can’t control that woman. She did what she did with no regard for me or our baby. You didn’t cause her to be that way. You’re nothing like her.”
“I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if the outcome had been different,” he admitted, but he didn’t have anything to be worried about. The outcome wasn’t different.
“You don’t need to think about that. The baby is healthy and fine. So am I.”
“I love you, Ainsleigh. You and our baby.”
“I know you do. And we love you. Now please stop worrying and blaming yourself.”
I don’t know how I hid my own concern, but I did what I needed to do to comfort my husband. He didn’t need to see that now. He needed me to be strong for him, and that’s what he got.
“I’ll try, but I’m telling you right now. I meant what I said. She won’t like the outcome if she tries something else. I won’t let her harm you or our child.”
“I know you did, and I love you for protecting us. Are you ready to serve me all day?” I tried to joke to lighten the mood. We’d had enough stress for the day.
“Are you ready for me to dictate when you can get out of the bed? You know I won’t let you move unless it’s necessary,” he joked.
Let the fun begin.