CHAPTER 19
Everly cried against the wall as Doc plunged into her, faster and harder until she gripped him tighter, coming down around him, bringing him to his finish as well. Doc carried her to the bed, laying her down gently before collapsing beside her, both glistening in sweat, trying to catch their breaths.
“Wow, that was… That was…” Everly couldn’t complete her thought with her words still trapped somewhere between ecstasy and calm.
“Something else…it was something else.”
“I don’t know what got into you, but I liked it. They say the man gets sympathy pains and gains sympathy weight…maybe you have sympathy hormones. If so, I hope they stick around.”
He laughed at her wild assessment while standing in agreement that they were really good together in this way and he hoped it never stopped. “I’m just making up for lost time. I felt like I still owed you a few rounds…playing catch up.”
“Is that what this is? Well, then, yes…you still have a ways to go Doc…might take a lifetime.”
He rolled over to face her, his hand on her face taking the silliness to serious. “I’d love nothing more, Evie. I will spend my life catching up
and doing whatever I can to keep you happy.”
“I know you will. I love you Mason Charles. More today than even yesterday.”
“Wow, it was that good? Note to self, my lady likes it against that wall over there.”
She playfully swatted his ass earning her a deep seductive kiss that was blazing hot and stirring a tingle that would require another wall. The moment dampened like a cold shower when Everly’s stomach rumbled with a long drawn out growl, causing them to laugh.
“So, I guess we won’t be finishing this up,” Doc joked, moving down her body, resting his head on her belly. “Mommy’s hungry kiddo, or is this you reminding us you’re in the room?”
She laughed at his teasing, running her hands through his hair, enjoying the cute conversation he was having with the baby. He continued to talk, causing a different stir that made itself known in that moment. Doc’s head shot up, eyes full of joy, when he felt the baby.
“He just kicked me! He kicked me in my face! Ev…that was him, right? He just…moved and stuff!”
“Yes…he or she
just kicked you in your face.” She laughed.
Doc rested his forehead on her belly again and spoke to the baby. “I should ground you for that, but you get a pass because how were you supposed to know that was my face with mom in the way and stuff? And because it was really fucking cute.”
“Language,” Everly scolded through her giggles.
“I mean…stinking, really stinking cute. That was like a tiny little foot – he’s strong!”
“Yes, he or she
is very strong, just ask my bladder and right kidney.”
“Ev, this is so surreal. I mean, we studied this stuff in school, we’ve both treated plenty of pregnant women and delivered babies, but this…it’s like nothing I could have imagined.”
“I know. I feel the same way. We made this little person that we get to love forever and I’m growing it…like right now…and it’s moving and reacts to different things more and more like he or she has a personality already. Surreal.”
Sliding up the length of her body, Doc left a hand on the round of her belly resting his head in the crook of her neck, peppering her with kisses. “I love you, Ev. So damn much it hurts. Thank you for this, for having our baby and for finally loving me back. This…this is everything.”
Everly was overwhelmed by the emotions he stirred in her. There was so much to say, to share with him, but the words were more than she could speak. Sometimes the most profound words were those that were never spoken. Those are the words that filled your heart and rested in your soul, bringing you comfort on your best days as much as your worst days. Doc claimed her heart, flooded her soul and was her everything on her best as well as her worst days.
Another growl from her stomach crippled the sweet sentimental moment, ending it in laughter.
“I think the baby wants ice cream.” She said.
“Ice cream? We don’t have any ice cream.”
“But the baby really
wants ice cream…and the baby loves you a lot.”
Amusement danced in his expression at her attempts to bribe him. “Fine, I’ll go get you some.”
“The baby…you’re getting it for the baby.”
“I stand corrected, I’ll get some for the baby. You can return the favor later though.” He crawled off the bed, pulling her up with him, holding her in a long kiss and smacked her ass before slipping into some sweats and a t-shirt and leaving for the store.
Walking out the door, he heard her holler from behind, “Hey, maybe some brownies too…and cookies! Yeah, cookies!”
“How about I just get cookie dough ice cream and cookies and cream ice cream…it’s all mixed in already.”
“No, it’s not the same. Not the same at all, don’t ever say that again. Oh…and marshmallows…we need those too…the little ones!”
Laughing, he asked, “Anything else…for the baby?
”
“Nope…just coconut. Don’t forget the coconut.”
The door closing behind him could be heard from the bedroom and she missed him already. Lying in bed, she thought about their whirlwind romance that started as anything but – and how quickly they reached this point. Thinking back, she loved him all along but ignored it – it wasn’t for her – until now. She couldn’t wait until he returned home, she was hungry, the ice cream was just a bonus.
With two bags of groceries on the seat next to him, Doc laughed at the ridiculousness that was in the bags. He laughed at Everly, adding to her list as he made his way out the door, the grocery clerk laughed at him when he saw the spread on the counter for check out. Doc grabbed all of the sugary fixes his girl had asked for, adding beef sticks, green olives, and pickles for good measure because by the time he got home, ice cream cravings may have transitioned to something salty.
God he loved her, and he’d buy any number of ridiculous food combinations for her. There isn’t much he wouldn’t do for her. She challenged him, humored him, and loved him. That was everything he wanted and needed.
Pulling on to their street, he noticed the light on at Lou’s next door. He parked in their driveway, but walked next door, nearly a whole city block between the homes, and tried the door. Everly must’ve gone next door for one reason or another, perhaps to check on the house, and decide what was needed for Lou’s return.
When he tried the door, it was locked, not unusual since she was by herself, it was dusk and things had been a bit off in their world. He knocked, waiting for her to answer so he could help her with whatever she was doing and get her back home and in bed…ice cream optional.
When she didn’t answer, an odd sense of foreboding overcame him and his knock became urgent and he yelled her name. She still didn’t answer and he started with the doorbell too. Knocking and yelling, he was becoming desperate when he heard her call his name from her front porch.
“What’s wrong, Mason? What are you doing over there?”
Relieved at the sight of her, he rushed across the adjoined lawn and pulled her into his arms, holding her tight.
“What’s going on, Doc…why are you so wound up?”
“I saw the lights on when I pulled in, and when you didn’t answer the door, I assumed something was wrong.”
“I’ve been here the whole time. I took a quick shower and changed is all. Nobody has been next door for weeks – since Blake came for Moonshine.”
“Then why are the lights on? Grab your key, the door’s locked.”
She quickly grabbed the keys from the entry table dish that sat right inside the door and started for Gran’s.
“Oh, no…you stay here.” Doc said, taking the keys from her hand.
“I’m not staying here, what if someone was in there, or is
in there?”
“Exactly…what if someone is in there…you are staying here.”
“Doc…why do you insist on learning things the hard way. I’m going with you, now let’s go.”
Picking his battles, he tucked her behind him and they walked back over to Lou’s. Oddly, the lights were all off when they returned and that taste of dread returned, settling in his gut. The two looked at each other before he keyed the lock and slowly turned the knob.
“Wait here,” he whispered, “let me check it out first.”
She nodded as he wandered in, waiting impatiently for him to return.
“Ev, get the light switch,” he said, and she flicked the switch on between the entry door and where she found Doc, Everly rushed to his side to see what the source of his vexing tone was. Nothing could have prepared her for what she was about to see and never be able to unsee. If there was ever a worry that something was awry or that someone was up to anything but good, that notion was now confirmed.
“Flowers,” she said, scanning the space, “there’s so many, it’s like…”
“Like a shrine.”
“Who would do this? Stone, maybe?” Everly questioned knowing Stone would be a stretch.
“No, he’d have no reason. Even if he did bring…all of these…why would he duck out? Someone was here, Ev. The lights were on. Call Blake, baby.”
Blake thoroughly searched the house, more than once, taking in everything he could while Logan was on the outside looking for traces of pretty much anything that could lend them a clue. There was nothing…just flowers. They found themselves in the same position they were previously at the hospital…flowers aren’t threatening.
“What do you think, Blake? Any ideas?” Doc asked.
“No. Nothing. It’s just flowers. I bet half the town has a key to this place from over the years, that’s just how McKenzie is. You go out of town and you have dozens of neighbors checking on the place.”
“So you don’t think it was someone breaking in? I mean, the lights were on, then off…there was clearly someone here, but they must’ve slipped out the back,” Everly defended.
“I agree someone was here…flowers.” Gesturing to the gobs of bouquets, Blake wasn’t trying to be an ass, but was trying to deflect a bit so she and Doc wouldn’t worry. “Look. Get the locks changed tomorrow. Logan has been doing drive-bys since the last incident, I’ll just have him park here tonight.”
A deep sigh of disappointment escaped Doc; he didn’t feel any better now than before, even if Logan was now assigned to his driveway, but it was what it was and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it but keep his girl close. He and Everly said their goodbyes and excused themselves back to their home to settle in for the night.
Blake did one last walk through, checking all of the doors and windows as he went. He stood in the doorway, ready to leave, taking one last glance over his shoulder before standing on the front step and scanning the area around them. Someone had definitely been there, many times.
There were light dusty dirt tracks, similar to those he saw at the hospital, and he suspected this had less and less to do with Lou, and more about a vantage point to watch someone else. Doc or Everly, he wondered. He couldn’t ignore that smell…it was there as boldly as it had been at the hospital and at Everly’s before.
Those oh so telling hairs at the back of his neck began to rise as they tended to do when there was menace in the air. He had a stalker in McKenzie Ridge and he would find out who it was, no matter the cost.