Zeke
They had been holed up at Woodbrook for two days in lustful bliss. They’d made love several times, chopped wood, listened to old blues albums on a battery-operated tape player, and eaten all their supplies.
“I’m going to head to the nearest grocery store for food,” Zeke said, pulling on his coat. “It’s part of a gas station in the middle of nowhere – completely safe.”
“Can I come too?” Sophie asked.
Maybe she didn’t want to be left here alone. Fair enough. “OK. Sure.” It was safer to keep her by his side at all times anyway, he figured.
At the store, Sophie wandered off, which caused Zeke to stiffen up and keep watch momentarily before he realized she was heading for the “feminine products” and told himself to loosen up and give her space. She didn’t have to be under his wing every second.
She bought something at the counter quickly and returned to his side with the items in a brown paper bag under her arm.
Zeke chose meat, vegetables, and pasta – enough for a few days’ meals – and they made their way back to the cabin. They’d been so loved up there, he’d almost forgotten it was a safe house and not a love shack. They’d have to get serious about making plans. They’d call Stephan and Nathan later and see if there had been any developments. He wanted to get back into the thick of it and get on with the case, but at the same time felt the need to keep Sophie away from it all, where nothing could harm her. But hiding out in the cabin wasn’t really getting them anywhere.
Later that evening, Zeke called to Sophie that dinner was ready. He placed steaming plates of beef stir fry and noodles on the table, but when he looked up to see Sophie in the doorway, he stopped and rushed to her. “Are you OK?”
She was pale and moving slowly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... tired I guess,” she said, smiling. He could tell it was a forced smile.
They sat in silence and ate. Well, Zeke ate, while Sophie pushed her food around on the plate for a minute before putting her fork down and sighing.
“Actually, I’m not OK,” she said softly. “I’m sorry to ruin this lovely meal. You’ve made all this effort, and I... I’m a mess.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked, leaning one hand across the table to touch hers.
“I took a test.”
He frowned. “What kind of.... Oh.” His mouth hung open.
“Yeah... that kind. And, it turns out... I’m pregnant.”
“Shit. I mean, wow. In a good way,” he said, his eyes wide. He dropped his fork on his plate and smoothed his hands down his jaw as he turned over the words.
“I don’t know what I expect you to do,” Sophie said, her eyes misting over with tears. “Run, probably.”
“Hell no,” he said, suddenly jumping out of his seat and kneeling on the floor next to her chair. “I’d never do that. I’ll stand by you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Cause you have to? You don’t have to.”
“No, not that. I want to. I know it’s not been very long but... I’m falling in love with you. I’m not going anywhere.”
Tears ran down her pale cheeks, and Zeke wiped them away with his thumbs. “In fact, I think you should be my wife. We should do this right.”
“Whoa,” she said, placing one hand on his chest. “Don’t be crazy. We barely know each other.”
“But we’re going to be parents,” he said with a grin. “We’ve already taken things that far. Shit, that sounds crazy when I say it out loud. But how can it be wrong? I know you feel it too – the connection. How many people go on to have kids who don’t feel half of what we feel already?”
“True,” she agreed, nodding and wiping her eyes with the napkin from the table.
“We would be a family,” he added, taking hold of her hands. “The family you’ve always wanted.”
She smiled. “Let me think about it before I say yes.”
“So, you’re going to say yes?” he said with a grin, which caused her to laugh.
He put his arms around her and hugged her so tight. He meant every word he’d said. He would rise to the challenge – be enough for her, protect her... and their child.