Chapter 5
Alec had a horrible night's sleep. It could be blamed on too much excitement. His life had been filled with work related items, work and True for as long as he could remember. It was usually him trying to stay away from the woman who could be a death sentence to him. His father had died because he loved too hard and it wasn’t difficult for him to believe it. The pain Zachary Haught had faced when his wife and mother of his children died during childbirth had to have been unbelievably unbearable. So much that his heart went bad and he died seven months after she did, leaving 3 small boys. This family had enough loss to last a lifetime.
The Haught Spot opened at noon during the weekdays and with Camden being out of town at the bar expo his brother had secretly charged the family with watching over his pregnant with twins wife, Gemmi. It wasn’t his turn, but he wished it was. Beau was in charge of her care so of course when he walked to his spot behind the bar, he was watching the waddling woman move menus and small items here and there throughout the place. Alec shook his head, but tried to stay out of people’s business.
“Hey Alec.” Gemmi huffed a bit like she was getting out of breath. Nothing better happen to this woman while he was around.
“Hey Gemmi. What are you doing?”
“Beau said to just fill in so that’s what I’m doing. I probably shouldn’t even be here, but I’m so bored and Camden said he was going to stop by here before he came home so I wanted to be here.”
Alec punched in the numbers to sign himself in on the register before turning around and looking at the dark haired woman who’d stolen his brother's heart.
“Hold on a minute.” He moved to the cabinet and took out papers and a stack of menus before walking to the end of the bar. “Come on down here and put these together for the night crowd.”
Gemmi stood still for a minute before walking slowly down to where the items to work on were placed. “I feel like you just want me down here so you can keep an eye on me.”
“You’re a Haught now Gemmi. I know you grew up an only child, but now you have two older brothers. We are going to watch out for you and we only want what’s best for you. I know you want to be helpful and you know I want you to be careful. Here is a way that we both get what we want.” He wasn’t sure he’d ever said those many words to her at one time and she looked like she was stunned that he could say that much, but she nodded and sat down.
“Well then I think that was a good bargain,” she said as she hopped up a bit awkwardly on the bar stool. It took her a few minutes, but she had an expression on her face like she’d climbed Mt. Rushmore.
“I think so too.” Alec turned to leave, but he was stopped by a slightly squeaky voice. “Alec?”
He didn’t say anything but he turned around and raised his eyebrows at her in response.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. Why do you ask?” He moved back toward her and leaned against the counter.
Now she looked at him like she shouldn’t have asked. He’d just stand there until she felt more comfortable.
“Well True is back from vacation and she’s just making all these plans that aren’t really like her. She seems borderline miserable and I wondered if you were too.” She looked like she was honestly asking something that was on her mind.
“I’m thinking some things through, little sis, don’t you worry.”
“If you say so, but know what I’m always here if you want to talk. My mouth is like a steel trap so anything you tell me stays with me.”
“I appreciate it. Honestly, I do.”
Walking away from Gemmi to the people who started to trickle in. He worked the whole bar in the afternoons so there were times it got busy. On a day like today, where he wanted to be busy, he hoped for lots of customers.
It was a few hours into the shift when he looked over and found a large red headed man sitting next to Gemmi. Somehow he missed the man’s entrance, but at least he wasn’t looking like he was in a rush.
“Hello there,” Alec said as he approached the end of the bar. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Welcome to The Haught Spot. What can I get you?”
The man looked over at Alec with a smile. “Thanks for the welcome. I am new in town and new to The Haught Spot. I was asking Gemmi here what was good.”
The man didn’t seem to be flirting with Gemmi and there was a sense of déjà vu that came over Alec when the man spoke, although he knew he’d never seen him before. “We’ll I’m glad you stopped in. What did Gemmi suggest?”
“Chicken fingers, fries and a glass of water.” The man closed his menu and put it in the holder on the counter.
“Good choice.” Alec put in the order, filled a glass with ice water and went back to find out a little more about the friendly out of towner. “So where you from?”
“I’m from a little town a few counties over. Clearview. Ever hear of it?” He picked up his glass and drained it while Alec took the man in.
“I think I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never been there.” Alec filled the man’s glass again from the fountain gun. “I’m Alec Haught.”
“You own this place?”
“My two brothers and I own and run it.” Alec watched the man look around while he nodded.
“Nice place you’ve got here. I’m one of the new ER docs at the hospital and most people call me Red.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Red.” Alec extended his hand to the man and they did a quick introductory shake.
“Likewise.”
Alec went to tend to the other customers until Red’s order was up. After picking it up and placing it before him, he saw his brother walk in.
“Here’s my baby brother Camden.” Alec said to Red and the man looked over.
“Cam.” Gemmi squealed as she stood up on the rungs of the stool.
“Hey baby.” Camden walked over to meet his wife, but she wavered and started to fall back.
Red stood up kicking his chair so that it fell back and gave him room to catch her. He laid her on the ground and pulled a stethoscope out of his pocket. There was a crowd forming around them as Camden tried to get to them.
“Everyone back up and give us some space.” Red yelled to the people.
Alec was looking at the pair over the counter and could see that her eyes were now open and she just looked startled.
“What happened?” Camden looked like he was going to be the next one to black out.
“It looks like she fainted,” he said to Camden. “Do you mind if I check you out real quick?” he asked Gemmi.
She nodded and grabbed Camden’s hand.
Alec watched as Red checked her heart and lungs before moving down to check her ankles.
“Have you eaten today?”
Gemmi’s face pinkened a little. “I ate earlier this morning, but I was so excited Camden was coming home I didn’t eat.”
“When are you due?” Red said while he and Camden got her off the floor.
“I’ve got 13 weeks left.”
“Great. You’re in your third trimester.” Red got a chair from one of the tables pulled it closer to the bar. “You’re going to need to keep yourself hydrated and fed. I’d also call your doctor and get checked out after that scare. I know I got you before you hit the floor, but I’d feel better if your obstetrician took a look at you.”
Gemmi nodded.
“I’m Camden,” he said, holding his hand out, “and you are… Superman?”
Red laughed a little and accepted the handshake. “I wish I were Superman, but most people just call me Red. I’m just a lowly ER doctor swooping in to listen to lungs and hearts.”
“Is she okay, really?” Camden said with a little of the false bravado gone.
“I think it was her lack of food and drink coupled by her excitement to see you that sent her reeling. I don’t think she has a problem, but like I said I’d call and let the doctor know what happened.” Red looked at his watch and turned back toward Alec. “Hey, I’ve got to be going can I have the check please?”
“Hell no. That was on the house and feel free to stop by again real soon.” Camden said patting Red on the back.
“I probably will be back as I’m trying to get my house in livable shape and it’s so quiet eating alone.”
“Well, come on back here at The Haught Spot you’re never alone.” Camden laughed as Red left.
“Welcome back, Cam.” Alec said as he put in an order of chicken strips for Gemmi and then poured her a glass of water. “When Gemmi is done eating take her to the doctor’s office.”
“She’s calling now.” Camden said.
“It's a good thing Red was here. I don't know what we would have done if she hit the floor.” Alec said, but knew he shouldn’t have by the way Camden’s face went from deep red to stark white.
“I don't even wanna think about that. I'm just glad he was here. How did you end up with the doctor sitting at the bar just at the right time?” Camden picked up the water and drank it down so Alec poured another for Gemmi.
“Just good timing.”
Gemmi put down her cell phone. “The doctor says they can see us as soon as we get there.”
Alec went to the back and put the chicken and fries in a to go container along with a bottle of water. He headed back out and set all of it in front of Gemmi. “Eat it on the way.”
Camden smiled. “You always know just what to do. Thanks, bro.”
Alec watched the two of them leave and was reminded of his problem with True. He couldn’t believe she didn't think that he knew her. He knew her better than anyone. He knew what each of her expressions meant, he knew family was at the top of things she wanted for herself and he knew she’d loved him for a very long time. He didn’t know what was going to come of all this, but what he did know is that he wanted True to know he knew her.
Alec walked over to the phone and dialed the number he’d been thinking of dialing for a long time.