Chapter Seventeen
Melissa
The last few days have been heaven. I wake up with Jeremy, have a multitude of orgasms, then spend the day with Calvin, who seems to grow stronger by the day. Jeremy returns in the evening, and we watch movies, or sometimes go out for dinner.
We’ve avoided a lot of the serious talk after our last conversation. We both just needed a few days to be together without all the questions and explanations. I’d really like to know more about Jeremy’s family, since he never mentions them, so once we’re done with our morning sex-a-thon, I ask.
“Do you ever see your parents?”
He’s quiet for just long enough for me to think I may have upset him. “No, I used to try to keep in touch, but they never reciprocated.”
“Did you have a fight or something?”
He plays with my hair. “No, they just don’t have any interest in me or my life. It was always that way. I had nannies to take care of me when I was growing up, while they flew around the world, living their carefree lives.” He grins down at me. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I never did without anything. I’m not the poor little rich boy. I went to great schools, had a lot of friends, and grew up pretty happy. They just weren’t a part of it.
“It was like they were two strangers who would step in occasionally to dole out punishments they wouldn’t be around long enough to enforce. When I got older, they were pissed that I wouldn’t date any of the debutantes they had lined up. I had no interest in getting married to some plastic girl and doing the twelve hour a day grind at their investing firm.
“They tried to put their foot down and threatened not to pay for college when I wouldn’t join their little high-class society jerkoff sessions.”
“What happened?”
“My grandpa happened.” A fond smile stretches across his face. “He always hated that whole scene too and supported me when I wanted to go into computers, not investing. Pissed my dad off something terrible when he stepped in, paid for my college, and set me up in a house near campus. The only thing he asked was that I keep my grades up and work a part time job. He told me that everyone needs to see what it’s like to work every day whether you need the money or not. That it would help me relate to the rest of society, who aren’t as lucky.”
I cuddle against him. “He sounds like a great guy.”
“He was. He died of a heart attack right after I graduated. I was glad he got to see me get my degree though, so he could see I took advantage of the opportunities he gave me.”
“I’m sure he was proud of you.”
“He was. The last time I saw my parents was at the reading of the will. He left me everything in a trust fund. His fortune, houses, and shares in multiple businesses.”
He peeks down at me. “That’s another little secret you should know, I guess. I’m filthy rich.”
Laughing, I slap his chest. “I already knew that. And since you’ve hacked your way into more than just my heart and bed, you know I don’t give two shits. I do very well.”
He rolls over until I’m pinned underneath him, and his boyish grin makes me smile. “Yes, and since you don’t want me for my money, my cock will have to suffice.”
“I want your heart, but your cock comes a close second.”
“And I make sure it never comes first.”
“Seriously, dick puns?” I love seeing him this way. He was always so serious and broody. I have a feeling I’m just now getting to know the real Jeremy.
“I’d switch to vagina puns, but I cunt think of any.”
“You’re terrible.” I plant a kiss on his lips, then roll out from underneath him. “Do you have to go to work?” My tone struggles to be nonchalant considering his work is plotting to kill the First Men.
“Yeah, are you going to see Calvin?”
“Later, first Leah and Zoe are coming over to help me put the finishing touches on the nursery.”
We go our separate ways as usual, and I try not to think about the danger he may be in. Soon, all this will be over. The cult will be gone, and my son will be home with me.
I swear, sometimes it feels like letting myself feel hopeful and happy just tempts the universe to take it away.
#
My shoes click against the highly polished floors of the Lindon Gallery as I peruse the halls, waiting for my meeting with Penelope. After the success of my last show, she’s eager to plan a future one, although I’ve cautioned her, it’ll be at least six months. Calvin needs all my time and attention.
“Ms. Sanders! It’s so good to see you again. How are you feeling?” Penelope approaches me in her usual mist of lavender scent.
“Much better than the last time I was here,” I laugh, giving her a quick hug.
“And how is the little one? Please tell me you brought a picture.”
“He’s doing well. If he keeps gaining weight this quickly, we may be able to bring him home in a month or so.”
We stand shoulder to shoulder while I swipe through the pictures of Calvin on my phone. “Oh my goodness. Look at those eyes! So much character for such a tiny slip of a thing.” She beams at me. “Another artist in the making.”
Before I can put it away, the phone jumps to life in my hand, buzzing and displaying the name of the hospital on the screen. My heart plummets to my toes. They never call me. I’m there most of every day, so they give me the reports and updates on him once I show up. This can’t be good news.
“Melissa?” I recognize the nurse, Clarissa’s voice. We’ve spent enough time together to be on a first name basis.
“Is he okay?” I ask frantically.
“Calvin has spiked a fever and he’s having some trouble breathing. The doctor is in with him now, but he may need to go back on the respirator.”
Oh god. He’s been doing so well with his breathing. He’s even been taking most of his meals through a bottle. “I’m on my way.”
“Melissa, he’s not in any eminent danger, so please take your time and drive carefully.”
“I will.” I turn to Penelope. “Calvin’s in distress. I have to go.”
“Of course,” she calls after me as I rush away. “I hope he’s okay.”
As soon as I’m in my car, I try to call Jeremy, but it goes straight to voicemail. Because of his work, he often leaves his phone in the car, but I was hoping today wasn’t going to be one of those days. My next call is to Justus.
“Well hello, baby mama, are you finally ready to get those margaritas?”
“Calvin’s sick. It sounds bad. They might have to intubate him again.”
“Fuck, where are you?”
I pull onto the highway at a speed that’s far from legal. “Five minutes away from the hospital. I can’t get a hold of Jeremy. I was hoping you’d be able to.”
“I’ll take care of it. And we’ll be there as soon as possible.”
It doesn’t take me long to find a parking space in the hospital’s parking garage. I know every inch of this place now that I’ve spent so much time here. It hasn’t been ten minutes since I got the call when I rush into the NICU.
Clarissa meets me at the door. “He’s doing a little better. We were able to get his oxygen stats up a little, but Dr. Hanlon put him back on the ventilator to be safe, until we figure out what’s going on.”
“Can I see him?”
She walks me back to where my son lays in his crib. The ventilator is breathing for him again, and the sight causes my body to shake with sobs. He’s so young and tiny, and he’s already been through so much.
Dr. Hanlon nods at me as he examines him.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“I suspect it’s pneumonia. We’re going to get a chest x-ray to confirm. It’s common in premature infants. We’ll treat him with antibiotics and keep him on the ventilator until his breathing improves.”
“But he’ll be okay?”
Dr. Hanlon gives me that neutral stare all doctors seem to perfect. “We’re going to do everything we can. We’ll know more in a few hours.”
Clarissa’s voice is soft when she adds, “Right now, we’re going to take him down to radiology. You’ll need to wait in the waiting room. I’ll come and get you as soon as we know anything.”
She walks me back out to the small waiting room where it seems like I’ve spent half my life. For the first couple of weeks after his birth, we were only allowed in the NICU for short periods of time, and I sat out here until they’d let me in again. It didn’t matter I couldn’t see him, I had to be as close as possible.
The television in the corner blares with some game show, but everything is just background noise until I hear his voice.
“Mel.” Jeremy rushes in, and I throw myself in his arms. “I’m sorry. I got here as fast as I could.” I don’t know how Justus reached him, but I’m so glad he’s here.
“They think he has pneumonia. They put him back on the ventilator. He’s running a fever.”
His hands smooth down the back of my hair. “He’s a fighter, Mel. Whatever it is, he can beat it.”
Nodding, I sniff, and retreat back to one of the chairs. Jeremy does the same, never letting go of my hand as he sits beside me. “They’re getting x-rays now. Clarissa said she’ll let us know as soon as they know anything.”
The hands on the clock seem to slow to a crawl as we wait for news on our little boy.
“They’re in here,” Leah calls back to someone as she enters the room. I was lost in thought, my gaze fixed out the window overlooking the parking lot, and it takes me a moment to focus on her when she enters.
She rushes over to hug me, and I look up, shocked to see she isn’t alone. Zoe, Landon, Justus, and Dare are right behind her. Landon is dressed in some kind of odd jumpsuit, and my mouth moves before my brain can catch up. “No one is contagious.”
Justus snorts out a laugh.
Landon smirks and reminds me, “The sun is still up.”
“Oh right. Sorry, I forgot about that.”
“No problem.”
“You should’ve seen his old one. It was blue. He looked like a Teletubby,” Justus says, and starts swiping through his phone. “I think I have some pictures.”
Zoe plucks the phone out of his hand and hisses, “Behave yourself or I’m calling Sadie.”
Justus lays a hand on his chest, appearing offended. “She ain’t the boss of me. I do whatev—”
It’s all he gets out before Zoe picks up her phone. Justus plucks it out of her hands. “No need to bother her with any of this. She’s at work, you know, trying to teach people to walk again and shit. Do you really want to interrupt someone’s convalescence?”
Zoe glares at him, and he takes a few steps back until his legs hit the chair. Sitting down, he holds up his palms. “See, all good.” He turns to me. “Jeremy texted us what was going on. Has there been any news?”
“Not yet. You didn’t all have to come.”
“We’re family,” Justus says. “You want Jeremy, you get us all.”
“For better or worse,” Zoe says, and rolls her eyes, snatching her phone back from Justus.
As much as they tease and bicker, it’s clear how much they all love each other. Everyone has a seat, and when Dr. Hanlon enters a few minutes later, a rare smile breaks across his face.
“I’m happy to see Calvin has so much support.”
“How is he?” I jump to my feet.
“As we suspected, it is pneumonia, but we caught it fairly early. So far, he hasn’t had any problem handling the antibiotics. We’re just going to have to wait and see if they are effective in fighting the pneumonia. We’ll know more in a few hours and reevaluate then.”
His voice softens. “This is very common in premature babies, and most come through it fine. I’m confident this is a temporary setback, but with such fragile little ones, we have to remain vigilant.”
“Can I see him?”
“We need to limit his interaction for the next twenty-four hours. He’s vulnerable to any of the myriad of bacteria and viruses all humans carry with them on a daily basis. We’ve moved him to isolation. For the moment, you’ll need to stay on the other side of the glass.”
“I understand.” I manage to wait until the doctor has left before the sobs overtake me.
Jeremy wraps his arms around me. “I know it’s hard. He’s fighting, and we have to give him the space to do it.”
“My baby is sick and all alone in there.”
The nurse, Clarissa, steps into the room and sits beside me, taking my hand. “He won’t be alone. I’ll be right there with him. You know I’ve cared for him since the first day. He knows me.”
“Thank you.”
She nods and gets to her feet. “Give us about thirty minutes or so, and you’ll be able to see him through the glass.”
I manage to calm down, and Leah brings me a drink from the vending machine. “Where’s Tucker?” Jeremy asks Landon.
“Tying up a few loose ends that couldn’t wait. He’ll be here.”
That turns out to be the understatement of the year.
#
Three hours pass while we wait, and I keep peeking through the window to see my baby. It kills me to know he’s suffering, but Clarissa assures me he’s asleep, and not in pain. Finally, Dr. Hanlon returns.
“The antibiotics are working. He isn’t suffering any side effects. I want to leave him on the ventilator until morning, and if we’ve seen enough improvement, he’ll go back to just oxygen.”
Tears of relief run down my cheeks as I thank him, and he pats my shoulder. “You have one strong young man in there.”
“Takes after his mother,” Jeremy says.
I know we aren’t out of the woods yet. My baby is still on a ventilator, but things are looking a little better, so I try to convince everyone else that they can go. “We’ll call if anything changes,” I promise.
Dare takes a seat and stretches out his long legs. The man is a damned mountain. “I’m good here until morning.”
Everyone else mirrors his response.
It’s been so long since I’ve known this feeling. I have a family again.
“Well, if we’re staying, I need food. I’m wasting away over here. Seriously, my ribs are showing,” Justus announces.
“Your ribs always show, you narrow son of a bitch,” Jeremy says.
“I am not skinny! I’ll have you know I have the muscle tone of a young—”
“Boy?” Dare supplies, and everyone bursts into laughter.
“Body shaming is not cool, dude. Just because you look like something The Hulk shit out doesn’t mean you get to judge the rest of us.” He gets to his feet. “Now, I’m going to find a pizza place that’s open late. Any requests?”
“Yeah, get a vasectomy so you don’t pollute the gene pool,” Landon cracks.
“Fuck off, raisin.”
These guys make me laugh in the worst of situations. It strikes me how lucky I was to choose the house next door to Jeremy. I’ve gained so much more than I ever anticipated or even realized until now.
The rest of the night isn’t as hard, mainly because of the periodic reports I get from the nurses. Calvin’s temperature is normal. They were able to decrease the ventilator so he’s mostly breathing on his own. He’s going to be okay.
The sun is just starting to rise and most everyone is asleep except for Dare, who keeps texting with someone. Jeremy suddenly jumps to his feet and turns up the volume on the TV. The blaring headline and accompanying video shock me to my core.
Terrorist Group Connected to Indianapolis Mall Shooting Captured by Feds.
An aerial shot of the True Life compound plays on the screen where a small group of women and children sit on the grass between the trailers and the big house. The women have their hands cuffed behind them. I can’t make out my sister as the camera pans away, but I know she’s there.
It’s the ticker that’s terrifying.
Stockpile of weapons and explosives were recovered, along with plans to detonate a nearby system of coal mines. Two known dead and two more injured. ATF, FBI, and US Marshals are on the scene.
Before the words can really permeate my numb brain, Jeremy’s head whips around to Dare. “Tying up a few loose ends?” I’ve never heard such malice in his voice, but it doesn’t disguise his main emotions. Pain and betrayal.
“It was for the best,” Dare replies, his voice even. “We couldn’t let you do it. You have a baby. You have a life, and we weren’t going to let you throw it away for revenge.”
Jeremy swallows hard, shrugging off my hand when I touch his arm. I know it’s not personal. I don’t think he sees or hears anything but Dare right now.
“He slaughtered her. She was out shopping, and he fucking mowed her down.”
“I know that. I was there.”
“And your girl lived!” Jeremy shouts, his fists clenching and unclenching.
Dare’s voice remains calm and seated while everyone else just watches the two of them. Zoe slips over to close the waiting room door. It’s very early, and we’re far away from patient rooms, but this isn’t anything we want overheard. “She did. And I’m sorry as hell that Frannie didn’t. But destroying your life and the life of the woman you love would be no way to vindicate Frannie’s death. And you know she’d tell you the same damn thing.”
Jeremy’s gaze flashes to me and he winces, turning back to Dare. “She wasn’t the only one they hurt.”
Please don’t let him announce what Anthony did to me, I pray silently.
Dare nods. “I’m aware. They won’t hurt anyone else.” Dare shoves his phone toward him.
Jeremy takes it and I creep up behind him to read a text from Tucker.
Tucker: Anthony and Shaun are dead. Three others in custody, including the Dashton police officer. The others will be processed and held in a mental facility until we’re sure they’re not a danger to themselves or others.
“My sister is alive?” I confirm, and Dare nods his head.
“Yes, she’ll be brought to the mental ward here to be evaluated.”
She’s free. Kelly is free. And they’re dead.
The monsters are gone.
I nearly knock Dare’s chair over when I tackle him with a fierce hug. “Thank you,” I whisper.
Dare gives me a quick squeeze back, but nods at Jeremy. “This was only possible because of Jeremy. He did the intel. He risked his life infiltrating them. All we did was follow up, and make a few phone calls to the right people.”
Jeremy looks so torn when I step toward him. “It’s over.” The words come out in a sob. “You set me free.”
Finally, he grabs me and hugs me so tight I swear I feel my spine squeak. “I wanted to kill him for you, kill all of them for you and Frannie, and all the others,” he murmurs in my ear.
“I know. But they’re dead either way, and now I get to have the life I want. With you.”
He looks over my shoulder at Dare. “Tucker has impeccable fucking timing.”
Justus shrugs and takes a seat. “We thought we’d have to tie you to a chair or something when the time came, but when we knew you’d be at the hospital all night, Tucker took the opportunity, and Mason was able to set things in motion.”
Jeremy glares at him, and Justus starts babbling. “Not that I knew anything about it. I mean, I was on your side, you know, kill them all, let Satan sort them out, but the rest of the guys just wouldn’t listen.”
Landon snorts. “Don’t be a coward. We all agreed weeks ago.”
“Thank you, Dracula. You’ve been very helpful.”
In the middle of all the chaos, Clarissa steps into the room. “Calvin has been moved from Isolation back to the NICU. Dr. Hanlon has just removed the ventilator and he’s breathing on his own again. You can visit him, but only one at a time.”
“Thank you so much,” I exclaim.
I turn to Jeremy, and he waves me off. “Go see our boy. Tell him daddy will see him in a few minutes.”
I leave them there to deal with Jeremy’s wrath and happily head down the hall to my baby. Jeremy won’t be able to stay mad at them for long. They had his best interest at heart, and I’ll be eternally grateful for what they’ve done.
Calvin is back in his original crib, and the hum-hiss sound of the ventilator is gone. Another NICU nurse smiles at me and asks, “Do you want to hold him? I was just going to see if he’d take a bottle.”
“Please.” I take a seat in the rocking chair, and wait for her to settle him in my lap.
“You look so much better today, Calvin,” she coos at him, before handing me the bottle.
We both laugh at the way he takes to it, like he’s never been fed before. “For a preemie, that boy is an eater. I’ll be nearby if you need me. Just give him a rest if his breathing alarm sounds. It’ll take a little while for his lungs to clear.”
She walks away, and I stare down at my precious little boy. Twenty-four hours ago, I wasn’t sure I would ever get to do this again. He stares up at me while he drinks his bottle, and I brush my fingers over the soft hair on his temple.
I talk softly to him. “You have quite a family waiting for you out there. And they all love you very much and can’t wait for you to come home, Calvin. Or C.J.” His gaze stays locked on me. I know they say he can’t really see me at this stage of development, but it sure feels like he does. “Jeremy likes C.J. but I’m not sure. Maybe when you’re older, but for now, you’re my baby Cal.”
I rock the chair slowly. “You have an aunt too. I hope you get to meet her after this mess is all untangled. If there’s one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s that you never know what might happen. Things change in a blink, and suddenly everything is different.”
His eyes fall shut and he stops sucking. Jostling him does no good. He’s snoozing away. I take a few moments to just watch him, watch the miracle of his chest rising and falling, before the nurse returns to put him back in his crib.
It won’t be long before he’ll be home, and I can hold him for as long as I want.
When I go back to the waiting room, Jeremy and Dare are the only ones still there. I don’t know if they’ve worked out all their issues, but they aren’t glaring at each other anymore. “He’s sleeping,” I tell Jeremy with a yawn. “But he looks so much better.”
“I’ll just peek in on him for a second. Then let’s get you home,” Jeremy says. “You’re asleep on your feet.”
“They’ll let you stay a while if you want to sit with him.”
“I don’t want to wake him. I’ll come back this evening and spend time with him.”
I look up at him, resting my chin on his chest, my arms circling his waist. “Thank you for being here.”
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
After Jeremy spends a quick minute with Calvin, the three of us walk out together, and Dare drives my car home, since he rode with the others. All the drama I know is playing out at True Life, and on every local TV channel, isn’t enough to keep me from crawling into bed and falling into a deep sleep.
There are still obstacles ahead of us, I’m sure, but for today, my baby is okay, and I’m truly free.
When I wake, the house is dark. I’m surprised to find it’s after seven in the evening. I’ve slept all day. “Jeremy?” I call, walking through the house.
A note waits on the refrigerator.
Didn’t want to wake you. Went to hospital to see C.J. Get some rest. I’ll be back soon.
He jotted down the time at the bottom, so I know I just missed him.
I feel refreshed and wide awake. There’s no way I’m sitting here waiting for him, so I take a quick shower, throw on some clothes, and head back to the hospital. The ICU nurse waves at me to go on back to my son when I pause at the desk.
I round the corner to the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. Jeremy sits in the rocking chair, shirtless, and Calvin lies against his chest, wearing only his tiny diaper. They were discussing the benefits of skin to skin contact before his setback, and it slipped my mind.
Quietly, I take out my phone and take a few pictures before he can see me. Seeing the man I love with the tiniest love of my life like this fills my heart to bursting.
“Hey,” I murmur, walking in.
Calvin turns his head toward my voice, and Jeremy chuckles. “Little momma’s boy.”
I pull over a chair to sit beside them. “How is he doing?”
“Good, the nurse said this helps even out his heart rate.”
We sit there with him until he succumbs to sleep. It’s one of those moments that I know is permanently imprinted on my brain.
I’ll never forget it.