Chapter 12
Kelly’s eyes batted open. Immediately, she registered a stiffness that was tinged with underlying pain. She groaned.
“Hey,” a strong male voice beside her spoke, “just lay still, okay?”
Kelly did not try to sit up, but she did turn her head. Grant was sitting beside her. One of his hands was resting over hers. He smiled faintly.
“I’m glad to see that you’re awake.”
“What…” Kelly started to ask what happened, but she knew what had happened. Monica had happened. But then she remembered her last thoughts. “The baby?”
Kelly turned her head to look at Grant. She met his eyes, desperately seeking her answer. Grant bit his lower lip. He shook his head.
“The baby didn’t make it.”
Kelly felt tears rising in her eyes. She pressed her right hand over her mouth, trying desperately to fight back sobs.
“Hey.” Grant squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. You’re okay. The doctor said there was no major damage. You’ll be able to have more children.”
“But it was your baby,” Kelly whispered softly. “I lost your baby. I’m so, so sorry Grant.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Grant told her. “You were doing all of the right things. It was Monica’s fault. And in that regard, Monica killed her own child.”
Kelly knew that what he was saying was true, but at the moment it just hurt so much.
“What happened to Monica?” she forced herself to ask the question. She needed to think about something else…focus on something else.
“The boys that found you two pulled her off of you. They held her until the police came.”
“So?” Kelly pressed gently.
“She’s been arrested, pending assault charges.” Grant’s face hardened. “The police told me I could explore pressing further charges against her for the death of the baby.”
“Oh!” Kelly had not considered that aspect. “What do you think? Will you do it?”
“I…don’t know.” Grant shrugged. “The baby couldn’t have survived on its own. And I’m just not sure it’s a good idea.”
“Why?” Kelly turned her hand over beneath his, taking his hand.
“Because I just want to be done with her.” Grant squeezed her fingers tighter. “I think I’m going to have my lawyer tell her that I won’t pursue any further charges if she just gives me a clean divorce.”
“That seems fair.” Kelly’s brain registered that he was going to be single. It was the wrong thing to think right now. She should not be considering this right now.
“Yeah,” Grant smiled. “And I will be free to start a new life—without her.” His eyes roamed over her for a minute. Kelly felt her heart skip a beat.
“So everything’s going to be okay?” she asked gently. “I mean, the doctors have said….”
“You’re going to be just fine,” Grant assured her. “The doctor said he’s going to keep an eye on you for a couple of hours, and then you’re going to come home with me.”
Kelly’s face lit up.
“Really? Home to your house?” She tried to lighten the mood.
“Home to my house.” Grant squeezed her hand. This time, there was no mistaking the look in her eyes. “Kelly, I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost you.”
She smiled at him, turning more to face him.
“I’m right here.”
“Yes, you are.” Grant met her eyes. “And I mean to keep it just that way.”
“What do you mean?” She hoped that she knew what he was saying, but she wanted to be sure. He couldn’t really be…could he?
“Kelly, I have come to realize that you are the true love of my life.” Grant looked down at her hand, and then back to her eyes. “You are the only woman in this world that I could see myself loving. The things that I have felt for you, they’re not the type of feelings that you find every day.”
“Oh, Grant,” Kelly whispered.
“I’m in love with you, Kelly.” He raised his hand to her lips, kissing it gently. “I love you more than I have ever loved anyone else, or ever will.”
Kelly felt tears beginning to form in her eyes once more. Smiling, she reached for him. Grant instantly moved to meet her, not allowing her to sit up.
“I love you too,” she whispered. “I never meant to fall in love with you, but I did.”
“Sometimes the best things are unexpected, and happen in the strangest ways.” Grant leaned down, pressing his lips to hers.
She had never imagined that this type of love could come between them. She truly had never meant to find this love in this situation. But now that she had, she could never imagine being with anyone else. If she was the love of Grant’s life, then he was the love of hers as well.