Chapter 11

Rebecca

The shot comes out of nowhere, and James throws both of us to the ground before another round of shots rings out. We’re behind our gate and in front of our truck, but we’re not out of danger just yet. I’m scared, but my brother has all the calm of a soldier. When it lets up for a minute, he moves us into the garage that he opened with his phone. He ducks us to the side and closes the garage. We rush into the house and lock it down. I can’t believe that anyone would open fire on us. I don’t have enemies, and despite my running off from Rob, I can’t imagine him going from a sweet, passionate lover to psycho killer in a flash.

“Damn it, you’re bleeding, Becca,” he remarks panting as he calls 911. I don’t know what’s going on around us, but I’m starting to freak out.

“Yes, someone is shooting at us,” he tells the dispatcher and gives them our address. “Yes, my house is secure. They shot from outside the gate. I have to check my surveillance, but I think whoever it was is gone. Just hurry, and we need an ambulance for my sister. She’s been shot.”

“I’m fine,” I argue. He rushes and grabs a kitchen towel putting it to my arm. I look down and see the blood coating the towel. I swear I didn’t notice it until he pointed it out. And now the world is spinning around me.

The next thing I know I’m being carried on a stretcher into the ambulance. I hear them say it’s only a flesh wound, but they want to check me out because I hit my head when we landed on the ground.

Once they treat my injuries, they run through a gamut of questions, but only one takes me by surprise. “Could you be pregnant?” Suddenly, I’m super glad that my brother was out of the room since they wanted to look me over physically for any more abrasions. But the question is one I’m not sure of. Could I be? I know we were foolish enough not to use protection, but it didn’t hit me until this second that I could be. “Ms. Smith? Could you be pregnant?”

“There’s a chance.”

“What?” James roars from the other side of the curtain. It’s the first time I heard him make a noise behind it. “Mr. Smith, please give us a minute.” The nurse walks out opening the ER curtain. James is staring at me in shock as they lead him down the hall.

“Rebecca, I’m going to test your urine, and we’ll know very shortly.” As scared as I am about the truth, all I can think about is it gives me a reason to email Rob. I nod and sit on the bed and wait for them to hand me a jar, then they lead me to the proper bathroom. Time seems to stand still, but ten minutes later and the doctor comes back with my test results. “Ms. Smith, you’re pregnant, but we’re not sure how far along at this point. The hormone levels are just high enough to indicate pregnancy, but that’s all.”

“My period was just over a month ago. And well, it’s been almost three weeks since.”

“Then you’re about a month along.”

“Wouldn’t I only be three weeks?”

“It’s not how we measure it. Technically, the start of the cycle is the beginning process, but you can also count it from around the date of sexual intercourse. However, that means it’s only thirty-eight weeks instead of the forty from your last period.”

“You learn something new every day.”

“Well, it takes experience or reading up on the subject, but that’s what I do. And I have two little children, too.” I can’t think about anything but Rob. I know nothing about him, but the way he made me feel. I haven’t stopped thinking about him, but I’m scared. What if he doesn’t want to see me again? What if he was glad that I got up and left? It saved him the trouble of finding a way to shake me free. He’s probably going to be pissed when I finally email him about the baby.

“Knock, knock,” my brother says, tapping the curtain with his knuckles.

“Come in.” He enters, and I read the pity in his eyes. I can’t hold back the tears of embarrassment.

I feel his arms around me and whispers, “It’s okay, Becca. I’m here for you. This is my damn fault in the first place. I waited until you were old and aching for a taste of freedom. Don’t worry about the baby. I think I’ll make a great uncle.”

I chuckle just a bit. “It’s hard to believe it.”

“What? I think I made a decent surrogate father,” he boasts, missing my meaning.

I look up at my brother and nod. “You were. It’s not that. I can’t believe I’m pregnant. One time and everything has changed.” I drop my eyes down to my lap, thinking about how much of a fool I am.

“Speaking of…who is this fucker? I’m going to have to break his jaw,” he snarls.

“No. I’m not telling you who he is. I rushed out of his place after he stepped out for a minute. He didn’t walk out on me.”

“Oh. Still, he took advantage of my young, innocent sister,” he continues like any big brother would, I suppose.

“Well, he didn’t know that at the time.”

“I don’t care, but I’m not trying to stress you out. After all, you got shot on top of me slamming you to the ground.”