Chapter Eleven
Reese finished drying the dishes, and Mercy put them away. Mercy had just finished moving into her new home, and since Mathias was busy with the war games at the training center, Reese accepted Mercy's invitation for her and Naomie to spend the weekend at the new place.
It was a beautiful three-bedroom home that seemed to exude comfort and serenity, but then it was Mercy's home, and as far as Reese was concerned, Mercy was a living example of real magic and goodness.
They'd all pitched in to cook dinner and Reese could not remember laughing more. They polished off two bottles of wine as they cooked and ate and then all helped with the cleanup. Naomie washed, Reese dried, Mercy put away, and they all talked and laughed. A particularly loud clap of thunder shook the house.
"Wow, this storm just isn't letting up, is it?" Reese asked.
"I'm afraid it will get worse before it gets better," Naomie commented.
"Says the meteorologist?" Reese asked.
"Really?" Mercy asked. "You're also a meteorologist?"
"I have a degree, but yes, I'd expect it to get worse."
"Well, fortunately, we have a sound roof and sturdy structure, full bellies and good company," Mercy said. "Anyone for dessert? I have apple pie I baked yesterday."
"I'm too full. Maybe later?" Reese responded.
"Same here," Naomie agreed and added. "I have to say it. You're amazing, Mercy. I've been here half a day and can't remember when I felt so at ease and relaxed. You put off these vibes that are..."
"Magic," Reese finished the sentence.
"Yes. Magic. It reminds me of my mother."
"Your mother was magic?" Mercy asked.
"Oh god, yes. She was so beautiful I could look at her all day. Her skin was darker than mine, and she had these gorgeous, dark eyes with the thickest lashes and most elegant eyebrows. I thought she looked like an Indian princess. Dot, not feather. She was Indian, in part. And gypsy.
"Anyway, her voice was musical and—enchanting."
"Was?" Mercy asked.
Naomie nodded. "She developed a rare form of cancer. When I found out, I went back home to be with her, and we had three years."
"I'm sorry, Naomie."
"So, am I, but I'm so grateful I had that time with her. In the end, she was so noble and filled with grace that it humbled me. I am so proud to be her daughter and hope I made her proud."
"I feel certain that you did."
The next clap of thunder not only shook the house but made the lights flicker. Mercy picked up her cell phone from the counter. "I should check on Molly. Trina is staying with her since Wiley is over at Clear Creek helping Deacon with the war games."
She looked at the phone and then at Reese. "Do you have signal?"
Reese checked as did Naomie. "Nothing," Reese said.
"Me either," Naomie added. "Lightning may have taken out a cell tower. We're lucky we still have pow—"
The lights went out before the final word passed her lips. "Okay, I'm going over to check on them." Mercy announced.
"We'll go with you," Reese volunteered. "Do you have a piece of plastic or something we can use to cover up with? Just to get to the car?"
"Yes, I have something in the laundry room."
Using their phones as flashlights Reese and Naomie followed Mercy. She had a couple of rain slickers that would fit her and Naomie, and an old duster with a hood she said belonged to Wiley. Fortunately, it fit Reese.
Armed with candles, they dashed outside and into Reese's car. The drive to Molly's was less than a quarter of a mile, but visibility was near zero thanks to wind that literally swayed the car and drove the rain in sheets.
Despite the jackets, they were drenched by the time they made it to Molly's front porch. Mercy banged on the door, and after what seemed like a long wait it opened.
"Oh, thank God," Molly grabbed Mercy's hand and pulled her inside. "Hurry up and get in. Damn, that storm is like something that's almighty pissed."
It took a few minutes for everyone to get dried off. Molly dug out clothing for everyone. Her clothes swallowed Mercy, but Reese and Naomie were able to wear the things she offered. They hung their wet things in the laundry room.
"I've got candles lit in the family room," Molly said. "Trina and Kaylee are in there and tread carefully, she went into labor about an hour ago. I watched the weather, and the storm was right over the area where the hospital is and headed our way, so I convinced her to wait until the storm passes."
"That might be awhile," Mercy said softly. "This thing is massive and isn't moving fast."
"Then keep your fingers crossed that her labor is slower." A loud boom of thunder punctuated her sentence. "Ouch!" She put a hand to her belly. "I know one baby that's pissed his sleep was interrupted. Come on."
They all followed Molly to the family room. The moment Reese entered the room, Trina bristled. "What are they doing here?"
"That isn't very nice," Kaylee said and almost immediately got a scared look on her face and looked at Molly.
Reese was grateful that Molly didn't scold Kaylee, but simply said. "They were kind enough to come over and check on us. I don't think you've met Dr. Naomie Taylor?"
"Doctor?"
"Not that kind," Naomie said.
"Oh. You're her friend?"
"Why yes, I am, thanks for noticing. And who is this beautiful girl?" Naomie looked at Kaylee.
"I'm Kaylee, and I'm almost six, and Molly is my mom and Elisi is my grandma."
"Elisi?" Naomie looked at Mercy.
"Cherokee for grandmother."
"Very cool. When my mother grew up, they called their grandmothers Dida."
Kaylee laughed. "That's a funny word."
"It kind of is, isn't it?"
"Are you Native American like me?"
Naomie smiled. "No, I'm Indian—well part, but the kind that's from India."
"What's the other part?"
"Gypsy."
"Like the people who ride in wagons and dance and play music and steal horses?"
"Kaylee!" Molly quickly piped up.
Naomie just laughed and waved it away. "Don't scold her. She's right in a way. A lot of gypsies have traveled in wagons, and they are known to sing and dance and steal horses, back in the day of course. But where did you learn that, Miss Kaylee?"
"YouTube."
Everyone laughed, and Reese gave a silent thanks for Naomie, who had successfully diffused a stressful moment. Even Trina laughed at Kaylee. That was until a contraction hit, then she stifled a moan and grabbed her belly.
Reese was no Doctor of Medicine, but even she could see how pale Trina's face was. She eased over next to Naomie. "Okay, what do you know about childbirth?"
"I have a doctorate in veterinary medicine, so nothing. Why?"
"It just seems like she's in an inordinate amount of pain for someone who hasn't been in labor long."
"Different people respond differently to pain. Some can take more than others."
"Yeah, right. Okay."
Reese and Naomie sat on the floor and played board games with Kaylee. There was barely ten seconds between house shaking cracks of thunder and lightning strikes. Based upon the time between sound and flashes, Reese estimated the storm was less than twenty miles from their location and not moving very quickly. When Trina bolted to her feet and lurched through the room, she and Naomie rolled out of the way. Trina stepped on the board game, and sent pieces flying, her arms held out, reaching for support.
Molly jumped up to help, but Mercy shooed her aside. "Let me help you."
As strong as Mercy obviously was, Trina's weight was too much. Reese could see that. She hurried to get up and rush to Trina's side. "I'll help."
When she tried to wrap her arm around Trina, Trina screamed and shoved at her. "Don't touch me!"
"Fine!" Reese shouted back. "I was trying to help."
"I don't want your help, you freak!"
"Whoa, hey, enough, let's settle down." Naomie hurried to intervene, put her arm around Trina and spoke calmly as they started out of the room. "Okay, we've got you. Do you need to go to the bathroom?"
"No, you idiot, I just felt like—oh, Oh. Oh, god!" The last sound out of her mouth was a scream, and a moment later something splattered Naomie's bare feet. Naomie cut a look at Reese.
Reese knew what had happened but was alarmed to see so much blood. Surely, that wasn't normal?
"You're okay, you're okay." Mercy said. "Your water just broke." Mercy looked at Naomie and shook her head.
Naomie nodded and picked up the narrative. "We'll just get you to the bathroom and get you cleaned up."
"I don't want to have my baby here."
"The storm will pass," Mercy said. "Just try to be as calm as you can. It will help the pain."
"I'm trying. Can't you just take me to the hospital?"
"Let's just get you cleaned up," Mercy said.
Molly was on her feet, holding a small flashlight as she headed for the kitchen. "Where're you going?" Reese asked.
"To get something to clean up the floor."
"Is that normal? So much blood?"
Molly shook her head, and Reese could tell she was concerned. "You should get off your feet. I'll clean up. Just tell me where things are."
Molly turned and backtracked. "Thank you." She handed Reese the flashlight. "Under the kitchen sink on the right, there's cleaner and paper towels and trash bags."
"Okay, sit," Reese ordered and looked at Kaylee. "You make sure she minds."
"I will." Kaylee stopped from trying to re-situate the board game to take Molly's hand. "Come on, mama, you sit down and be still."
"Yes, ma'am."
Reese found what she needed and hurried back to the family room. She'd just finished cleaning up and was tying up the trash bag when Naomie entered the room. "Can you get a couple of those bags to put on the sofa, Reese? And a blanket?"
"Blankets?" Reese looked at Molly.
"Hall closet."
"Thanks." Reese hurried to dispose of the trash bag in her hand, put away the cleaning supplies and get what Naomie requested.
Mercy was waiting at the sofa when Reese returned and helped Reese cover the cushions with the trash bags and then top it with a blanket.
"Elisi?" Molly asked quietly. "How's she doing?"
Mercy cut a look at Kaylee before answering. "How are your feet? Is the swelling better today? Let me check."
Reese got what was happening. Mercy went over and whispered to Molly, then gestured to Reese. "You look like you have strong hands."
"What can I do?"
"Do you know how to give a foot massage?"
"I sure do." Reese sat down on the ottoman and put Molly's feet in her lap. Mercy leaned down and spoke softly. "I think the baby may be in breach."
Even someone unschooled like Reese knew that was bad news. "What do we do?"
"We need to get her to the hospital."
It took Reese all of two seconds to decide. "Get her ready. I'll take her. Molly, can I take Wiley's SUV? It's big and heavy and higher off the road which might come in handy if there's flooding."
"Of course. The key fob is in the bowl on the counter in the kitchen closest to the door." She grabbed Reese's hand as Reese started to move. "Are you sure about this? The storm—"
"We have to get her there, and I'm the logical choice."
"Why?"
"I just am." She stood and went to the kitchen to fetch the keys. By the time she returned, Naomie and Mercy were supporting Trina into the room.
"Reese is going to take you to the hospital," Mercy announced.
"No." Trina immediately argued.
"Stop it," Naomie said sharply and when Trina looked at her, continued. "I mean it. Stop assigning evil to her. She's not evil. If you can't believe what I say, then use those skills people say you have and look inside me. I know Reese better than almost anyone so take a look. Mercy let go of her. I have her."
When Mercy released her, Naomie grabbed Trina's hand and slammed it against her own chest. "Go ahead. Do it but do it now. Your child needs help."
Trina looked into Naomie's eyes, and Naomie felt a curious sensation in her head. She saw Trina's eyes widen and then tears flow. Trina nodded and looked at Reese. "Thank you."
"You can thank me when we get there. Naomie, help me get her to the car?"
"You want me to go with?"
Reese looked at Molly and Kaylee and shook her head. "No. We'll be fine. Just help me get her to the car. There's a breezeway to the garage, but we'll still get drenched the way the wind is blowing."
It took them a bit of time to accomplish the task, but once Trina was safely in the back seat, Reese sent Naomie to the house, used the manual release and raised the garage door. Hoping that she wasn't making a huge mistake, she got into the car and backed down the driveway.
Thanks to the growth spurt the town experienced several years ago, there was now a small but well-equipped hospital north of town. All Reese had to do was make it about five miles. That was all. Just five miles.
With rain driving straight into the windshield, debris flying and banging into the car, water already flooding some streets and the constant crack of thunder and blinding flashes of lighting, it took nearly twenty minutes to travel three miles. Twice she had to turn around and drive around the block to get back on the right street because of fallen trees.
She was a block from Linc's house when a clap of thunder happened almost simultaneously to lightning that flashed no more than feet over the SUV. Trina screamed at the explosion, and Reese slammed on brakes as a huge tree crashed across the road, pinning them in the branches and foliage.
Shit. She tried to open her door. No luck. Nor would the passenger door open. "What're we going to do?" Trina asked.
Reese climbed into the back seat. "Yes!" She felt like crying with relief when the back-passenger door opened. She could see a path out from under the tree.
"Come on." She got out, braced herself against the wind and held out her hands to Trina. "Linc's place is only a block. We can walk there, and he'll take us."
"I can't." Trina scooted away from Reese.
"You have to." Reese crawled back into the SUV. "Listen to me. Mercy said your baby is breach, so you need to get to the hospital. I know you want to protect your child and this is the only way."
"We could get killed out there."
"Yeah, but at least we tried. And I'll help you. I promise. We have to try."
Trina nodded. "Okay, okay, let's do it."
Any idea that it would be easy evaporated from Reese's mind before they'd made it thirty feet. The wind was blowing at near gale force, and Trina simply couldn’t make any headway, even with Reese's arm around her, lending support.
Reese started to panic. It was only a block, she had to figure a way. But what? To hell with it. "Hang onto me. I'm going to carry you."
"You can't."
"I can. Now turn and put your arm around my neck and when I get you in my arms, hold on for dear life."
With a groan, she lifted Trina into her arms and plowed forward, one lurching step at a time. Time lost meaning, all that existed was the roar of the wind, the crash of thunder and the pounding of her own heart as she struggled forward.
When someone appeared in front of her, she nearly screamed, then felt weak when Linc took Trina in his arms. "We have to get her to the hospital," Reese yelled.
"Follow me."
Reese followed him to his truck and opened the door for him. He put Trina inside, and Reese climbed in after her. Linc ran around and got in behind the wheel.
"I can't believe you saw us," Reese said.
"I couldn't believe what I saw when I looked out to see if the road was flooding and saw you."
Despite trees in the road, flooding and gusts that felt like they would blow the truck off the road, they made it to the emergency entrance. Linc carried Trina in as Reese ran ahead, screaming for help.
It took only seconds for the personnel to have Trina on a gurney, headed for surgery. She screamed and held out her hands. "Reese! Reese!
Reese ran over to her and grabbed her hands. "Please let me be with her," she pleaded with the medical personnel.
"Fine, let's go," the doctor acquiesced.
"Get in touch with Deacon and Wiley," Reese yelled. "And her husband."
"On it," Linc assured her.
"Thank you," Trina said and squeezed Reese's hand.
"No thanks necessary. Ready to meet your baby?"
"I am."
"Then let's do it, little mama."
Trina smiled and squeezed Reese's hand tighter, and Reese thought how odd it was that she'd end up witnessing the birth of the child of a woman who, until now, had a major case of dislike for her.
Life was just full of surprises.
*****
She'd never been a person given to crying, but the sight of Trina holding her newborn son was enough to make tears stream down her face. Reese would always remember that. She would never forget this moment.
Now, it was morning, the storm had finally passed, and a nurse had just brought the baby to Trina. After she'd nursed the baby, she called to Reese. "Reese. Come here."
Reese left her spot, leaning against the window sill and walked over to the bed. Trina patted it. "Sit."
When Reese did, Trina offered her the baby. "Want to hold him?"
Reese did but was uncertain. "I've never held a baby."
"There's a first time for everything. And he needs to meet you. You saved his life. And mine."
"It's Linc you should—"
"No, it's you. Here, I'll show you."
Reese had never imagined it would feel so marvelous to hold a child in her arms, but that's exactly how it felt. "Oh my," she murmured without thinking and heard Trina chuckle.
"It's amazing. You're a mother."
"I know, I keep thinking I should pinch myself."
"Your family will be so excited. I bet they're all on their way." Reese couldn't keep her eyes off the baby.
"They are, but I'm glad we have a little time before they get here. I want to thank you."
"You don't have to—"
"Yes, I do. Reese look at me."
When Reese did, she saw tears streaming down Trina's face. Trina reached out and put her hand on Reese's leg. This time the sensation Reese felt didn't make her uncomfortable.
"When you carried me, I saw it all. I know you, Katya."
Her first reaction was to tense, but that quickly faded. It was time to stop running from her past. She'd done nothing but survive the best she could and wasn't going to be ashamed of that.
"I can't imagine how strong you have to be to survive all you have and still be able to laugh and love and care so passionately about the world around you." Trina said. "I was very wrong about you, and I'm sorry. And since I know so much about you, I think it's only fair I share. I can't say it all now, but I have a secret I've carried and will carry my whole life. I love my Dad—Deacon. He wasn't with me when I was growing up and life pretty much sucked because of it, but he loved me, and I love him. Wiley was there more than Dad and became my hero until my parents divorced and my mom drove him away. But he's more than just my Uncle. He's my biological father, so while he may never know, my son will have two grandfathers."
"Thank you for sharing that with me. I'll guard your secret like it's my own."
"I know. Just like I know that Mathias is lucky to have someone as special as you in love with him."
"I—I'm not—"
"It's okay, you don't have to say it. Maybe you're not ready for that, but if you are, then I think you're both lucky. He's an amazing person."
"Yes, he is. And I'm starting to think you are, too. Oh, huh ooh, that's not a happy face. Here you go, back to mama." She handed the baby to Trina who cooed and nuzzled him.
Just then the door opened. A man walked in and stopped, his eyes glued on Trina and the baby. When Trina smiled at him, Reese was sure she'd never seen anything so beautiful. She got up and moved away from the bed as the man rushed over.
He kissed Trina and put his hand gently on the baby's head. "Say hello to your son, Brody."
"My son?"
She nodded, and he laughed, kissed her again and then took the baby. "Our son." He looked at the door where Deacon, Wiley, Mathias and Mica were waiting. "We have a son."
Everyone came in to get a look at the baby. Reese moved back to her place at the window and watched. Wiley walked over to her. "Thank you."
"My pleasure, Grandpa."
He looked so surprised that she added. "Don't worry. It's our secret."
"Hey, did you hear that?" Deacon asked.
"What?" Wiley asked.
"They picked the baby's name."
"Wiley?" Wiley asked.
"Not even," Deacon snorted.
Brody walked over to where Wiley and Reese stood. "John, after my best friend John Mathias Gray House, and Reese after the woman who saved his life. John Reese Judge."
Reese was stunned. "Are you serious?"
"I owe you everything, Reese. You risked your life to save my wife and child, and I can never repay the debt."
"Linc deserves credit for getting us here when the tree fell on Wiley's car. And sorry about that, Wiley."
"It's just a car, kiddo. Cars can be replaced. People can't."
"Trina told me when I talked to her this morning. You carried her. In the middle of a storm, you carried her. And you saved her. We've asked Mathias to be his godfather. We'd be honored if you would be his godmother."
"Really?"
"Really."
"I would be so honored. Thank you."
"Thank you." Brody hugged her and then looked around. "Damn, we're need to have a party."
Everyone started talking and laughing and making a fuss over the baby. Mathias made his way to Reese. "You're pretty amazing, you know that?"
"No, I don't, but it was amazing watching him come into the world, seeing him take that first breath and oh my god, Mathias, seeing him with his mama the first time."
"Like I said, amazing. You want to go get some breakfast?"
"I'd love to. Just let me say goodbye?"
"Sure."
She hugged Trina, kissed the baby and wished everyone a good day, then she and Mathias left. When she walked outside, Reese took a deep breath.
"John Mathias, eh?"
"Yeah.
"Good name."
"Thanks. So, what do you want for breakfast?"
"You."
"Yeah?"
"Absolutely. Everything's different now. I'm ready."
"For?"
"To kick my career into the garbage, save the bees, eliminate hunger and enjoy being with a man who makes me feel like happiness isn't just a concept."
"Then let's go home."
"I thought you'd never ask. Lead the way."
"You just want to watch me walk," he teased.
Reese laughed. "Ain't that the truth?"