Page 44 of Married to a SEAL

Chapter 13

Rebecca walked out of the OBGYN’s office the following week, an early ultrasound photo clutched in her hand. She glanced down at it again, her heart swelling. The black and white image didn’t look like a baby at this point. It barely looked like anything, if she was honest. But that tiny little image was her baby. Their baby. Her heart filled with joy as she glanced at it again.

Funny how something so small could change absolutely everything.

She tucked the ultrasound picture safely into her purse, her heels clicking on the asphalt as she walked across the parking lot. Scrolling through her contact list, she dialed her assistant’s cell number. “I’m on my way into the office. Are there any updates on the court time this afternoon?”

“It’s still at 4:00 p.m. I have all the documents you’ll need to bring with you.”

“Wonderful. My appointment went longer than I thought—I had to wait almost an hour to see the doctor.”

“Ugh, that’s the worst. Maybe you should bill them for your time.”

“Right?” She unlocked her car door and climbed in, tossing her purse onto the passenger seat. “I’m sure I wouldn’t be the first patient who’s considered that. It wouldn’t have been so much of an issue if they hadn’t changed the court date and time on me. At least you’re on top of everything. Goodness knows my mind has been all over the place lately.”

“Don’t worry about a thing. I have it all under control over here. And things will settle down soon. I mean, they can’t get any crazier, right?”

“That they cannot,” Rebecca agreed. “I should be there in half an hour or so. Once I gather everything, I’ll head right to court for the proceedings. You notified the client of the time change, correct?”

“Yes, it’s all taken care of.”

“Wonderful.” She said goodbye, then backed out of the parking space and unrolled her windows. There was nothing like a sunny June day to leave her feeling happy and optimistic. The sea breeze blowing in as she drove back to the office was enough to put anyone in a good mood. And tomorrow was finally Saturday.

She and Patrick had talked every night over the past week. Although their phone bill would be astronomically high this month, it was more than worth it to hear his voice from the other side of the line. The other side of the Atlantic Ocean. He was supposed to be arriving in Walter Reed up in Maryland today. She’d wanted to rearrange her doctor’s appointment and drive up, but Patrick had insisted she and the kids just come up first thing in the morning instead.

It’d be a hell of a drive to go visit him frequently, but she’d take the kids up each weekend until he was cleared to come back to Virginia Beach.

To come home.

She’d met with the realtor again this week, too, and was planning to put her home up for sale later in the summer.

There was nothing like a near-death experience to make her shift her priorities. They’d been planning to move in together, yes, but with the baby on the way and Patrick nearly dying?

The sooner they were under the same roof, the better she’d feel.

She shuddered thinking about what it would be like when he deployed again one day. They’d just deal with it whenever that day arrived, she supposed. She had Patrick each had their own careers, and part of what made their relationship work was that they accepted that about the other.

For better or worse.

“You look happy,” Rebecca said to her assistant as she walked into the reception area of her office thirty minutes later.

“Just enjoying this beautiful summer day,” she said cheerily, taking a sip of her iced coffee. She rolled her desk chair back, smiling.

Rebecca stopped midstride and gazed at her curiously. “Something’s up.”

“Nothing’s up. I’m just happy, enjoying this beautiful day.”

“We’re inside, and you already said that. Wait. Did you finally meet one of those military men you’ve been swooning over? That’s why you’re grinning from ear to ear.”

“My good mood does have something to do with the military,” she said mysteriously.

“You met someone.”

Her assistant glanced at her watch. “You’d better hurry to make sure you get to court in time. Everything you need is in your office. I’ll fill you in tomorrow if you still have questions.”

“You better,” Rebecca said, shaking her head as she walked back toward her own office. “And I need to hurry before I’m late.” A second later she let out a shriek of joy as she saw Patrick sitting in her desk chair, arms crossed, blue eyes gleaming with amusement. The cotton tee shirt he had on hugged his muscular chest, the bandages wrapped snuggly around his ribcage showing through the soft fabric. Her purse fell to the ground by the door as she launched herself at him, momentarily forgetting about his injuries.

He slowly stood to his full height, grunting as she collided with his solid chest.

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