Page 20 of Not the Bodyguard's Baby
“Yes. Please let me finish?” Her voice shook, and she clutched the paper, her tears threatening to spill over, but he didn’t dare touch her. “Shyla’s solution was termination. I refused. You know how she can be, so you will understand why, after several days, I agreed but told her not until the tour ended, as we only had three more weeks. She discreetly found a doctor in Seattle, and I had her schedule an appointment for three days after the tour concluded. The guard threatened to go to the tabloids again, only this time Shyla intervened.” September bit her lip. He’d seen her do that before when she left out details, choosing which words wouldn’t be a lie. “They came to a mutually beneficial agreement.”
Adam kept silent but only with great effort. The agreement must have been what allowed Sven to start his own company. They must have paid him double what they thought the story would be worth to the tabloids. The wordifkept floating across his mind. It didn’t seem like September was blaming him, but she should. He’d left her. He should have known she’d lied when she said she didn’t care for him and that the kiss was only another kiss from a fan who wanted a piece of her.
“Shyla insisted on going to Seattle with me, along with two bodyguards, neither one him. I kept the burner phone you gave me for emergencies. Shyla monitored my every move. She knew too much.”
Adam nodded. On occasion, they would find cameras or listening devices, usually when September had a date. Andrew could never figure out where they were coming from. They’d never thought it could be the same person in so many places. He cursed himself for missing the obvious.
“I called Melanie to get her help. Your mother advised me to have morning sickness more often than I felt it and to wear a Cub’s cap on the plane. By the time I got off at Sea-Tac airport, neither Shyla nor the bodyguards would follow me into the women’s room, and they had given up forcing me to wait for one of the private family bathrooms. Unfortunately, I didn’t have to fake much. I felt like my baby was trying to help in the plan to let her live. Your mom disguised me as a very pregnant woman to get me out of the airport. We walked right past Shyla. She didn’t even look twice.” September folded the paper and looked at him.
“Mom has a talent for disguises. I’m glad she could help you when I couldn’t. For the record, I said and did things the morning after our kiss I regret too. I wish—”
September held up her hand. “This is one of those times where we can’t look back.”
“Never look back, or you’ll miss where you’re goin’?” Adam didn’t sing the words. “Where is it we are going?”
“I don’t know. But I like the sound of ‘we.’ Can we go there together?”
Adam took her hand in his. It was smaller than he remembered. “If I could have one do-over in life, it would be the following morning and leaving. This might not be the best time to start a relationship, though.”
September shook her head. “We aren’t starting, we are redirecting. The PPD isn’t permanent, and I shouldn’t make any major life choices while I am recovering. But having you in my life is a choice I made long before now. I think I can trust it.”
A knock sounded at the door, and the orderly stuck her head in. “Dr. Brooks is ready for you now.”
* * *
He didn’t let go of her hand as they walked down the hall or into the room where Dr. Brooks held couples therapy. The doctor smiled at them as they sat down on the sofa together, passing the two chairs would make an obvious second choice.
“As a doctor, I try not to assume anything, so I will ask, what is the status of your relationship?”
September looked to Adam, and when his eyes met hers, his mouth turned up at the edges. He gave her hand a squeeze, and she said, “I am not quite sure, but we’ve decided to move forward together.”
“Sep—Rayne and I spent a lot of time together over the last five years. We’ve been good friends and more than friends. I think we are better together.”
Dr. Brooks nodded. “Then, with a few exceptions, I will treat the two of you as if you are in a long-term, committed relationship.”
The half-hour session flew by. Perhaps it only seemed short because Adam was holding her hand. Dr. Brooks detailed the need for support after September’s release. Adam said he had already discussed this with his parents and suggested September and Harmony move in with them.
The doctor looked at her watch. “Rayne, your dinner is being brought up. Adam, you are welcome to stay during dinner and while September feeds Harmony. I can’t have a meal brought up, but there are snacks at the nurses’ station you could pilfer.”
“Thank you. I think I will stay.”
The orderly took them back to the little room they first met in. September pushed the lasagna around her plate while Adam ate a cracker.
“Do I need to leave so you can eat?”
“I feel odd eating while you don’t.”
“Pretend I am your bodyguard. Do you know how many dinners you ate while I watched?”
September felt the heat rise in her face and took a bite, hoping to mask her discomfort.
A nurse knocked on the door before opening it. “This little one is awake, freshly changed, and ready to see her parents.”
Adam crossed the room and took Harmony from the nurse. September pushed the tray to the side and held out her arms.
“Finish eating. I can entertain the little princess while you eat.” He sat down and turned his full attention to her daughter. “I need to apologize for not bringing you flowers or chocolates for Valentine’s Day.”
“If they hadn’t served us heart cookies at lunch, I might not have even known. I didn’t get you anything either.” The next bite refused to go down. If only she had made other choices and Adam was Harmony’s real father. Most likely she would still have PPD, but so much of the stress she felt wouldn’t exist. She forced her attention back to her food. Eating wasn’t optional for nursing mothers. After a few more bites, she took a deep breath. There were still things she needed to say.
