Page 123 of Surly Sheriff
Fine.
The word stuck in his craw.
He grasped her wrist and flung her hand away. “Did you miss me, Rae?” he growled. “When you pushed our son from your body, did you even miss me? Spare me a fucking thought?”
Her eyes widened and filled with tears. “Desperately so,” she whispered. “There’s something I want to give you. I … I’ve been waiting for the right moment. Wait here. I’ll be back.”
Without further explanation, she turned and walked away.
Beau grabbed cotton shorts from the drawer, giving the toasted sandwich and steaming mug of tea she had placed on top of the bureau a scowl. He grabbed the plate and tipped the contents into the trashcan, not wanting anything from her. He pulled the shorts on, searching for his soiled uniform.
It was gone. Further survey found his wallet and official ID on the bedside table.
Rae returned with an iPad in her hand.
“Where are my clothes?” he snapped.
“In the washer.”
“I can take care of my own laundry. Make my own food,” he added, giving the empty plate a pointed look.
Her mouth tightened, and she tossed the iPad onto his bed. “I documented my pregnancy and Jack’s birth. Code is zero-two-zero-seven. Watch, or not, but please don’t connect the device to the Wi-Fi. I don’t want copies on the internet.”
She spun about and stalked across the room. “I’ll send Kismet back to you,” she called over her shoulder.
Beau set his ass back on the bed and eyed the device. It beckoned to him, but he was reluctant to pick it up. A reminder of all he’d missed out on. A time lost to him.
Kismet plodded down the hallway and into his room, giving him a disgruntled look before curling up into his basket with a heavy sigh, signifying his utter annoyance of having to vacate his former position on Rae’s bed.
Beau swore a blue streak and grabbed the iPad, settling back against his headboard. He tapped the code, and the thumbnails of four videos appeared. He selected the earliest one.
Rae’s face filled the screen, sporting short, spiky brown hair, and dark shadows under her eyes. She looked tired and miserable. He started the video.
“Hey.” She managed a small smile. “Our baby moved for the first time today. I wish you were here to share the precious moment with me.” Rae moved away from the camera, and her body came into view. Clad in a shirt pushed up, exposing her swollen midriff. She rubbed her hand over the bulge. “Isn’t it amazing? That’s our baby. Our baby,” she repeated in an awestruck tone, looking down. “If it’s a boy, I want to call him Jack after your father. For a girl, Alexandra.” Her face tilted to look in the camera. “After my mama. I hope that one day I can tell you the story about my brave mother. And I hope you can forgive the awful way I left. Honey …” Her voice broke, and she swallowed several times. “I promise I will do everything to keep our baby safe.”
The video ended.
He started the next one.
Rae lay on a bed with a portable ultrasound scanner next to her. The person beside her moved a wand over her swollen midriff. The camera focused on the screen and a woman’s voice said, “It’s a boy.” She pointed at the image and the camera moved even closer, revealing the baby’s genitalia. The image shifted, and Rae’s teary face filled the screen. “We’re having a boy, honey.” She swiped a finger below her eyes before looking directly at the camera. “Miss you so much.”
The video ended.
Beau took a moment to wipe a hand over his own wet eyes before moving to the next video.
“Look!” Rae’s voice called out as the image of her midriff filled the screen. “Our son’s playing soccer.”
Beau gave a choked laugh as Rae’s huge belly heaved from side to side.
“I know you’re a baseball fan, but I’ve been subjected to a lot of soccer recently, and this kid” — her finger appeared, tracing across her shifting skin — “is definitely a soccer player.”
The video continued for a few minutes, and then the movement stopped. “Maybe I can get some sleep now. Sleep tight. Know you are always in my dreams.”
He started the final video.
“This is it,” Rae said, running a hand through her hair. It was longer now, all shaggy and disheveled. “My water broke.” She wrinkled her nose. “Remember how I freaked out after Little-B’s baby shower? … Let me tell you, it’s as gross as I thought. Luckily, I was at home, although I need to replace my couch. I’m excited and scared. And I’m missing you so much. I’ve wanted to pick up the phone and call you so many times, but then I remember all that’s at stake. I have to stay away, and above all, I have to keep Jack hidden.” Her expression turned serious. “If anything happens to me, my friend Aubrey will contact you. She’s a lawyer and has your details.”
A doorbell chimed, and Rae’s eyes shifted to the side. “That’s the mid-wife. Did I mention before that I opted for a home birth? Hospitals mean records, and I want no trace of Jack’s birth in any medical system. But in case of an emergency, the hospital is only a few minutes away.”
