Ben took one look at her and could see how tired she was. He looked at the digital time displayed on the dashboard. It was nearly 10:00 p.m. and past her bedtime. He reached for her hand and lifted it to his lips.
“Sorry it took us so long. Let’s get you home and to bed.”
“Is everything okay? Did Tanner get someone to come pick up Justin’s Jeep?” She asked quietly.
“Yes, everything’s fine. Tanner made the call and he’ll wait here until the techs come for the Jeep.”
Ben started the SUV and drove toward home. Lane leaned her head against the window again and was asleep before they left the parking lot. Ben felt helpless, just as he had as he watched her sip water and nibble crackers before she got out of bed. He couldn’t imagine the guilt he would have felt if she had ever actually vomited in the mornings. She had been so tired during the first trimester. One weekend a couple of weeks ago, she had spent most of Saturday in bed. He told her that day that he felt guilty and then he’d said it was his fault that she was pregnant. She had looked at him and laughed. “I think I was right there, with you, Dad,” she’d said and then she’d told him he was being ridiculous.
He knew it was true, but he’d told her that he was used to being in control and in this situation, he couldn’t even pretend to be in control. That had gotten another laugh out of her. “For the next year or so, this little one is the only one in control of anything.” She’d said as she patted her abdomen. He loved her more than he knew it was even possible to love someone.
Lane didn’t even stir as he opened the garage door and parked his SUV. Ben looked into the back seat as he turned off the ignition, “Get the door, Bambino.”
Ben quietly opened the passenger door and unfastened Lane’s seatbelt before lifting her into his arms. She instinctively put her arms around him as he carried her into the house and into their bedroom. Jamie followed them into the bedroom and pulled the covers back so Ben could get Lane into bed.
“Thanks, Bambino. Let me get her settled and I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
Ben slowly removed Lane’s cowboy boots and her socks. He unfastened her jeans and gently pulled them off. He lifted her up so he could get her sweater off. For now, he’d leave her in her underwear. He pulled the covers over her, bent and kissed her forehead, and then left the bedroom.
He found Jamie at the kitchen table with a large glass of milk and a plate of reheated leftover meatloaf and potatoes.
“You know, I went back into the locker room to get my backpack because I have a history test tomorrow. Guess I could have left it where it was and then maybe Justin wouldn’t have ended up in the hospital.”
“You can’t blame yourself, Bambino. As his parents said, you probably saved Justin’s life. Do I need to call the school about your history test? Maybe get them to give you a make-up test later?”
“No, I have a study hall in the morning before the test, I’ll be fine. Is Mom okay?”
“She’s fine, just tired. Apparently, pregnancy really taxes a woman’s system. The doctor has said the fatigue should go away soon.”
Jamie nodded as he stood up to put his dishes in the sink. He opened the dishwasher and started to put the dishes away. It was “against the rules” to leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
“You go to bed, I’ll get that.” Ben walked to the dishwasher, but Jamie hadn’t moved. “Are you all right, Bambino?”
“Yeah, it’s just weird, you know? To think that one of my friends could have died. And then to realize that most likely someone did it to him on purpose.” Jamie paused and looked at Ben. “But I know that you and Mr. Tanner will find out what’s going on.”
Chapter 4
Ben was usually up by 5:30 a.m. without the aid of an alarm clock. He was running a little late this morning. He got up, dressed for his 10-mile run, and left the house. When he came home, Jamie was in the gym going through his morning workout. Ben went through his weight and strength training routine. Both Jamie and Ben were morning people but neither of them spoke during his workout.
Jamie finished first, but he sat on the weight machine and looked at Ben. “Do you have court today?”
Ben stopped. “No, I’ll be in the office all day. I’m doing some prep for a trial that starts next week after the holiday. Call me if you need anything.”
Jamie nodded and left the gym. Ben watched him go, thinking Jamie was more shaken over this than he wanted to let on. Ben looked up at the wall clock. It was nearly 7:00 a.m. He needed to finish up and get his shower in.
Ben walked into the dark bedroom and made his way to the master bathroom. He closed the door and turned the water on. He’d brush his teeth, shave, and then hop into the shower. These last few weeks had been an adjustment. A pleasant one, yet it was still an adjustment. Ben had lived alone since he was in law school. Now he had a wife, a ready-made family, and a baby on the way. He knew it had been an adjustment for Lane and Jamie too. The door from the bedroom opened and Lane stumbled into the bathroom. She offered her cheek for him to kiss as she went into the powder room and closed the door. He smiled. His wife was not what anyone would call a morning person. The only reason she was out of bed at the un-Godly hour of 7:15 a.m. was that she was pregnant and her bladder felt like it was the size of a walnut.
Lane emerged from the powder room still in the underwear he’d put her to bed in the night before. She looked down at what she was wearing.
“I fell asleep in the car and you carried me in to bed, didn’t you?”
He walked over and wrapped his arms around her. “Yes.” He said as he bent to kiss her.
“You have to stop doing that.” She said.
Ben leaned back and looked at her. “Stop kissing you?”
Lane laughed. “No, stop carrying me. Kissing me you can do forever.”
He kissed her again. “Good, I was a little worried for a minute. As for carrying you, you’re just going to have to learn to live with that, because I will not wake you up.” He rubbed her abdomen. “You two needed your rest.”
She put her hand over his. “We have our first ultrasound today.”
“At 3:30, I know. I’ll probably have to just meet you, but I’ll be there.”
She stood on her toes and kissed him. “You know sometimes they can tell the baby’s gender in an ultrasound. If they can, do you want them to tell us or do you want to be surprised when the baby’s born?”
“Knowing might make decorating the nursery easier, but it’s up to you. I’m okay either way. Did you find out with the other kids or did you wait to be surprised?”
“Ultrasounds weren’t so much routine when I had the older kids, but I think I’d like to be surprised. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
Keeping his hand on her abdomen, he leaned down and kissed her again. “I’m good with finding out the old fashioned way, when the baby gets here.”
She hugged him, “Okay. I love you. I’m going back to bed. I’ll see you later.” She said before turning and walking back to their bed.
Ben turned on the water for the shower and got in. He knew he was running late, he was usually in the office before 7:30 a.m. He’d give his admin, Stephanie, a call from the car and leave a message that he’d be in closer to 8:30 a.m. today. She’d be shocked because he usually beat her into the office. However, even he was allowed to come in late occasionally.