One to Protect (One to Hold 3)

By seven, the four of us are gathered in the Merritt-Knight kitchen raising glasses of sparkling wine in a toast. All except me, of course. I have my own personal bottle of sparkling apple cider.

“Take it easy on that stuff.” Patrick teases. “You know you’re a lightweight.”

“I’ll pace myself.” I wink as I toss back the glass and wince. It’s too sweet, and I’ll be switching to ginger ale for my next toast.

“Your mom said to start without her. She’d already scheduled a late appointment when I called her.” Elaine’s at the stove stirring fast, sautéing vegetables in a wok. We’re having her specialty Thai-fusion tonight because it’s my favorite.

“I’m surprised you’re doing all this. I thought you didn’t want to know.” I pick up a carrot and snap a bite off the end while I watch her work.

“No way! I have to know! How else will I plan the shower?”

“Are you feeling better? About your… situation?” I’d been afraid to say anything about the ultrasound since our sleepover and her big reveal. Of course, then I acknowledged she’d kill me if I stopped giving her my baby news.

“Actually, I am.” Her tone switches to controlled problem-solver, a.k.a., normal Lainey. “You were right. One month is way too soon to know anything. It’s also possible I was suffering from baby fever, between you and Kenny—”

“Did you say anything to Patrick?” My voice has dropped and I glance toward the living room, where Patrick and Derek seem to be having a serious conversation. They aren’t listening to us, and now I’m intensely curious to find out what they are saying. I want to know if it’s related to Derek’s mood this morning.

“He’s been busy wrapping up details from Baltimore, so we haven’t communicated much. Outside the bedroom.” She winks and lifts the wok, shaking the julienne-sliced vegetables onto a platter. Next in the wok go the long noodles.

I shake my head. “Has he told you anything about what happened?”

She stirs the noodles quickly in the vegetable stock. “He said it would be better not to tell me about it. We’re not married yet, so I’m not protected by any statues.”

“Lainey!” My voice is a cracked whisper. “That sounds really bad.”

She shrugs, continuing to stir. “We knew it wasn’t going to be good, right? They had to play dirty to find something to stick to your slimy ex.”

Closing my eyes, my chin drops. My brows clutch together. “I hate this so much. I can’t help feeling like it’s my fault. Derek was an honorable man before he met me, a hero—”

“Hey.” My friend catches my chin and lifts my eyes to hers. “You didn’t make Sloan hurt you. You didn’t send him to prostitutes. This is not your fault. And Derek is honorable. He’s so honorable he would never let some criminal get away with hurting you like that.”

Pulling my chin away, I turn back to the living room where the guys are still deep in conversation. “I was the one blind enough to marry him.”

“He tricked you just like he tricked the rest of us. It’s not your fault.” She spoons the noodles out on top of the vegetables. “You’re lucky you have a wonderful man now. One who won’t back down from doing what needs to be done.”

No words come to me, so I let it go. “Ready?”

“Help me set the table.”

Full stomachs, glasses of wine, we’re all in the living room lounging around the fire when my mother joins us. She takes a glass of red and sits on the couch next to Lainey. I’m standing in front of the warm, orange glow with Derek at my side beaming.

“So how shall we do this?” I look from one expectant face to the next.

Lainey pipes up. “How about two fingers it’s a girl, one finger it’s a boy?”

A quick look up at Derek and he grins, giving me a wink and a little nod.

“Okay… are you ready?” My hands go behind my back, and a huge smile spreads over my face.

“I think my heart is beating too fast.” Mom laughs and sets her wine glass on the end table.

“Just fucking tell us, dammit!” Patrick shouts, and then his eyebrows dart up. “Shit, I’m sorry, Mrs. Jones.”

“I was thinking that exact same thing, dammit!” Mom’s voice is a loud reply, and we all laugh then.

Derek leans close by my head. “On three?” I nod, and he counts.

One…