Only Ever Yours

“I love it.” I drag her chair toward me and kiss her. “And I love you.”

After we finish eating, I call Frank and explain we need to get Camilla’s records from her old doctor and have them sent to a new one. He already knows everything needs to be kept under wraps. A few hours later, he texts me with the new doctor’s name and appointment information.

“Dr. Tobias will be here tomorrow morning at nine o’clock. She’s aware of the need for discretion and has agreed to be driven here.”

“That was fast.”

“Money talks.”

“Thank you for coming on such short notice.” I shake Dr. Tobias’s hand, welcoming her inside, as her assistant carries the equipment needed for the appointment.

“It’s no trouble.” She turns her attention on Camilla. “And you must be the patient.” She winks sweetly, and Camilla sags in relief. She was worried she wouldn’t like the doctor the same way she liked her other one. I can tell she’s been nervous, and I hate her being even more stressed.

“I am. Thank you for coming all the way out here.”

“I’m going to have Josie take your blood. It’s standard procedure. When the results come back, if there’s any cause for concern, I’ll give you a call.”

After her blood’s been taken, we make our way to the guestroom, so Camilla can lie down. The doctor has her change into a gown she brought so she can check her internally, while the nurse sets up the ultrasound machine.

She warns us that because it’s a traveling machine, it won’t be as clear as the newer ones, but she’ll be able to get the measurements and check everything she needs to check.

Wanting to see everything, I carry a chair over to sit next to Camilla’s head, while the doctor gets situated and the nurse takes Camilla’s blood pressure. Camilla’s hand finds mine, and she squeezes it softly. When I glance down at her, she mouths, “I love you,” and I lean over to kiss her forehead.

“Love you, meu amor.” With the transducer on Camilla’s stomach, the doctor clicks on the screen. It takes a few seconds, but then a loud whoosh, whoosh, whoosh fills the silence, and Camilla giggles.

“That’s the heartbeat,” she gushes. “Isn’t it the most beautiful sound in the world?”

“Yeah, it is,” I agree, my gaze locked on the gray and white screen, showcasing the outline of our baby. Holy shit, we’re having a baby. A tiny little human who’s going to be part of this world in a few months. Who I’m going to need to protect and keep safe. Meanwhile, Noah is hiding, and he may or may not be the person who put a hit out on me. I have a brother somewhere I know nothing about, and Camilla and I are hiding while the world thinks I’m dead.

“Hey, you okay?” Camilla asks, shaking me from my thoughts.

“Yeah, just thinking about everything we need to do before this little guy gets here.”

The doctor walks us through the measurements and other technical stuff, concluding the baby is measuring perfectly with his due date, weighing in at eleven ounces and seven inches long.

After we schedule the next appointment, we see her out and are heading back inside, when my phone buzzes in my pocket with a text from Frank.

Frank: Dr. Parker, Camilla’s previous doctor, called and said her file has been stolen from her office. It had Dr. Tobias’s information in it. I’m calling Dr. Tobias now.

Motherfucker.

“Hey, Cam, have you ever shot a gun before?”

She blanches at my question. “What? Did something happen?”

“No, baby.” I pull her into my arms, ready to lie before I remember my promise to her. “Actually, yes. Someone broke into Dr. Parker’s office and stole your file containing your information and now knows who your new doctor is.”

Her face turns white in fear. “It has to have been Noah. What if he comes here?”

“The chances of that happening are slim, since the doctor was picked up from her home and driven here, but you asked me to be honest, so I’m telling you what happened. I want you to be prepared in case anything happens.” I walk us over to the foyer table and pull the small drawer open, exposing the gun I placed there months ago.

“Isaac,” she gasps, but stays rooted in her spot.

“If something happens and you need to protect yourself, you shoot first and ask questions later. This is the safety.” I place the gun into her hand and she accepts it reluctantly. “In order to shoot, you have to release the safety.” I show her how it’s done. “Now you try.” I flip the safety back on and let go, so she can try it herself.

She mimics what I did, then looks up at me for approval. “Good. I have a gun in this drawer.” I place it back in the drawer and close it. “Another one in the kitchen drawer to the left of the sink, and there’s one in my nightstand drawer.”