“Call it what you want,” I tell him. “I love her. I love our boys and I’ve never met them. I know that every night for the rest of my life I get to go home to her.”
“That she’s going to be there when I have a bad day or when I have a great one that I can’t wait to share with her,” Ridge adds
I look over at Ridge. “You might not want to listen to this next part.” I laugh at his horrified expression but continue. “I know what she likes. She knows what I like. I know that when I climb into bed and pull her into my arms, there is familiarity of her body and mine. I know how to touch her, how to play her body.”
“Sounds to me like if you needed all that time to learn, you weren’t doing it right.”
I chuckle. “It’s more than that. There’s this connection. Sure, we might be fucking, but underneath the hot and sweaty is love. No matter if I’m fucking her or not, that’s just actions. It’s always going to be making love between us.”
“He’s right,” Ridge grumbles reluctantly.
“We’ll take your word for it,” Kent and Seth say at the same time.
“What about you?” I ask Mark.
“No comment.” He walks away to grab a load of lumber.
“Speaking of my wife.” I glance at my vibrating cell phone that I just pulled out of my pocket. I show them the screen before answering. “Hey, baby,” I greet her. Ridge grumbles and the guys laugh.
“Ty,” she cries, and I’m immediately on guard.
“Reagan. What’s wrong?” The guys must hear the concern in my voice as all activity stops around me as they home in on my conversation.
“I’m bleeding.” Her sobs reach my ears through the phone, and I feel my knees begin to wobble. This isn’t good news.
“Reagan, where are you?” My voice is soft, and if it were not for the shake, you would think I’m calm. I’m not. My gut is twisting in knots and my heart is hammering against my chest. My legs, although wobbly, are already carrying me to my truck.
“The shop. I wasn’t doing anything. I swear,” she cries. “I dropped a pen. I bent over to pick it up and I felt something.”
“It’s okay, baby. I’m about fifteen minutes outside town. How bad?”
“Not bad, but it’s there. Ty, I’m scared.”
Fuck! “I know, Reags. I’m on my way. I’m going to call Dr. Hatfield and see if she wants you at the office or the hospital. Don’t move. Stay exactly where you are. Sit down. Put your feet up. I’m coming to you.” I reach for the door of my truck, but Seth beats me to it. He takes the keys from my hands and motions for me to walk around. I don’t argue. I don’t think me getting behind the wheel is a good idea. I race around the truck, and Seth already has it in reverse and is backing out of the drive before I barely have my door shut.
“Give me your phone,” I tell Seth. He digs into his pocket and hands it to me. “Baby, I’m going to call you from Seth’s phone. Don’t hang up with me until the call beeps in, okay?”
“Okay.” Her voice is soft and laced with fear.
It takes me three tries to dial her number. Finally, Seth takes it from me and thumbs through his contacts until he hits her name. “Hello,” she answers as our call goes silent.
“It’s me, Reags. I want you to stay on the line with me. I’m calling Dr. Hatfield now.”
“Okay” is again her soft, scared reply.
My hands shake, but dialing Dr. Hatfield is easier as she’s on my favorites list. It rings twice before the receptionist answers. “My name is Tyler Justice. I need to talk to Dr. Hatfield about my wife, Reagan. It’s an emergency.”
“Of course, Mr. Justice. Please hold.”
I’m surprised it was that easy. I was expecting a fight, but perhaps she could hear it in my voice.
“Tyler,” Dr. Hatfield greets.
“She’s bleeding.” My voice cracks as emotion clogs my throat. “Sh-She just called me and she’s bleeding. What do we do?”
“How bad?”
“Reags?”
“Yeah?”
“How bad, baby?”
“Spotting. A little heavier.”
I repeat her words to Dr. Hatfield. “Bright red or dull?”
Fuck! I repeat the question to my wife. “Bright red,” she answers.
“Tyler,” Dr. Hatfield says calmly, “are you driving?”
“No.”
“Good. Take a deep breath.” I do as she says and I can hear Reagan do the same from hearing my inhale and exhale into the phone. “Everything is going to be okay. Go ahead and take her to the hospital. I’ll meet you there. She might need to stay a few days.”
“Okay.” My voice cracks. “We’ll be there soon. Should we call an ambulance?” At my questions, I hear Reagan’s sobs intensify over the line.
“No. Have whoever is driving you to bring her. The hospital is just the other side of town. Be safe, stay calm, and I’ll meet you there.”
“Thank you.” I end the call. “Reags?”
“I’m here,” she replies, her voice small.
“Seth and I are almost there. We’re going to take you to the hospital. Dr. Hatfield is going to meet us there.” I wait for her reply, but all I hear are her soft cries flowing through the line to my ears. “I love you, Reagan. You and the boys are going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine,” I tell her, but I’m not sure if I say the words for her or for me. I want to believe them. I have to. They’re my life. My wife and our unborn sons. Nothing can happen to them. The fucked-up part is that I’m helpless. I can’t do a single fucking thing to help them, to keep this from happening. “We’re pulling in,” I tell her. “Don’t move. I’ll come and get you.”
“Okay.”
I don’t hang up the phone, not until I lay eyes on her. Jumping out of the truck before it’s fully stopped, I race to the door and sling it open. I scan the room, and Carol points to the back. I run to her, stopping at the entrance of the small breakroom. She’s sitting in a chair. Her elbows are on the table—one hand holds the phone to her ear while the other rests against her forehead.
“Reagan.” My voice cracks. I end the call and slide Seth’s phone into my pocket, and drop to my knees beside her. Her face is red and blotchy. Tear stains streak down her face, only to be covered by new tears. Her eyes are wide with fear, and if I didn’t know it wasn’t possible, I’d say I can hear my heart crack seeing her like this. “I’m here,” I say, smoothing her hair out of her eyes.
“I’m scared, Ty. I’m so scared.”
Another crack. “I’ve got you,” I promise her. Once standing, I bend down and scoop her up in my arms.
“You can’t carry me.” Her attempt to ward me off is weak.
“I can and I will.” She settles her head against my shoulder and wraps her arms tightly around my neck. I nod to Carol and Brenda who both look worried, as do the clients they have in their chairs. “I’ll keep you posted,” I tell them. I don’t wait for a nod of approval or to hear anything they might say. I stalk toward the front door that Seth is holding open for me. He races to the truck and pulls open the door. I’m not sure how I manage it, but I climb into the passenger seat, still holding her in my arms.
“I should buckle up. The babies,” she says, trying to move from my lap.