Page 63 of Blue Norther
I hadn’t thought to look at his face when he came in—but I should have. One look at him, and I didn’t need to ask what the phone call was about.
“No.” Pain lanced through my chest as concern filled Hayes’ face. Colt had told me years ago if anything ever happened, it would be one of his brothers who told me. That’s what was happening. Hayes was standing in front of me, reaching out like he was going to catch me if I fell. Because what he had to tell me was going to rip me apart. “No. Don’t you dare!”
“Maybe you should sit down.” He took a step towards me as his eyes dropped to my belly. I hadn’t even realized I was wincing as I clutched at the place where my baby was sleeping.
Colt’s baby.
“Don’t you come in here, and hold on to me, only to tell me he’s gone, Hayes. Don’t you dare. He’s coming home with cupcakes. We’re supposed to have cupcakes in bed.”
Hayes didn’t listen, his hand locking on my elbow as he walked us back towards the table.
“Christ, Violet. That’s not what…He’s okay. But he’ll literally kill me if you go into labor over this, so please…pleasejust take a breath. Colt’s had a shitty day, and I think missing the birth of his son would send him over the edge.”
My hand covered my heart, and I leaned back until my head clunked against the wall. “You scared me.” I waited a second until I felt my heartbeat slow, then popped open one of my eyes to scowl at him. “What happened?”
“In the grand scheme of things, it could have been so much worse.”
“Oh, God.That’s what you came up with tocalm me down?”
He shrugged, grabbing my tea from the counter and setting it in front of me. “Don’t get upset, okay?”
The baby chose that moment to start wiggling, his bum pressing out against my side. I watched as the bump that had grown to a size I didn’t even know was possible stretched and morphed into a pyramid.
“Holy shit.” Hayes stood next to me, white as a sheet. “It’s like there’s an alien in there.”
“It feels like it, too,” I grunted as I pushed against his little body. “You better sit and tell me what the hell happened. Fast.”
Hayes nodded, pulling a chair away from the table. “Beau didn’t have a lot of details to share, but I guess another deputy found Colt down behind his patrol car in some bushes with alaceration on his head. They’re finishing up at the hospital now, and he’s going to be okay.”
I pushed up off the seat, trying to remember where I’d put my keys.Were they in my purse? Or were they in my laptop bag?“Let’s go.”
“Vi.” Hayes jumped up, his hand resting on my shoulder. “Beau was bringing the truck up to the hospital doors to get him when he called. They should be here soon, okay. So, you’re just going to relax. I’ll finish up supper.”
“I’m not hungry.” Honestly, the thought of eating made my stomach flip. Even the smell of the meatloaf, now resting on the counter, was making me nauseous.
“I bet my nephew is, though,” he pushed. “Got to fatten him up still. Beckett will bowl right over him if you don’t.”
“Probably should wait until after he’s exited my body to fatten him up.”
Hayes cringed. “Damn. Yeah. Fair enough. But you still have to eat.”
I nodded, not really meaning to agree with him as my mind wandered to Colt. I wasn’t his emergency contact. Of course I wasn’t. He was a first responder. He needed someone who was here to be it. But that realization hit me like a ton of bricks. He had rushed right down to the hospital to be by my side, but he had Beau call Hayes to tell me. He didn’t want me there when he was hurt? I know that it was a practical thing. He wouldn’t want me trying to drive myself anywhere right now. But he washurt. And I wouldn’t have known if?—
Lights flashed into the house, and I was out of my chair before Hayes could stop me. I moved through the house with a speed I didn’t know I was capable of, but I still wasn’t quite at the door before them. I could hear Beau or Colt knock for a second before giving up.
Wrenching the door open, I expected to see Colt, but the doorway was empty.
“Jesus, Vi.” Hayes wrapped his hand around my arm and pulled me back. I watch a delivery guy get back in his car and back down the driveway. My eyes dropped to the porch where a thin envelope sat. I should have known it would be too soon for them to get here all the way from Bell Ridge.
“It was just a delivery guy.”
“That’s weird. Usually all our stuff gets delivered up to Mom and Dad’s house.”
The alarm panel started beeping more rapidly.
“Crap. Would you grab it for me? I’m afraid we’re about to set off the alarm.” I gestured to the panel behind me.
“Oh shit. Yeah.”
