AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Raul turns to look at me where I’m seated behind Derek. Derek looks in the mirror at me. They both have looks of shock on their faces.
“Ana, I had nothing keeping me in DC. I go where Maya goes. She's my family, so that makes you my family. Besides, with my dad getting the job in London, it was only a matter of time before I moved here too.” He shrugs at me.
I look then at Raul.
“This is just a job to you?” I ask him.
“No, Ana, you're not a job. Duncan, Joshua, Ian, and Timothy are my brothers. What we forged in the war has bonded us. I’d give my life for yours. It's what I do. Duncan and Joshua would do the same. I think of you as a little sister. Besides, I like Scotland. We used to come here every summer when I was a teenager.” He smiles at the end, but I see the look in his eyes, it's the look my brother gets when he remembers the war.
“If I haven't said it before let me say it now, thank you.” I smile at them both, and look out the window. I'm so lucky, yet I feel unworthy of it.
As the day progresses, my phone goes off several more times. I finally get tired of it and turn it off. Derek’s and Raul’s both start going off regularly after that. I hear Derek tell Maya to give me a break for a few. He yells at Joshua to just leave it be. Raul answers politely and responds quietly. Neither of them question me.
My doctor's appointment doesn't go well. My blood pressure is still high, and they're starting to worry. I can’t tell the doctor about my break down or the panic attacks; I’ve already talked them out of meds once. I get some shopping done for the baby and order more furniture for the cottage. I also have the guys take me to the local art shop so I can order the supplies I'll need after I move in. My sketching has been calming, but I need a couple easels and tables for the studio.
I tried to spend most of the day in town in hopes everyone would leave me alone when I got home. We had dinner at a small café, both Derek and Raul tried to keep the mood light with Derek cracking most of the jokes.
When we pull up to the manor house, Maya, Duncan, Joshua, and even Daddy are standing on the porch. The guard at the entrance of the compound must have called and warned them we had returned. I'm barely out of the Rover when Joshua starts in, he is right at my door, blocking me between his body and the SUV.
“Where the bloody hell have you been? Why did you turn off your phone, and why the hell are you sitting in the front seat?” He's not yelling, but I can feel the anger coming from him. He's trying to keep it in control, but I feel it. Panic rises inside me, but I push it down in hopes of not embarrassing myself again.
“I went shopping, had a doctor's appointment, and Raul said I could sit up front for a bit,” I say quietly, ignoring the part about my phone. “I had two guards, even though I tried to get Derek to leave with just him. And you know my schedule, you knew where I was.” I watch as Joshua takes that in.
“Why is your phone off,” Joshua asks again. And again I don’t answer him.
“Ana, how was the appointment? I was supposed to go with you.” Maya walks up behind Joshua. She looks hurt, I know she senses something is wrong with me.
“I'm sorry, Maya, I'm just tired. The doctor said the baby is fine.” I won't tell them about my blood pressure, they'll just worry more about me.
“Ana, what else did he say?” Joshua asks, knowing I'm hiding something.
Damn him!
“Nothing, it's late, and I'm tired. Please let me go. It's not your concern.” I feel the old me start to stand up, I want to fight with him. I want to be strong. I'm tired of letting men walk over me and make me feel second rate. He steps back as if I smacked him. I take advantage of the space and step around him toward the front of the vehicle, and start to walk to the house.
“Excuse me.” I hear the change in his voice instantly. Raul steps back, but Derek steps up to my side. Maya steps up to me too, but the others all stay back as if they're waiting for him to do something.
“Ah hey, guys, let's just go inside and get a nice cup of herbal tea for Ana and relax.” Derek is always trying to defuse the situation.
He puts his hand on my lower back to lead me past Maya, Joshua, and the group. I see the war waging behind Joshua's eyes, he wants to continue this conversation right here. He's also looking at Derek and his hand carefully.
“Derek, tea sounds nice, but my feet are hurting, and I have a headache. We can all talk tomorrow, good night.” We walk toward the house with the group following behind. Derek leans in to kiss my cheek.
“Good night, sweet girl, I'll pick you up at eleven hundred to go back into town. Get some rest.” Derek and Raul leave.
“What? Why do you have to go back into town?” Joshua asks.
I really don't want to do this now, but I guess I'm going to have to.
“I have to go in for an ultrasound, and another test, plus Isabella's crib is in. I got the call earlier.”
“Isabella!” my father and Duncan say in unison, both clearly shocked.
“Yes, I'm having a girl, and I decided to name her after Mum. Is that all right, Daddy?” I hope he's okay with this.
“Oh, darling, it's wonderful! I love it, and I know your mum would have loved it too.” He walks up to hug me, pushing through the others that are now standing around Maya's foyer.
“Pay up, big guy, I was right,” Maya says as she smiles at Duncan.
