“I have never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life, young lady.”
Raven decided to save her grandma from further embarrassment. “Hey, I’m really exhausted. Would you all mind if we finish this meeting in the morning?”
“I’m tired too.” Rowan’s jaw cracked as she yawned. “It’s been a huge day, especially for you, Rave. There is one thing we never touched on, and I was hoping you’d bring it up, but,” sheshrugged, “you didn’t. We figured you could be anywhere from two to three months along. Let’s assume you’ve knocked out the first trimester?—”
River interrupted. “I just added finding a good OB/GYN in Dublin. No worries, I’ll do some doctor trolling tonight. Rowan bringing up how far along you might be made me realize you need to see someone ASAP.”
“Oh. Yes, of course.” Fighting the internal freak-out session was— difficult. Raven reminded herself she wasn’t alone. She had a place to live when they got to Dublin. With the money Jo threw at this trip and the good price they got for the Eufaula building, they had enough to rent a small, affordable apartment not far from where they would be working double time on the remodel.
Within an hour of them telling Saoirse they would need a place to live while they worked, her assistant had several options. The hope was it would take only two months, as the downstairs business space had good bones. They agreed that it was worth a year or two of cramped quarters to see Triskelion flourish.
And it would.
“So, back to what I was saying.” Rowan sighed at River. “We’ve given ourselves two months to open TTD, hopefully less. That would put you at four to five months along. About the time Jo expects to visit.”
Where in the absolute hell was Rowan going with this? Besides giving her a headache?
“You never once mentioned telling Bran, but I know you, sister. You would never keep something this important from him. He’s a total piece of shhh...” Rowan quickly swapped adjectives when Nan raised her brows. “He’s totally not on my list of people I most want to be related to... but he is the father, and... you do love him still. Right?”
Rowan’s last words were quiet, but they exploded inside Raven. Oh yes, she loved him still.
“Yes.” Such a simple word of affirmation. Yes, had power. Yes. Yes. Yes.
“I will tell him in my own time. It was one of my first and fiftieth thoughts. For now, this child is inme, and... he doesn’t want me. I will tell him, but not yet. Closer to the end.” She had to breathe deeply several times to wrangle her emotions. “Please tell me you understand.”
Nan spoke first. “Of course, we understand. I believe he has a right to know, but he gave up his right to the experience of seeing you bloom with his child when he... when he behaved foolishly.”
“I agree, Rave,” River said. “As long as he knows before you give birth, I’m good. Rowan and I will take good care of you and the wee bean.”
Rowan got up and pulled Raven into a hug. “Go to bed. I will support your wishes. Always.”
Later that night, Raven put her hand on her stomach, barely believing a tiny baby grew there. She and Bran were having a child, and she wished... desperately, that things were different, not just for herself, but for their child.
There were so many decisions to be made, a doctor for baby, managing their finances, remodels, telling Jo, telling Bran. Raven started to drift, closing her eyes. In the stillness between consciousness and sleep, she heard Bran whisper her name. She whispered his back.
They were driving backto the villa from Gandria where they’d spent an amazing day exploring the museum, with only the tiniest bit of nausea from the boat crossing. Thank you verymuch, ginger drops. When they were almost back to Morcote, River got a text from Jo asking her to call when they were home. She had some news and wanted Nan there, as well.
They gathered in the kitchen to make the call. Jo didn’t waste time telling them everything. James’ confession and initial suspicions when the men realized she and Jane’s pictures were probably altered and meant to sabotage their relationships, the detective, the former FBI analyst, the boys’ discovery that the girls had changed their numbers, their trip to Eufaula, Bran finding a camera attached to a signpost outside Triskelion’s front door, and Hugh calling the police.
It made Raven’s skin crawl to realize some psycho had been watching her. Taking pictures. To what end? To break up her and Bran? It seemed ridiculous.
“I can tell you, I was never more thankful that my conversations with those three were over a phone. I swear the O’Faolain testosterone packs a punch even long distance. They were angry I wouldn’t tell them where you were or give up your numbers. I assured them that we spoke every day.
“Bran is concerned for your safety, Raven, and I suppose there is the smallest chance he’s right, but he doesn’t know you are out of the country. He just learned you were out of Eufaula. He’s panicked. I get it. I promised to relate all this to you and allow you to decide if you felt you needed protection, which they would pay for, of course.
Rowan asked, “Do you still talk to Jane? See her, like, in public? Has she ever had anything weird happen to her since she and James broke up?”
“We do still speak. She’s amazing. She never knew about the pictures. James broke up with her through text. No reason given. And I have had lunch with her a few times here and there. In public. I tried to reason with Bran that if the stalker’s goal wasto ruin their relationships, once he accomplished that goal, the women were no longer an interest.
“However, my closed-mouth brother admitted that he has received a few more pictures over the last several months. So, I don’t really know. It could be that the stalker kept watch on Jane because I still spoke with her. No one knows anything yet.
“I don’t speak psycho. I could be wrong, and if you were coming back to Oklahoma, I would advise caution, but you aren’t, so...”
“I agree. It is really creepy to think someone was following me. Taking pictures of me.”
“Unsettling,” Nan agreed. “I’m thankful the authorities are involved. Jo, are you okay there? Are your parents home, and have you told them?”
“Yeah, Jo. This is crazy news. You should never be alone until the person is caught.”
