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I dragged my tired body to work. I made calls and answered emails and answered questions for an article in a local magazine. All the while I was wondering how much longer I could keep this up. My life felt like I was holding it together by very thin strings, one holding my pregnancy secret, one holding my feelings for Noah, one trying to hold onto my job, one for the investigation---I wasn’t sure how long I could hang on. When I went out to walk through the first completed classroom and check for any modifications we needed, I was barely able to focus on what I was doing. I was so anxious, and I had to remind myself not to touch my belly. I’d found myself resting my hand on the baby for strength, for reassurance, to remind him that Mommy was going to take care of everything. But it was a bad habit, especially if it drew attention to my stomach. I didn’t have a noticeable bump yet, but the way I lovingly petted it would have been a giveaway. I stubbornly stuck my hands in my pockets to avoid it.
Noah led me to the room, and we were going over the number of electrical outlets, the cordless blinds I was having installed, the way the carpet turned out. I was doing pretty well at keeping my attention on the room and its fittings. He got a call and then turned to me.
“I have to go. I have a meeting with the mayor. Hey, everything’s going to be fine, Nic. I’ve got this,” he said.
He didn’t kiss me, and he didn’t pull me into his arms for a comforting hug. But his voice reassured me. His certainty and confidence braced me up a little. I nodded.
“Good luck.”
“Who needs luck when you have the truth?” he asked lightly as he walked out.
I examined the woodwork around the window and the storage shelves that had just been installed. I kept thinking about the embrace we’d shared at his house last night, how easily I turned to him. I had fallen for him hard. I was thinking about that when I heard a rumbling noise. I wondered if it was thunder, if the weather had shifted suddenly. In the distance, there was shouting but I couldn’t make it out.
I headed for the door to see what was going on. But everything seemed to get louder all of a sudden. A creaking above me. I looked up and saw that the ceiling was sagging in one place. I tried to back away but there was an almighty crash. I turned my back, wrapped my arms over my belly as it hit me. I felt the impact of something heavy and fell to my knees hard.
I heard a scream.
I think it was me.
I heard my name.
Then everything went black.
When I woke up, I was cold. There were fluorescent lights above me, and the beeping of machines. I lifted my hand and looked at the IV and the tubing taped to my skin. I was confused, not sure what had happened or why I was in a hospital. I remembered being in the community center building, and I’d heard a noise.
“You’re awake!” I heard Michelle’s voice sounding excited.
I turned my head and she and Trixie were there. They sat on my bed and fawned all over me and kissed my head and said I scared them.
“What happened?” I asked.
“There was a collapse at the build site. The ceiling caved in on you. You were knocked out, but you’re awake now and that’s the best news,” Trixie said, a little tearful.
“How do you feel?” Michelle asked.
“I’m okay. Sore, but okay. Is the baby okay?”
“I’ll tell the nurse you’re up. They can fill you in. And then Trixie and I are going to grab a coffee and spread the word you’re awake. There’s somebody else who wants to see you.”
I nodded, my hand going to my belly protectively. Please be okay, little baby, I thought, a tear slipping out the corner of my eye and sliding down my temple.
I heard the door and looked up to see Noah coming in. He looked haggard and there were lines of worry on his handsome face. He was visibly shaken, but he managed a smile when he saw I was awake. He came to the side of my bed and his hand seemed to hover there as if he didn’t know what to do or whether to touch me.
“You can hold my hand,” I offered. He took it and held it. His hand was big and warm.
He sat down beside my bed and didn’t let go of my hand.
“I know how it happened,” he said, anguish on his face. “One of the guys I hired for extra help was working for Forrester. He confessed everything when you got hurt. He cut the supports so the ceiling would fall and it would look like shoddy work. Forrester wanted me fired so he could take over the job. But Brody pulled the security tapes and found the guy destabilizing the ceiling. The guy cried like a baby and admitted everything.
