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“No.”
“Sometimes after insertion they can fall out and you don’t realize it.”
“How can it just fall out? It hurt like hell going in. You would think I’d feel it coming out!” I stopped short. I remembered the intense cramping a couple days after insertion. I thought it was normal, but if what they were saying was true… it might have fallen out of me.
The tech had the nurse come in and explain to me how sometimes they fall out, but I was no longer listening. I had choices to make, and I needed to talk to Levi.
I went through the motions to get discharged so I could return to my dorm. I knew that they wouldn’t let me do the work needed to prove myself during the trial. They wouldn't send me home, but I’d be limited in what I could do because of the pregnancy.
I stood at my window and stared out at the landscape. I should be heartbroken, I told myself. I should be upset or crying or even angry. Something. Instead, I felt pretty empty.
My phone buzzed with a message from Grace. She sent me a video of Madeline swimming. Madeline had been afraid of water before, and Grace told me, “She did it! Look at her go!” And I felt so much pride for my niece for getting over her fear and learning something new.
Maybe this baby was a sign… maybe it was telling me what I needed to do.
I didn’t want to make such a choice on a whim, however. I sent a message to Busara and told her my health check was finished and that I needed to talk.
I had options, as the nurse had told me. This wasn’t a choice being made for me.
I had to make a decision.
And I had to make a decision quickly.
Chapter 28
Levi
It had been two days and Goaty was still at the vet’s office awaiting some more test results as the source of his illness had been elusive so far. I was feeding the animals when the sound of tires on gravel took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Was it Clark stopping by unannounced? Or one of my brothers?
I stepped out of the pen and saw Anna’s car heading down the driveway.
As it got closer, I squinted my eyes and could make out the outline of the driver.
“Is that…” I muttered, unable to comprehend how Anna could be driving down my driveway when she was on the other side of the world in Africa.
The car stopped and I walked toward it. The door flung open and Anna hopped out of the driver’s seat and ran toward me. She was in my arms within seconds and my lips were pressed against hers before either of us could even mutter a hello.
Finally, when we both took a breath, I asked, “What’s going on? Why are you here?”
“I forgot to tell you something before I left,” she said, beaming up at me. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she looked tired, but she was still the most beautiful woman in the world to me.
“You couldn’t have called or texted me?”
“No, I needed to say this in person,” she said, kissing me again, her soft hands cupping my face. “I love you too, Levi. I’m sorry I didn’t say it before I left, but I was scared. I was terrified that admitting it out loud would somehow make it harder to leave you, but not saying it didn’t make it any easier.”
“Anna, I told you–”
“Shh,” she said, kissing me again, her tongue moving into my mouth as her hands went for my belt buckle. “I need you right now. We can talk later, but I’ve missed you so much and can’t wait another second.”
I wasn’t about to say no to that. I picked Anna up off her feet and she let out a little squeal of surprise. I carried her inside my cabin and into my bedroom, laying her gently on the bed. Questions swirled in my mind, and I pinched myself to make sure this wasn’t a dream.
She was there, not in Africa. She was right there in my bedroom.
“Levi, please,” she whimpered as she finished removing my belt, tossing it to the floor.
I made quick work of her clothing as she fought to get me out of mine at the same time. Within seconds, we were naked and laying on my bed together, her face in my hands as I kissed her and snuggled against her warm, soft skin.
I inhaled her scent, still not believing she was there, with me, even as I touched and kissed her.
