Tyler’s face froze. He glanced at his girlfriend uncertainly and then back to Bess. “I’m sorry. I heard that he got recalled by the SEALs.”
“What?” Bess gasped, gripping the side of her chair.
Tyler’s girlfriend looked sympathetically at Bess. “Tyler, why don’t I run to those shops on my own and we’ll meet up in half hour or so? Give you time to catch up,” she said, obviously not feeling at all threatened leaving her boyfriend with a pregnant woman.
“Bridge, that’s great. I’ll call you on your cell in a bit. Thanks, hon.” He gave her a quick peck on the lips.
Despite Bess’s current state of anxiety, she still felt a tug at her heart from the show of affection.
Tyler sat in the chair next to Bess. “I really spoke out of line. You know, it’s just a rumor.”
Bess felt her stomach cramp up. Great, Bess thought. Gas. Just the thing to make me even less appealing to the opposite sex.
“Are you all right?” He must have noticed her discomfort.
“I’m fine,” she shifted in her seat, struggling for a better position. Her back was killing her. “What is this rumor, then, exactly?”
“Just that Commander Riley left the Academy suddenly for some SEAL mission.”
Bess shook her head. “He would have called.” Even after arguing with Lacey, Mick certainly would have called. Wouldn’t he?
“Not if it’s black ops. Those guys just disappear.”
Bess took a deep breath and let it out slowly to relieve the pressure in her stomach. Why had she eaten that third egg this morning? Wincing, she tried to ignore his look of concern. “So, um, is there any rumor about when he’s coming back?”
Tyler just shook his head. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Not really. Too much stress, I think.” Why wasn’t Maeve here? She’d know what to do.
“Uh, yeah, or you could be in labor.”
“No. I have three more weeks. This is just stomach pain.” Unconsciously, she started rubbing her belly. “Is there some way we can find out for sure about Mick?”
“I wouldn’t know. I could ask around, but I doubt I’ll be able to find out much at my rank. You could ask any Navy officers you know who are stationed here.”
Jack, Bess thought immediately, reaching for her tea to calm her nerves. Where was Jack spending Spring Break? She wracked her brain trying to remember. “Ow!” A sharp pain sent her lurching forward, spilling hot tea all over her lap.
“Okay, that does it. I’m taking you to the hospital. My car’s parked on Main.”
She took his hand gratefully, leaning heavily on it, dignity be damned. The sudden pain had stolen all her energy. “I think that’s a good idea. Thanks.”
***
Charging down the hall of the maternity floor with Maeve, Lacey felt lightheaded. Her heart hadn’t stopped racing from the moment she had gotten the message that Bess was being driven to the hospital by some guy named Tyler.
She wasn’t due for another three weeks.
And who the hell is Tyler?
“Where have you been?” Bess barked when she saw them. She was walking down the hall with a death grip on a man who look familiar.
“Oh, you’re Tyler,” Lacey said, recognition dawning. She shook his hand. “I remember you from that day at the Academy. Thanks for taking care of our girl. Well, girls, considering the one on the way.”
Maeve hugged Bess. “Are you sure you should be walking around right now?”
“The doc said it would be good for her. Helps move things along, so to speak,” Tyler offered, his attention never leaving Bess as she was passed from Maeve’s embrace to Lacey’s.
Lacey squeezed her friend. “We’ve been so worried. I’m so sorry we weren’t here to get you to the hospital. Maeve got a ticket racing up here.”
Still slightly stooped over, Bess angled her eyes at Maeve. “And a phone number, too, if I know your attraction to men in uniform.”
“Ha! If I had a number, do you think I’d have a ticket? No. There was a ring on his finger, and that’s one line I won’t cross.”
Bess managed a small laugh. “Tyler, I really can’t thank you enough for staying with me while I waited for them. It really wasn’t necessary.”
“Of course it was. I wasn’t going to leave you by yourself.”
“You’re really sweet. But you go on with your day now. Hanging out in the maternity ward for three hours is certainly not the way you wanted to spend your Spring Break.”
Tyler glanced at his watch. “I figure I’m nearly three hours vested in this, and I’m not leaving till the mission is complete.”