Stolen Course(95)

“Jesus Christ, how much therapy have you been through?” I joke through the emotions.

“You have no freaking idea.” She smiles back. “I have no doubt that Manda gave this to you. All of it. She loved you, and she was just twisted enough to enjoy watching this whole thing play out. I think she sent Collin just to make sure you wouldn’t screw things up with Emma.”

“Yeah that sounds about right for Manda.” I sigh, closing the conversation and the blast from the past.

I’ve said it a thousand times before, but while sitting here holding all five pounds of my son’s tiny body, I realize that it’s officially time to move forward.





“EMMA. WAKE up. You with us, Emma?” I hear through the fog.

Bright lights shine down on my face, but I’m still trapped in the truck with Caleb.

“Caleb!” I scream, but it only comes out as a gurgle.

My throat is killing me.

Where is he? Why isn’t he here? Oh God. What happened to him?

“Welcome back, Mrs. Jones,” I hear a woman’s voice say from beside me.

I turn my head, but I’m barely able to pry my eyes open to see her. Jesus, how did I get so drunk?

“I… Where… Caleb…” I try to form a sentence, but the words all float away.

“Don’t worry. Your throat is going to be sore,” she answers, reading my mind. “It’s from the intubation. We had to do an emergency C-section, but don’t worry. That baby of yours is strong and doing well.”

Oh God, Collin. How the hell could I forget about him? Wait, it’s too soon.

“Now, before you get all excited, take a deep breath and relax. He is absolutely fine and his daddy is in there holding him right now as we speak.”

Yep. I’m going to cry. Oh shit. Caleb is with him. I…I…

“I want to see them.” I finally squeeze out a string of words.

“Hey, you really are there.” She stops tinkering with the computer and turns to face me.

“Is he okay?” I grumble against the sandpaper in my throat.

“He’s going to need a little extra care, but he looks great. Does he have a name?”

“Collin,” I rasp.

“That’s a good name. Strong, masculine, and easy to spell.” She turns back to her computer. This woman is crazy, but if I could just get my thoughts together, I would probably love her. “I’m going to call down to the nursery and let them know you’re awake.” Yep, totally love her.

I nod and drift back to sleep.

“Emmy. Wake up, sweetheart,” I hear whispered from beside me.

I turn my head and open my eyes to see the most amazing thing in my life. Caleb—alive, healthy, and uninjured—is sitting beside my bed, hunched over, holding my hand.

“Hey, you.”

His eyes fly to mine, and the fear on his face transforms to relief. “Oh God, Emmy,” he breathes, moving up the bed to kiss me.

“How’s Collin?” I immediately ask when my senses return.

“He’s absolutely perfect. He’s so small, but apparently that’s okay since he was early. He’s got some tubes and wires, but apparently that’s also okay. Oh wait, I have pictures.” He pulls a phone from his pocket and begins scrolling through the images until he finds the perfect one. “Here.” He thrusts a pink iPhone into my face.

“He’s beautiful,” I gasp as all of the oxygen is most definitely sucked from the room. “When can I see him?” I move to sit up before pain hits me and pins me to the bed. “Oh God! Shit!” I screech and throw a hand over my stomach.

Before I have a chance to catch my breath again, I hear Caleb shouting in the hallway. A nurse comes rushing in, and I glance over to find worry covering every inch of my husband’s gorgeous face.

“What’s going on, Emma?” The nurse immediately begins to check my blood pressure and moves the blanket to look at my stomach.

“Nothing. I’m fine. I just tried to move and forgot about my stomach. He just overreacted…a little,” I say and begin to laugh, but it only makes it hurt worse.

“Real funny, Emmy. I’ve had a hell of a day. You’ll have to forgive my overreaction,” he says sarcastically and half pissed off.

“There’s my man! I recognize that asshole.” I smile, and he just shakes his head but finally chuckles too. He walks over to resume his spot next to my head, grabbing my hand and pulling it to his mouth.

“Okay, well, let’s see what we can do about getting you some more pain medication and, after that, maybe get you in a wheelchair and down to see that handsome fella of yours.”

“That would be great,” I respond, and Caleb mumbles something about Jesse’s muffins. “Let me see the rest of those pictures.” I turn to Caleb as the nurse walks out of the room.