“Too soon?” I muse, making Billy and Wren crack a grin.
“Well, it’s good to see you’re feeling well enough to make jokes. We do have a psychologist on hand, and she’ll be coming by to speak to you, per the request of your hus… er… your son’s father.”
Awkward. At least he didn’t say my baby’s daddy.
“Thanks, but I don’t need my head shrunk. I can deal just fine.”
He frowns.
“You’ve been through a lot. I think it would do some good to speak to a professional.”
“I’ve got friends, Doc. I don’t need a stranger to listen to my problems. Thank you though. The gesture is kind.”
He nods, and then walks out, still obviously disagreeing, but too professional to debate it further.
“So, you’ve been shot and stabbed, but you don’t think you need to see a shrink?” Billy gripes, his tone slightly scolding.
“No. I think I need to get a prison tat and join a gang.”
Again, crickets. Crap.
“You guys have to loosen up,” I mumble.
“Who’s loosening up?” Tag asks as he walks in, his eyes finding me immediately.
“Ash is refusing therapy, but she’s talking about prison tats and gang initiations,” Billy grouses.
“Ah, well, in that case, no therapy necessary,” he lightly jokes while joining me at my bedside. “Your parents are here. They still haven’t met Trip. I thought you’d want to be the one to do introductions.”
“Sounds good. Thanks. It’ll take the edge off the whole stabbing debacle. Distract them with a cute baby, and I’ll cease to exist.”
His face stays serious, so I decide not to take my comedy act on the road. Apparently I’ve lost my ability to be funny.
“I’ll send them up.”
***
Tag
“She’s one hell of a tough girl. Have you ever seen anyone this strong after such a traumatic ordeal?” Wren asks as he props up on the wall beside me in the waiting room.
“No, but then again, I’ve never met anyone like her.”
Bity walks in, his anxiety in place as his girl takes the seat beside him.
“Is Ash okay?” I ask, swallowing hard.
“Sorry, she’s fine. Her parents had to scold me for not telling them she was pregnant.”
“I explained he didn’t know until she was about to go into labor. I didn’t tell them she was just shy of eight months along when she had him," Shannon says.
“What was it like? The birth I mean. Was it hard on her?” I ask while sitting down.
“If it was, she’d never admit it. Ash doesn’t do emotion very well, as I’m sure you’ve learned,” Bity sighs.
My mind flashes back to the night she fell apart on me, the night I found out Trip was my son. Then I think back to the day at the restaurant. She's shown her vulnerability with me. I've done nothing but handle it poorly each and every time.
“She got the epidural, and then she had him without any problems. When he was born, she told the doctors he looked just like his daddy. That was the only time she teared up. The rest of the time, she was a rock,” Shannon elaborates.
“I wish I had come.”
“She wanted you there, but she didn’t know how to ask you. I think she was worried she’d give it away—call him your son in front of you. She said she knew you’d feel obligated to her, and she didn’t want that.”
“I do want that. I want to be a part of my son’s life. I want to be a part of her life.”
Shannon’s eyes widen, and I tighten my lips.
“What?” I prompt.
“It’s just… she thinks you hate her, and I have to be honest, you’re one mixed-signaled mother-fucker.”
I’d laugh at her crudeness if the contents weren’t so tragically true. I do send her mixed signals, but I’ve never done this before.
“I know. I was going to talk to her when she sobered up, but then Camille-”
“Let’s not discuss that whore,” Shannon grumbles under her breath.
“I didn’t do anything with her.”
“I’m not the one you’ve got to convince. As of right now, Ash is planning on moving out.”
“She can’t take my son away,” I choke out.
“She’s not going to. After what happened, she said Trip would be safer with you, and she’s taking herself out of the equation. She’s worried what will happen if this bastard gets that close again. Let’s face it, the odds of her surviving another shot or stabbing aren’t good.”
“He’s after him, too,” I counter with a painful sting.
“She thinks he’s only after Trip because she loves him, so she’s going to walk away—try to draw this guy out. She’s already called the detective working the case. He doesn’t like it. He said she should stay with you and let him do his job.”