Destined to Change by Harley, M. (top android ebook reader TXT) 📕

the sun. I quickly shut my eyes, and then tried to squint to see who that was sitting in the chair beside me. I tried to turn my head to get a better look at them, but my head hurt. Really, really hurt. It felt like someone was using a jackhammer on the back of my head.

What had happened to me? Obviously, I was in the hospital, but why? I guess I hadn’t been feeling well for a bit. I came to the conclusion that I was probably dehydrated and they just needed to give me some IV fluids before they sent me home. That sounded reasonable.

In my peripheral vision, I saw movement to the left of me. The person stood up. I looked up, way up, and saw that it was Cade. After my dream with Declan, I really hoped to wake up and find Jaxon here. But that was just a dream. A dream that I was going to somehow make a reality. I promised Declan that I would move on. I had to talk to Jaxon and find out if he still loved me. I had to know what we needed do to move forward. I just hoped it wasn’t too late.

“How’s your head, hon’?” Cade whispered. He looked liked he hadn’t slept for days. His shirt was a wrinkled mess and his hair was all over his head.

“It’s okay. How are you? You look like somethin’ the cat dragged in.”

He let out one of those deep belly laughs, “Thank God, you’re back, hon’. I was gettin’ mighty worried about ya.” He leaned in and lightly kissed my cheek. About that time a doctor walked into the room.

“Ms. Harper, glad to see you’re awake. My name is Dr. Cotter. How are you feeling?”

I was still trying to get my eyes to focus. “I’m feeling okay, but boy-oh-boy, my head really hurts. And I’m kinda having a hard time focusing my eyes.”

The doctor got out his little light pen and flashed it in my eyes. “I think the issue with focusing is just because you have been out for a while. You hit your head pretty hard when you fell. Mr. Walker brought you in, and we’ve been waiting for you to wake up.” I didn’t even realize I had hit my head. I guess Cade didn’t get to me quite as fast as I thought.

The doctor read over my chart. “Well, I do have some good news for you. Congratulations, Ms. Harper you’re expecting.”

My head started spinning. What did he just say? No. No. No. There was no way. I couldn’t be pregnant. Could I? Well, I mean I could be, but was I really? I looked up and Cade had the biggest smile on his face. And then it hit me. He thought the baby was his. Oh my god, it could be his. But, no we used protection both times. It couldn’t be his. It had to be Jaxon’s. Didn’t it? I never thought I would have this kind of dilemma. Trying to figure out who my baby-daddy was.

Dr. Cotter continued, “We believe you’re about seven weeks along. You will need to make an appointment with an OB/GYN. If you don’t have one, I can set up an appointment for you.”

“Um, I have one. I’ll use Dr. Grubbs again. She delivered my twins.”

Dr. Cotter started making notes in my chart. “I would recommend you get an appointment scheduled as soon as possible.”

I looked over at Cade and he was still grinning from ear to ear. Then I asked Dr. Cotter, “How long before I can have a DNA test? I need to know who the father is.” I couldn’t look up at Cade. I knew he had been so thrilled at the thought of this baby being his. But I had to have proof that it was Jaxon’s.

Dr. Cotter responded, “A DNA test can be done via an amniocentesis at the end of your first trimester, which would be in about six weeks. If our calculations are correct. You will need to discuss that with Dr. Grubbs. She will be able to schedule that for you.”

I had to get out this room. I had to get home. I needed to see my kids. I couldn’t handle this news right now. After that dream with Declan and now this. I was going to have a baby. A baby. I was scared, excited, and nervous all wrapped into one. I tried to get up out of bed by myself, but I was still a little woozie.

Cade grabbed me and had me lay back down. “Take it easy, hon. We aren’t in a hurry. Let me help you get dressed.”

Cade and I had been very intimate, but the thought of him getting me dressed, just felt wrong. “That’s okay, I can do it.”

He took the hint and pulled the curtain closed around me. He placed my clothes on the edge of the bed, and then stepped out of the room.

I very slowly stood up, still holding on to the side of the bed. I stood there and got my bearings. I finally slipped my shirt over my head. I didn’t bother with my bra, too much work. I sat down on the bed and slid my jeans on.

About that time I heard Cade, “How ya doin’ in there, hon? Need help?”

I actually could use some help with my boots. “Yeah, could you help me put my boots on?”

Cade stepped around the curtain, “No problem, hon. Here lift your foot up a little.” He helped me get both boots on and then we waited for the nurse with the discharge papers to arrive. We sat in silence. Cade was in the chair across from me, while I sat on the bed.

I had to talk to Jaxon. The sooner the better.

Cade

How could I go from being over the moon happy to feeling lower than the mud on the bottom of someone’s boot in less than sixty seconds? Loralei Harper,