Making him whole Read online

  “Hello, Tessa,” my doctor greeted, picking up my chart and reading what the nurse had written. “You somehow look better and worse than the last time I saw you. Recent life changes?”

  She knew about my accident, but she probably didn’t know that my husband was dead.

  “Husband died,” I answered nonchalantly. “He was in the car with me when we crashed.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss.” She wasn’t. She was being nice because Darik was standing beside me.

  “Thanks.”

  “So, it looks like the baby is growing well, and it says here that you’ve gained three pounds since I saw you last, so good job on that. I’m going to assume you can keep stuff down now?” I nodded. “Good. With that hurdle out of the way, let’s try to increase our food intake and try for gaining at least a pound a week for the next month. You could afford to gain a little more since you were a little underweight to begin with. But all and all, you and baby look great despite everything you’ve been through and your due date is still looking to be December, fourteenth. Any questions before I send you home with…” She looked at Darik.

  “Darik,” he answered, holding his hand out. “I’m the baby’s godfather.”

  The doctor shook his hand and smiled. “Good to see Tessa has some support now. Will I be seeing you at more of these?”

  Darik smiled in return. “Yes, ma’am. I plan on being here for everyone that Tessa invites me to and even some she doesn’t.”

  I smacked his arm and the doctor laughed.

  “Good. Do you have any questions then, Darik?”

  “I do actually.” I was a little nervous about what he might ask. Not that I should be. It wasn’t like we were dating or anything. “Tessa mentioned that her dad was a big baby. Is there any indication that Erik might be big too?”

  It was a good question. The very one I’d said I was going to ask and had forgotten.

  “That’s a good question, and so far from what I’m seeing the baby will be normal size. Of course, Tessa has had trouble with nutrition so maybe now that she’s eating properly, he will speed up his growth and next visit be ahead of the game. We won’t know until we get there. If he does turn out to be too big, then we will discuss delivery options that are safest for him and Tessa. Anything else before I let you go?”

  Darik looked at me and I shook my head. “I think we’re good for now. We can call if we think of any others, though?”

  My doctor laughed again and gave me a warm smile. “I like this one, Tess.”

  “Me too.”

  “Yes, you two can call our office or the after-hours number if you have any concerns. Remember, if it’s directly related to something that’s actively happening with the pregnancy and you feel it’s urgent, just go to the emergency room. Don’t take any chances.”

  “We won’t,” Darik assured her. “Thank you for answering my question even though I’m not a blood relative.”

  My heart cracked a little that he felt that way. He was becoming more like family every day.

  “Tessa seems comfortable with you so you must be good people. I’ve seen a lot of toxic relationships since I started working here. Women don’t usually come to a free clinic because they have a choice, and a lot of them don’t have a good home life. We do what we can for them,” The doctor turned to me. “I will see you next month for your twenty-four-week checkup. I like the name you picked for the bean.” And with that, she left the room.

  Darik helped me down off the table. “Something tells me you’re closer with your doctor than just a normal doctor-patient relationship.”

  I shrugged. “I mean, when you have no one else to talk to, you start to build a bond. I never told her exactly what was happening at home, but it was a little more obvious at times. She saw right through my excuses and started being friendlier with each visit.”

  “You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Tessa. I think it’s good that you’ve had a friend through all this. Even if you only saw her once a month.” Darik opened the door for me. “Let’s get you two home and figure out what we’re having for lunch.”

  My stomach growled and I laughed. “Sounds like a good plan to me.”

  I stopped at the reception window and scheduled my next appointment, then we headed back to Darik’s house…

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Darik

  Tessa’s phone rang as we pulled into the garage.

  I picked it up from the cup holder and looked at who was calling for her. “Zack’s lawyer,” I said, reading the caller ID.

  “Shit, I forgot to call him back yesterday!” Tessa turned the Suburban off and took the phone from me. “Hello?” The lawyer said something, and she frowned. “That can’t be right. I’m his wife. What do you mean the policy doesn’t have me named as the beneficiary?” The lawyer wasn’t talking fast, but I couldn’t hear well enough to make out the words. “I’m coming down there right now… No! Those papers are wrong and I’m coming down there to get to the bottom of this.” She hung up and slammed her hands on the steering wheel. “That son of a bitch!” she screamed before bursting into tears.

  I got out and went around to the driver’s side and opened the door. “Tessa, come here.” She didn’t respond or even reach for me as I carefully scooped her out of the driver’s seat and carried her inside.

  “He left the money to another woman.” She sniffled into my neck. “He was seeing someone else while I was at home starving and growing our son.”

  I wanted to hold her tighter but knew it would hurt her more than help. “I’m sorry, Tess. He was a fucking fool to treat you how he did.” I carried her into the living room and sat her down on the couch. “I think I’m gonna make goulash for lunch, how does that sound?”

  Tessa wiped her eyes and looked up at me. “That sounds nice even though I’m not really hungry anymore.”

  “You’ll eat anyway, right? For Erik?” I gave her my best puppy dog eyes. At least I hoped that’s what it looked like.

  The corner of her mouth lifted in a smile. “Yea, I’ll eat for the bean. I just can’t believe Zack did that to me.”

  “I hate to say this, but I’m not that surprised. He was the definition of trash, Tess. Why don’t you take a few minutes to calm down and I’ll bring you a vitamin water? Then you can join me in the kitchen.”

  Tessa shook her head. “I need to go down there, Darik. I’ve got to get to the bottom of this or I’m just going to stress myself out until I figure it out.”

  I knew she was right. “Okay, let’s take a few minutes to calm down, and then we can head down there.”

  “You don’t have to go with me.”

  “No, I don’t. Just like you didn’t have to go to Cecilia’s funeral with me, but you did. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Tess, but we’ve kinda become a team through all this and I don’t plan on letting my teammate down as long as I can help it.” I wasn’t exactly sure what I was rambling on about, I just knew I wanted to be there for Tessa no matter what.

  “Fine,” Tessa said, standing from the couch. “Grab me a vitamin water and meet me in the Suburban.”

  I smiled triumphantly. “Deal!” I went to the kitchen and grabbed us both a water and then headed out to the Suburban.

  I’d make goulash for dinner…

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Tessa

  I blew out a frustrated breath as I climbed back into the SUV. I could not believe Zack had left his life insurance to another woman. The lawyer hadn’t said that specifically. He’d just said I wasn’t named as a beneficiary, which told me it had to be another woman. I couldn’t see him leaving three hundred thousand dollars to a friend or coworker or anyone from his family. He hadn’t spoken to them in years.

  Darik was right. I shouldn’t be surprised with all the fucked-up shit Zack had done that he would cheat on me, too. Fucking prick.

  “Alright, mama. Let’s go find the truth,” Darik said, climbing into the passenger seat.

  I arched a
brow at him. “Mama, huh?”

  “Offended?”

  “Nope, I kinda like the sound of it.” I pulled out of the garage once the door opened and headed downtown to Mr. Stevenson’s office. I parked directly in front of the building and turned the Suburban off. “I can do this,” I told myself, taking a calming breath.

  “Yes, you can. And if not, well, I’m gonna be right there with you.”

  I smiled over at Darik before pushing my door open. “Let’s do this, team.”

  “Right behind you, coach,” he chuckled and opened his door.

  I shook my head and headed inside with Darik right behind me.

  Once inside I let the woman at the desk know I was here to see Mr. Stevenson and she told me to go on into his office.

  I froze in the doorway when I saw a beautiful redhead sitting with a redheaded baby on her lap. She saw me at the same time.

  “Who’s this?” I directed my question at Mr. Stevenson.

  He cleared his throat, looking extremely nervous. “This is Mr. McCarthy’s fiancée and their son, Tristan.”

  I would have collapsed if not for Darik catching me. “Fuck, Tessa.” He picked me up and sat me in the only empty chair, scooting it away from the desk.

  “That’s impossible…my husband hated children…” I was having trouble making sentences. My mind was so completely blown by what I was hearing…seeing.

  Zack had another life with another woman. And by the way she was glaring at me, I would say he’d treated her differently as well.

  “Zack was a great father to Tristan,” the redhead spat. “I think you mean he didn’t want children with you.” She looked at my bump. “Can’t say I blame him. Looks like you got knocked up soon after he left you. Serves you right for cheating on him.”

  “What are you talking about? I never cheated, and he never left me! We were on our way home from our second wedding anniversary dinner when the accident happened!” I didn’t tell her the exact details. She didn’t need to know my story. “Does that sound like a man that had left his wife to you? This is his baby!” My anger was rising by the minute.

  How dare this woman accuse me of being less than the person I’d prided myself on being. I was a good person!

  A hand rested on my shoulder. “Tessa, calm down.” Darik’s words only calmed me a little.

  “So, she’s who the life insurance is going to?” I again directed the question to Mr. Stevenson.

  He sighed. “Not her exactly, but to his son.”

  “And the house?”

  Mr. Stevenson looked through the paperwork. “Umm, it says here that he only owned the house that he and Susan shared. The one you lived in was just a rental.”

  All the air left my lungs and then I was falling as spots danced in my vision. I couldn’t breathe.

  Zack had beaten and starved me. Cheated on me and lied to his mistress about me. And then he’d left me with nothing. Left us with nothing.

  “Tessa, stay with me.” Someone was calling me back from the dark hole I was falling into. “Tess, breathe!”

  I tried to suck in air, but my throat felt so tight. “I can’t,” I whispered. “Can’t breathe.”

  Hands cupped my cheeks and then Darik’s face was all I could see. “Tessa, you’re having a panic attack. I need you to focus on my voice and take a deep breath. Ready?”

  I did as he said, thinking only of his voice and his dark blue eyes. They could have been like Zack’s, but they weren’t. They had flecks of lighter blue throughout them, kind of like a starry night sky. I knew stars weren’t blue. Neither was the night sky, but still. I bet I could have seen the whole universe if I stared into them long enough.

  “There you go. Slow, deep breaths. You’re doing good, mama.”

  I blinked, coming back to myself. “I’m good now.” It was a half-lie.

  Darik let go of my face and stood, staying by my side though.

  “Maybe we should continue this at another time,” Mr. Stevenson suggested.

  Susan didn’t look a bit of sorry when she glared at me again. “I don’t care when we do it, as long as she understands that money belongs to my son and not the bastard she’s carrying. I don’t believe for a second that baby is Zack’s. He left her eight months ago.”

  I laughed. Like uncontrollable, probably sounded like a madwoman, laughter. “He never left me, honey. He was lying to you the whole time. He had no intention of leaving me, not when he had me exactly where he wanted me. He wouldn’t have given up that control for anything. Not even for you or your son,” I looked at Mr. Stevenson. “Does the fact that he has another son on the way change anything?”

  Mr. Stevenson gave Susan an apologetic look. “It does. And since his will also states that everything goes to his son, we will have to do a DNA test to ensure both children belong to Mr. McCarthy. Then the judge will decide how the life insurance will be divided between them. The house also goes to them.”

  “This is bullshit!” Susan yelled, standing quickly and startling her son who then started to cry. “Shut up, Tristan!” she snapped at the child that couldn’t be more than a year old.

  I stood from my chair and stepped toward her. “Don’t talk to him that way.”

  She scoffed. “He’s my son, I can speak to him however I like.”

  “If that boy is my husband’s son, then that makes me his stepmom and I’ll be damned if you’ll treat him that way.” I didn’t know why I felt so protective of the child before me. Maybe because I could see the signs of possible abuse.

  Being told to shut up was one of the ways it had started with Zack.

  Darik stepped between us. “I think we should deal with this once everyone has a cool head.” He looked at Susan. “Maybe get a sitter next time.”

  “Fuck you!” she spat before carrying her now screaming child from the room.

  “I’m sorry you had to experience that, Mrs. McCarthy. She was the reason I called to tell you the information over the phone instead of inviting you down here. I was in the process of making her leave but she insisted that everything belonged to Tristan.”

  “It’s okay. No one knew the mess Zack was leaving behind. You’re just trying to do your job.” I sighed and sat down in the seat that Susan had been sitting in. “You know I was gonna sell the house and use the money to buy a new one. And with the life insurance, I was going to start my own little restaurant. It was the least Zack owed us. I guess now I need a new game plan.”

  “That sounds like a good way to spend the money, Mrs. McCarthy. I’m sorry it turned out this way. Just let me know when you want to do the DNA testing and then I will file for a court date.”

  “Can we do it after the baby is born?” I asked. “I don’t want to put him at risk for this.”

  “Absolutely. I will contact the life insurance holder and let them know to put a hold on the payout until we can get it all sorted.”

  I held out a hand, silently asking Darik to help me up. He didn’t hesitate to pull me up. “I appreciate that. I still have twenty more weeks with this bean inside me, but I will keep in touch and let you know when he’s born so we can get this all sorted.” I remembered something as I turned to leave. “Oh, I have something of Zack’s that Susan is more than welcome to have.”

  Mr. Stevenson looked curious. “And that is…?”

  “His ashes. I had him cremated and wasn’t sure what to do with them since I had no intention of keeping them. I can pick them up and drop them off here for her.”

  “I’ll let her know and get back to you.”

  “Alright. Have a good day, Mr. Stevenson.”

  “You too, Mrs. McCarthy.”

  Darik and I exited Mr. Stevenson’s office and got in the Suburban. I still couldn’t believe what I had just found out.

  “Can you believe that just happened?” I asked, resting my head on the steering wheel.

  I heard Darik shift in his seat. “I don’t think anyone could have predicted that the man who swore he didn’t want kids had
an actual kid.” His hand rested on my shoulder. “Are you gonna be okay to get us home?”

  I sighed and sat back, starting the SUV. “Yea. I’m good for that. I’m gonna need to stress eat the hell out of something when we get to the house though.”

  Darik chuckled and squeezed my shoulder before buckling himself in. “I’m sure we can find you something, mama bear.”

  “Just stop,” I laughed as I buckled my seatbelt too.

  “No, Tessa. You were seriously in protective mama bear mode when she mistreated that kid. I thought you were gonna punch her out and take him. I’m kinda proud.”

  I pulled out of my parking spot and headed toward the house.

  “I just don’t like that she told a baby to shut up as the first response to him crying instead of trying to comfort him. That’s one of the first things Zack started saying to me a lot before he eventually resorted to physical violence. How do we know she isn’t gonna lose patience when telling a small child to shut up doesn’t work and does something worse?”

  “I guess we don’t. Do you want to ask Mr. Stevenson for her address and maybe have child services check in on him?”

  “I don’t want to harass the woman, even if she’s a total selfish bitch. What if I’m just being overly paranoid because I’m a pregnant domestic violence survivor?”

  “I think it’s better to be safe than sorry in these situations though, Tessa. You won’t be hurting her if they find nothing, but you could be saving him if they do.”

  “True,” I said, stopping at a red light. “I’d try to get custody if they took him away from her. Just so you know now that convincing me of making that call means you might have a literal redheaded stepchild living in your house.”

  Darik laughed. “I would be perfectly fine with that. You adopt all the redheaded babies you want, and I’ll make room for them.”

  “Seriously?” I looked over at him to see if he was joking. He wasn’t.

  “Yep. I’ve already told you about my baby fever, Tessa. You can’t threaten someone that wants babies with the presence of babies. You’re only feeding the beast within.”