Sophie Oak - One to Keep

He didn’t fail to notice that Stella’s hand was in his father’s, their fingers entwined. He was happy for his father and Stella, but he couldn’t let that take precedence over his need to find Jennifer and that painting.

“Stella, where did Jen go?” Stef asked, well aware that his voice was gruff.

Stella’s face looked years younger as she turned to Stef. Her hand never left Sebastian’s. “She was here just a bit ago. She and Rachel went to find Holly.”

A deep voice spoke up from the end of the counter. “Holly came back?”

Stef glanced at the doctor, who was sitting at the end of the counter, sipping a mug of coffee, and it hit him. Who the hell else in this town would let Holly talk him into buying a painting for far, far more than it was worth right now? Stef knew Jen’s paintings would be worth more one day, but for now, it was only of interest to investment collectors. Holly couldn’t know that it was worth anything. Who would she sell it to? Who else but the man who had walked into town and promptly fallen in love with her? Oh, Stef knew Caleb hadn’t made a single move on her yet, but he brooded enough to let the world know he was crazy about her. As a man who had spent an enormous amount of time brooding over a female, he knew the signs and could diagnose the good doc’s disease.

“Where did you stash the painting?” Stef asked, unwilling to waste a ton of time.

Caleb sat up straight. “The painting? I don’t paint.” Stef bit back a moan of frustration. He’d already forgotten. “The one you bought from Holly?”

Caleb’s eyes suddenly found his coffee mug as though he was seeking something there. “Oh, that. Yeah, I loved that painting. So beautiful.”

“Cut the crap. Everyone knows you have a thing for Holly.”

“No, I don’t. I’m married.” Caleb shook his head, running his hand across his face. “I mean, I was married. I…it’s too soon to think about anyone else. Holly is just a nice girl.” Caleb’s wife had been dead for five years, but Stef wasn’t about to argue with him. “Where is it?”

He shrugged, as though content to put the other line of conversation behind him. “I put it in my office. It’s in a closet. I haven’t had time to put it up.”

It would have to do for now. “Good. Keep it there. Don’t let anyone into your office until I get Nate off the mountain. Stella, try calling him. If that doesn’t work, someone go down and wake Logan up. I have to find Jennifer and get her somewhere safe.”

“Didn’t Jennifer go down to the Sheriff’s Office?” His father had already pulled out his cell and passed it to Stella.

Stef heard a dog barking as the doors to the diner came open, and Rachel stumbled in. Everyone was on their feet in an instant. Stef managed to get to her just as she began to fall to the floor. Her face was red and covered in tears.

“Oh, god, not again.” She moaned as her whole body seized and pain contorted her face into a grimacing mask.

“Rachel, how far apart are the contractions?” Caleb knelt beside her, his hand finding her wrist. For all his tics and odd mannerisms, the minute he needed to, he became a cool, calm professional.

She shook her head. “No contractions. It’s just a little pain.” Stubborn . It described Rachel to a T. Stef tried to settle her down.

“Rachel, I see your stomach seizing. You’re in labor. I can tell, and I don’t have a medical degree.”

“I can’t have the baby now,” she said, her voice hitching with every breath.

“I don’t think he’s going to wait, Rachel.” Caleb put a hand on her belly. “I need to get you back to the clinic. I don’t know that we have time for a hospital. Besides, you have to have the baby. Your water looks like it broke. No turning back. I believe I explained to Max that it wasn’t like someone dumping a glass of water on the floor. He didn’t listen to me, hence the dog is still here. Come on, let’s get you to the clinic.”

“No!” Rachel forced herself to sit up. She held on to Stef. “I have to get back to Jen.”

Stef felt the air around him go cold. “What’s wrong with Jennifer?”

Rachel opened her mouth to speak, but her body wasn’t her own again. A low wail came out. “Fuck. I hate this. I hate this. Please, I want my husbands. Please.”

“Damn it.” Caleb cursed for a few seconds and got to his feet.

“Stella, we’re having this baby here and now. She’s probably been in labor all day and was too stubborn to admit it.”

“It’s too early. It’s too early,” Rachel said through her tears.

“Please, Stef. They have her.”

“Who?” Stef was trying to be patient. “Rachel, you have to tell me where Jennifer is and who has her.”

She gritted her teeth as she tried to get up. “Sheriff’s Office. We went to look for Holly, but the place was locked. I knew where the key was, and Alexei took Jen. He pulled her inside, but he let me go.

He was talking to someone. I don’t know how many are inside, but they have the building under their control.” Stef cursed inwardly. If only he’d walked around the front of the building, he might have seen Rachel and gotten to Jen sooner. Habit had brought him to the kitchen entrance. He’d come to Stella’s this way since he’d been a child.

He had known he should have killed the son of a bitch. He wouldn’t make the same mistake again. He would kill the Russian as soon as he could, and if he could make it painful, it would be for the better.

Rachel doubled over and screamed in pain. Quigley whined and tried to lick her face, offering the only comfort he could. Stef reached over to a table that appeared to have been recently vacated, picked up the half-full glass of coke, and dumped it on the floor beside the dog.

Quigley immediately took off, his huge body easily pushing through the swinging doors.

“There, Rach,” Stef said. “Q will go get Max if we can’t get him on the phone.” He turned to the doctor, who was running antibacterial gel all over his hands and forearms. “I have to go.” Caleb nodded and took Rachel, helping her to stand. “I know. I can’t leave her. Stella is calling Nate, and she’ll call Zane back if she can get him. You’ll have backup.”

Stella rushed forward. “Don’t you dare go after her without this.”

Stella passed her Colt .45 to him. He felt better just having the weight of the gun in his hand. He checked the chamber and pocketed the extra ordnance she gave him. Stella went on her toes and kissed his cheek lightly.

“You come back with her. You understand me? You come back safe,” she said tightly, her eyes glazed with unshed tears. “You’re my boy. I don’t care who gave birth to you. You’re my boy.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, a wealth of love for her filling his heart.

She’d been his mother in every way that counted.

His father stepped forward. “Stefan, I’ll come with you.” Stef looked at his father. His frail father was willing to go into god knows what with him. Jennifer had been right. It was past time to forgive him. Sebastian had made mistakes, but he was trying to fix them. One day his father wouldn’t be here, and Stef wouldn’t be able to work anything out. The time to fix things was now. He put his arms around his father. “I appreciate it, Dad. I do, but I’ll move better on my own. Stay here. I’ll come back. Dad, lock the doors after me. Shut the blinds. Unless you know the person, don’t let anyone in. Stella’s is closed for the day.”

Stef nearly ran out the door. In the distance, he could see Max and Rye running down the street from the park, but he didn’t have time to wait and wasn’t sure he should. Their son was about to be born. He couldn’t wait for Nate and Zane. He had to get to Jennifer, and he had to do it fast.