Т Нован - Exposure Season 3

I go over and sit down in the overstuffed chair, pulling Kels down onto my lap.

"Oh, baby, I’m too heavy." She tries to squirm off me, but I won’t let her.

"I never should have left you."

"Left me?" Then, "Oh. Sweetheart, there’s no way you could have known what was going to happen."

"No way?" I shake my head vehemently. "That’s not true, Kels. You were being stalked, threatened, harassed. And what did I do?" Please God, don’t let her hate me for telling her this. "I went out for a ride."

"And?" Kels is playing with my shirt collar, tugging it gently.

"I lost you."

She kisses the tip of my nose. "No, you didn’t. I’m right here."

Now is not the time for word games. "Well, I almost did. All because I loved that fuckin’ motorcycle." I should take the Harley and toss it into Lake Pontchartrain. After dismantling it and setting the parts on fire.

"No. That’s not true, Harper."

I am forced to look at her again. "I should have been there."

"Do you realize that by not being there, you probably saved my life?" As always, Kels is sneaky and puts my hand on her stomach. She knows when I have it there, I can’t be quite so despondent.

And that last statement got my attention. "How so?"

"You were able to put the pieces together. You brought the police. He was armed and he was determined. He killed three people to get to me. Harper, if you had been there," Kels’ voice gentles, "he would have killed you too."

Ouch, goes my ego. "Do you really believe that?"

"Do I believe what? That you saved my life? Or that he would have killed you? I know you saved my life." She rubs her hands over my shoulders. "But, yes, I know he would have killed you." I can tell she’s back in that place. Remembering. "You didn't see the look in his eyes. He struck quickly and quietly. He killed everyone in that apartment to get to me, including an armed police officer."

"I’m so sorry, Kelsey." I hug her tight to my body. "I’m so sorry you went through all of that. It sounds logical when you say it, but, my heart has a hard time believing that I couldn’t have stopped him." I snort. "I am supposed to be your knight in shining armor and all that. And I can’t forgive myself for being out on a drive when you were going through hell."

"Harper, I've had a hard time getting over what happened because I still believe, to some extent, it's my fault all those other people had to die." I start to protest, to bring up the old arguments, but Kels silences me with a look. "They died because they looked like me, or because they tried to protect me from him. He was determined to have me. Once someone finds a determination like that, there is nothing that will stop him." She cocks her head to the side and regards me carefully. "Do you know what got me out of that hell?"

"What?" I sound like a child, but I think I can guess this answer.

"My love for you." I guessed her answer correctly. Kels takes a deep breath and once again returns to that dark room where he held her prisoner. "He told me he killed you. He told me he cut your throat. I thought you were dead and I wanted revenge. I wanted to get out and make him pay for hurting you, but the truth is I don't think I would have made it out. I was hurt. If you hadn't brought help… if you hadn't put it all together and brought me the help I needed…" Her voice breaks. She blinks and clears her mind of bad memories, or at least, I hope she does. "I probably would have died in that house. You saved my life."

I lean forward and kiss her, wanting to make that sad expression go away. "You saved my life from the moment I met you. But, I still can’t ride my Harley. Not right now, at least." I rub her stomach, smiling as Brennan or Shy Baby Roo gives my hand a kick. "Maybe I just need a little more time."

"Well, of course not, you have that cast on your arm. I wouldn't let you get on it right now anyhow." My Little Roo is truly becoming a mother. All protective and fussy. I love it. "But I really think that after it comes off, we need to come back down here, and you and Robie need to take a road trip together. Get on the bike and go ride. Let the past go. Don't give up something you love. Just make it a positive part of our future."

Our future. I like the sound of that. I decide to tweak her a little. "Maybe I’ll get a little sidecar for you and the kids to ride in."

I am rewarded with an emphatic shake of her head. "Umm, no. You and your brother can play all you want with the bike, but you're not putting our children on that thing for quite some time."

I chuckle. We’ll see about that, chér. "You’re right. We’ll start them out with a little 50 cc cycle when they’re in kindergarten."

Kels groans and drops her head on my shoulder.

I miss New Orleans all ready. We've been back in New York less than twenty-four hours and I want to go home. I miss the family and I miss our house. I think it has something to do with this overwhelming feeling I'm starting to have about wanting to be settled. The baby books call it 'nesting.’ They say it'll get worse the closer I get to the due date, but it's pretty bad now. If I need to nest, I want to nest in New Orleans. I'm having the babies there if all goes well, so let me go home and collect sticks.

I'm too grumpy for my own good today.

"Have I told you today how beautiful you are?" Harper smiles at me, while helping me on to the table.

I use the strength in her hands and arms to lay back. I’m getting to a point where I need her assistance more. "You may have mentioned it earlier this morning." I try to stifle a groan as I begin to relax. I’m not very successful.

"Honey, are you all right?" She is sitting at the top of the table, running her fingers through my hair.

God, that feels good. I had always wanted to run away with my hairdresser for this very reason. "I’m fine. Just huge and tired."

"You’re beautiful," she whispers again, kissing the top of my head.

"Do you think I’m fired, Tabloid?" I can’t hold the question back any longer. We’re going back to work day after tomorrow and I’m dreading it. "If that’s what he’s planning, maybe I should go in and get it over with."

"Kelsey, baby, don’t worry about it. They can’t fire you for getting pregnant. If they try, we’ll file the biggest lawsuit they’ve ever seen. I happen to know a couple good lawyers."

"Harper, it may be for the best. We’ve only got a few months before the babies get here. I’d be taking my maternity leave in a few weeks anyhow and…"

Before I can continue, Dr. McGuire comes in. He stops briefly in the doorway, looks to my file, then to us, and back to my file again. "Is this the right room? I’m looking for the Kingsleys. They’re always necking when I come in."

Harper lifts the arm in the cast and gives a wave. "Hi there, doc."

"Ah, I see she finally got tired of your breathing," he jokes, indicating the cast. "My wife used to smack me with a rolled up magazine, but she never actually broke anything."

"I’m a grumpy, pregnant woman. I do not need this humor in my life at the moment."

"Ooo, sorry." Kevin takes his normal seat and begins my exam. "I received exam notes from Dr. Maxton about your last visit." He seems to be taking a real interest in my hands at the moment. He holds them in his, pressing them and rubbing them with his thumbs. "Kelsey, I think you should take your wedding rings off until after the babies are born. You’re swelling up a bit and they could cause you problems. I’d hate to have to see them cut off your hand."

"But…" I finger my rings and start to protest. Harper simply takes my hand and slips them from my finger.

"I’ll keep them safe for you, sweetheart."

"But…" I am so angry with her for taking them. Those are mine. She gave them to me.