Captive Films: Season One (26 page)

“Maybe! I don’t know!”

He grabs my chin. “Look at me. Do you have cramps?”

I take a deep breath. “No.”

“Wipe, please.”

“I’m scared to.”

He hands me a wad of toilet paper. I close my eyes and wipe.
 

“I can’t look.”

“It’s not pink, baby. You’re not bleeding.”

I open my eyes, not believing him and expecting to see a river of blood. But the paper is white.

I cover my eyes with my hands.

Aiden wraps a towel around his waist, types in his phone, and then he reads from it.

“It says that spotting after sex is normal during your first trimester. It says that your cervix—that’s what the baby comes out of, right?—is sensitive. It says up to thirty percent of women have some bleeding in early pregnancy and half of them don’t have miscarriages.”

“So, if I’m in the thirty percent, my odds are fifty-fifty?”

“I don’t think that would really qualify as bleeding. It’s going to be fine, I promise.”

I stand up, zip my pants, and flush.
 

“Aiden?”

“What, baby?” he says, sliding his hand across my face.

“It just got real.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was excited to be pregnant, but other than some vague flu-like symptoms and the ability to smell a cheeseburger from two miles away, it didn’t feel real. It does now, and I realize just how much I want to have our baby.”

“And you will, don’t worry. Speaking of that, we need to start thinking up names. I actually have an idea.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. I think we should name the baby Monroe.”

Tears fill my eyes again.
 

“My fake last name? If it weren’t for me almost being kidnapped by the stalker, I never would have went to boarding school.”

“Or met me.”

“I’m glad I met you. And I don’t know if I ever told you this, but my mom chose that name because it was my great grandma’s maiden name.”

“That makes it even better,” he says. “Monroe Arrington. What do you think?”

“It would work for a boy or a girl.” I kiss him. “I love it, Aiden. It’s perfect.”

It’s late and I’m sitting on the back porch drinking lemonade with Grandma, Grandpa, and Aiden. Knox is helping Dawson and Dallas put the kids to bed with a crazy bedtime story. Logan and Maggie left, since they have a busy day at the winery tomorrow.
 

“So, Hotshot,” Grandpa says to me. “We have some news. Me and Ma are homeless.”
 

“What?”

“We sold the ranch, dear,” Grandma clarifies.

“Better than,
We
bought the farm,
” Grandpa says, slapping his leg with laughter.

“Grandpa, don't joke about dying. I hate that. And why did you sell the ranch? You love it there.”

“I’ve decided, after careful consideration,” he leans over and whispers to me, “and after Ma hit me over the head with a frying pan and knocked some sense into me—”

“Don't listen to him,” Grandma interjects.

“—that it was time. We've been spending a lot time in California, between the board meetings at Captive and coming here. We decided to put it up for sale and see what happened. We got a good offer, fast. We weren’t really expecting it to sell so quickly. When we go back home, we have to pack up forty years worth of crap.”

“I’ve already gone through the house and downsized it,” Grandma says, rolling her eyes.
 

“She got rid of everything that wasn't nailed down. I'm lucky she kept my chair and my bed.”

“And you,” Grandma says with a laugh. “Anyway, we kept what was important, and we’re going to buy some new things for our new house.”

“Where are you moving to?” I ask, shocked by all of this. I just can’t picture Grandpa in a condo somewhere.

Aiden squeezes my hand. “We have plenty of land here for them to build a house on, and they can stay in the guest house until it's done.”

Tears flood my eyes.
I couldn’t be happier with the thought of my grandparents being around every day to see my baby grow up.

“Really?”

“She's crying, Ma,” Grandpa says. “Better not draw up the house plans yet.”
 

I get up and hug my grandma. “I’m crying because it makes me so incredibly happy.” I give Grandpa a hug next. “You and Aiden have already been talking about this, haven't you?”
 

“I needed to talk to him man-to-man,” Grandpa says seriously. “But, yes, we’ve picked out a spot. I just didn’t want to put the cart before the horse.”

“He's going to help Logan manage the vineyard,” Aiden tells me.

“That's great news.” I still can’t believe it.

“And it'll keep him outta my hair,” Grandma teases.
 

“Don't worry, were gonna put her to work doing something. Woman's gotta earn her keep,” Grandpa teases her back.

“Maggie asked if I would consider working a few days a week in the store. I’d need to learn more about wine but I'm thinking that might be fun. Getting out there and talking to people. Although, Aiden says he'd rather I make him ribs and bake pies.”

Aiden rubs his flat stomach. “Wouldn’t that be awesome?”

“So, I hear you're planning a quickie wedding,” Grandpa says, changing the subject as he takes another drink. “You knocked up?”
 

My heart stops beating. I can't lie to my grandpa, and Aiden's freaking grinning like a Cheshire cat.
 

“Wow,” Grandpa says. “It suddenly got so quiet you could hear a cricket fart.”
 

“I am,” I say.
 

“You’re what?” Grandpa asks.

“You're pregnant!?” Grandma yells out.

“Shhh! We don't want anyone to know. We haven't told anyone yet.”

“Jeez, I was just joking,” Grandpa admits. “Although, now I understand.”

“Understand what?”

“Why old Fox over there,” he says, pointing toward Aiden, “can't wipe the smile off his face. I was afraid he was going gay on us.”

“Grandpa!” I chastise. “People don't
go
gay—”

“I don't mean gay as in homosexual. Gay used to mean happy before all the rainbow equality stuff.
He was a gay old lad,
meant he was really chipper. Unusually happy. And, in my experience, a man who is
too
happy usually’s got something up his sleeve. You gotta watch out for gay—
as in happy
—people. And Aiden's been smiling so much, I half expected him to break out in song.”

“Well, now you know why I'm over the moon,” Aiden says, still grinning.

“And please don't tell anyone,” I add.

“Your mother is going to be happier than a tick on a fat dog.”

“Why haven't you told your family?” Grandma asks.
 

“I’m only about seven weeks, and Aiden's sister had an early miscarriage. We’re waiting until I’m twelve weeks and have had an ultrasound to tell everyone.”

“You won't be able to wait that long,” Grandma replies, shaking her head at me.

“Why not?”

“You’re skinny. You'll start showing soon.”
 

“No, I won’t! You don't start showing until you're, like, three months. And you don’t have to wear maternity clothes until five months.”

Grandma laughs. A loud, belly laugh. “You been reading those pregnancy books already?”
 

“Uh, maybe.”

“When I was pregnant with your daddy, I noticed my stomach at eight weeks. Couldn't button my skirt anymore.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, and based on how much you ate at dinner tonight, I reckon you'll be the same.”
 

“You have been eating a lot,” Aiden confirms.

“I can’t help it that I’m hungry all the time. And nauseous.”

“Morning sickness, dear?”
 

“A little. I haven't thrown up too many times though. Mostly, I just gag.”
 

“You need to eat a gingersnap every morning when you first wake up. Keep them by your bed. And if you can have a cup of lemon tea with it, all the better.”

“I’ve looked everywhere online for a cure for morning sickness. I haven't heard of that,” Aiden says.
 

“It’s something grandmothers just know,” Grandma says to Aiden, matter-of-factly. Then she turns to me. “I'll bake you a mess of gingersnaps tomorrow. And, you should probably cut out the alcohol.”

“I didn't put alcohol in her drink,” Aiden says quickly.

“So, that's why you were so gung-ho on making them.”

Dawson, Dallas, and Knox join us on the back porch.
 

“They're all out,” Dallas says.

“Fell asleep during my stirring rendition of
The Three Little Pigs
,” Knox adds, looking slightly offended.

“Fresh air makes little ones sleep,” Grandma states. “They've had a long day, not to mention, Dawson, yours had a three hour time change. Aiden, would you get the boys some lemonade?”

“No offense, Grandma,” Knox says, “But I had something a little stronger in mind.”

“Oh, it's something stronger. It’ll put you right to sleep too, young man.”

Grandpa stands and grabs Grandma’s hand. “Ma and I are gonna hit the hay. Let you youngins have some fun.”

Aiden and I walk them in the house and give them hugs goodnight.

“Congratulations,” my grandpa whispers to me. Then he hits Aiden on the shoulder and says, “You old dog, you,” and walks off.
 

“While you make their drinks, I'm gonna look for something to snack on,” I tell Aiden.

He pins me against the counter, putting his hand across my belly. “Do you think we should tell our families sooner?”
 

“I'm dying to, but I don’t know what to do.”

“My parents are watching my sister's kids this weekend. What if we got everyone together this coming week for dinner? What's your schedule looking like? Back to early morning call times?”

“Yes, we’re finishing up all the indoor scenes. Sex scenes. The emotional stuff.”

“Probably a good thing you're doing them now, before you start showing,” he says, his hand still across my stomach. “I love you and our baby.”

“We love you too.”

Keatyn & Aiden’s home - Asher Vineyards, Sonoma County

DAWSON

Keatyn and Aiden bring some snacks out to the porch along with our drinks.

One sip tells me that this is seriously spiked lemonade.

“Oh, this is gooood,” Knox drawls.

“Gotta love good ol’ Southern hospitality,” Dallas agrees, taking a big sip.

“So, Dawson,” Aiden says, “I hear you and Vanessa have been hooking up.”

“Oh, Van-es-sa. Why have I not hit that yet?” Knox asks.

I want to pick Knox up and pound him against the wall.
 

I glare at him instead.
 

He holds his hands up. “Jeez. If looks could kill, I’d be dead. Do you like her or are you just hooking up?”

“Dawson and Vanessa know each other from a long time ago,” Keatyn interjects. “They will be working closely together.”

“Really closely,” Aiden teases.
 

Keatyn smiles at Aiden, but says to me, “Ignore him. Did the girls decide to sleep in the loft room?”

“Are you kidding? They’re in heaven. It’s like a big camp slumber party with all those bunk beds and sleeping bags. And Harlow, being only seven, hasn’t been allowed to go on sleepovers yet, so she’s thrilled.”

“Ava and Fallon seemed to hit it off,” Dallas says about our oldest daughters.

“They did. It’s nice.”

“Next time they come out, we’ll have to let them tour the kid’s school.”

“I’m sure they would like that. I really appreciate this.” I look around. “Everyone. It means a lot to me.”

“You’ve had a rough couple of years,” Aiden states.

“And we’re glad to hear you’re back in the saddle again,” Dallas drawls. “Camden may or may not have called us and told us you needed to get laid.”

“I don’t really think that’s any of your business,” Keatyn says, chiding them. But then she turns to me. “I don’t care about the sex. How are you feeling about all of this? The job? The house? The girls? About making it permanent? About Vanessa?”

Aiden starts laughing. “In a round about way, she’s asking the same question I did.”

“Fine,” she huffs. “Do you like her?”

“I’ve only known her for a few days but, yes, I do.” And I miss her. “I’m beat. I think I’m going to bed. I’m sure the kids will run us ragged tomorrow.”

Everyone says their goodnights and I go into my room and call her.
 

“Hey, Vanessa.”