Enlightened (Red Flags) (33 page)

"How small is the baby?"  Mr. Miller asked, looking concerned for his daughter and granddaughter.

"The baby was born at five pounds, which technically is okay.  It's just that the gestational period was not as long as we would have liked.  Please do not worry.  Mom and baby are doing very well."

"What was the gestational period?"  Heather asked.

"Ms. Miller delivered at 31 weeks.  That isn't too far from full term, but the lungs are always the big concern, so we'll be keeping baby and watching over them."  Heather and Mr. Miller nodded their heads.  "Are there any more questions?"

Everyone shook their heads and the Doctor took it as the cue to leave the room.

"I told you, babe.  That skank is lyin'.  She's been pregnant for a while.  She just wasn't showin' until recently." I looked at Jason who had frustration written all over his face.

"You still need to have a test done, Jason," I said, wanting absolute finality to this debacle.

"Oh, I'm still takin' the test.  My name has been dragged through the mud, and it almost cost me you.  I want science, math, and the heavens above to show that I'm not that crazy chick's sperm donor."  He paused.  "But I'm not so sure about Jacob." 

Jacob looked up at the mention of his name.

"What are you saying about me, Jason?"

"Just that you should probably get a test done," Jason said calmly.

Jacob's brows furrowed and his eyes darkened.  "I'm not taking any fucking tests.  I don't have shit to prove to any of you."

I shook my head at him.  His defensive demeanor definitely cast doubt over his claim that he didn't have anything to prove.  Just as he was turning away from us, Mr. Bradley stepped in.

"We've had enough of this shit.  No more Abby situations.  The test will be performed and that's the end of that.  If there is no chance, as ya'll are both sayin', then take the God damn test and end this madness." 

I stood in awe as Mr. Bradley finally did something to the benefit of both of his sons.  Jason nodded his head, but Jacob stood stoic.  The color seemed to drain from his face as he stood there, looking like he'd just seen a ghost.

"I'm goin' to the lab to get this show on the road."

The rest of us took our seats, as there was nothing left to be said.  Jason looked confident while Jacob looked like his world was crumbling before his eyes.  Watching him suffer in his own agony gave me a bit of silent pleasure.  His lies and deceit were finally starting to catch up to him, and it felt good to watch it happen in such a public forum. 

Mila stood and walked over to Jason and me.  "Hey, Pinks.  We're gonna go.  Doesn't look there's much more to see here."  She tucked my hair behind my ears.  "Let us know the outcome of the test."  She winked and hugged me.  I squeezed her back then moved on to my brother, before watching them walk out of the room. 

Mr. Bradley came back with a lab technician and pointed out his two sons.  Jason kissed my forehead before walking out to sign paperwork and have his swab taken.  Flutters of butterflies tickled my stomach, but unlike before, when my stomach felt like it was trying to dislodge itself, these flutters felt like joyful nerves.  I took it as a sign and sat back as the guys exited the waiting room.

Chelsea came walking back in with Abby, looking confused as to what was happening.

"What did I miss?" she asked, walking Abby back over to Heather.

"Jason wants a test, Jacob doesn't, and Mr. Bradley finally put his foot down and ordered it.  They're on their way to have it done now," I replied, making room for her to sit down.

"Damn.  The results won't be in for a while."  She looked over to Hunter who was sitting with his head up against the wall, looking like he was half asleep.  "Hunter, are you ready to go?"

He sat up and wiped his face.  "Yeah.  Ready whenever you are." 

They both stood.  Chelsea leaned down and gave me a hug.  "Nothing to worry about, doll.  I can't wait to hear those results."  She winked as Hunter took her hand and they walked out of the room. 

I was left in the room with Heather, little Abby, Mrs. Bradley, and Mr. Miller.  No one spoke, so I played on my phone, hoping to pass what felt like frozen time.  After re-reading old text messages from Jason that brought silly grins to my face, the door swung open and in walked the three Bradley men. 

"Let's go, babe," Jason said, holding his hand out for me.

"We're leaving?"  I asked, a bit disappointed that I had spent so much time in the hospital but still had no closure.

"Yeah.  We won't have any results until tomorrow morning.  I don't want to spend another second in this hospital entertaining this lunacy."

I looked back at Heather, who glanced up from playing with Abby, and flashed her a friendly smile.  Jason made no effort to speak to his parents or say goodbye, so I bid everyone a good night and walked out of the waiting room with my fingers intertwined with his.  He cheerfully hummed as we walked down to the parking lot.  I could feel the vibrancy in him.  He looked like he was finally alive and happy, happy being the key word.

"I can't wait to get you home and get to sleep."  Jason said, tugging me towards the Raptor.

"Why is that?"

"Because tomorrow might as well be Christmas mornin'.  I'm gonna prove Jacob and Stacey to be the fuckin' liars that they are, and--" he stopped us and took my chin in his hand.  "I'm gonna erase any and all remainin' doubt you might have about me."

"I believe you, Jason."

"I want that shit in stone.  I don't want you to ever have a reason to second guess yourself or our relationship.  I did too much shit wrong in the beginnin', but I would never, ever, cheat on you, Cara.  Tomorrow, we get the nail in that coffin and get to start fresh--the way we should have from the very beginning." 

He kissed me with every ounce of passion bottled up inside of him.  After standing outside of the Raptor kissing for what felt like a lifetime, Jason led me to the passenger side and let me in.  He climbed in on his side and started up the familiar roar of the truck and pulled out, humming, like he had not a care in the world.

Chapter 23

Jason was awake bright and early the next morning.  When I finally opened my eyes, he was standing in front of his bathroom mirror, styling his impossibly long hair that was now shielding his beautiful, brown eyes.  "Good morning, Gorgeous," he purred, glancing over at me and flashing his million dollar smile.

"Good morning," I responded, "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You were much too peaceful.  I couldn't bring myself to do it, but now that you're awake, get up.  We have to get to the hospital."

Jason looked refreshed.  Staring at him was like staring at a different man, a man who had no burdens on his shoulder, a man who had finally found happiness in his life.

"What time do we have to be there?"  I asked, starting the water for the shower.  I stepped in and allowed the steaming liquid to douse my body.  It felt like a sense of calm was washing over me, as the stresses from the day before were nowhere to be found.

"No set time, but the sooner the better.  I want this shit over with!" Jason said, yelling over the thumps of the water hitting the floor. 

I made quick work of myself and got out of the shower.  My hair remained in a dampened mess, but I didn't care.  I didn't care that Jason once again looked like a male supermodel and I looked like the peon assistant who carried his clothes.  Nope.  I didn't care about any of that.  All I cared about was getting to the hospital and forever flushing Stacey down the toilet and out of our lives where she belonged. 

"You ready?" Jason asked as he pulled me into him.  "I'm long overdue for this."  His smile brought a giggle out of me.  After applying mascara to my lashes and splashing on a light layer of lip gloss, I tugged on his shirt and ran my fingers down his chest.  He caught my hand and pulled it up to his lips, gently kissing it.

"Don't start.  Save it for our celebration of the removal of the filth in our lives later on."

I smirked at him, but didn't try anymore seductive moves on him.  He was right.  The most important thing at the moment was getting to the hospital and hearing the words that would forever set my heart free.  Jason gently grabbed my hand and led me out of the house and into the top-open Shelby. 

Before starting the car, he paused for a second.  "Why don't we give your new baby a roll?  You can chauffeur me around for a change."

"We can take her, but you're still driving."

I handed the key over to Jason and we jumped out of the Shelby and into the Beemer.  Jason drove the car like he was in the Shelby, fast and furiously.  By the time we made it to the hospital, my wind-blown hair was practically dry. 

Jason ran around to my side and opened the door.  He took my hand and led me into the hospital, this time smiling at the lady at the front reception desk that he had barked at the day before.  When we stepped off on the Labor and Delivery floor, the entire family was already waiting in the nearby waiting room.  Mr. Bradley signaled to the nurse at the station as we walked up, and I watched her get on the phone.  A few minutes later, a young girl wearing a lab coat walked up with envelopes and handed them to her.  The nurse double checked the information and then returned the envelopes back to the technician.

I studied Jason for a minute.  He didn't look worried in the least bit.  In fact, out of everyone in attendance, he was probably the most collected of us all.  The Bradleys looked anxious, and rightfully so.  They had already been in this situation once before and it had helped to further deteriorate an already broken family.  Mr. Miller looked the same as the Bradleys, only he was noticeably sweating, and used a handkerchief to wipe it away from his brow.  I wanted to laugh at him.  No matter what the outcome, the baby girl would be a part of him, but then, I thought about a dad who was just nervous for his little girl, and the thoughts of laughter quickly faded away.  Heather looked overly annoyed.  Jacob was by her side, trying to talk his obvious nerves away, but she wasn't having much of it.

A different nurse wheeled Stacey over to where we were standing.  Our eyes locked immediately, and for the first time since I'd had the displeasure of knowing her, she didn't exude bitch, she didn't exude evil troll, she didn't exude anything.  She looked broken and dejected.  A small inkling of my heart wanted to feel sorry for her, but after thinking back on everything that this one girl had put me through, those feelings quickly went by the wayside.  I turned to the lab technician who spoke as she led the group to the family room further down the hall. 

Taking our seats in the family room, an odd mixture of excitement and fear swirled around us.  I could feel each side with as much intensity as the other.  Jason kissed the top of my hand and then held it in his.  He turned and gave a knowing smile, which I tried my hardest to return.

The technician began speaking, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.  "I'm sorry to interrupt.  I have another member of this party," a male nurse said, further prying the door open.

My eyes immediately darted towards the door and my stomach dropped as I watched Damian stroll into the room, looking every bit as hot and smug as I had remembered him.  Jason pursed his lips, but didn't say anything.  Instead, he followed Damian's movements with his eyes, and watched him move all the way into his seat. Damian looked around the room at the unwelcomed scene that he had just stepped into.  If he was uncomfortable, he didn't show it.

"I called him here," Stacey said, finally speaking but not making eye contact.  I watched her for a minute longer as shame and despair pierced her face. She didn't seem like the same person who had confidently, verbally assaulted me in the parking lot of a restaurant not too long ago.  I felt nothing for her.  Deep down I was pleased that she was feeling the nasty effects of her ways.  In my eyes, she deserved every second of it. 

"Well, let's get started," the technician said.  She looked around the room as she held up the envelopes and then went back right back to the business at hand.  I kept wondering what was going through her mind.  She was probably wondering what sort of people would spin such a web that there had to be this many people involved in a paternity finding.  I would have thought the question myself, but I unfortunately already knew Stacey, and this situation didn't shock me. I focused back on the technician as she continued speaking.

"With all paternity testing, we cannot guarantee 100% findings, but because we were able to test baby, mom, and three potential fathers, the positive matching will have a 99.999% accuracy, therefore eliminating any other subjects."  She looked around the room one more time before starting with the envelopes.  "In the first testing of Babygirl Miller and subject Jason Bradley… Jason, there is 0.000% probability that you are the father of the child in question." 

I sighed and smiled, realizing that my heart had started beating again.  I kept telling myself that Jason wasn't the father of her baby, but in the back of my mind, tucked away with my worst nightmares, a nagging voice kept reminding me that until the test results were in, there was always that possibility.

Jason didn't have much of a reaction.  A smile traced his lips and he nodded his head, but there was no outburst or overjoy of emotions.  The same calm that he had shown since the test was administered was exactly what he sat in the chair displaying.  My heart warmed at the confirming of Jason's pleas since that disastrous night in Heath.  A smidgen of guilt overcame me as I thought about that night, and Jason's breakdown.  He had been honest about this the entire time, and I felt like I had unnecessarily put us through so much hurt and pain for no reason. 

"In the second testing of Babygirl Miller and Jacob Bradley… Jacob, there is 0.000% probability that you are the father of the child in question."

"Yes!"  Jacob shouted, slamming his hands down on the table.  All eyes shot to him as he quickly tried to regain his composure, but he had given himself away.  His secret was out the bag and it was too late to try and stuff it back in.