Falling Softly: Compass Girls, Book 4 (12 page)

Traumatized—all of them, but Sterling especially—she sobbed and clung to him like a vine climbing a trellis.

Mrs. Compton’s shouts trailed them out the door. “I
hate
this. Damn it. It should have been me. Let me go. Let me die!”

“No!” Sterling twisted in his grip, nearly sending them both sprawling to the gravel.

“Shh.” He clamped her body close to his, still careful not to squash her, especially around her abdomen. “You can’t worry about her now. Think about yourself. The baby.”

Except that was exactly the wrong thing to say.

She cried harder, gasping for breath.

Viho plopped her into the Jeep and awkwardly buckled her in. Out of ideas, he jammed his hand into the front pocket of his jeans and grabbed the turquoise tortoise.

“Here.” He put it in her hand and folded her fingers around the animal. “It’s good luck. My mom told me so.”

With that, he kissed her on the cheek, then made sure she was out of the way of the door before shutting it and crossing to the driver’s side. He stuck the key in the ignition and peeled out of the driveway fast enough to sling gravel everywhere and draw curious stares from the ranch hands working near the barn.

With one hand, he jabbed the hospital into the GPS of her phone, which he’d also grabbed from her purse. Hell, he should have brought along the whole thing. Hopefully, one of the Compass Girls or Sterling’s other family would bring her ID, not that anyone in town didn’t already know who she was.

The glowing line drew a path through town to a facility not that far away. He decimated the speed limit as they raced toward a doctor.

When he could, he peeked over at Sterling. Her sobs had quieted to tremulous gasps, still too shallow and fast for his liking. But she seemed more alert as she stared at the stone in her palm. Her thumb rubbed the turtle’s shell compulsively as if the smooth bump soothed her as it had him when he worried the same exact spot.

Distraction seemed like as good a plan as any.

“It was made by a powerful healer in our tribe,” he told her.

“Beautiful,” she whispered.

“I always thought so too.” Viho knew his mom had been looking out for him today, when she’d practically thrown it into his hand. “And it’s supposed to draw the spirit of your ancestors to you when you’re in trouble. For protection. And luck.”

“Did you know the hospital is named after my grandfather, JD?” she mumbled, as if she might black out again.

He couldn’t have that.

“No. Tell me about him. Maybe the tortoise will find his spirit to watch over you. And Peanut.”

When the Jeep rolled to a stop under the emergency room portico, Sterling held the turtle out to Viho.

“No, you keep him. Someday you’ll pass him on to the baby.” Viho hoped it was true. “Until then, you’re in charge of it.”

She bit her lip, then whispered, “What if there is no more baby?”

“We’ll deal with it together.”

Sterling nodded as an EMT rushed from the automatic doors with a stretcher. They yanked open the door of the Jeep and started talking in rapid-fire. “Your cousin called. We were expecting you. Where does it hurt? How long ago did the bleeding start?”

They pulled Sterling from the car and bundled her onto the gurney, wheeling her inside before Viho could get a word in edgewise. He tried to follow, but someone stopped him. “Sir, we’re going to need you to park the car out of the way so this area is clear for ambulances and other emergency vehicles.”

He craned his neck to see around the orderly, but all he got a glimpse of was Sterling’s bloody foot as they whisked her away.

“Then where do I go?” he asked.

“Are you family?”

“No. Yes. Well, I’m not sure. She’s pregnant. I’m the father.” Holy crap, it felt weird to say that out loud.

“Sorry, sir. It’s best if you wait until they’ve examined her.” The guy truly did seem apologetic, also sort of like he expected to get decked. “I’ve got kids of my own. I can imagine how you must feel. But you’re only going to get in the way. Head up to the second-floor emergency waiting room. They’ll come get you as soon as she’s stable and they can tell you more about her condition.”

Viho nodded as reality started to sink in. He went to shake the man’s hand and realized his fingers were stained crimson. So instead he headed back to the car.

“Good luck, buddy.”

“Thanks,” he managed to wheeze before calmly parking, then returning to the building. It felt like the day he’d gone with his mom to get her biopsy test results. When the worst-case scenario—aggressive, inoperable cancer—became reality, his whole world had shifted.

And he felt like it could again right now.

Fucking hospitals.

Viho couldn’t say how long he staggered from one end of the tiny holding pen to the other, hating the buzz of the fluorescent lighting and the smell of disinfectant. But it probably only felt like forever before Sienna, Jade and their parents flooded the area, making it seem even smaller, if possible. When Hope didn’t show, he figured she was working. Probably downstairs right now.

He found himself scanning the crowd for Jake, but didn’t see the guy among the gaggle of Comptons.

“Your father stayed back at the ranch. With Vicky.” Cindi didn’t ask first; she came right in and hugged Viho hard. “But he asked me to give you that and tell you he’s praying for the best.”

Sam Compton joined them, putting a strong hand on Viho’s shoulder. “We are too. We all are.”

Unsure of how to respond, Viho simply stood there and absorbed their affection. They seemed to understand he wasn’t used to being the center of that kind of attention and gave him some space, though he wished they would have clung a little longer.

He scanned the room and the sympathetic faces ringing him. How had he inherited so many supporters in the span of a single day?

Most of all, though, he studied Sienna’s expression, and then her Aunt Lucy’s. The two nurses had pretty damn good poker faces, though. He couldn’t tell what they were thinking or what the odds might be.

He figured they were pretty bad if neither was offering reassurances.

When the swinging door opened and a woman in a white coat emerged, it was as if everyone in the room held their breath. “Viho. I’m looking for Viho with Ms. Sterling Compton.”

He stepped forward.

The doctor lowered her voice and leaned in. “She’s stabilized. Her vitals are improving rapidly. Mostly I think she was dehydrated and stressed. If she keeps this up she’ll be able to spend the night in her own bed, as long as you—or someone else—are there to care for her.”

“I will be,” he said in a rush of air.

“Your baby…” Viho’s knees grew weak, anticipating the worst. “…is also doing fine.”

Viho bent in half, grasping his knees to keep from toppling over.

“Viho?” Cindi Compton cried out to him as he kept them in unintentional suspense.

“She’s good. They’re both great.” He turned to face them, not caring about the goofy grin he couldn’t suppress or the dampness in his eyes. And before he could think better of it, he wrapped the staid doctor in a bear hug and swung her around while the Compass Brothers laughed and hooted.

A couple of them smacked Sam on the back.

He set the doctor down as soon as decorum sank in. “Sorry about that. Can I see her?”

The doctor grinned up at him. “Sure. As long as you don’t pull that stunt with your lady.”

“I promise.” He chuckled, then tried to get himself together for Sterling.

“Right this way, sir.” She held the door for Viho then added for the family. “Not too many visitors for her tonight. Can you limit it to just a handful, two at a time? And only for a few minutes?”

The family murmured their agreement, then began to figure out who would stay and who would go. Viho had already stopped paying attention as they wound their way through the den of rooms toward Sterling.

When the doctor ushered him in, he stutter stepped.

Sterling looked so pale and fragile in the hospital gown. Propped up in the automatic bed, she’d placed the tortoise on her sternum. One hand rested protectively over her belly while the other stroked the figurine’s shell.

When she saw him, she smiled, though it lacked its usual sparkle. “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself.” He crossed to her and rested half his ass on her bed while one foot stayed planted to the floor. Immediately, she leaned into him.

“Sorry for scaring you like that,” she murmured.

“I was pretty sure you didn’t do it on purpose.” Closing his eyes, he kissed her crown.

“How is Vivi?”

“She’s fine. With Jake.” He hoped he wasn’t exaggerating. But really, could the woman be called
fine
anymore?

“She’s not. But thank you for saying that anyway.” Sterling sighed. “And thank you for coming to save me today. They told me that if I hadn’t gotten here as soon as I did…if my blood pressure didn’t get under control…”

“It did. Don’t stress yourself about what might have been.” He squeezed her shoulder, figuring he could worry enough for both of them about all that stuff.

“I’m going to be more careful,” she whispered. “I asked a ton of questions and got a list of books to read. Medicine and vitamins are coming too. I should have thought to do that this morning, but with how everything went yesterday…I didn’t have my priorities straight.”

“Sterling, neither of us has done this before.” He drew away so he could look directly at her. “We’re going to fuck stuff up. No matter how hard we try to do it all right. We’re going to work on it together. Right?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Good.” He smiled down at her and patted the turtle on the head.

Sterling tipped her face up and reached for him, so he gave her what they both craved. A long, sweet, gentle kiss that felt like coming home.

“I’m pretty sure that’s not a recommended method for keeping someone’s blood pressure down,” Hope Compton chided them. She jiggled a paper bag in her fist. “I brought you a whole smorgasbord of fantabulous chemicals. This should have you fixed up in no time.”

Hope came closer and wiggled her way in for a hug. “You just about gave me a heart attack when I saw this order come across my desk. I’m not going to bug you for details, since I’m sure Sienna and Jade are blowing up my phone, but I had to come see you for a second.”

“Thank you.” Sterling blinked. “I’m so glad you came.”

“And now I’m leaving, before I get in trouble from your nurses.” She winked. “Take good care of her, Viho.”

“Promise.” He nodded and waved.

Before he could pick up where he’d left off with Sterling, a light knock came on the door. Viho grumbled and Sterling laughed. It was worth it to hear her happy.

“Hey, cuz.” Jade strode into the room with Sienna on her heels. “We just passed Hope in the hall. That bitch, sneaking in here before us.”

“Doing okay?” Sienna cut to the chase as she read the monitoring equipment scattered around the room. Satisfied, she nodded.

“Hell of a lot better now.” She winced. “But I think I ruined that dress you guys bought me for my birthday.”

“Eh, Christmas is coming.” Jade smiled. “Better rack up the presents this year, ’cause after that it’ll be baby mania. Just think of all the noisy toys I can buy my mini-cuz.”

“Really annoying ones,” Sienna added.

“Exactly.” They smiled at Sterling, then turned a little more serious, squeezing her hand in theirs.

“If we don’t get out of here, your parents will probably explode,” Jade said as they edged toward the door. “If you feel up to company tomorrow, call us, okay?”

“I will.” Sterling smiled and wiggled her fingers.

And when they left, she turned to Viho. “Brace yourself.”

“No kidding. I saw them in the waiting room, you didn’t.”

Her eyes grew wide. “That bad? Shit, I’m sorry.”

“Sterling, you did not do anything wrong.” Viho took her chin in his hand and held her gaze. “This was not your fault. Everything is okay now. Regret isn’t going to help Peanut.”

“You’re right.” She smiled up at him.

And that was how her parents found them.

“You know, Viho,” Sam started as he entered the room. “I’ve wished a lot of things for my daughter in her life. You’ll see. It’s impossible not to want the best for your children. But that look in her eyes, it’s one I’ve only seen a few times. And I’m so happy that she has you to put it there.”

Viho swallowed hard as Sterling patted his cheek.

Her mom spoke more quietly, but what she said rocked him harder. “Even more, I knew my daughter had more love to give than most. And I’m so glad that she’s found a man like you who will appreciate that gift and never take it for granted.”

Instead of responding to the Comptons, he looked at Sterling and promised, “I won’t.”

“I know,” she whispered.

“Do you want us to wait and take you home?” Her father might have approved, but he was still her dad. And he gave her an out to any potentially sticky situations.

Sterling looked from her parents to Viho. “If you don’t mind driving me, I’d rather go with you.”

“Of course.” He held her fingers with one hand, squeezing them lightly.

Her mom and dad took turns kissing her and saying goodbye. Hand in hand, they made their way to the door. At the last minute, Cindi turned and leveled one of her megawatt smiles at Sterling and Viho. “And I’m so sorry, I don’t think I’ve said congratulations. To you both. I’m
thrilled
that we’re going to be grandparents.”

“Thank you,” Viho and Sterling said in unison.

They looked at each other and smiled, still holding hands, just like Sterling’s mom and dad.

Viho couldn’t stop himself. He reached up and rubbed the center of his chest. Sterling seemed to notice him touching the small bulge beneath his shirt, but before she could ask him what caused it, the nurse returned with discharge paperwork. Eager to be home, in her nice comfortable bed—hopefully allowing Viho to hold her through the night—she forgot about her curiosity.

Together they listened to a long lecture about what she should and shouldn’t be doing, the dosage and schedules for taking the various vitamins and medicines she’d been prescribed, and scheduled the first of what seemed to be many regular doctor visits.