Holt's Holding part two (The Holt's Series)

Though,
this book is a work of fiction, its inspiration is the basis of many
conversations and “happy hours” with my best friend.

Thank
you for giving me the memories to pull from!

To My fans….

Your
following, encouragement and insights are the true reason any author
writes.
 
I owe you an enormous debt of
gratitude.

To my
mother, this book is a direct result of you brilliant criticism, lessons and
dedication.
 
Without you there would be
no book…I can never thank you for the time and long distance calls discussing
plots and your valuable insights.

Beep…beep….beep, constant and steady.
 

The sound of the steady rhythm increased with each labored breath
I took.

Visions of the past seeped into my clouded consciousness.
 

Visions of things I didn’t remember being a witness too,
perhaps, I blocked them out, or simply forgot.

An argument in the middle of the night…mom and dad…she
threw around accusations as he didn’t even waver…the anger was palpable as it
moved through me.
 
The vision shifted
like a blur.

My father in the study…a man sat in the chair, in front of
him.
 
Trying to focus on him, it was his
friend, Uncle Scotty.
 
The talks were
about …business….something about a takeover.
 
Appraising the space, my eyes landed to the two chairs, and their
occupants.
 
Two young men, by the window
playing chess, adding a comment here and there, doing their best to outwit the
other.
 
The brunette looked up at me, locking
our eyes, Sebastian.
 
This was a younger
version of him, possibly in his early twenties.
 
Breaking my gaze, the blonde, turned and looked at me, the arrogant
smile on his face had me taking a step back.
 
Feeling frozen, his eyes appraised me and the grin on his face wasn’t
one I would associate to kindness, he looked at me with distain.
 
He looked annoyed with my presence.
 
Dropping his eyes from me, he looked back to
Sebastian and shook his head grinning as if a silent conversation was taking
place between the two.
 

“Keep holding your breath brother.”
 
He spoke with such arrogance to Sebastian.

“Elizabeth!”
 
The
roar of my father’s firm voice caught my attention, “…this is not a place for
you!” my father pushed me from the office, shutting the door.

The vision changed again…

Father Joe looked down to me… “We have no clue to what hand
we are dealt…it’s all in how we play it”

“A good lesson Lilly…but even more so, never hold them too
close to your heart for you will give up your hand” my father’s voice lingered
around me… “Know your opponents- anticipate their moves…this is a lesson in
life.”

How young was I? Possibly twelve?

All the memories just flowed…

Then unfamiliar voices, hovering around my subconscious,
increased in volume….pulling at me into reality.

“-won’t be long her vitals are strong and the activity as
increased.”
 
A woman’s voice spoke.

“Very good, I’ll inform her next of kin.”
 
A male voice added.

“She was very lucky.”
 
The woman offered in a joyful voice.

“Do you think we should tell her about her situation or do
we have her kin tell her?”
 
the female
voice added.

“Possibly wait…it may be a lot for her to taken in…I’m sure
she didn’t know.”

“Perhaps this may be a good surprise?” It was a woman’s
voice I was hearing…a nurse.

Yes, I was in an accident…

Groggy …I moaned, opened my eyes…shit it was bright…I
blinked a few times adjusting for the light all around me.

“Stay still…I need to pull out the tube in your mouth.”
 
The nurse urgently spoke.

Tube?

Shit …I closed my eyes …remembering how my car flipped over
and over…

The accident registered.

Opening my eyes up, the nurse hovered over me and smiled.
 
She looked young, possibly my age.

“The doctor will be right in” she added sincerely “you are
Johns Hopkins Hospital…can you tell me your name?”

“Yes…Elizabeth Lillian Holt” I rasped.
 
My throat felt like someone shoved sand paper
down it.

“Very good she smiled”

“Very good…no amnesia then.” a male voice added.
 
“Elizabeth…My name is Dr. Fitz. Do you
remember what happened to you?”
 
The
bright light flashed in each eye.
 
Shit,
asshole, need to adjust to light.

“Accident …my brakes…there were deer in the road…” talking was
hard.

“Yes, you were in an accident. You were flown to shock trauma…you
were lucky as you had no internal injuries just a broken arm…However, you hit
your head, and I suspect that you were already suffering a concussion as there
was evidence to suggest one. The combination of both injuries so close, unfortunately,
caused swelling on your brain. We had to induce a comma until the swelling
subsided.”

“Ok…how long have I been out?” I looked out to the window,
and the sky grey…it was snowing?

“How long?” I repeated urgently turning back to the doctor.

“Almost three months.”
 
He replied in an apologetic tone.

“What’s the date?”
 
The urgency wasn’t lost to me.
 
I
need to know the date.

“December 18th”, he offered cautiously. “Your attorney Mr.
Calhoun, had instructed us to notify him, when you woke. It appears; he was
your emergency contact, as well as held all your powers of attorney. He has
visited often as has your grandmother.”
 
He paused and based on his expression, there was more.
 
“Elizabeth, not to be forward; however, Mr.
Calhoun could not provide an answer…do you have a boyfriend?” he paused, and I
scrunched my brows tight to his question, “I ask as I could not disclose to Mr.
Calhoun…however, you are with child…you are pregnant.” his eyes wide and appraising
my reaction.

“What? No, not possible. I’m on birth control…I can’t be
pregnant!” I shook my head…this was too much…I’ve lost three months, and now
I’m pregnant? No,
 
this is a bad dream.
 
My heart rate increased with a
vengeance.
 
I began to hyperventilate.
 

“This is obviously a shock to you”
 
No shit!, I shook my head at him.
 
“…I can assume this was not planned. None the
less…we estimate you in your roughly about 16 weeks along. The fetus is very
strong and health if I made add.”

Fetus? Pregnant?
 
Did
I just wake up to an alternate universe?

“Oh god no!” I cried, “No, please no!”
 
The comma, I could deal with…the accident all
of it…but a pregnancy?…I carried his baby…his! The tears burned as they fell
like a floodgate down my cheeks.

God help me, I’m so fucked up emotionally, this can’t
happen.

“Abortion…this is not a catholic hospital…I want an
abortion now!” I screamed.

I heard Brady run in…“Why is she screaming?” he looked
between the Doctor and me.

“Mr. Calhoun we need to sedate her.”

“Why is she screaming?”
 
Brady demanded,

He came around and reached down to me.
 
His eyes, reassuring and even calming.
 
God, how I needed him right now.

“I need an abortion …Brady please…I’m pregnant!” I was
frantic and pleading with him.

“Oh, my god…I didn’t know Lil!” he pursed his lips
tight.
 
I knew he was thinking and hard
on this.
 
His eyes were wide in shock
taking it in.
 

“Mr. Calhoun…Elizabeth…I cannot perform an abortion. You
are past the gestation that the law allows.”