She submitted to the examination and answered Doctor Scott’s questions. Then she asked for confirmation of what she already knew. “I’m about twenty-four weeks, right?”
“Aye, good guess.”
“Not a guess. I know when I conceived. I’ve not slept with anyone since my husband died.”
“Baby’s due March fourteenth if yer dates and my charts are right. Everything looks good. Can we get yer maternity notes sent tae us?”
Sara took a deep breath, waiting for the fall out. “The hospital did a test before surgery in June, but probably assumed I’d lose my baby. And the cops keep me locked up tighter than the leftenant’s Fort Knox. So no, I haven’t seen a doctor and, no, there aren’t any notes.”
The disbelief grew on the doctor’s face.
Wait for it. Now I’ll get a lecture on how stupid and irresponsible I am
.
“I’ll start ye some. Ye should have seen someone, though. Ye need nae have told yer protection officers why ye wanted tae see a doctor. Want tae hear the heartbeat?”
“Please.”
Scott smiled as he pulled a tube of lubricant from his bag and smeared it on her stomach. Then he ran the sonic aid over it. The sound of the baby’s heartbeat filled the room. “There. Hear it?”
Wow, that’s my baby
. For an instant she thought she heard another heartbeat, but she dismissed the idea when the doctor didn’t say anything. “It’s fast.”
“It’s fine. A baby’s heart rate is normally twice the speed of an adult’s.” He moved the sonic aid and looked a bit surprised. He adjusted the instrument and smiled. “There’s another one.”
She blinked hard. “I’m sorry?”
“Twins. Both sound perfectly healthy.” He turned off the monitor and gave Sara a tissue to clean up. “It’s unusual for the nausea tae continue past the sixteenth week, but it’s nae unheard of with twins. If it does nae ease off in a week or so, let me know.”
“All right, thank you.” There was a tap on the door. Sara yanked down her shirt. “Come in.”
Luke opened the door and came in. “Is she all right?”
“She’s fine, Lieutenant.”
“What about the fainting and sickness?”
“That’s perfectly normal under the circumstances.”
“Huh?”
Scott packed up his bag. “I’ll make ye an appointment at the hospital for a scan, Sara. Ye’ll need tae come tae the surgery on Monday for a full set of blood tests. We also need tae book ye a bed.”
“All right.” She glanced at Luke. He looked worried.
“Scans, blood tests, and a bed? I thought you said she was fine. What’s going on?”
“She is fine. Blooming, in fact. But ye know full well patient confidentiality forbids me from telling ye anything. She’ll do that herself.” Scott picked up his bag. He turned to Sara, and she squirmed under his firm gaze. ‘Tell him,’ he mouthed. “I’ll check my list when I get back tae the surgery and ring an appointment through tae ye.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll see you out, Doctor,” Luke said.
“I’ll see myself out. Ye two need tae talk.”
As Scott left, Luke sat next to Sara. “What’s going on?”
“I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” Luke’s eyes widened a little and he looked shell-shocked, almost as if he’d covered every eventuality but this one.
Sara nodded. She’d keep the idea of twins to herself until the scan confirmed it. He was having a hard enough time with one never mind two. “Yeah, pregnant. A little over five months pregnant to be precise. And before you ask, yes, I knew. Just didn’t think it was anyone’s business apart from mine. The doctor set me straight on that score.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks. This complicates things though, Leftenant.”
“How so?”
Sara turned away. “I’m married—to you, apparently. Everyone will assume the baby’s yours.”
“Sara, this is just an assignment. As soon as it’s over, we leave here. You go back to your life, and I go back to mine. No strings. No ties.” He smiled at her. “You look better. Could you manage some tea?”
Sara pulled a face. “Ugh. I’d prefer coffee, please.”
Luke grinned. “I thought pregnant women went off coffee.”
“Not this one, Leftenant. I’ve gone off tea.”
“Are you sure you should be drinking caffeine? I could call Dave, get him to buy some decaffeinated…”
“What’s the point of decaffeinated coffee? As long as I don’t drink too much and steer clear of espresso, it’s fine. It’s wine, liver, and raw eggs I have to avoid.”
“All right, one coffee coming up.”
“And speaking of Dave…he’s your partner. You should tell him I’m pregnant. And Carole as well because she was really worried earlier. Announce it like a proud father would. Don’t want them thinking I’m dying. As for everyone else…need to know. Right now, no one else needs to know unless I tell them.”
“Sure thing, it’s your call.” He left the room.
Sara sat on the bed and picked up the photo of Jamie, tears streaking her face. “You’re going to be a daddy twice over. You would’ve made a great dad. It should be you announcing it to the world, not the leftenant. I can’t do this on my own. I need you, Jamie. Now, more than ever. I know you’re alive, but where are you?”
****
In the kitchen, Luke put the kettle on. He should have added coffee maker to the shopping list. He’d rectify that as soon as possible. His cell phone rang, and he picked it up, not recognizing the number. “Nemec.”
“Lieutenant Nemec, my name is Detective Chief Inspector Shepherds, yer commanding officer whilst yer here. We’ve secured this line, so I thought I’d ring, say hello, and see how things are going with Mrs. Barnes.”
Luke raised an eyebrow.
Mrs. Barnes? Even over a secure line surely the façade had to be maintained.
“Morning, sir. My wife’s not feeling that great this morning. I called the doctor out. He’s just left.”
Shepherds tone changed. “I see. Which doctor did ye call?”
“Steve Scott, from Harborside Surgery. Dave McArthur recommended him, and said he was the police surgeon.”
“Aye, he is. Dr. Scott is the right choice for her care. It makes sense tae use the police surgeon. What’s the diagnosis? Or is it private?”
“It’s private. He wants her to go for blood tests and a scan at the hospital to rule out a couple of things.”
“Nae problem. Let us know who her consultant is, and we’ll run a check on him.”
“Thanks. Bye, sir.” Luke ended the call and put the phone away. He made the coffee and carried the cups upstairs.
Sara was on the bed, crying.
Luke put the coffees down and sat next to her. “Come here.”
Sara leaned against him as he wrapped his arms around her. Her tears soaked into his sweater. After a minute, she glanced up. “I’m sorry. I made you all wet again.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll dry.” He pushed the hair back from her face. “Are you going to be all right?”
“Think so.”
Sara was a perfect fit, nestling against his chest. So small and vulnerable, the burden of responsibility weighed heavily on him.
Lord, this changes everything. Show me what to do.
He was still holding her when the doorbell rang. He gave her a smile. “I’ll go answer that.”
Luke went downstairs. He opened the door as far as the chain latch would allow.
“Mr. Nemec?” The young guy held out an ID. “CompTech. I’ve got the computer ye ordered.”
Luke stood there for a moment, his mind going blank then he remembered Dave had organized the delivery. He could use it for his other assignment. He opened the door. “Oh, right. Could you put it in the dining room, please? I’ll set it up myself.”
The young man carried the three boxes through to the dining room. “Sign here, please, sir.”
Luke signed and showed him out.
As the delivery man left, Dave and Carole arrived with the shopping.
Luke helped carry the bags to the kitchen.
Carole had two quilts slung over her arms.
“We got everything ye wanted,” Dave said.
“Thanks. How much more do I owe you?”
“Ye’ve got change as we’re lending ye the duvets. How’s Sara?”
Luke forced a smile. This wasn’t going to be as easy as he told Sara it would be. “She’s pregnant.”
Carole squealed. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations. Yer so lucky. Can I see her?”
“Sure, she’s lying down upstairs.”
As Carole left, Dave put the last bag on the table. “Are ye all right?”
Luke sat down at the table and pushed a hand though his hair. “Yeah, just great. I told Shepherds.”
“Luke, ye have tae at least appear happy about this. People are going tae assume the baby’s yers.”
“Yeah, and Sara just loves that idea.” He took a deep breath. “Did Carole accept the story about our friendship and how we met? I haven’t told Sara yet and we’d better have the same story.”
“I embellished it slightly in the car tae make it more believable. Our schools had a pen-pal scheme. We connected because we both wanted tae go intae law enforcement. When we got older and I went intae law enforcement, we actually worked an international case together. Ye advised me on a technical aspect of it. I kept out that yer a cop like we were told tae. I lost yer address when ye moved. Ye rang me at the station when ye knew ye were moving here. What about Sara? What story are we using for her?”
Luke sighed. “I talked to her and we’re sticking to the broken leg on the honeymoon. It’ll be simpler than pneumonia or something, and it’s the truth. Let’s just hope no one asks how she did it.”
Dave reached into his pocket and pulled out a flash drive. “If that’s what ye think is best, I’ll let the guv know. Here are those files ye wanted. Eyes only, eat after reading, and dinna put them on the hard drive, etcetera.”
Luke slid the flash drive into his pocket. “Thanks. Perhaps we’ll finally begin making headway on this case.”
The door opened. Luke forced his emotions down as Carole and Sara came into the kitchen. He’d better keep up the concerned husband act in front of Carole. He smiled at Sara. “Feeling better, hon?”
“Yes, thanks. Who was at the door?”
“The computer came. I’ll set it up after lunch.”
“I hear yer a writer,” Carole said. “Has anything been published over here?”
Luke shook his head. “I doubt it. It’s non-fiction, scientific stuff.”
Well, a forward for a forensic paper, anyway.
“He’s writing a fiction novel this time though. Sci-fi,” Sara interjected. “Very hush-hush. He won’t even let me read it.”
Luke rolled his eyes. Of all the covers she could pick, she had to choose a sci-fi author? He glared at Sara. “It’s a work in progress, honey, you know that. No one reads it until it’s finished.”
Dave checked at his watch. “We must get going. I have tae be at work in an hour.”
Sara gave Luke a long glance and then turned to the others. “Why don’t you guys come over for dinner one evening next week?”
Carole smiled. “If yer sure yer up tae it, Tuesday would be good. I finish late on Tuesday, so I never have time tae cook.”
“Is Tuesday all right with ye, Luke?” Dave asked.
“That’s fine. I’ll see you guys out.” He rose, determined to have more than a few words with Sara before the day was out. As cute as she was, she was just pushing all the wrong buttons and making life so much harder for the both of them. He didn’t know a thing about science-fiction.
7
Sara started unpacking the shopping. She put away the cans and packets, stacking them neatly in the cupboards.
Luke came back in and unpacked the bedding and sweaters Carole had chosen. “Carole has good taste.” He handed Sara a large bag. “Here, this is for you.”
Sara hesitated. “What is it?”
“Open it, and find out.”
Sara took the bag and peeked inside. Nestling within the gaudy plastic carrier bag, were two canvases, several brushes of different sizes, some oils, a sketchpad and a number of drawing pencils varying from B through HB to H.
Wow
. She gasped. “I can’t accept this.”
“Constable Lomas told me you love painting, and I know you haven’t got anything with you.”
“Leftenant, it’s too much. It’s a very kind thought, but I can’t accept it.”
“I thought maybe you could do a painting of the beach using one of those photos you took. We could download them onto the new computer and print them off.”
“I guess.” She drew in a deep breath, using that to change the subject. “Where are you going to put the computer?”
“I thought the dining room. I can turn it into a study. Then I have to put a partially-written sci-fi book on it. Thanks for that, by the way.”
“Any time,” she replied, stifling a grin.
“You could have picked a better reason for us having a computer. Like using the net to talk to my family back home.”
“And have Carole ask why you never leave the house to go to work? This gives you a reason to work from home. Do you want help to set it up?”
“Thanks, but no. This way if I do it wrong, I only have myself to blame.”
****
Sara watched Luke set up the computer on the dining table and waited until he’d finished before saying what was on her mind. “It could do with a proper desk.”
“This’ll work.” Luke finished connecting the leads and started loading the software. “Do you have the software for your camera?”
“It’s upstairs. I’ll get it.”
Sara went upstairs and into her bedroom. Rummaging through her things, she finally found the CD Luke needed and took it downstairs. She handed it to him. “I’ll make the other bed, Leftenant.”
“You can take the master bedroom. The room I started off in last night will be fine for me.”
“Where would you like me to take the master bedroom?”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “Huh?”
Sara smiled. “You said to take it. That means pick it up, and move it. Like this. I’ll take your cup.” She picked it up and held it. “See. If, on the other hand, you mean I can have it, as in use it, then all right, if you’re sure, Leftenant.”
“Positive. And stop calling me lieutenant. It’s Luke.”
Sara placed the cup back on the table. Calling him Luke would complicate things, and life was complicated enough without anything added into the mix. She liked it when he called her Sara, but liking it didn’t make it right.