Chapter 16
The drive out of the D.C. to the small suburb in Virginia is slow moving but busy with traffic. Then again it is Thanksgiving and everyone is on the roads, either trying to get to their dinner locations or picking up last minute items.
Kate is quiet. Her anxiety is palpable, but still every now and then she sings along with the music on the radio. Her loose curls falling over her shoulders like springs, her mini gray sweater dress hugs her in all the right areas, but covering her arms and stopping just above her knees. Where she black leggings covers her legs, I got the sense she is trying to hide the marks and bruises from her accident. Leaving the skin on her face exposed. The small scratches have healed for the most part and her bruising has begun to fade from the angry shadow of blue to a deep purple with green outlines. The cramping and bleeding have completely stopped. Her OBGYN told her to take it easy for the reminder of the week and can return to normal actives next week. She hasn't had a headache or any concussion symptoms since the day after her accident.
Dalton on the other hand hasn't spoken a single word to her since that night.
That's why her anxiety is high at the moment. Mine too for that matter. We decided that we should go to Thanksgiving dinner at Preach's, with the team. This is the first time that we, as a couple would be doing anything together with the team. Since that night the group message has been radio silent. Dalton hasn't put out any information, at least not to me directly. It was Hannah who told me to take the rest of week to be home with Kate while she recovered. Preach was the one that called to confirm that I would be attending dinner, but his tone gave me the feeling someone had already told him the basic line story.
Holding her hand in mine, we walk through the front door. The house is fill, as it always is with laughter. The smell of the house is bringing my childhood of my mother and grandfather cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Typically, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It gives reminds me how lucky I am to be a part of this team, being alive for another day and doing something that I love. This is the first time that I have mix emotions about being here. The few times I have been here before it was a friendly visit. But now I don't know what to expect. I give her reassuring a squeeze of her hand. She gives me a tight smile; I am able to gage her nerves. She is putting on a brave face, but I can read her emotions all over her face.
"McG, you made it. Wasn't sure if you were going to be here before dinner." Sandra exclaimed. Preach's wife greets us, as we step into the oversized kitchen. This is usually the main hub where the team congregates. It surprises me that it was just Sandra in here, only increasing my unease more. Though Sandra is managing to make an entire fest on her own.
"I would never pass the opportunity to eat some of your delicious cooking." I told her, leaning down and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Her smile is genuine and kind as she turns to Kate.
"You must be Kate. How are you feeling?" Sandra asks with a mothering tone.
"I'm doing must better. Thank you. Do you need any help?" Kate offers, her hands clasped in front of the barely round baby bump. My hands rest on her lower back.
"Yes. Why don't you have a seat. McG the team outside." Sandra directs me. Kate pulls out a bar stool, waiting for her to be seated then giving Kate a kiss on the top of her head, before stepping off towards the backyard. Trying to steadied myself. Hannah, Preach, and Amir are all placed around the patio table, couple beers in front of them. The various heads looking up, but Dalton isn't in sight, as I step outside to join them. Everyone is silent, and I got the feeling they were just talking about me.
"Look who finally deiced to show." Amir joked.
"It takes me a little longer to get ready now days." Which is the truth, Kate changed at least three times before leaving.
"I bet." Preach said, gesturing to the open chair next to him. Taking the sit, he places the beer in front of me.
No one speaks. The weight of this situation was already hard enough with Kate and her accident, but now the team, my family is refusing talk to me about it. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. I thought coming here and confronting the situation would help, but I am not afraid that it will only make things worse.
"How is Kate?" Jaz finally breaking the silence. Looking up at her and only meeting her gaze. She looks nervous asking the question. Though Dalton isn't here, which makes this less uncomfortable. But where is he then, it thought to myself.
Taking a quick sip of my beer, "She is doing much better. She still needs to take it easy but her OB cleared to go back to work next week. Her car on the other hand is done for." I tell them. Her small car was completely crushed-in on the driver side. We are lucky Kate's injuries weren't worst. I have seen lesser accidents and individuals didn't walk away like Kate has. I am thankful that her and the baby are healthy. At Kate's OB appointment my emotion came full-force, and I broke down when I heard she was going to be ok and heard the baby's heartbeat. Wishing the team could get on the same page and accept our relationship. So, I could share my excitement with them. I want them to be a part of the baby's life, especially when it comes to Dalton. It would make life easier if he would just move pass us hiding our relationship and be there for his sister. She is saddened by the disconnect with her brother and taking it hard. I know she won't admit it but she needs her brother's approval.
"That's good." Jaz says quickly. The uncomfortable silence returning. The sounds of giggling girls, pulling everyone's looks towards the trampoline where Preach's three girls were jumping on. I didn't notice them initially when I came out, my nerves and lack of sleep this past week is throwing off my awareness of my surroundings.
"You know, being blessed with child is one of the greatest gifts to be given." Preach says in his wisdom. My stomach turns uncomfortably. Dalton coming from inside the house. His heated gaze locks on mine. Hoping if he saw Kate, that he was kind to her. Taking a seat next to Jaz. She leans back into her chair, so our staring contest isn't broken.
"I don't think that was their intention." Dalton sips out. The fire still burning in those Aqua blue eyes that Kate and him share.
"Some of the best gifts are unintentional. Like this team for insist. Adam, you are the youngest team leader that the DIA has ever had, and possibly the most successful one. You were given a gift to lead this team. We can take these gifts for what they are, as gifts or as punishments. It's how we handle the gifts we are given." Preach giving us a lesson.
"She deserves better." Dalton says. His words are knives stabbing through me. I already know Kate is way out of my league. She is smart, kind, and sexy as hell. Somehow, she wants me. It's his opinion that I am not good enough for his sister. I already know this. I have known this from the day I met her, when she slaps the gym rat for putting hands on her. She doesn't need a knight is shining armor, she doesn't need saving, but she allows me to be there for her. I hope there is a day that I am good enough for her. I hope one day I am worthy of her.
I remain silent.
"That's your opinion, but it's not up to you. I don't my daughters to grow up, I want them to stay my sweet babies. But we don't always get what we want. You either adapt and overcome, or stay stagnant. Adam that's up to you." Preach continues. Everyone absorbs the words and the meanings behind the words.
"We did not intent to get pregnant." I say softly. My words almost echo in the silences that surrounds the table.
Dalton's eye set upon me. The fire still burning behind them.
"You should have told Adam when things got serious. I am not saying to look for permission, but you should have manned-up and told him. The way we build better relationships, is working through the difficult and talking about the hard things. You can't be carrying something this big and think you can have a clear head when it comes to putting the job first." Preach explaining to me. "Especially now, you two have to work this stuff out before you get deployed. It's the only way I have made through, talking this stuff out, asking for forgiveness and sometimes just weathering the storm. Like it or not this is the reality."
"I don't know if you could call what we were doing dating. But we were trying to figure out if this was something, we wanted to pursue before we put a label on what we are. The entire time I have been with this team I didn't want a serious relationship. When I met Kate and spent time with her, she unlocked something inside me, that made me want something more. I should have told you the moment I knew love her. That's my fault. Please don't punish her. She needs you." I finish giving my wayward apologize. The silence settles around us again.
"Dinner in ready." Kate says, standing at the backdoor. She wears an uncomfortable expression on her face but that grey sweater looking amazing on her. Despite her expression she glows, and she is beautiful. I stand first, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as soon I was close enough to her. Ignoring the looks I know that follows. I love her and the teammates I have called family need to get on the same page with my relationship. Preach yelling for the girls to come inside.
"Sandra this looks amazing." I tell her, amazed by the feast she has created. Every inch of counter space is covered with food. She has the kitchen set up buffet style, starting with the meats, then all the sides, and finally near the refrigerator is the desserts. Everything looks delicious.
"Sweetheart you out did yourself." Preach tells his wife.
"Thank you, please start helping yourselves. Kate you go first." Sandra handing Kate a plate, I follow behind. Once we have loaded up our plates, we make our way back outside to the patio table, pulling the chair out for Kate for her to sit and I take the seat next to her. The food is delicious. I have only taken a few bites of everything sampling everything at least once, when I notice she has nearly consumed her whole plate.
"Hungry much?" I tease her.
The same 'I will kill you' glare that Dalton has given me is the same look that Kate is giving me right now.
"The baby is hungry." She tells me in a matter of a fact tone.
Slight laughter raises from the table. We weren't whispering, but I didn't notice that everyone was listening to us. The mood relaxes around us, and some of the unease I was feeling.
"Well I am glad that the baby finally has an appetite." Truly glad she was eating. The morning sickness that she had been experiencing was mild and normal for the first trimester of pregnancy, but it still worried me when she didn't eat or was throwing up. Wishing I could take on some of the negative effects of the pregnancy from her.
"That will be the reason for everything. Baby wants milk shakes at 3am." Preach teases. "This is just the beginning."
"Ezekiel knew when I pregnant, I would want breakfast all the time. Pancakes, bacon and sausage especially in the middle of the night." Sandra laughs.
"Crispy bacon at 2 am." Preach joins in with the laughter.
"The first trimester is always the worst. Between the morning sickness and the hormones. The second trimester was always the best part of pregnancy. Waiting for the baby's first movements and you aren't so far along that you hate doing everything and your sleep is much better. Are you going to find out what you're having?" Sandra asks, I tense. Kate's posture changes as well. Dalton gives a light shake to his head in disapproval. Everyone else is waiting hear to hear her response. I am curious about her response. We haven't talked about the finding out the gender, I just want a healthy baby. I want Kate to go through labor without any unnecessary pain and Kate and Baby are healthy.
"Maybe." Kate answers. "I found it always exciting when a mom didn't know what she was having and it was a double celebration when the baby was born."
"I forgot you're a labor and delivery nurse." Preach says.
"I was, I work in the Emergency Department now." She corrects him, very proud of her job.
"She is the charge nurse of the Emergency Department when she is on the floor." I correct her, because I am proud of her.
"That's awesome. Do we get a vote on the baby's name?" Amir says, joining in on the conversation. I reach over and place my hand on top of her thigh. Giving him a questioning look why he is interested. Kate gives him the same look. Amir looks around the table at everyone, apparently everyone is giving him the same look.
"I am looking out for the little one, I don't want the baby to end up named after fruit. No offense Kate, but Americans name their babies some weird things." Amir bringing the entire table to laughter.