Mid-April
Bree opened the door when the doorbell rang.
"Brianna Cooper?" the well-dressed man at the door asked.
"Yes?"
"Sign here," he said, pointing at the clipboard.
"What am I signing for?"
"Court documents."
"For what?"
"Sign please, ma'am."
She took his pen and signed and took the envelope. From Cook County Court in Chicago. Dread filled her heart and stomach. That was the court where she filed for her divorce years before.
She tried not to panic as she forced herself to wait until she was sitting down to open the envelope.
She sat down on the couch and rubbed her belly where she felt their baby boy's kick. "Its okay, baby. I'll try to stay calm."
"Mommy!" Tate yelled, looking for her.
"In here, sweetie." She smiled at him as he ran over. "Come feel your brother move."
Tate put his hands on her tummy. "Hi, brudder! Come out and see me soon."
He giggled as he felt more kicks.
And then, like a typical five year old, his attention shifted. "Mommy? I watch Incredibles?"
"Sure. Climb up here and watch while I finish supper before X gets home."
"Kay, Mommy."
He took the remote and turned it on, very familiar with how to find the movie.
She took the envelope into the kitchen and put it down so she could make cornbread to go with the chili that was simmering on the stove.
Her phone rang nearby. She touched the speaker after answering. "Hi, hon. Coming home soon?"
"Well, it might be another hour."
"Oh. I...okay."
"What's wrong, Bree?"
"I just want you home. I need you."
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah," she said, her voice catching.
"Honey, are you in pain anywhere?"
"No. I just...please come soon."
"I'll be home as soon as I can."
"Thank you." She felt the familiar burn of tears behind her nose. "I'm not going to cry." She couldn't let her ex still have control over her. He probably knew she'd freak out.
An hour passed. Mike still hadn't come home but the cornbread was done and Xavier was home from school. Dinner was approaching and the boys were playing with legos in their room.
"Bree?"
She hurried to the door and threw herself into Mike's arms, tears flowing hard.
"What's going on? Why are you crying?"
"I'm so scared."
"Why? Bree, talk to me." He led her to a chair and pulled her onto his lap. He dried her tears and gave her a sweet kiss. "Tell me."
"I got something from Cook County Court. Mike...I think he found me."
"What did it say?"
"I haven't opened it." She stood, her legs shaking a bit, and picked it up from the counter. "Please open it."
"Are you sure?" She nodded. He slipped his finger under the flap and opened it. He unfolded the paperwork and read from the top. "Its a custody complaint. He's suing you for full custody of the boys."
She sat down before her legs gave out. "What? How...he doesn't want the boys. He never has. Why now? How did he find me?"
"PI? I don't know, sweetheart. But he also wants child support."
"What?! That is crazy. He's never even met Tate! This makes zero sense."
"Bree, please be calm. The baby needs you to be calm."
"He's trying to take my babies, Mike! Don't tell me to be calm."
Mike took her hand and pulled her back to his lap. "Bree, look at me."
"I can't lose them," she sobbed. "They are my life."
He wrapped his arms around her tight, rocking back and forth. "I'm not going to let that happen. We are going to get a lawyer and fight this."
Aggie's
Beth put a batch of cinnamon apple fritters in the oven. When she straightened, she felt a cramp.
"Ow," she said, holding her lower belly. She periodically had a cramp or two as the baby moved and kicked and as her uterus grew and stretched. But this felt different.
"Mama!" Linc called from his crib.
"Coming, baby." She walked into the master and as she lifted Linc, she got another cramp, this time sharper.
She sat down on the bed and waited, hoping two pains would be it.
Abigail knocked on the door. "Hey, I just booked the brown room for next week. All seven days!"
Beth rubbed her belly, forcing a smile.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm not sure. I'm having a bit of cramping."
"That could be normal. Are you bleeding?"
"I don't know. Can you watch Linc for a minute?"
"Of course."
Two minutes later, Beth appeared at the door. "Abigail, I need you to take me to the hospital. Now."
"Okay."
As they drove, Beth tried to hold it together. It was hard though. She couldn't imagine losing someone she loved so much. Someone she had such a strong connection with even though she'd never met him or her. She needed Jack to help get her through it.
"I need Jack."
"I know. I'll call him again once we get you to the hospital."
Abigail hopped out of the car at the entrance, grabbing a nurse to help with a wheelchair.
As soon as Beth was safely inside, Abigail parked the car and brought Linc in to wait. She called Jack again.
"Deputy Thornton," he answered.
"Jack, its Abigail. Beth was cramping and spotting. We are at Maple Hills Hospital right now. She's okay but..."
"What?!"
"Jack, I think you need to come."
She heard a siren over the phone, knowing he'd be there very shortly.
He, in fact, showed up about three minutes later. He rushed in the door and found her and Linc.
"Dada!"
Jack picked him up and gave him a kiss. "Have you heard anything? What happened, Abigail?"
"She told me she was having some cramping and then she realized she was spotting so I brought her here. I'm sure if you go to the desk, they'll take you to see her." He handed Linc to Abigail and rushed to the check in desk.
"My wife...Elizabeth Thornton just came in. She's thirty one weeks pregnant and she's cramping and bleeding. I'd like to see her."
"Of course, Officer. Follow me."
"Its Jack."
"Of course." The nurse led him into the triage room where Beth was being assessed.
"Beth? Honey? Are you okay?" He rushed over to the bed, bending down to kiss her.
"I'm okay."
"Abigail said you're cramping and bleeding. Did you overdo it?"
"No...oh! Crap!"
"What? Pain?"
"No, I left the fritters in the oven!"
"Beth, forget about the fritters."
"It will probably burn the whole B and B down!"
"I'll ask Abigail to go home and check." He pulled out his phone and texted her. "She said she turned off the oven before you left. No need to worry."
Beth nodded and let out a breath. "Your blood pressure is quite high," the nurse told her. "That's concerning. That could be causing the cramping and bleeding. Let's get you to a room."
"You're admitting me? I have a business to run."
"Beth, Abigail will take care of everything. Please, honey. Please stay calm."
She nodded. She knew he was right. The baby was much more important than her business. Abigail was capable, but to do all that and watch Linc?
"Jack? Please call Julie. Ask if she can watch Linc."
They moved Beth to a temporary curtain area in the ER and put on a baby monitor for its heart rate while they waited for her OBGYN to arrive.
It didn't take long. "Dr. Shepherd," Beth said with relief.
"Beth, good to see you." He shook Jack's hand. "You too, Jack."
"Hey, Doc."
"I heard you've had some cramping and spotting, Beth."
"Yes."
He closed the curtain and took a seat by her feet. "I'm going to examine you and then we will grab an ultrasound." He looked at the monitor. "Baby's heart rate looks good and strong." He pressed gently on her belly and abdomen. "Any further cramping since you arrived?"
"A little bit." He lifted her blanket and checked for further bleeding.
"Still a bit of spotting." He looked up at the blonde nurse. "Nurse Carter, get Mrs. Thornton on an IV for fluids, asap."
"Am I losing the baby, Dr. Shepherd?"
"I don't believe so. We will keep a close eye on you for a few hours to see if you have any contractions. My thought is you may be dehydrated a bit and maybe working a bit too much. At thirty one weeks, we want to prevent labor for as long as we can so rest is essential."
As the next few hours went on, she started having a few light contractions. The doctor put her on antibiotics to prevent infection, a steroid to help the baby's lungs develop in case she delivered early and a medication to stop contractions.
Once she was finally in her room and sleeping, Jack walked to the coffee shop on the second floor and then called Julie.
"Hi, Jack. Linc is just fine. He and Noelle are eating mac and cheese right now."
"That's good."
"How's Beth? Have my parents shown up yet?"
"They admitted her. She started having some contractions so they gave her some medicine to try and stop them. I'll walk down to the waiting room to see if they are here." He kissed Beth's forehead and headed out into the hall.
"How are you, Jack?"
"Scared out of my mind."
"I'm sure everything is going to be just fine."
"I hope so."
"Jack, I'm in between jobs right now, so I'd be happy to help Beth and then Lincoln and Noelle can play."
"That would be great. We appreciate that so much."
"Glad to help."
"Well, your parents are here so I'm going to go. Thanks again, Julie."
"Of course."
Grace and William offered to stay with Beth so that Jack could run home and change clothes since he was still in his uniform.
As he drove, his tears started. The fear he had initially when Abigail had called him was still in the pit of his stomach. He didn't know if the medicine would stop her contractions. He didn't know if the baby was going to be born too early or even survive.
He pulled off the road and put his hazards on until he got control of his emotions.
His phone buzzed on the dash. It was Mike.
"Hey, bro."
"Jack? How's Beth and the baby?"
"Beth is okay. She was contracting so she's on medicine to try and stop it."
"How are you holding up?"
"I don't know. I'm scared mostly."
"We will be praying for you and Beth and the baby."
"Thanks."
"Before I let you go, I need a favor. We need a lawyer."
"A lawyer? What's going on?"
"I can't get into it right now but if you know of anyone that we could use, send me the info."
"Call Bill Avery, bro. He is the Thatcher's lawyer."
"Okay. Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Mike hung up and put his arm around Bree, pulling her close. "They gave Beth meds to stop contractions."
"Sounds familiar. I went into preterm labor with Xavier. The meds worked for a week and then I had him a month early."
"But Tate was fine?"
"Yes, Tate was a whole week late. No telling what this little guy will do," she said, placing Mike's hand on her belly.
"I can't wait to meet him," he said, kissing her lips.
"Me either."
Bree closed her eyes and drew strength and love from Mike. She had faith that he would find a way to prevent their family from being torn apart.