End of Chapter 24

"June 30, 2003

Dear Stiles,

I went to the doctor for the first time since I've been here. All of my bruises have healed. Well, the physical ones anyway. I'm still working on the others.

I had another ultrasound today. This time, the nurse said she would let me listen to the baby's heartbeat, but they didn't find one."

Stiles stopped reading and closed the journal. He started thinking about all of the horrible things that must have happened to Terri from the minute she was kidnapped. He wasn't sure he wanted to read the rest.

Chapter 25

Stiles' curiosity got the better of him so he reopened the journal and continued reading. No matter what happened to Terri, no matter how bad, he had to know.

". . . They found two—two heartbeats! We're going to have twins; they couldn't tell if the second one is a boy or girl. I hope it's a boy! What do you think about A.B. Stiles II? The A and B will stand for something different, of course, but it'd be close! I think one Alistair in the immediate family is enough.

I wish you were here. I'm scared Stiles. I don't know if I can take care of two babies by myself. I wasn't sure I could take care of one. I want to come home! I need you and my mom and dad. I always thought my mom would be there when I had my first baby."

Stiles felt awful. 'She had twins. That boy, was he mine? Did I meet my son? What about the girl, did she make it?'

Stiles began feverishly flipping pages trying to find information on the delivery.

"A.B.?"

"Out here." Stiles quickly hid the journal under the lounge chair. He had no idea what to say to Kara.

"When did you get back?" Kara asked sleepily. "What are you doing out here, is everything alright? You left so fast earlier."

Stiles was distracted; he really didn't want talk to her right then. "Yeah, sorry about that, it turned out to be nothing." 'If only she knew, he thought.'

Kara breathed a sigh of relief. She was afraid that he knew the truth about Terri.

"That's okay. Why don't you come to bed?"

"I think I'll stay out here a little longer; I'm enjoying to peacefulness out here. I'll be quiet. You go back to sleep."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Goodnight." Kara kissed him, but he didn't respond.

Kara thought he was a little cold, but she blew it off as work related.

As soon as Stiles was sure Kara was gone, he took out Terri's journal, went in the second bedroom and locked the door. Once again, he began looking for information about the delivery. When he found it, he was even sorrier about what he'd said to Terri.

"August 25, 2003

Dear Stiles,

I went into labor this morning. It's too early, even for twins. My doctor put me on bed rest until they're born. I can't go anywhere; I'm stuck in this house for at least two months. The babies aren't due for another three months and the doctor wants me to hang on until they're at least at 7 months, preferably longer. I don't know if I can. I'm really scared! I don't know what I'll do if they don't make it. I already love them; I need them to be okay.

They're trying to find a nurse to help me around the house. I need you. Why didn't you come for me? We could be together now, in our house. We should be together. I want our children to know their father. If you'd found me maybe I could have come home. . ."

Stiles had to wipe tears from his eyes. Terri had been alone and afraid. She was carrying two babies, HIS babies, his children! He had to go back to the house. He grabbed the journal and opened the bedroom door. As he walked out, he nearly ran into Kara. He wondered how much she knew.

"Hey, have you been up here all night?"

"Uh." Stiles looked at his watch. "Yeah, I guess so. What are you planning for today?"

"It's a secret. I've got some wedding planning to do. Meet me for lunch?"

Stiles wanted to get back to Terri. He would have agreed to anything right then to make that happen faster.

"Sure."

Kara kissed him quickly and headed for the door. "Meet me at 1:00 where we were last night. We never did get to taste the food! Bye."

After taking a shower and dressing, Stiles leafed through the rest of the journal. It was going to take a lot for him to convince Terri to forgive him for what he said the night before.

Meanwhile, Kara set out looking at recommended wedding sites. She knew that if she didn't get A.B. down the aisle before the weekend was over, she might never get him down the aisle. As she reached the perimeter of the island, she saw the house. Stiles convinced her not to go the day before, but he wasn't around now. Kara walked around the house. The more she saw, the more interested she became. She wanted this house, or a good copy at the least. Kara jogged up the front steps and rang the bell.

Terri was already up and dressed, fixing breakfast and chatting with Lyn when she heard the bell; she hoped it was Stiles and not another tourist.

Lyn had waited all evening for Terri to call her. She was dying to know what happened when Stiles got there, if he got there. When she couldn't take the suspense any longer, she called.

". . .When he accused me of sleeping with another man I got mad and told him to leave."

"Kay, he didn't know you were having twins; he was expecting one child, a girl. He probably thought the child you were carrying didn't make it after you were shot. You have to fix this. He was so happy when he found out you were alive."

Lyn forgot that Terri didn't know what Lyn had done with the letter. She hoped her slip would get past Terri. It didn't.

"How do you know he was happy?"

"Oops!"

"Oops?"

"I have a confession. I dug up your letter to him, the one you told me about with your address on it. Well Max and I did. Anyway, I'm sorry I interfered, but you were so upset and I was afraid that you would let him leave without contacting him. I was trying to help."

"It's okay. I wish you'd said something, but you were right, I would have been miserable if I hadn't seen him." Terri laughed. "Well, I would have been more miserable."

"I'll promise not to interfere anymore if you promise not to let him leave without talking to him again. He's leaving this afternoon."

"I'll think about it Lyn, but there's still the matter of that woman."

"Oh Kay, stop it! He said he missed you, that he still loves you. Take him at his word. If he doesn't dump her then get upset. I know it hurts, but if you want him back, fight for him!"

That's when the doorbell rang. "I have to go. Someone's at the door."

"I bet it's him. Call me back."

"Goodbye Lyn!" Terri said with a touch of laughter. She was beginning to think Lyn was enjoying this saga.

When Terri looked through the peep hole and saw Kara, a hundred thoughts went through her mind. 'Did she figure out who I really am? Did Stiles tell her what happened? Is he with her?'