The next few weeks were a flurry of activities, and it was exhausting. Isa finally got over most of her nausea, but still found that she got tired very easily. Work became harder on her back since she had to carry big books of Navy law back and forth to conference rooms. It was only one of her duties as a paralegal. With her stomach burgeoning, she also had to change to the Navy maternity uniform and her feet ached from all the walking. In the evenings she came home to her apartment and walked up the stairs to fix herself a meal which was barely eaten in her tiredness. In the midst of all that there was Bryce. When he saw her, he pressed for her to move in before the wedding, which was set for right after the Fourth of July. She signed the prenuptial agreement, wanting it in writing that she didn’t need his money. Isa desired to keep her freedom as long as possible and wasn’t ready to give up the apartment she shared with Tawny.
But even that was changing because, soon after, Tawny informed her that she’d be moving to Italy for a modeling contract that had been offered to her. It was a bonus that her new boyfriend from Greece was closer if she moved to Italy. For Isa, everything was happening too fast. She was stressed out from work, Bryce, and the fact that the MOS she took to be closer to her friend—the only one she could call family—was now a moot point.
She wasn’t adapting to all the changes well, and it was affecting every aspect of her life. It became evident one night when severe cramps woke her from her sleep. The pain lanced through her lower stomach and she pressed her hand against the area where she’d felt the first flutters of life. Isa managed to get up and go to the bathroom where she found that she’d started bleeding. Oh no, please no, she thought in panic. Isa rushed to Tawny’s room, afraid she was losing the baby. She managed to flick the switch on to flood the room with light before collapsing to the floor.
Tawny sat up, and when she saw Isa on the floor, she rushed over.
“I’m bleeding, the baby,” Isa gasped.
“Oh God, oh no!” Tawny cried, and ran to the bedside table to call nine-one-one.
From there, Tawny tried to keep her calm and the frantic rush began when the ambulance arrived minutes later. It was hard to lay flat while they worked on her. They ran an IV and she heard the doctors at the hospital order the medical technician to give her some medicine. She felt it burn through her veins and soon the pain dulled and her mind became cloudy. She could feel Tawny rubbing her hand gently from the other side of her as the ambulance sped through the night.
“Call Bryce,” Isa managed to mumble before she slipped into the darkness.
When she woke up, she was in a hospital bed and the room only had a small dim light. Her first thought was the baby and she pressed her hand against her stomach, hoping to feel signs of life.
“They’re fine,” a low voice said from beside her.
“Bryce... They?” Her voice was raspy with sleep.
He held up two fingers with a small smile.
“But I’ve been to my doctor’s appointment and there was one heartbeat,” she stammered.
“One of the littler buggers was hiding.” Bryce moved closer. “They had to give you a sonogram when you were brought into the ER and, peekaboo, there he was.”
Isa leaned back against the pillow. “Holy crap, and they’re fine? I was in so much pain.”
Bryce leaned on the metal rail of the bed. “Yes, healthy and strong as opposed to their mother, who hasn’t been taking care of herself.”
“I’ve been taking care of myself...” Isa began to say.
He shook his head. “Eh, I’ll let the doctor explain. He wanted to know when you were up. Tawny went for coffee. I’ll be back.”
She watched him leave. Isa ran her hand over the small mound of her lower stomach and realized why she was showing so much for sixteen weeks.
“There’s two of you,” she whispered with a smile. “You guys are going to partners in crime.”
Bryce came back in carrying two cups of coffee and, as soon as he cleared the doorway, Tawny rushed in behind him. She leaned over to embrace Isa and squeezed her shoulders tight.
“You scared the daylights out of me,” Tawny said.
“So that’s why it was dark,” Isa teased.
Tawny sniffled and gave a watery laugh. “You dodo bird, I need you to be healthy and taken care of before I leave.”
“She will be. She has me,” Bryce said.
“There are two of them,” Isa said, trying to ignore the rush of happiness from his words. They still had a long way to go before she would trust him and she knew the feeling was mutual.
Tawny pressed her hand over Isa’s stomach. “I have nieces or nephews. You know I’ll be back a few weeks before you’re due so I can be there for the delivery.”
“You’d better, I need my sister there,” Isa replied.
“As if I’d be anywhere else, even if I’m squeamish.” Tawny bent her head to whisper in Isa’s ear. “I think he wants to be there too.”
Isa didn’t answer and was glad she didn’t have to when the doctor came in.
“How are you feeling? You gave your family here quite a scare,” the doctor said warmly. “Aren’t you supposed to be taking care of yourself, Isa?
Isa was glad to see that it was her actual OBGYN who was in attendance. Dr. Ben Allary was younger than she’d expected when she first walked into the doctor’s office. She placed him at around thirty-five, and soon he’d made her so comfortable she saw past his good looks and boyish charm to the competent physician he was.
“I’ve been trying to, Dr. Allary,” Isa answered.
“I thought we agreed my patients call me Ben, especially my favorite patients,” Dr. Allary teased.
“This is Tawny, my best friend. More than that, she’s my sister. And this is Bryce Forte, the baby...babies’ father. I didn’t think you worked at this hospital.”
Dr. Allary chuckled. “I don’t, but Mr. Forte does has a way of getting things done. As to the babies, wasn’t that a surprise?”
“They are okay, aren’t they?” Isa asked as doubt and worry crept in.
“They are fine, babies are stronger than people realize in utero. But you, on the other hand, need to eat better and I’m putting you on bed rest. The pain you had was from tiredness, a bit of dehydration, and stress. It caused you to contract early, your body telling you it was not happy. The bleeding was mild and stopped within an hour after we started treating you. I suspect more stress than you are letting on.” She noted how Dr. Allary cast a glance at Bryce. “Would you rather we speak alone?”
“I can see what you’re thinking but I haven’t been abusing Isa,” Bryce said angrily.
“Abuse comes in many forms,” Ben said calmly without batting an eye. "The fact is she is under so much stress she is not eating properly, she isn’t sleeping enough, and then add her work on top of that. The fact that she is a petite woman carrying twins and a first time mother, plus being anemic, she needs rest. She’s pregnant and should be blissfully happy at this point, not losing weight. I want that for all my patients.”
Isa noted how Tawny bit her lip as she watched the doctor and Isa laughed to herself. Her friend always appreciated the male form. She also noted that aside from the anger that Bryce had, she could see worry on his face.
“Instead of chastising me, what is your medical decision?” Bryce asked.
Ben looked at Isa. “I’m going to recommend you be placed on leave from the Navy for the duration of your pregnancy. I’ll submit the paperwork to the base as soon as I leave the room.”
“What else?” Bryce asked tersely.
“If you are so impatient to leave, Mr. Forte, I can talk to my patient alone,” Ben retorted. “You may be accustomed to people cowering for you, but I will not. Her care is tantamount, and if you aren’t here to help her, you hamper her care. If you show so much disregard for the mother of your children, what will happen when they are born?”
Bryce took a deep breath before he spoke. “My intent is not to cause her any more stress or harm, Dr. Allary. Your implications of me being abusive were unwarranted and they, of course, pissed me off. But you can be assured that Isa’s health and the health of our children is of the utmost importance to me.”
Dr. Allary inclined his head. “Very well, but please know I will be her heath care provider and I will be watching. Isa, I want you on bed rest for the next few weeks. No heavy lifting, no exercise, not a lot of up and down stairs. Basically, I want to you lie there, eat, and put on some weight. Your body is telling you that there are three people who need nutrition now. Eat healthy, but splurge sometimes with ice cream, maybe a burger and some fries.”
Isa nodded. “Okay, I’m on it.”
“You’re going to be admitted for a day or two until I’m sure the spotting has stopped.” Ben patted her covered leg. “Now I need you to eat and rest, someone will be here soon with a hot meal.”
“Tell me what you want to eat and I’ll have it here in ten minutes,” Bryce said.
“Even better,” Ben said with a smile. “Hospital food isn’t the greatest. I’ll check in on you later today.”
“Thanks, Ben,” Isa said. Everyone was silent when he left the room.
“I’m going to grab a cab and head home. Its four a.m. and I need some sleep.” Tawny kissed her cheek. “Bake those babies, mama.”
“I will,” Isa promised.
“Use my car. My driver is parked downstairs. I’ll call him and let him know to pull around,” Bryce said. “He can pick up whatever you want to eat, Isa.”
“Waffle house, ham and cheese omelet with hash browns, capped, peppered, and smothered oh and a waffle,” Isa said quickly, and the shrugged when they stared at her. “I’m hungry and I’ve been craving that all week.”
Bryce smiled. “Then you’ll have it.”
Tawny said her goodbyes and Bryce called down to his driver. Isa lay back, happy to know her babies were doing well. She was still trying to get over the initial shock that she was having twins. The medicine they gave her to ease her pain still had her groggy but hunger was her primary concern at that moment. Bryce came back over to the bed. They were very much alone.
“You’ll have your food in about thirty minutes after David takes Tawny home,” Bryce said.
“Thank you.”
“I’d like you to consider staying with me,” Bryce said gently.
“Thought I’d be doing that after the wedding anyway.”
“Let’s put that on the back burner for now. I can’t help but think that our whole situation of either open warfare or tense truces is the cause of your stress. I’d like for you to stay with me, but I want it to be your choice. I can take care of you there and you won’t have to worry about those steep iron stairs you climb. I want to get to know you and watch our children grow in your belly, if you’d allow me to. After the babies are born, we can revisit our situation and see where we want to go from there.”
“Seriously? You’re not kidding, right?” Isa asked hopefully.
Bryce laughed. “I’ve never seen a woman so happy not to be getting married, but yes, I’m serious.”
Isa smiled. “Sorry, but it wasn’t on my top ten things to do. Its not like I had a list and there was a check beside get pregnant and married to a guy who I hardly know.”
“Then let’s get to know each other where you’re safe and, as Tawny said, bake those babies,” Bryce took her hand. “I’m not a man who is accustomed to saying please, but I’m saying it now. Please, Isa.”
She nodded. “Okay, let’s give it a whirl.”
“One more thing,” Bryce said hesitantly.
“Uh-oh what’s the catch?”
“No catch. Can I.... You let Tawny rub your tummy, and each time I see you, I just want to... Shit, can I rub your stomach?” he finally blurted out.
“You won’t be able to feel anything. I barely feel it except now I know there are two swimming around in there.”
Bryce looked at her. “I know, I guess I just want to feel where they’re safe and growing. When Tawny called me, my heart dropped. I was just enjoying the thought of being a dad and I almost lost it.”
Isa took his hand, placed it on the round mound of her stomach, and said gently, “There they are.”
Feeling Bryce run his hand gently across her stomach filled her with something more than just need. She recalled the connection they felt that night of his party and what they shared.
“It’s kinda firm,” Bryce said, His hand was warm against her skin.
“I promise as soon as they kick the first time, you be the first one I call,” Isa vowed.
Bryce grinned. “Deal. I’ll drop everything at the office and come home for that.”
“Okay.” She smiled in return.
Together, they shared a new plateau in their relationship. Isa was grateful they’d come to an agreement and hoped that that they could continue to build something good. They would have two babies to nurture from October until they were adults. They would share children for the rest of their lives. Isa knew her attraction for Bryce was still there, but she held on to reality. Even if they couldn’t be together, they could learn to parent as a team. Their children deserved the best from both of them.
* * * *
Two days later, she was settled in a guest bedroom and Tawny was helping her put away the last of her things. It was more like she was doing all the putting away while Isa lay in bed directing her. For the next week, she was allowed to get up to go to the bathroom and that was pretty much it. Dr. Allary wanted to be certain that she wasn’t at risk for a miscarriage. Being in the hospital had scared her enough that she would follow his directions to the letter.
“Isa, are you listening to me?” Tawny’s voice broke into her thoughts.
“Sorry, I wasn’t.”
Tawny sat on the side of the bed. “I said, are you going to be okay here? I can try to get my shoot pushed back for a few months.”
“Tee, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. You are not staying here because of me,” Isa answered firmly. “Besides, you have a new romance in the works... I’m going to miss you, but, Tawny, you have your own life to live.”
Tawny crawled into bed to sit up beside her. “Remember how you used to take care of me, make sure I had snacks in case the food was crappy at the home? You did so much for me. You’ve been looking out for me or protecting me all my life. I should be here for you.”
Isa shook her head. “No, you don’t. Seeing succeed is all I ever wanted for my sister.”
“I’m going to change my name,” Tawny said suddenly.
Isa looked at her in surprise. “Why, sweetie?”
Tawny smiled sadly. “Never was really a name, it was my skin color and very unimaginative people. I thought it was cool to drop the Smith and just be Tawny, the mysterious girl in the fashion industry. It worked for a while, but looking at you with your twins... You’re going to be a mom and it made me think about what my kids would say or ask about their mother and her name. Tawny doesn’t cut it.”
“Then what?” Isa asked gently as she took her friend’s hand.
“I never told you, but a few years back, I found out who my mother was. I searched hundreds and hundreds of birth records for my birth date,” Tawny explained. “I went through the list cross-checking and taking families off the list. Hundreds became forty, and then ten, and then I was down to one.”
“What did you find?” Isa was amazed at the new information and hopeful for her friend.
“My mother died having me and my father couldn’t take raising a kid alone, so he abandoned me. My grandmother is still alive in Arizona. She lives in an assisted living community. I went there, and the DNA test confirmed that I’m her granddaughter.”
“Tawny, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to feel like I found a grandmother and would forget we are the only family we’ve ever known,” Tawny explained, and swiped a tear from her cheek.
“That’s dumb,” Isa said with a tearful laugh.
“Yeah, I know. In any case, I’m going to take my mother’s middle and last name, Tricia Turner.”
“So now the twins can call you Auntie TeeTee,” Isa teased.
“I don’t care, I would love it. You make sure to stay healthy, and give Bryce a chance, will you? He has a bad case of pigheaded-foot-in-mouth, but he is actually a good guy, I think.”
Isa hugged Tawny. “We’ll see. No promises, but we will try to be friends to raise the twins together.”
“Uh-huh,” Tawny said knowingly. “Let me know how that works out.”
Tawny soon-to-be Tricia Turner left soon after with a promise to be back before the twins were born. Isa suddenly felt very alone in the bedroom that was bigger than the living room in the apartment. She watched TV and dozed then an older woman she’d never seen before brought her in lunch, including a fresh made ice cream sandwich. Isa didn’t know you could technically fresh make an ice cream sandwich, but chose not to dwell on the thought and enjoy the treat.
When Bryce came in to see her, it was late in the evening and she’d already taken a shower in the bathroom that adjoined the guest room. He looked like he’d just come home from work, in a tailored shirt and a loosened tie. He knocked and stepped into the room with blue eyes that were warm, as was his smile.
“How are you doing?” Bryce asked.
“Bored out of my skull,” Isa admitted. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with extended leave from the Navy. I’m not accustomed to lying around.”
“You’re supposed to rest and sleep, oh, and eat,” he reminded her.
“Yes, I’ve done all three and, by the way, who is the woman who brought me food this afternoon?”
“That’s Marjorie, I hired her to make your meals and be your care taker when I’m not here.”
“You didn’t have to do that. I could camp out downstairs in the daytime and make my own meals.”
Bryce shook his head. “Nothing doing. Dr. Allary said rest, and you will.”
“He said a week of bed rest...”
“And for you to take it easy for the duration of the pregnancy,” Bryce finished. “Did you drink enough water today?”
Isa saluted. “Yes, captain, I did, and I have to tinkle every thirty minutes.”
Bryce laughed. “Tinkle?”
Isa looked down at her hands, embarrassed. “Go to the bathroom.”
“I know what you mean,” he chuckled. “So, we have dinner downstairs and I’ll bring it up. Do you mind if I eat with you tonight?”
“No, I’d like that,” she said shyly.
Since the hospital, there had been such a change in him. It made her wonder if he still thought she was after his money? Isa didn’t trust easy and she knew he wanted the twins she was carrying to be well. She considered herself to be a person who could discern someone’s character. This seemed like more than an act to her. Bryce seemed to be like the man she’d met at the party.
“Great, I’ll bring something back to keep you entertained,” he said as he got up.
“Battleship?” Isa teased.
“I’ll grab that too.” Bryce smiled and left the room.
He came back soon wheeling in a food cart with covered dishes.
“How did you get that upstairs?” she asked, surprised.
“There’s an elevator in the kitchen.” Bryce moved the car close to the bed. “Do you know that Marjorie made homemade ice cream sandwiches? I mean, who does that?”
Isa gasped. “Okay, I’m not crazy then. I didn’t know you could do it either. But they are so good. I had one for lunch.”
“Good to know. I am saving mine for later.”
He put a tray on her lap and they talked as they ate a dinner of shrimp gumbo with Andouille sausage over Jasmine rice and pan-seared salmon. It was a little spicy, which was how Isa loved her food, and she found the spice helped keep the constant morning sickness down. After the meal, he gave her a tablet loaded with games. She was immediately drawn into one that was like a military scenario where she could build her base and defend it, also wage war.
“Look, I just wiped out that fortress,” Isa said gleefully.
“Should I be worried you like this game entirely too much?” Bryce asked.
Isa laughed and shook her head. “Hey, they need to build better defense. Come sit over here and watch while I decimate this volcano lair. What they don’t know is I can drop a bomb in the lava and the whole place blows.”
Bryce sat on the bed close to her and she explained the game while she played and laughed as her plan worked.
“Did you see how the lava spewed?” she asked in delight. “It was great. This game is awesome.”
“Beautiful.”
His voice was a low rumble and it made her look up. Isa’s breath caught in her throat when she met his gaze and knew he didn’t mean the game.
“The lava?” she said breathlessly.
He cupped the back of her neck. “You know that’s not what I mean.”
His head descended to hers and the kiss made her toes curls beneath the blankets. Bryce tasted her lips lazily and, when she felt the first foray of his tongue glide across her lips, Isa opened greedily. It wasn’t like the first time, where the intensity of the need took hold. This time, it was as if with one slow, heated kiss, he was searching to know everything within her. Still, the thought of their past interaction made her pull away unwillingly.
“We can’t,” she whispered, and tried to calm her breathing.
“I know, not after the bleeding, and we have to see if the doctor says we can,” he said huskily.
Isa put her hand against his chest. “That too, but we said friends, remember? I don’t want sex or, well, what you think of me to burn the bridge we’re trying to build.”
“I think you’re the mother of my children and I’m attracted as hell to you,” Bryce said.
“The feeling is mutual, but... Oh Bryce, I don’t know.” Isa felt very confused.
He kissed her hard and stood. “Don’t stress about it, please. We had a good time tonight and this won’t change. But I want you to know I want you and I will do my damn best to have you in my bed. Goodnight, Isa, I’ll come see you tomorrow before I leave for work.”
“G’night, Bryce,” she answered, and watched him leave.
She played the game some more and watched TV until she could hardly keep her eyes open. After the bathroom, she snuggled down into her bed and a thought filtered through her mind. He wants me in is bed, not in his heart. That alone should make her stay away from the temptation that was Bryce Forte. It sounded good in theory, but did she have the willpower to resist?