Page 48 of Penn

Kissing my cheek, Dixie stands and heads towards the door. “Yeah, he needed someone to help take care of her while he was out doing whatever it is you boys do.”

“You know how much I love dogs,” I say, taking Dixie’s seat. Rooster holds out the pizza box, and I take two slices. “And she’s around, so she can help make sure the dog is fed and let out when I’m gone.”

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s exactly why you got a dog with her,” Pacino says.

“What kind of dog? I’m allergic, but I love them,” Phoebe says. “Animals were the only friends I had growing up, and I had a difficult time being around them. Go figure.”

Phoebe’s a strange duck. Really strange. But endearing. It tugs at the heartstrings to hear about the issues she had growing up. She’s so sweet and seems to just want to belong. This is the first time she’s ever really had a family, and I’m glad she ended up with us.

Plus, she can bake like no one’s business. I don’t know how Pacino hasn’t gained at least twenty pounds since she moved into his house. I’d be rolling around here with a round gut if Phoebe lived with me.

“German Shepherd. Dixie named her Princess,” I say, taking a bite of pizza. “Cute little thing.”

Dixie walks back in, and I open my arms to let her sit on my lap. She grabs one of the slices and takes a bite while we both ignore the looks from everyone in the room. No one quite thought I’d be able to land her, but she’s mine. And I’m going to enjoy it while she’s willing to be here.

“Has there been any word?” I ask, looking around.

It’s been a couple of hours since Misty was brought back to the OR, and no one has come out to talk to us. I have no idea where Zep ended up, but I can’t imagine what he’s going through right now. It has to be killing him to be so helpless.

“No,” Jethro says. “Other than the baby’s in the NICU for the time being. But everything looks good for her.”

“Does she have a name yet?” Rooster asks.

The redheaded leader just shakes his head. No one needs to voice the question as to why. It’s understood that Zep’s not going to make that decision without Misty.

She has to pull through. I’m not sure we’ll be able to pull Zep back if she doesn’t. Losing Johnny was hard enough on him, but this is different. Misty has become everything Zep’s ever wanted but didn’t think he deserved. Losing her might actually kill him.

“Where’s Bernie?” Phoebe asks.

“She was at a sleepover when Misty’s water broke,” Dixie says and then shrugs. “I asked Jolene. I was kind of scared of her seeing this.”

Already acting like a mother.

Heavy boots echo down the hallway, and we all turn to see Zep walking towards us as though his feet are encased in concrete. He looks ragged, and my heart begins to race. This doesn’t look good.

“She’s alive,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. “They stopped the bleeding, but they don’t know how much damage there is. Her heart stopped on the table. Twice.”

Dixie squeezes my hand, and I have to remind myself to breathe. This is a good sign. Right?

“She’s unconscious, but she’s stable. For now.”

“That’s good news,” Phoebe says, her voice quieter than I’ve ever heard before. “She’s tough.”

He walks slowly over to us, and he falls to his knees before Dixie, his eyes imploring her as he takes her hands, pulling her right from mine. “Did I do this?”

“What?” Dixie asks.

“Did I do this to her?”

“How could you think that? This was—”

“I knocked her up. She was fine before me, and then I couldn’t keep my hands off her. She’s got tubes and wires and IVs, and I need to know if this is my fault.”

A single tear falls, clearing a path down his cheek and into his beard as he studies Dixie, waiting for her to tell him whether he should feel responsible or not. He looks to the only pregnant woman in the room, and I don’t like the position he’s putting Dixie in, no matter how much guilt I see in his eyes.

“Zep, we talked about this,” Jolene says, walking into the room behind him. “There’s no—”

“I’m asking Dixie. I need her to tell me. The truth, please.”