Page 224 of Show Me

Seriously? I love the man, but I’m looking forward to getting away from his constant hovering. “Sometimes.”

“Nausea?”

I glare at him. “That’s not concussion-related anymore, and you know it.”

He mutters something suspiciously close to “Still counts.”

I laugh as I climb out.

A few minutes later, I’m following his truck toward my house, trying not to think about what waits there. Xavier.

Or more specifically, telling Xavier I’m pregnant.

I don't know which scares me more….that he won't want the baby, or that he'll immediately decide he has to stay with me because of it.

But he deserves to know.

Dad slows near the vet clinic. Dr. Carter stands outside one of the animal pens wearing a heavy coat and holding a clipboard. She spots him and waves.

He immediately pulls toward the curb.

Oh, this should be good.

I stop beside him and roll down my window.

“Wait a minute,” he says. “I need to ask Hannah something.”

“Hannah?”

His cheeks turn pink. “Dr. Carter. I need to set a date for vaccinations.”

“A date? Is that what we're calling it?”

“Ruby.”

Behind him, Hannah suddenly becomes very interested in her clipboard.

I grin. “Take all the time you need.”

Dad points at me. “You wait here.”

“It’s daytime. Nobody knows I’m back, and I'm only stopping at the house.”

“I'll be right behind you.”

“I’ll be fine.” That overprotective smothering look forms on his face again. “I promise. I'll call if anything feels off. And, if it does, I won’t get out until you get there.”

Finally, he nods.

As I pull away, I catch Hannah smiling at him while Dad rubs the back of his neck. The sight makes me smile.

A few minutes later, I turn onto my street alone. For the first time since the attack. My nerves tighten, but I keep driving. I'm not letting whoever did this chase me out of my own life.

Moments later, my house comes into view. No broken windows. No plastic over the glass. Just home.

The second I step out, Samson and Delilah start squealing like they haven't eaten in weeks. “Oh, my God.” I laugh as the piglets scramble through the straw. I count automatically. All there. All healthy. “You're all ridiculous.”

My shoulders loosen. Xavier did this. He took care of them when I couldn't.