11th hour

Chapter 119

I was home in bed, under the covers and with orders to rest. The cramping had turned out to be nothing more than ligaments stretching to support my growing womb.

But with the pain and my stress level, which was off the charts, I panicked.

Joe had canceled his flight and was sitting in the chair next to the bed with his shoes off, his feet on the mattress. My fingers crawled over to his toes and held them.

Joe was saying, “She had been my partner. When I was a Fed.”

“June Freundorfer.”

“We had a thing after my divorce.”

“A thing.”

“A fling.”

“Did you love her?”

“Maybe. Once. But then I wanted to move on. I said so and June took our breakup hard. I started seeing you. I fell in love with you.”

I felt tears welling up, but I was determined not to cry. “I fell in love with my honey-blond honey Lindsay Boxer, Sergeant Superwoman, SFPD. June asked about you and I told her.”

“Uh-huh.”

“She called me a lot. Sometimes I talked to her. She got promoted. After that, she called me less. A couple of years passed and I assumed she was over me. I had lunch with her a few times, as friends. And yes, I went with her to that charity dinner. I should have told you, but I thought the explanation was going to make it seem like more than it was. It was easier just to take her to the dinner and then fly home.

“Then Jason Blayney came across the photo. Don’t ask me how.”

“So why did June tell me that you two were still involved?”

“She lied, Lindsay. She lied her face off. I can’t know what she was thinking, but I’m guessing she was trying to drive a wedge between us. She hasn’t given up.”

I looked into Joe’s eyes. I like to think that I’m very good at telling when a person is lying. Joe’s eyes didn’t shift to either side. He kept a soft and steady gaze, put his hand on my cheek. I moved the blanket aside.

Patted the bed next to me.

Joe sighed happily, undid his belt, shucked his clothes, and came into the bed. I rolled toward him, put my hand on his chest. It was a gentle, even tentative touch.

I had to get used to being with him again.

Joe put his arms around me and pulled me close. He wasn’t tentative at all.

“I’m two hundred percent yours, blondie. I’m sorry this happened.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, Joe.”

“It takes a while to make a marriage. We’re new at this. We’re still working out the kinks.”

I nodded, held on tight to my husband, my baby’s wonderful dad. I fell asleep. When my eyes opened again, Joe was still there, his arms around me and our baby.

I woke my husband up so that I could kiss him and tell him how much I loved him. I truly did.