Chapter 5
2249 Words
He was halfway to the front door when he heard Tess shriek from outside. With a burst of adrenaline, he raced out the door. His heart nearly stopped when he saw her crumpled on the floor by the porch stairs.
"Tess!"He rushed to her side as she sat up, her face unnaturally pale as she grabbed her left arm with her right. He glanced around but didn't see Kane, and his porshe was gone.
"What happened?" He asked as he reached a hand to help her up the ground.
"It's stupid. I missed my step and fell." She winced as she got to her feet.
"What hurts? He asked.
"I hit my shoulders." Her face still bleached white even as she forced a smile. "I'm sure it is not that serious, I'm fine." As she tried to drop it to her side, she hissed in obvious pain and pulled it back again.
"That doesn't look fine to me," Zane replied with a scowl.
"I'm sure I'll be okay. I just need to collect the boys, and we'll be on our way." He helped her, and they walked back into the house.
"I guess it didn't go so great with Kane? he asked even though he knew the answer.
She shot him a glance, and he was surprised to see tears brimming in her eyes. She quickly looked away as if embarrassed. "He basically just screamed that I'd ruined his life the hopped it his porshe and speed off. So yes, I think it's safe to say that it didn't go down great."
"He doesn't handle surprises very well, but I'm sure once he calms down, he'll be more reasonable." Zane said. He cursed his natural impulse to always make excuses for Kane as he helped open the door for her. At least he hopes that what Kane would do. But he figured Kane had probably done what he always did when he was upset and headed to his club house, "The Vienx."
Tess stops and turns to face him. "Once he calms down and is more reasonable, he can call or come find me in Dallas. As soon as I pack up my boys, we'll be on our way back home.
He didn't try to change her mind. Maybe that's the best thing for her to do, given the circumstances, and also give him time to talk some sense into his dumb brother's brain.
This wasn't a speeding ticket or his usual debts that could be easily settled with writing a cheque.
Everything alright?Tara asked with a worried look as they reentered the room.
"Yeah, I am fine," replied Tess. "I want to thank you all for your wonderful hospitality, I really appreciate it, but it's time the boys and I hit the road. If I leave now, I will be back in Dallas before night falls."
"Are you sure you won't rather send the night here and get a fresh start tomorrow?" Shane asked, "we certainly have more than enough room to accommodate you and the boys," Tara added.
Zane watched Tess, who shook her head negatively. "No, but thanks for the offer, but I'd rather just get back home," She said.
Her cheeks hadn't yet regained its colour. He didn't know if the paleness had to do the pain on her shoulders or the situation of things.
His question was answered the very minute she tried to carry Jeremy from the high chair. Tess started to lift the baby up but cried out in pain and grabbed her left shoulder instead.
"What happened?" Shane asked as he jumped up his chair to Tess's side.
''I took a tumble on the porch stairs." Her voice filled with pain.
"Cain didn't push you, or did he?" Tara asked, with a touch of rage in her voice. Zane looked at Tara in surprise. As far as he knows his brother, he would never lay a finger on a woman, but of course, he never had never found out to be a father of triplets before either.
"No, nothing like that, i just missed a step and stumbled down." Tess hurriedly explained.
"We need to get to the hospital and have that shoulder looked at," Zane said, deciding that someone had to take control of the situation. There's no way on earth he would let her go back home knowing she couldn't lift the boys. So, it won't be safe for her to drive in her condition.
He had expected Tess to refuse or even protest, but instead, after a moment of hesitation, she nodded, which let him know had to be hurting quite a lot.
"Maybe you're right. It hurts a lot." She said. But still, she hadn't made a move. She stood there watching her sons, who were happily smooshing and playing while eating what was left on their plates.
"Then let's go." Zane said as the left to grab his car keys.
Seeing how she was reluctant to leave. "Don't worry, the boys will be fine her with Tara, and I will watch over them. It would be a good way to start practising before ours arrives." Shane said as he tried to make her feel at ease.
"Absolutely," Tara replied with a reassuring smile.
"I promise you, they'll be fine," Zane said to Tess as he returned back with the keys. She held his gaze as if trying to peer inside him to see if she could trust him. "You can decide what to do about returning back home after the doctor takes a look at you."
He could tell she was reluctant to go, but it was obvious she was in a fair amount of pain. She was going to the hospital. If he had to throw her over his shoulder and carry her there, he would.
They didn't speak as she followed him out of the house to the garage.
As the garage door opened, Tess couldn't believe her eyes. It’s like she just walked into one of those reality cars shows. One of those cars couldn't take care of her, and kids of year not to say all the cars combined. Tess couldn't help but stare as they walked towards a 2022 GMC HUMMER EV Pickup.
As he drove of a surge of irritation, he filled him. He shouldn't be the one taking her to the hospital. It was Kane's responsibility, but he was. He should have the one taking care of the mother of his children, no matter the circumstances.
"I'm so sorry," she finally said as they pulled out of the driveway and onto the main road that led to the hospital.
"Don't apologise. You didn't fall on purpose," he replied. He could small her, the scent of wildflower and honey that was for to bewitching.
"True, but the last thing I wanted was to be any kind of bother to anyone." She leaned back against the seat. For a moment, she looked so achingly vulnerable. Zane wanted to reach out and touch her and assured her that everything was going to be fine.
Instead, he clenched the steering wheel more tightly. "Look, I know Kane behaved badly. But I meant it when I said once he had time to digest everything. I'm sure you would be able to work something out."
"All I really wanted was for him to know them, and maybe spend time with the boys, be a positive role model in their lives." She shifted position and hissed in a breath, as if any upper body movement caused her pain.
"You must have hit the ground pretty hard."
"I did. I have a gun in my pocket, even though the safety was on. As I was falling, I was afraid I'd hit the ground hard it would pop off and somehow accidentally shoot myself, so I twisted my shoulder, and not my side took the brunt of the fall."
''A gun?" He looked at her in stunned surprise. He never saw as a gun toting type.
"Why on earth would you have a gun in your pocket?"
"I didn’t know what kind of person I was to encounter. And I wasn't even sure I'd fine Kane here. So, I wasn't planning on driving into a place where I'd never been before without some sort of protection for me and my boys. Besides, I got your address from a cyber friend, and my brother was afraid I might wind up at the home of some p*****t or psychopath sitting around in his underwear and stalking women over the internet.
"I'm definitely not either of those things, but if I was staying alone without Shane, Tara or the maids, there might be times I would lounge about in my underwear," he replied with a wry grin.
He felt himself relaxing a bit, some of the irritation passing. None of this was her fault. He'd be a jerk to punish her for his brother's actions.
He was rewarded with her smile and beauty with that gesture warming her features struck him square to the gut. He quickly focused his attention back to the road.
Okay, he had to admit to himself. He felt a little burn of physical attraction towards Tess Matthew. He shouldn't be surprised. She is a gorgeous, beautiful, and sexy woman, and it's been over two years since the woman he'd been dating for eighteen months called it a quit. Just because he was attracted to Tess doesn't mean that there's a chance in hell he would give in to it.
She was Kane's issue, not his. The very last thing Zane wanted in his life at this moment or at any time in the near future was anyone who might need him. The last thing he needed was another issue to solve. He was burned out in that area.
He slowed his speed as he drove into the hospital.
"Hopefully, I've just bruised my shoulder, and it will be fine in an hour or so," She said as he parked in front of the emergency entrance of an attractive hospital with looked more like an hotel.
"You still have that gun in your pocket?" He asked as he shut off the engine. She nodded as she used her right hand to reach her left pocket and pulled out the revolver. "It's probably best if you didn't carry it into the hospital. Do you mind if I lock it in the glove box?"
"You promise me you are not some psychopath? she asked with a touch of teasing in her voice.
An unexpected burst of laughter escaped him. "I promise," he said as she gave him the gun. With it safely locked inside the glove box, he got down the truck and went around to help her out the car. And they both headed through the emergency door.
Thankfully, there was nobody at the waiting room, and Tess was immediately whisked away to be seen by the doctor. Zane lowered himself into one of the seats in the waiting room and tried to tamp down his aggravation with his brother.
There were times Zane dreams of leaving the family business and relocating to any country at all. There were also days the thought of being on a deserted island alone was more than appealing. He loved his family and life here and would probably never leave.
Still, he'd thought that once he survived his childhood years, life would get easier, but the death of father changed everything. His responsibilities had only gotten heavier.
He was tired, and the only thing he wanted now was for the doctor to fix Tess, so she should be on her way home. He'd encourage his brother to do the right thing, and after that, he would wash his hands of this whole mess.
He won't mind sending time to know his nephews and bond with them eventually. But before that could happen, Kane and Tess had to figure things out first. And that had nothing to do with him.
He'd spent most of his life shouldering the responsibilities of others just to make life easier for everyone. Now, what he wanted more than anything was to be left alone.
It was almost an hour and a half later that Dr. Lambert came out to great him. Zane stood and shook the older man's hand. Dr. Lambert was Tara's dad and has been their family doctor for years.
Tess wanted me to come over and let you know she's fine. The X-ray showed no break, although her shoulder is severely sprained. I'm putting her in a sling to immobilise it for a couple of days, and I've given her some pain medication. In the maintime, she shouldn't do any driving or heavy lifting or any lifting at all, and I've told her if it isn't better in three to four days, she should come back in.''
Zane smiled, nodded, and thanked the doctor while inwardly cringing at the news. There was no way he could put Tess in her car with three babies to return home. She needed help and plenty of it.
A weary resignation rose up inside him. All he'd wanted from life was a little peace and quiet, but any hope of that had just flown out the window. His life was about to be turned upside down with the invasion of three little boys and their mother who disturbed him in a way no woman has ever had before.
- Writer
