The Runaway Gypsy

Help

Bo’s POV

When we get to the hospital the doctors tell me and my sister we have to stay in the waiting area. We aren’t there long when a nurse comes and gets us, she moves us to a private waiting area on a different floor and tells us the doctors are running a blood test but do I know what type blood Laila has, I don’t but just as I answer Rhett burst threw the doors “she’s A neg we all are, I can donate now. She and I have done it before we are a match” the nurse leaves and comes back with a few papers on a clip board and tells him to sign them and starts prepping the equipment to draw his blood. He doesn’t read a word just signs the papers and rolls up his sleeve. My sister is covered in Laila blood and on her phone. I hear clips of her words being me a shirt, methodist hospital, ya but not really. When the nurse leaves Rhett goes to ask me something but the cop from before comes in “Mr. DeClare while you wait on word of your wife’s condition would it be alright if I ask you a few questions while the details are still fresh in your mind?” I nod and my sister comes and sits next to me “I’m a law student two weeks off the bar but till our family lawyer gets here I’m standing as his legal defense so if at anytime I say stop this stops understood” the cop nods “Page I didn’t do anything to Laila I have nothing to hide” she nods but that’s it the cop starts off his line of questions

“Mr. DeClare we found a shot gun in the bedroom, it was registered to you. Do You know how it got there?”

“Ya it’s mine I keep it in the door of the closet, I pulled it. I came in and the back door was closed when I came out of the closet it was open tho, I pulled the gun and turned on the light that’s when I seen Laila, I dropped the gun and called 911 as I went to Laila”

“Ok we know the gun wasn’t fired but we wanted to know if you pulled it or if some one else did, we will still dust it see if we fine anything. You said the back door was closed when you came in but then was open when you came out of the closet?, did you see anyone in the room?”

“No it was dark, when I came in there was no lights on I only made out Laila in the bed because the full moon light coming threw the windows, I went straight into the closet for clean cloths and was going into shower, then going to bed myself but I noticed the door open. That’s when I pulled the gun, I thought some one came in I flipped the lights on and seen her on the bed”

“Mr. DeClare your wife is new around her, she seems like a real sweet young lady. I meet her a few times in town just hi and bye she held the door open for me one day in the rain when I had my newborn baby girl in my arms trying to make it into the store out of the storm. She even asked if I needed any help drying her off or anything she was really nice about things. She doesn’t seem like the type of person to have enemies but like I said hi and bye, do you have any reason to believe anyone would want to hurt Mrs.Declare”

“Elizabeth and Gary”

My sister, Rhett and the young cop all ask “what” at the same time

“ Gary broke into the house a few days ago, Laila never told me till this morning. He made threats to hurt her, and then this morning Elizabeth tried to tell me Laila didn’t belong here. Elizabeth and Gary started a thing about eight months ago, Elizabeth is the oldest of us all but she doesn’t inherit anything when our father dies because she is divorced. Page and I will take over running the ranch and everything else, I went to our father today, Page was there I told him what happened. He called Elizabeth into his office and told her he wouldn’t be repeating himself again, that her and Gary where to end things and now Gary was fired. He had Page write up the terms of employment termination earlier tonight. Gary had 24 hours to get his stuff and leave our ranch. We was giving him the papers in the morning, it’s part of the employment contract not to get involved with the family, makes for bad business.”

The cop nods his head and writes everything down, he’s also been recording everything on his phone. “Do you remember anything else Mr. Declare anything at all even if it’s something small that you don’t think will matter it might so nothing might be something”

“The bedroom door was closed when I came in”

“Yes Mr. DeClare you said that the glass door was closed-“

“Bo I mean the door to the bedroom, in the hallway. We don’t ever close that door, we live alone so there is no point but tonight when I came in it was closed.”

“Ok, do you remember if it was locked or not”

“No it opened, I opened it and went in, I must have closed it behind me because Page opened it when she came in but I don’t remember closing it”

“Ok, alright I’m going to go call the guys back at the house tell them to dust the main door as well. If you think of anything else, anything at all call me. I also put my cell number on the back of the card it’s a personal number I have with me at all times so you can contact me when ever Mr.DeClare”

I give him my thanks and he leaves as the doctor walks in

“Mr.DeClare your wife and child is going to be just fine, thanks to her brother donating blood the baby is out of the woods and all of Mrs. Declares levels are back to normal it seems like most the blows she took was to her face but the anemia made it seem like she had sustain worst injury’s. You’ll be able to get into her room in a few moments the nurses are just getting them moved to private room with space for the family, once she wakes up we are going to keep her a few days just to make sure everything is ok with the baby, she will be on our prenatal floor so there will be prenatal care around the clock. Do you know which type of vitamins your wife was taking if any? And also who her primary doctor is just so we can alert him to her condition and what’s happen incase once she’s home she runs into any problems?”

It’s when he looks at me he figures out I’m not breathing.

“Mr.Declare you need to breath, I take it you didn’t know about the pregnancy.” I shake my head because I have no words to speak, did Laila know?

“Doctor I think your mistaken, she can’t be pregnant she told me so, she told me she got some sort of shot at a plan parent hood that lasted a year two months before we got married.”

He picks up his cell phone and makes a call. He tells the person on the other end of the phone who he is, where he works, and that he has a patient who’s received a birth control shot and he need to know which one and now. He give them her name but he says DeClare. Rhett corrects him and tells him her name at that time was Laila O’Shea, the doctor makes the correction and that from him what he needs to know. He hangs up “Mr.Declare you wife got a three month shot not the six month or the yearly, it was a low hormone three month shot. A lot of people get confused about the time frame and thinks they are all the same.”

I nod and the doctor get up and makes his farewells and head to the door

“Hey doc how long”

“How long for what Mr.DeClare?”

“How long has she been this way? How long till the little one comes?”

“Your wife is two and a half month along with a perfectly healthy baby sir, congratulations by the way dad”

My knees give out from underneath me and Page God bless her try’s to catch me.

“Jesus Bo, are you ok”

“No,no I’m not. I didn’t even know I could have lost the most important person in my life and never even knew just what I was losing, and Laila how will she ever forgive me I wasn’t there I let her get hurt, some one came into our home and hurt her Page. My wife and come to find out my child wasn’t safe in my home, on my land surrounded by my family and people I thought I trusted”

“Oh Bo don’t do that, don’t blame yourself for this. Laila wouldn’t want that Bo, and for her sake your going to pull your self together. Your going to go into that room and be strong for her, cause that’s what a girl needs when bad things happen they need there man to be strong as iron and your going to tell her you got a whole lot of pissed off cowboys out looking for that dirty dog and they are gonna string his sorry a*s up and then your going to go take the boot to him and hand him over to the police and they are gonna put him under the jail”

Rhett chimes in “Bo she was gonna tell you, she had a whole plan in the works. I busted her one day on the computer ordering stuff and she made me swear not to tell you. She said she would kill me in my sleep mob style if I did. She only found out a few weeks ago, she need hiding stuff in suite cases in the closet so you don’t find it. I’m sorry I should have said something, but I didn’t want to ruin things and Page is right you need to pull it together man fake it till you make it we all do but if your upset, she’s gonna start crying again. I can’t take anymore crying from her this week it’s every five minutes happy sad happy sad it’s insane”

I think back over the past few weeks, about three weeks ago she started laying all my cloths out for me, I didn’t mind I just thought she was trying to over compensate not keep me out of the closet. She would cry at the most random things on the news, or at the end of a movie. She’s been making me watch mob movies with her for two weeks now every night I guess she was looking for ideas for Rhett. I don’t think that was a stomach bug she had last week either now. A young nurse comes in “are you guys a Mrs Laila DeClares family” I jump to my feet and rush her “yes I’m her husband what’s wrong is she ok did something happen is the baby ok, for the love of God woman speak what happen”

“Ok sir everything is fine, she’s fine and the baby is even better. Momma and baby has been moved into a private suite in the prenatal unit if you would like you can follow me and I’ll show you the way so you don’t get lost, it will be much quicker that way also”

I nod and she starts walking Rhett catches up with me “Page said your parents and Nova just got here and she is going to change her shirt and meet us at the room with them”

“She doesn’t know where it is or anything tho”

The nurse chimes in “Miss. DeClare knows where prenatal is she took some first aid and emergency unit classes with me, when your family gets to the floor do you want me to tell them to wait while you have a moment with your wife, she seems to be very upset. I think it will be a comfort to her being with you for a few moments alone. Since she woke up she’s asked for you several times sir.”

“Ya will ya, I mean if you don’t mind, if not Rhett will right?” I turn to Rhett he’s texting someone “I’m already on it I text Nova to go to the family waiting room and I’ll be back down in a minute. I’ll find out where the room is and then go down and tell them you two need a hour “

I turn in my heels and hug him

“What the f*ck Bo”

“Thank you, thank you for being here brother, for staying here with her, for giving her blood, for everything thank you”

The nurse starts to cry “that’s the sweetest thing ever, but that room there on the left room 1235 is your wife’s if you want to brake up the bromance and go see her”

I run to the door. Rush into to the room and find Laila curled into a ball under a think blue blanket. When she sees it’s me she bust out crying and starts saying she’s sorry but I’m not gonna have it

“Oh don’t you dare say your sorry, you ain’t got nothing to be sorry for darlin. I’m gonna kill em when I find them and trust me I got my men looking for them, and the police to but don’t you say your sorry, I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you two the way I should have been. I’m sorry I failed you but it won’t ever happen again, I won’t ever let either one of ya’s outta my site again” she keeps sobbing “oh darlin don’t cry” I go to the bed but I’m scared to touch her for fear of hurting her. “I was gonna tell you Bo I had a whole thing planned I promise all the stuff is in the closet in the suit case I was gonna surprise you” she sobs and I don’t care if I hurt her I pull her into my arms “darlin it’s ok I don’t care, all o care about is that you and our child is ok that’s it’s how I found out doesn’t matter so don’t be upset”she nods and starts to hiccup as she drys her eye. About a half hour passes and a nurse comes into the room pulling along a giant machine “hello Mr and Mrs. DeClare my name is Sophie, I’m a nurse technician and I’m here to take a peak at your baby if that’s ok with you two” Laila nod and says ok, me on the other I’m not so ok with this “ I’m sorry for sounding so ignorant ma’am but what do you mean take a peek, just how do you plan on doing that? What do you plan on doing to my wife to get this peek?” The dear woman smiles at me but Laila answers “Bo sit down, she’s gonna do a sonogram it’s really nice, she runs a little thing over my belly and we get to see the baby and hear the hear beat to”

“ We what, really? You can do that”

They both laugh as Laila lays down and pulls the gown she has on up and exposes her belly to the woman. The nurse pours a clear gel onto Lailas stomach and then says “ok dad, pay attention now” the screen on her cart lights up black and white and I see nothing. Panic takes over and I can’t even help it “there isn’t anything there, wheee the baby Laila? Lady you need to get the doctor the baby’s gone something ain’t right”

“Mr. DeClare your baby is right here, see”

She point to a little peanut shaped dot that is twitching “that’s our baby” she nods “yep that’s your baby, I’m guessing this is the first sonogram you have seen?” I nod but never take my eyes off the screen “well then let’s blow your mind shall we” she hits a button and a woosh woosh woosh sound comes on “what the hell is that”

Lailas smiles “Bo that’s the baby’s heart beat” I don’t even realize I’m crying till Laila ask if I’m ok “oh darlin I’m better then ok, I ain’t never heard a better sound in my life” right then a nock comes on the door and my parents rush in along with my two sisters and Rhett. Laila smiles “come quick and see, you can see the baby” everyone stacks in on top of us, it’s my father who has the same crying reaction I do “oh son look at that, your gonna be a dad soon I’m so happy for you two. Kids are the greatest gift you’ll ever get. Thank you so much my girl thank you for being so amazing” Laila starts to cry, I’m crying my father is crying this is a mess. After the nurse prints us all off a set of pictures and wheels out my father and Rhett claim they are going for coffee and will meet my mother and sisters down stairs. My mother hands over the four duffel bags of cloths and bathroom essential she says we need, and praises Laila Nova and Page is huddled in the corner over their phones and while my mother makes over Laila I go to them “what are you two doing” they both look at me with big doe eyes “buying baby stuff duh, we only got six and and a half months to make sure that kid has more then it will ever need in ten life times. Why what did you think the best aunts in the whole world was doing in the corner with their phones?” I grab both of them but hold tight to Page “thank you, thank you so so much Page. I don’t even know what I would have done with out you today” she hugs me back “it’s nothing baby boy, don’t tell your kid or Rossini or any of the other brats but you was and will always be my first baby and I will always love you with all my heart kid, no matter how old you get you’ll always be my kid brother.” My mother says it’s time for everyone to go, she bids me good night tells Laila if she needs anything at all to call the house and that tomorrow she will personally be picking her mother and father up from the airport and bringing them here. And that’s the comment that snaps me out of my happiness haze and back to the real world “her father as in Don O’Shea here with her, when he has done nothing to fix the mess his son has made with Laila and me never mind Nova and the baby?” My mother nods “yes son your father will be here bright and early to talk business with you, they arrive at ten am and then we will be here, so they might check on the well being of their daughter and grandchild like we did” she says no more just turns and walks out. Laila stands and starts grabbing things from one of the bags “what are you doing, lay back down your gonna hurt yourself” she laughs “oh Bo I’m fine I want a shower tho, the nurses helped me clean up with a damp rag but I want a shower it will make me feel better” I nod “I’ll take everything in and get it started you sit down ok” she shakes her head “I’m not going to brake Bo, I got hit a few times and that’s it. I don’t think there is a need for all this fuss” I reach out and lay my hand on her stomach, the same place the nurses magic wand showed me our child “this is why there is a need for all the fuss, don’t flatter yourself lady no one cares about your face” I smile when her jaw drops “oh think your funny so ya. That’s fine I see how it is now, I hope it’s a boy and then I’m naming it after my father how do you like them apples buddy” she stands with her hands on her hips “ you can name that baby what ever you want my darlin, cause you and our little girl is gonna as happy as clams with me” she rolls her eyes and walks into the bathroom and turns the shower on. My phone vibrate in my pocket as I’m putting the pictures of my baby in my wallet. When I’m finished I pull it out to find a text

(Both party’s have been apprehended and have have full confessions of guilt, both guilty parties will be sent to holding till further notice)

I call Page she doesn’t bother with hellos she knows why I’m calling “Elizabeth was with him they was found with a flat on the side of the road half hour ago and arrest. Elizabeth cracked as soon as they handcuffed her said it was all Gary’s idea. They also had ten grand on them, we are counting the safe now but I’m positive that’s where it came from, father told the police to press charges on both of them and has called the family lawyer and told him we are not offering help and he can not be Elizabeth’s lawyer because he is Lailas and that Laila wants to seek out the max of what ever charge will stick. He’s upset but he said she will not learn any other way and to leave it be I already tried to talk to him he won’t have it any other way so leave it your loyalty’s isn’t to her any more it’s to Laila and your baby” I give a weak ok and she hangs up on me. Laila come out of the bathroom looking a hundred percent better but tired and I find myself wore out as well it’s after three in the morning and I stretch out on the chair and tip my hat over my eyes and no sooner do I cross my ankles to pass out my hat goes flying and I find my little tiny wife over the top of me “what do you think your doing mr man” I give a weak smile “it’s this thing called sleep I think you might have seen me do it once or twice, I do believe I have done it with you on the rare occasion” she give me that evil eye of hers “there is a bed right there ya know” I nod “and you should go to it and get some rest your self” And with that I guess I set fire to this Roman candle because boy do I set her off “ oh ok I see how it is, I’ll just go to bed by my self now I guess that how it’s going to be from now on. I get beat up and put in the hospital and as if that’s not enough now I get to sleep on my own from now on, well fine just fine you self jerk. I guess you got your way now and what use am I now, you can go on and do what ever you want “ I have no idea what she’s talking about but I do know this started over bed “darlin it’s a twin size bed, I was six last time I slept in a bed that small but if you want me in it with you, I’m in it darlin. I just didn’t want to make you uncomfortable that all. I sleep better when your curled up with me anyways” I can see her soften “really Bo you promise ?” I nod “yes darlin I swear by the Lord above, you are everything to me” she drops into my arms and we just hold each other for a while “Bo I’m tired” that’s all she says. I pick her up and take her to the bed and we curl into each other. It don’t take long for Laila to end up on my chest, arm over my middle and her legs to be wrapped around mine. I can’t help the smile I have on my face. I just hope everything else goes over well and life goes back to normal.