“Daaaaaaadddddddyyyyy!” Greysen wailed, making Casey snort. He wasn’t even in sight of the settlement yet, and already Greysen knew he was near. “Daddy!”
A moment later, King bounded down the path and circled him, barking excitedly. Casey mock growled at the dog, batting at it playfully. Noah’d have a fit if he saw the casual way Casey interacted with one of his prized pooches, but Casey couldn’t find it in his heart to care. Actually, he thought with a smirk; he was pleased that King didn’t act like Bix or Mira. They were friendly… enough, but not approachable like King was. “Come on pup,” he said to the overeager dog. “Let’s go home.”
King barked in agreement.
Moving the last few meters, Casey emerged from the trees where he was greeted to the sight of Greysen running pell-mell toward him, bare as the day he was born, and Lottie following after, shaking something and yelling about needing a diaper.
Casey covered his mouth to stifle his laugh.
“Daddy,” Greysen screeched. His arms raised high, eager for a hug.
When he drew close enough, Casey obliged him. “Hey pants-less bud,” he said as he scooped Greysen up and give him a tight squeeze. “You giving Mommy trouble?”
“‘Rble Daddy.” Greysen nodded. “Stay?”
“For the night kiddo. Then I have to work,” Casey said and bopped Greysen on the nose.
Greysen pouted at the news, but a second later he brightened and began cheerfully babbling, telling Casey… something. He wasn’t quite sure what it was, but the story involved a lot of explosions and raspberry noises. “You don’t say.”
“Uh-huh!” Greysen replied and launched into a fresh barrage of explosions. His hands twisting, and balling together and then yanked apart.
Chuckling, he hugged Greysen close and watched as Lottie came toward them. She looked beautiful. Her long blonde hair was pulled back in a messy bun and secured with a small stick. He wanted to run his fingers through it, though he knew she had it up off her neck for a reason. It was hot. The heat of the day also explained her choice in clothes, for she wore a faded sage green tank top that he recognized as the one he gave her last summer. He swallowed hard. It hugged her curves, and she looked so much better in it than he had. His gaze slid lower, noticing she’d sacrificed the leg fabric of the old cargos she wore, making them into shorts. As she drew near, Casey frowned. Not only was her tell-tale lopsided smile missing, but she also looked tired. No, not just tired. She looked exhausted, bordering on unhealthy and thin. Way too thin.
What happened? “Hello.”
At his greeting, she gave him a weak smile and said in a soft voice, “Hey.” She paused and then handed him the diaper she held. “You think you can get him into it?”
Casey took it from her, concerned. He’d expected her to be happier to see him. “You okay beautiful?”
“Yes,” she replied, then shook her head. A single tear leaked from the corner of her eye before tracking down her cheek. “No.”
“Come here,” he murmured and put his arm around her, pulling her into his embrace.
“Mommy,” Greysen said sadly and patted her on the head. “Ow.”
Something was seriously wrong. He’d never seen her like this. Scared to the point of tears, yes, but never sad. “Tell me,” Casey urged. Lottie sniffed once, twice, then broke into sobs. Her arms encircled his waist, pulling him tight to her while she cried. Casey’s heart pounded. What the hell happened? “Tell me,” he begged.
Lottie took a big, shuddery breath, and said, “I lost the baby.”
If Casey hadn’t been holding Greysen and Lottie tight to his chest, he would have staggered. As it was, he had to lock his knees to keep himself upright. “Say again?” He hoped he’d misheard her.
“I said,” Lottie said through her renewed sobs. “I lost the baby.”
No. She couldn’t have. His throat felt tight, and his chest ached.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He had to clear his throat. “Why?”
Lottie sniffed and buried her nose in his chest. “Because… Because I didn’t have my anti-histamine shot anymore.” Casey pulled her away, confused. Looking down, he searched her eyes, trying to understand. She had a hard time meeting his gaze, but that didn’t stop her from explaining. “The shots are supposed to help keep us from miscarrying. When at the facility you were required to keep one on you at all times.”
“Where was yours?”
She glanced at him and then looked away again. “Maggie went into labor a few days after you left.” Casey didn’t see the connection but didn’t interrupt. She was clearly trying to collect herself so that she could continue. She pinched her lips tight together, and a fresh tear streaked down her cheek. “It didn’t go well. Maggie started convulsing and… And… We thought… I thought… using our shots would help.” Lottie stepped away from him and hugged herself.
“Mommy?” Greysen called. “Ow?”
Casey shifted him in his arms. He understood Greysen’s distress. Casey felt it too. He patted Greysen on his back wishing he could comfort Lottie as well. “I take it the shots didn’t work?”
Lottie shook her head. “We tried hers first, and when that didn’t fix it, I gave her mine.” She lifted her pain filled eyes to his. “I think I killed her.”
Kill her? Maggie was dead?
“Aw Bean,” Casey said, slipping into his earlier endearment for her. No wonder she looked so sad. She had to be devastated. “You didn’t kill her.”
Pressing her fist to her lips, Lottie shuddered in an effort to hold back her tears. “I did. You see, the first shot didn’t work because it wasn’t a miscarriage—it was labor! If I hadn’t given her mine, she might still be here.”
“You don’t know that,” Casey said, collecting her in his arms. Lottie dissolved into a fresh round of tears. He hated asking, but he needed to know. “Did Maggie’s baby die as well?”
Sniffing, Lottie shook her head. “No. He survived the birth and Ally adopted him.”
He hugged her closer. “Good. I’m glad he survived.”
“Yeah,” she murmured. They were silent for a few moments, but eventually, Lottie continued, “The stress of Maggie’s labor and death triggered Ally’s and she had a little girl a few days later.”
“A girl?!” He couldn’t believe it. A girl!
She gave a watery chuckle. “Yeah, a beautiful little girl.” Lottie stepped away from Casey and took Greysen from him. “I didn’t attend Ally’s delivery. I was too weak.”
“Why…” he started to ask, but then realized Lottie must be referring to her own experience. “Was that when you lost the baby?”
She nodded. “I think the stress of losing Maggie triggered my labor as well as Ally’s. And after watching Maggie die, there was no way I’d use a shot on myself even if I had one to use.” She looked up, caught him staring at her and lowered her gaze to the ground once again. “We only have two more shots anyway. Not enough for everyone.” Stepping away from Casey she moved to the edge of the woods. After a moment, her shoulders firmed, and she said, “Follow me” and then disappeared into the trees.
Casey snapped his fingers to get King’s attention and then followed after her. They circled up and around the camp and came to a stop at a small, extremely shaded clearing north and west of the settlement.
“He’s buried there,” she said, pointing to a small mound of stones next to a larger pile.
“He?”
“The baby I lost,” she said as she patted Greysen on the back.
So, it was a son. Casey’s throat felt thick, and he swallowed.
“Jaesen helped us bury them both.”
He nodded, unable to trust his voice. Turning back to the tiny grave, Casey staggered forward and knelt. He touched the stones, letting his tears fall freely, mourning the son he’d never get to meet. After a bit—he wasn’t sure how long—Lottie rested a palm on his shoulder, comforting him in his grief. Gripping her fingers in his, he pulled her hand to his lips and kissed her fingertips before letting go. Standing, he walked over to Maggie’s grave.
Looking down, he said, “I didn’t know her well. But the few interactions I did have, showed she was an easy woman to love. I’m sorry you passed, Maggie, and I promise to help raise your son to the best of my ability.”
“Thank you,” Lottie whispered and wrapped a free arm around his waist.
Nodding, Casey put his arm around them both and hugged them tightly, taking solace in the fact they were alive.
*****If you like Acquisition and Preservation, please add it to your library!
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