you come this way?”
Stevie typically went past the Savannah Mall on her way home, and this location was a couple of streets off her beaten path.
“I had to pick up that cake Mom ordered for my sister.” She pointed to the east. “It’s two doors down.”
“Which would be great for us. Folks could grab a cake from them, and flowers or balloons or whatever from us.”
Stevie nodded. “My thoughts exactly.”
We made our way to the street and went in through the front door. A woman about our age walked out from the back and smiled. “Hi, you must be Parker and Stevie. I’m Stephanie Finn. It’s lovely to meet you.”
We shook hands and then she walked us through the space. As we walked through the shop, my stomach began to roil, and I couldn’t stop myself from doubling over when a sharp pain shot through my abdomen.
“Jesus,” Stevie whispered. “You okay?”
I shook my head, lowering myself to the floor. “Call Rabbit.”
* * *
Rabbit
“Baby?” I said into the phone. “How’s the space?”
“It’s actually Stevie.”
“What’s wrong?” I demanded, heading for my bike.
“I…don’t know,” Stevie rasped. “Parker’s in a lot of pain and can’t get off the floor.”
“Fuck. Call 9-1-1.”
“We have, but Parker wanted me to call you.”
“You at the property by the mall?”
“Yes.”
“I’m on my way.” I hung up and raced for Parker, arriving just as they were wheeling Parker out.
“Parker!”
“Sir, you need to step back,” an EMT warned.
“She’s my wife.” I forced my way to her side and took her hand. “Baby?”
She gripped my hand and pulled the oxygen mask off her face. “Everything hurts.”
“Okay, baby, we’re gonna get you to the hospital.”
“Don’t let go.”
“Never,” I promised, climbing into the ambulance with her. I fired off a text to Doc to meet us at the hospital, then one to Mouse to sort out getting my bike back to the barn, never once letting go of Parker’s hand.
We pulled into the emergency bay and I walked beside Parker as we headed inside. A nurse arrived to get information from Parker and in the middle of the nurse starting an IV, Parker let out a terrifying whimper. “I’m wet.”
The nurse pulled the sheet back and I forced back a curse. There was so much blood.
“No!” Parker cried. “Oh my god.”
“Okay, honey, I’m going to get the doctor,” the nurse said, and stepped out.
I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Shh, baby, it’s okay.”
“I’m losing another baby.”
“It might not be that, sweetheart. Let’s just see what the doctor says.”
I was pretty sure my words didn’t register. She was sobbing too hard, and I felt impotent, unable to ease her pain.
“Hey,” Doc said, pushing his way into the room. “I told the staff I was gonna look at you, is that okay?”
Parker nodded, sobs still wracking her body.
Doc washed his hands, then pulled on gloves and went about examining my wife. I continued to hold her hand and attempted to distract her as Doc poked and prodded her.
“Right,” Doc said, and settled the sheet back over her. “It’s another miscarriage, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. I’m going to give you something for the pain and we’ll just have to wait it out.”
Parker nodded again but didn’t say anything.
“Once you’re in the clear, I can take everything to the lab for testing if you’d like.”
She looked up at me and I stroked her cheek.
“We’ll talk about this later,” I said, and Doc nodded.
“I’ll get you some morphine.”
“I’m sorry, Zane,” Parker whispered once Doc left the room.
“Baby, you’ve got nothin’ to be sorry about.”
“Can you call my mom, please?”
She released my hand, refusing to take it again and I my heart raced. “Yeah, Pebbles, I’ll call your mom.”
“Now?”
“I need to make sure you’re okay first, so when Doc gets back, I’ll call your mom.”
Tears slid down her cheeks. “Okay.”
We didn’t have to wait long, and when Doc walked back in, I took a moment to make the first call.
* * *
Parker
I was released the next day and chose to go to my parents’ place, rather than back to the duplex. Stevie was going to watch the shop for the week, and I planned to figure out exactly what to do about my stupid body. Rabbit had not been happy, but I needed space, so he finally agreed to let me go.
“What can I get you?” Mom asked as she forced me to sit on the sofa in the family room, covering me with a blanket.
“Nothing, Mama, I’m okay.”
“Do you want to fill me in on why you’re here,