Stacking the Deck (A Betting on Romance Novel Book 2)(93)

“Miss…?” Valerie just kept shaking her head, tears seeping from her baby blues, John clutching her good hand, the nurse standing by the gurney, waiting. “Miss?”

John let out a sigh and put the box back in his pocket.

Val closed her eyes for a moment then turned and snapped at the nurse, “It’s Ma’am to you, kiddo. You don’t look a day older than my baby brother.”

“Ma’am?” the man tried again.

But, Valerie wasn’t listening, was just shaking her head at John. “You almost ruined everything,” she whispered.

“Ma’am?” the nurse said again, clearly not moved by romantic displays as he lowered his voice. “I have to ask before we do x-rays… is there any possibility that you are, or have reason to believe you may be, pregnant?”

Valerie’s eyes leaked even faster, huge tears plopping like rain onto the front of her hospital gown.

“Ma’am? I need to know—”

“I do two hundred sit-ups a day!” she blurted, rounding on the man. “Two hundred! Would my stomach look like this if I weren’t pregnant!” And then she shook off John’s grip, huge, ugly racking sobs shaking her as she tried to bully the nurse into wheeling her off to a private room.

He wrote something on his clipboard instead.

“Val,” John whispered from her side, “is it true?”

“No.”

“But you just said—”

“I know what I said! Forget what I said! Isn’t there such a thing as patient-doctor confidentiality anymore?”

“Ma’am, I’m not a doctor…”

“Oh, shut up!” Val and John said in unison.

“But you said… you said you and Dan were getting back together! I can’t believe it. I can’t believe you’d…” John’s shoulders were shaking as he reached out and grabbed Val’s arm so she’d look at him. “You were going to, weren’t you? After everything we’ve been to each other… You were going to try and pass off my baby as his, weren’t you? Weren’t you?”

Valerie didn’t answer, she just yanked her arm out of his hand and continued to sob.

“Don’t you think he would have figured it out, Val? Huh?”

Trish popped baby Clara over her shoulder and turned to John. “How can you be so sure it’s yours?”

Everyone leaned in. It was a valid question, after all—even if the timing was questionable.

Valerie looked up. “Dan’s infertile. Old football injury.”

“Oh.” The room said, collectively.

“Val—” John began.

“Can you blame me?” she shot back. “What are my options? I’m knocked up, Johnny. Just like my mom. Knocked up and… alone!”

“Honey. Babes. Don’t cry,” John pleaded.

“Don’t tell me not to cry!” Val cried louder. “Why are you even here? Go away! Shouldn’t you be running to the hills like you’re so good at?”

“I’m done running,” is all he said.

Val hiccupped and swiped her eyes with her good hand. “Ha! You left for three months—three months!—with barely a word! You’re just like my father! Only ever was there to knock my mother up and smile at the babies… Well, I’ve got news for you, Johnathan Beacon, I can take care of this baby myself!”

“You won’t have to,” John said, tears of his own slipping onto his cheeks. But, he didn’t seem to care. He gripped Val’s hand in both of his and leaned down to kiss her knuckles. “I’ll take care of you both. I swear.”

“Stop that,” Valerie croaked, tugging her hand. “Stop doing that.” But, John wouldn’t let go. “How are you going to take care of anything?” she demanded. “What are you going to do?”

“I’ll work. I’ll take care of you—of you and the baby. I promise.”

“How?” Aunt Claire interjected.

“Yeah,” Val said, suddenly seeming to be aware of just how big a spectacle they’d become. She pulled their joined hands up to her hair to smooth it again. “How?”

John shrugged sheepishly. “Since I finished the last of my coursework over the winter and applied for my Journeyman’s license. I’m an electrician, Babe. For real. I’m sure I can find work around here. I’ve been saving up. Working my ass off to get in my required hours and save enough to buy you the ring you deserve. I didn’t say anything before, in case…”

“In case you didn’t finish?” Val whispered. John nodded. “You idiot. I’ve always told you you were smart enough to make something of yourself. Why won’t you believe me?”

“I believe you now,” he said, crouching down beside the gurney.

Val tensed again. “What are you doing?”

“I’m kneeling.”

“Get up,” she said. “Get up, right this moment.”

“No,” John said. “Not until I ask.”

“I won’t.” Val was shaking her head, shaking her head and crying again all at the same time. “I told you. I’ve done this before. It’s no good, Johnny…”