We gave Winnie and Sunshine privacy, and when they came out of the truck, both of them were teary-eyed. Sunshine looked like she was seconds from doing cartwheels, though. She hugged Winnie tightly and then pushed her into my chest. “Be brave, Freddie. Trust your father.”
I grumbled unhappily when I felt the spaces of Winnie’s body that were thinner. She was pregnant. She should’ve been growing. I had no clue what Sunshine was talking about, but I cupped the back of Winnie’s neck and grunted. “Let’s go.”
Our group split up, and Sawyer led me, Jack, and Winnie into his office and to the elevator. “Dr. Boyd is already upstairs waiting. She’ll run all the tests and do everything to make sure you and the baby are healthy.”
Winnie kept her eyes on the ground, but she’d stopped crying, so that was an improvement. “Thank you.”
“I just don’t get it. Why would you put yourself in danger? Why would you—” The doors opening cut Sawyer off, and we were greeted by a stern-looking woman who took one look at us and then narrowed her eyes.
“Winnie, right? Come on, darling. I’m Dr. Boyd, but you can call me Patty.” Patty pulled Winnie away from us and shot a dirty look at Sawyer before disappearing into an exam room.
“What’s her deal?” Jack sank into one of the waiting room chairs but then popped right back up. He was just as wired as we were. I didn’t know if I’d ever sit or relax again. “She looked like she wanted to castrate us.”
“Winnie looks like a fucking kidnapping victim. They’re probably in there right now, making sure she feels safe where she is.” Sawyer shrugged. “It’s fine. Dr. Boyd is the best of the best.”
I wasn’t sure, though, and my nerves didn’t fade until I saw Winnie again an hour later. She flashed a smile at the doctor and nodded at something the woman was saying before looking over at us and losing the smile. It pissed me off.
“Well?”
The doctor looked at Sawyer and smiled, suddenly all peace and happiness. “The only reason I’m saying anything is because Winnie gave me permission to share with you.”
I rubbed my forehead. There was a massive headache throbbing away behind my eyes. “And?”
“The baby is healthy. Bigger than average and thriving. Momma is healthy, too.” Patty’s eyes softened when she saw us all breathe out sighs of relief. “She can’t stay this stressed, though. She needs happiness and help keeping up with simple things, like eating multiple meals a day and taking in plenty of water.”
Winnie placed a gentle hand on the doctor’s arm. “Oh, no, I can do those things.”
“You haven’t.” Patty raised her eyebrows. “Since the checkup when you found out you were pregnant, you’ve lost weight, and I’m not thrilled with your vitamin levels.”
“I thought you said she was healthy?” Jack stared at Winnie like he was going to find the vitamin deficiency and hammer it out.
“She is. She could be better, though. So help her.”
I nodded. “Got it. Does she need bed rest?”
“Heavens, no. She’s fine.”
Sawyer thanked the doctor and said goodbye for us while I walked Winnie to the elevator with Jack. Pressing my hand to her lower back, I dropped the first bomb on her.
“Whose house would you like to live in?”
51
Winnie
Isatcurledupin the corner of Sawyer’s couch, staring out the back window into the yard. It was dark, but there were lights that kept the yard bright all the way into the woods beyond. Birdie loved playing at the edge of the woods with Olive, pretending they were adventurers.
“Thinking about making a run for it?” Jack walked into the living room with a glass of whiskey in his hand and sank onto the other side of the couch. He looked tired and stressed.
I shook my head and let out a heavy sigh. “No. I was just thinking about Birdie.”
“She’s fine, Winnie. Your mom and Gabe are both staying at Beck’s house with the kids.”
I frowned and turned to face him. “I was thinking about how much she loves this house. She likes the woods a lot. Too much.”
Sawyer came in and walked over to me with a plate of fresh fruit. “We can put up a fence if we need to. Knowing Birdie, she’d just scale it and go where she wanted anyway, though.”
When I didn’t immediately reach for the fruit, Jack growled. “Eat, Winnie.”