𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 | RAFE CAMERON

Forty Nine | N E W A D D I T I O N

I woke up to the sound of Rafe's agitated pacing in our bedroom. He was on the phone, his voice raised in frustration. "Answer the phone, dammit!" he shouted into the receiver. "Come on, Groff!"

I sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and swung my legs over the side. "Rafe, what's going on?" I asked.

He didn't even flinch, too consumed by his anger. I got out of bed and walked up to him, placing a gentle hand on his back. "You okay? What's happening?"

Rafe scoffed, and threw the phone onto the bed. It bounced once, twice, before coming to a stop near the pillow. "I think Groff killed Hollis and took off with our money," he growled.

"Oh my god, Rafe," I breathed, my eyes wide with shock. "Are you sure? What makes you think that?"

"I've been trying to get in touch with Groff all morning, and he's not answering," Rafes his jaw clenched. "And I heard that Hollis was found dead in her home. I know it was Groff."

"We need to go to the police," I said, "And report those scammers."

Rafe nodded, already heading for the door. "I know. Let's go."

We didn't speak as we drove to the police station, Rafe's anger filled the silence as he hit the steering wheel and murmured curses.

At the station, Rafe talked to the officers, his voice filled the entire station in yells as he filed the report. I stood idly by, waiting for Rafe to get finished. When he was done, Rafe turned to me, "Got it filed," he said. "Now let's go home."

- the next day

I woke up feeling sick. I had been feeling a little...off, lately. Tired more often than usual. I had written it off as stress, or maybe just being busy with Tommy. But as the days went by, I started to suspect that something more might be going on.

As I was getting Tommy dressed for the day, I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. I brushed it off as a passing bug, but deep down, I knew. I knew there was a possibility I might be... no... I can't be.

I tried to shake off the feeling, focusing on getting Tommy ready. But as I was making breakfast, I caught myself sniffing the air, wondering if the eggs were bad. And then, as I was packing Tommy's lunch, I felt nausea wash over me once again.

That's when it hit me: I was late. My period, that is. I had been so caught up in everything else that I hadn't even noticed.

My heart started racing as I mentally calculated the dates. I was definitely late. And with all the other symptoms I had been experiencing...well, it wasn't hard to put two and two together.

I tried to calm myself down, telling myself it was probably just a false alarm. But deep down, I knew. I knew that I was probably pregnant again.

I dropped Tommy off at the ranch he was supposed to be staying at for a few weeks and quickly went into the bedroom where Rafe was still sleeping, I shook him, "Babe. Wake up."

He stirred before his eyes finally opened and he reached his hand out to mine, "Hey, what's up?"

"Come with me, I want to take a test and see if I'm pregnant again." I smile.

He quickly gets up, still dressed in his white t-shirt and boxers and rubs his eyelids awake.

I walked into the bathroom, Rafe following close behind, "Okay, let's do this," I said.

Rafe nodded, his eyes locked on mine. We both knew what this could mean. That we'd have to welcome another child into the family. Everything was in place at the moment so we would be able to take care of another baby.