Shelter

New Home

Wes and his sister-in-law, Kate, leaned against his jeep as he seen an odd couple exit the airport. One man older in age dressed in a clean-cut suit carrying a lavender suitcase and a younger pregnant woman cuddled in a large sweater and jeans. He lifted off his jeep as the two of them get closer. Grace looked up from her feet to see a man and woman watching them approach. Before Grace looked down she slipped on some black ice. She let out a light squeal as she fell back onto her bottom. Remerez was quickly by her side, checking her injuries. Wes and Kate ran to Grace as she worriedly wrapped her arms around her belly. Grace sighed in relief as she felt the baby move around under her arms. Remerez helped her stand as the Wes and Kate made it to them. Kate immediately began checking over Grace as she said," Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Grace just shook her head 'no' as her cheeks blushed a bright red. Wes saw her how her hands wrapped around her stomach rubbing gently. Wes shook his head and said,"After we sign papers we'll head to the clinic. Better safe than sorry." Remerez pulled out a neatly folded set of paperwork as Wes waved them to the Jeep. Kate walked with Grace, hoping to keep her from falling. Kate smiled and said," It's real sweet of your husband to put you in protection for you and baby." Grace couldn't help but giggle as the word husband came to mind. Like her father would let her marry anyone who wasn't in the mafia, she never wanted to marry a man like her father. Grace smirked and said," I'm not married. I went into protection by my own accord." Kate's eyebrows furrowed together as she thought about the father not knowing where his baby was. As if Grace read her mind she sighed and said," Me and anything close to relationship a never really worked. A sperm donor made sense." Kate thoughts immediately went away as soon as she heard 'sperm donor' she looked to Grace who was lovingly rubbing her growing bump as she slowly walked to the car. Kate smirked as Wes kept looking back making sure Grace was okay.

Kate and Grace sat inside the jeep as Wes signed Grace's transfer papers. Grace winced as a small cramp shot through her lower back. Grace gently rubbed her lower back as Kate said," I don't even think we introduced ourselves. I'm Kate and that's my brother-in-law, Wes." Grace smiled as she battled through another cramp. Grace held out her hand for Kate to shake as she winced again. Kate immediately sat up, as Grace leaned back in the back seat. Kate looked her over again and said,"Where does it hurt?" Grace just pointed to her lower back as Kate got out of the car. She watched as Kate hurried the boys along sending Wes into high gear.

Wes helped Grace from the car as the three of them made it to the hospital. He opened her envelope finding her new information as quickly as he could. Wes hurried as Grace moaned out once in pain. Wes looked up to find her in tears, leaning against the jeep. Kate was rubbing her shoulder as Grace murmured," I can't lose another one." Wes handed her information to Kate and gracefully picked her up bridal style. Grace wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her head against his chest. She winced as amother pain shot up her back. The three of them ran in and were immediately led to a bed in the emergency room. Wes slowly lowered her onto the bed only for Grace to curl into herself, protectively holding her belly. Kate gently rubbed Grace's arm trying her best to sooth her.

Grace laid back on the bed, her sweater now replaced with a ugly blue hospital gown. Wes sat beside her as she looked over at him. She sadly chuckled and said," I don't think we even introduced ourselves. I'm Grace Manci-... Ramano now." His eyebrows shot up as he leaned closer. He smiled slightly and rubbed her shoulder. He nodded and said," I'm Weston Johns but everyone calls me Wes." She gave him a pained smile as a doctor walked into her small cubicle. He rolled in a ultrasound machine and said," Alright Ms. Ramano, I'm gonna need ya' to pull up the gown to right under your breasts and we'll check everything out." Grace pulled up her gown readjusting her blanket as she pulled it up. Wes noticed she jumped slightly as he sqirted a large amount of gel on belly. The doctor placed the wand at the bottom of her belly and a loud heartbeat filled the room. Grace let out a sigh of relief as the doctor moved the wand some more. He smiled and said," Do you want to know the sex?" Grace bit her lip slightly and quickly nodded. The doctor moved tge wwand around then turned the screen towards Grace. He smiled and said,"Congratulations Ms. Ramano you are having a bouncy baby boy." Grace's face paled as she looked down at her belly and both men noticed reaction. Tears began to fall from her eyes as teh doctor said," Well the baby seems to be just fine so I'm sending you home and want you on complete bedrest for the next three days. The only you are to be up is if you have to use the bathroom or get something to eat." The doctor signed her chart and left. Wes crossed his arms and said," What's wrong? What's got you like this?" Grace sniffled and wiped at her wet cheeks with her hands. She pulled down her gown before laying back down. She turned away from him and said," The men in my family are ruthless and terrible people. I don't want my son to be like them." Wes just nodded as he stood. He walked closer to the bed and took her hand. He gave her a small smile and said," My father was an abusive drunk, he beat me and two other brothers. Know we're all grown and we vowed at a young age to never be like him. If you raise your son wuth love ad plenty of support you'll both be alright." She smiled up at him before bringing him in for a hug as a nurse walked in. She held a small stack of papers and a pair of scrub pants. She smiled and said," Here's your discharge papers, Momma. And I brought a pair of extra scrub pants we had, I figured your pants will still be wet from the fall." Grace quietly thanked the nurse as she signed the forms. Once the forms were signed the nurse left and Grace lifted herself from the bed. Wes ushered himself out as she changed.

Grace sat in the passenger seat watching as the fields of Wyoming flew by the jeep window. She couldn't help but smile at the cattle and horses littering the fields along some beautiful crops. She absentmindly rubbed her distended belly as Wes looked over at her, checking on her for the tenth time since they left the hospital. Grace giggled slightly and said," You can stop checking on me. I'm fine." Wes chuckled slightly as he tightened the grip on the steering wheel. Wes began to tap his forefinger on the steering wheel as he said," Sorry, Kate had to leave the hospital. She's got three little boys and watches my other niece. She had to pick them up early from school. A big snow storm's a comin' in." Grace waved him off as she looked towards him. Grace moved her hands back to her baby bump, gently rubbing. Grace smiled and said,"Thank you again for taking us in." Wes smiled slightly as he looked ahead of him at the upcoming open fields. Wes ran a hand through his salt and pepper beard before resting his arm on the middle console. Wes smirked and said," It's my job. But we have to come up with a reason as to why your here. I can't say you're a rookie ranch hand like I can with the men." Grace pursed her lips as she went deep in thought. Grace looked back to Wes and said,"I could be the live-in maid. I could cook and clean. I make some bangin' meatballs." Wes couldn't help but laugh as her New York accent shined through. He turned down a long gravel road as he said," Well I look forward to those meatballs." Grace grimaced as a small cramp traveled along her lower belly. Grace leaned her head back against the seat letting out a low groan. Wes slowly brought the jeep to a stop before turning his attention to Grace. He frowned as he saw her hand fisted and knuckles turning white. He knew she was in pain and would be for the next few days. He patted her forearm and said,"When we get home I say we get you set up in bed and nothing but absolute rest." Grace just nodded as she hugged her arms around her pained belly. He quickly put the jeep back into drive. Trying to get her home as quickly as he could.

Wes helped Grace up the porch ramp as Dean carried her bags behind them. Wes couldn't but smile as she pushed him away from her. Grace sighed and said," I take one little fall and I automatically became a china doll. I can walk up a ramp all by myself." Wes put his hands up in surrender as she slowly made she way up the ramp. Wes and Dean shared a look of humor as she finally made it up the ramp with her hands on her lower back. Wes frowned as he imediatly noticed the action and quickly walked to the door. He opened the door and said," The living room is the first room on the left. We'll carry your bags to your room while you get off your feet." Grace just gave him a grateful smile before slowly walking down the hall. She observed the blank sage green walls and espresso stained wood floors. She smiled as she walked into the living room to find a simple leather couch with a matching chair. She walked to the stone fireplace and looked on top of it's mantle. She smiled at a picture of Wes and his brother. She moved onto the next picture, Wes had his arm around a teenage boy's shoulders with similar facial features. Wes has a son. She smiled as moved on to the next picture, Wes' grown son in a wheel chair giving the camera a thumbs up. Her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion as Wes walked in the room to find her looking over the mantle. He smiled and said," I see you found the living room." Grace jumped slightly, one hand quickly going to her chest as the other went to her rounded belly. Grace calmed once seeing Wes in the doorway. She smiled and said," Jeez Wes!" Wes chuckled as he walked closer to look at the pictures himself. Grace smiled and said," Is this your son?" Wes' smile grew as he nodded slightly. He looked across the room at a clock aa he said," Yeah. Randy should be home any minute. You'll love him, he's a good kid." Grace smiled as she felt her own son move around in her belly. She placed both of her hands under belly. As if on cue the front door slammed open and a loud voice yelled out," Dad! I'm home!" A teenage boy rolled by the living room in a wheel chair. He quickly back tracked and stopped in the living room doorway. He smiled and said," I see we got a new roommate." Wes gently nodded as Grace gave him a gentle wave. Wes smiled and said," Randy, this is Grace. She's our new housekeeper." Randy slowly rolled into the room and smiled up at her before reaching out his hand. She kept one hand on top of her growing belly as she quickly shook his hand with her other. Randy smiled and said," Can I call you mom?" Both Wes' and Grace's eyes grew to the size of saucers as Randy began laughing. He waved his hand and said," Just kidding. But it's nice meeting you. Now I'm gonna get started on homework, unless you need me." Wes shook his head no as he rolled out and down the hall. Grace smiled as she slowly walked across the room to the comfy sofa and sat down. Wes joined her and took his hand into hers. He gave the top of her hand a gentle tap and said," I promise, I'll take care of you both." Grace squeezed his hand in gratitude as Randy watched from the hallway with a smile. It had been awhile since he'd seen his father with a true smile.