Belly of the Beast

Chapter 22

Vincent checked me out of the hospital twenty-four hours after my run-in with that evil pin. I felt like a freaky sleeping beauty with fangs and horns. The doctors sent me home with instructions not to participate in strenuous activity for two days, which I didn't gripe about. I had grown used to being given this advice.

Knowing my fate, I had Vincent stop to pick up supplies. Specifically, jalapeno-flavored kettle chips to satisfy my craving for something spicy, and photography mags to keep my brain cells firing. I still had a life.

I arranged to do some remote work with Lindy first thing, and while I skyped with her from the comfort of our living room, Vincent handled the financial world from his office. Rizzo dropped off Kuu Ramen for lunch, and everything seemed to be running like clockwork right up until Vincent walked out of his room with a funny look on his face.

"What is it?" I asked, immediately suspicious.

"I just got a call from John at the security desk. He says a package has been delivered downstairs and it's addressed to you."

"Did he describe the package?"

"Large and square and wrapped in brown paper. I'm going down to check it out. Do I have your permission to open it if I need to identify it?"

"Absolutely. Be careful."

"Always." Vincent leaned over the back of the couch to kiss me with no regard to Lindy, who could see everything from her desk at Mega Mag. When he left, I had a strong desire to stop him, but Lindy distracted me.

"Vincent didn't know I was here, did he?" she asked.

"It wouldn't have mattered. He's fine with PDA."

She flashed a toothy smile through the screen. "He really loves you, Reese. He made me stay on the phone until you were inside the ambulance and had me ask you questions to keep you awake. Do you remember that?"

"I remember very little after I laid down on the break room floor. I still can't believe I did that. Yuk."

"You scared me pretty good. I thought you were going to combust. You got so hot, so quick. Is that how it happened before?"

"Yep. The doctors don't know what's been triggering it, but we've run enough tests to keep them busy for a while."

"It sucks you have to go through this while you're pregnant. I'd be so worried."

"That's why I'm following doctor's orders and holding this couch down with my ass."

Lindy laughed, and work took a backseat to chit-chat for the duration of Vincent's absence. Five minutes later, he walked back in the door with a large, square package. Lindy and I ended our chat as I watched Vincent set the thing down on the dinner table. That's when I noticed the corner of the paper had been torn, revealing the edge of a picture frame. I knew what it was before he even announced it.

"The mystery package turned out to be your Ansel Adams photograph," he said. "It was pretty obvious when I saw it, but I unwrapped an edge to confirm I was right."

"I can't believe I forgot it was coming."

He lowered his brows, forcing worry lines over his eyes. "So did I. And I just checked the status two days ago. It was supposed to be delivered yesterday." His expression grew more intense. "Maybe we should unwrap it now. In case something happened in transit."

Vincent started tearing at the paper a little less gently than I would have liked, but before I could say anything, Charleton called at the door.

"It's your child's future great grandfather!" he said as he knocked.