Free Obsession (Endurance) by Shayne McClendon

greenery.  We sat down in padded chairs around
the table and I ate my apples. 
    Jonas,
dressed in jeans and a t-shirt but barefoot, asked me quietly, “Ellie, we
haven’t really talked in months.  How are you doing?”
    “I…I’m
good.  Trying to stay busy.”
    Jordan
was still in sleep pants but he’d pulled on a t-shirt.  “You’re still
adjusting to there being two of us, aren’t you, Ellie?”  I shrugged
lightly.  “I’m sorry we waited so long to tell you.”
    “I
understand why you didn’t.  Like a secret weapon.  Also, I guess it
was a secret weakness.”
    “You’re
right.  We still should have told you.”  Jonas took a big gulp of his
juice and rolled the glass in his palms.  The movement was hypnotic. 
He sat back and I met his eyes.  “Why don’t you talk about the baby in
front of us, Ellie?”
    I
went still.  “I don’t know what you mean.” 
    Thank
goodness Padme chose that moment to walk into the solarium.  That was a
question I did not want to answer.  I wasn’t even sure I could answer it. 
    How
to explain that I felt ashamed when I was around them?  That I wondered
what they thought about me keeping the baby conceived during my rape? 
That I needed this baby to love because I’d fallen in love with a man who was
really two men and was paid to protect me?
    “Good
morning, all.  Ellie, how are you feeling this morning?”
    “Fine. 
Good.  What’s on my agenda today?”  I let her claim my attention and
eventually we all moved inside to dress and get ready for our day.  I was
careful to avoid alone time with Hyde.  I just couldn’t trust myself
around them.  Not in any way.
     
     
    I
went into labor brushing down my horse.  Hyde stood at the stall door and
when the first contraction hit me, I dropped to one knee.  My water broke
and suddenly I was being carried at a near run for the house. 
    Jonas
carried me; Jordan was on the phone texting the go message to everyone who
needed to know. 
    In
the elevator, I whispered, “I weigh a ton, you can put me down, Jonas.” 
He stared down at me but otherwise ignored me.  Then he was moving toward
Theresa’s rooms. 
    “Wait,
I…I need to shower.  Look, I’m wet and it’s gross.  I need to
shower.  This is embarrassing enough.  Jonas.  Please.”  I
watched him grind his teeth as he turned toward my apartments. 
    Bianca
shouted, “What the hell are you doing here?  We were on our way to
the medical room.”
    “I
really need to shower, Bianca.  Please stand watch for a few
minutes.”  Jonas put me down in the bathroom and seemed to hold an
internal argument about whether to leave me alone.  “Jonas, five minutes
and I’ll go right to Theresa.”  He nodded once briskly and left. 
    I
heard him barking orders at Bianca and Padme.  I showered fast and by the
time I was wrapped in a towel, Padme had appeared with my hospital gown and
robe.  I wasn’t to wear anything under the gown. 
    One
glance at the urgent look on her face and I smiled.  “I’m ready.”
    Jordan
swept me up just outside my bedroom door and carried me down the hall.  He
set me down long enough for me to remove my robe then lifted me to the
bed.  Both of them went to stand at the door and I raised my brows. 
    “Um,
guys?  Can you stand behind me maybe?”  Jaws clenched, they
moved behind the hospital bed and watched carefully as I was hooked up to IV’s,
a fetal monitor, and my feet were placed in the stirrups. 
    Theresa
came in and checked my dilation beneath a tented sheet, giving the brothers a
strange look for staying.  My parents and the two female bodyguards
entered shortly after and heard Theresa announce, “This shouldn’t take long,
Ellie.  You’re already eight centimeters dilated.  This baby made up
her mind and that was it.  Sit tight while we prep the table for your
little girl.” 
    Everyone
was fussing over me and Mom insisted on braiding my hair so it didn’t stick to
my face.