By the time we got home, Gerard had dinner ready and on the dining table, formally set.
"Dinner is served," he said and then retreated back into the kitchen, wanting as little interaction with the family as he could manage. Somehow, I wondered why. Maybe it was because he had a cushy job and didn't want to lose it. Of maybe he had a socialization problem, too. But I pushed the thought from my mind, feeling tired.
"Mom, I'm going to go lay down, if you don't mind," I said, taking a small bag of groceries to the kitchen table. It was light. Mom wouldn't let me lift much. I took the orange juice out of the bag and poured myself a glass, and then placed the container in the refrigerator.
"Okay, dear." Mom set the bag she was carrying on the table and kissed the top of my head. "I'll bring dinner in to you in a bit."
I smiled, shaking my head. "No, Mom. It's okay. I'll come out and eat after a while."
She slid a container of apple juice into the refrigerator, along with some lettuce and tomatoes. "It's no trouble, hon. Get some rest."
Grateful for her understanding, I headed down the hallway, eager to get some sleep. In this jump, I felt exhausted more than anything. It must have been the pregnancy. I went into Shay's bedroom and then locked it behind me, glad for some time alone.
"Hey."
I smiled. So much for the time alone. When I turned around, Stellan was laying on Shay's bed again. "You really like sleeping with me, don't you?" I realized how it sounded but the words were already out of my mouth.
He burst out laughing. "Well, technically, we haven't slept together—"
"Oh, you know what I mean!" I cut him off as I set my purse on the chair and then sat on the edge of the bed. "Stellan, I'm really tired right now and I don't feel like talking. Okay? I don't know if it's from the pregnancy, the shot, or both."
"Come here." He slid over and patted the bed beside him. "Lay down and let me take care of you."
"And how do you plan on doing that?" I smirked as I curled up next to him. "It seems that I keep putting my foot in my mouth every time I talk to you."
He chuckled, wrapping his arms around me. "That's okay. I just like teasing you." He shrugged. "You can't help it if your mouth doesn't have a filter."
I laughed, jabbing him playfully with my elbow. "And neither do you."
"Apparently. You must bring it out of me," he teased. "Now. Get some sleep and I'll wake you if the house burns down."
I closed my eyes. "Yes. See that you do." This time, my hip was hurting from the shot, so I rolled over and laid my head in the crook of his arm, and my hand on his muscled chest. Although I would never tell him, he really was quite sexy. Ooppss! I suddenly remembered that he could read my mind, but he made no attempt to tease me, giving me my thoughts.
His breathing came faster as he held my hand to his chest, but the rest of his body didn't register the difference, not opening his eyes. "Are you hurting?"
I shrugged. "A little on my hip where I got the shot."
He opened an eye and looked down at me. "How's your stomach?"
I nodded against his chest. "It's fine."
"Good," he said, nodding against my head and then surprised me by kissing the top of my head. "Get some sleep. I'll keep you safe."
"While you're sleeping?" I chuckled. "I think not."
"Sshhh...." he said, snuggling his head against mine.
***
When I woke, it was dark and Stellan was still there. I raised up and looked over at the table, and a tray holding a plate with a metal cover was there.
"Shay's mother brought it in for you," Stellan said, raising up. "You feel like eating something?"
I nodded just as my stomach growled. "I think my stomach just spoke for me."
"Well, I think you'd better get something to eat and then you can lay back down, if you like."
I nodded, knowing that I was going to be spending a lot of time in bed on this jump. I sat up on the edge of the bed and swayed, feeling a bit lightheaded. "Man! What time is it? I got some sleep and I still feel groggy."
Stellan shrugged. "It's probably from the pregnancy. Go get something to eat. It might make you feel better. I'll help you over."
I scoffed, shaking my head. "I can walk, thank you very much. Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm an invalid."
He raised an eyebrow. "I never said you were. Come here." He scooped me into his arms, carried me to the table, and set me down in one of the chairs. Then he sat in the other.
I laughed. "I can just see it now. Someone comes in while you're carrying me and sees me floating through the air. I wonder how I'd explain that one."
He laughed and then looked across the table at me, raising an eyebrow. "I can only do that when no one is around." Then he waved his hand over the plate. "Go ahead and eat before it gets cold."
I nodded. "When did she bring it in?"
"Not long ago." He propped his arm on the table, watching me. "She also kissed you on the top of your head and pulled the blankets over you."
I chuckled. "While you were here?"
Stellan nodded. "Yes, but she couldn't see me."
"She would have had a heart attack if she could." I laughed. "Just when Shay is getting back into her mother's good graces again, she sees her sleeping with a man."
Stellan raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?"
I scoffed. "You know what I mean."
He shrugged. "We can't sleep together anyway. Not with you jumping into different bodies."
I laughed. "Well, that's good to know." I shook my head in disbelief that he would even say it. "Umm... this smells good. I wonder what it is." I lifted the cloche from the plate, revealing a salad with roasted chicken and potatoes as the scent of chicken filled the room. "Wow! This smells delicious!"
"Looks good, too," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Go ahead and eat."
He didn't have to tell me twice. I took a bite of the chicken and moaned in delight. "Oh, this is fantastic!" I quickly chewed and swallowed, and then took another bite. I was suddenly so famished that I didn't care how I looked while I ate.
Stellan laughed. "Well, I'm glad you're enjoying your meal."
"I am," I said between bites. "Don't worry."
"I can see that."
Tap, tap, tap!
"Now you've done it," I said in my mind to Stellan "They're going to have me committed for sure now!"
Stellan laughed, enjoying my predicament a bit too much.
When I opened the door, Renn was on the other side. "May I come in?"
I nodded, motioning toward the chair that Stellan was sitting in. "Sure! Go right ahead!"
Stellan frowned as he rose from the chair and sat on the bed.
Renn sat and looked around, a crease forming between his eyes. "Were you just talking to someone?"
Stellan burst out laughing, knowing that the tables had just been turned.
I frowned at him. "No. I had the radio on... but then turned it off... a minute ago." I cringed internally, having no idea where the stereo was in Shay's room.
Reading my mind, Stellan silently crossed the room and placed his hand on the stereo setting on a shelf.
I nodded my thanks and then turned toward Renn. "So, what's up?" I sat in the other chair and resumed eating again.
Renn sighed, propping his elbows on the table. "Mom told me what the doctor said."
I nodded, finishing chewing the chicken in my mouth and swallowed.
He tilted his head to the side. "Are you okay?"
I nodded. "I'm fine." I took a sip of the tea setting on the tray. "Maybe it's my punishment for having thought of having an abortion in the first place."
Stellan scoffed, turning his head.
"You really don't believe that, do you?" Renn asked. "Shay, you're doing the right thing. Believe that."
I nodded, knowing that was how Shay felt. It was funny that I could feel my own feelings as well as hers. It made me wonder how much of this she would remember when I jumped. "Thanks. But it's pretty ironic that I may lose the baby now when I was planning on having an abortion in the first place. Don't you think?"
Renn shook his head. "No, I don't. Things happen." He looked over at me and smiled. "Shay, I'm really proud of you. You've decided to take the shots and you're resting. You're doing everything you can to save the baby." He sighed, looking toward the window and then back into my eyes. "And if something happens to the baby, it's not your fault. You did everything you could."
I nodded. "I want to believe that."
"Believe it," Renn replied and then reached over and gave my free hand a gentle squeeze. "Let me know what I can do to help, and I'll do it without question."
I smiled returning the squeeze. "Renn, you're a good big brother. I'm glad I have you."
He returned the smile as he let my hand go. "And you're a good sister, too."
I scoffed. "I'm so sorry, but I haven't been lately. But I've had so much going on—"
"Ssshhhh," Renn cut me off. "You're being a good sister by taking care of my little niece or nephew. And right now, seeing you happy will be the best thing you can do for me."
I nodded. "Thanks, Renn. I appreciate that."
"Now, finish eating, and I'll leave you alone." He rose from his seat, but I stopped him.
"No. Don't go." I motioned toward the chair. "Sit back down and tell me what's going on with you in college."
"Seriously?" Renn smirked, raising an eyebrow. "You really want to know?"
I nodded as one corner of my lips curled into a smile. "Yes, of course! Besides. You'll keep me company. Now spill."
As Renn told me about graduate school and his plans after graduation, I realized how lucky Shay really was to have such a good big brother. And for the first time in a very long time, I remembered the meaning of family.