Chapter 136

Miles

It’s been eight months since Asher disappeared. It was January now, and still nothing. Skylar was eight months pregnant, and everyone knew. She still searched for him. Once a month, the others came down like clockwork at the end of the month and searched for him. They kept expanding the search area. Three months ago, another part of the wreck was found, but no Asher. Skylar still held onto the belief that he was alive, and we let her.

After she told us she was pregnant, two days later, Freya got a house helper for her. She was in her fifties; her name was Hilda. She was kind and understanding. No one mentioned to her I was gay, so one day when Liam was here and he kissed me and she saw, she smiled. I told her, and she said everyone deserves happiness, and that was it. She took good care of Sky when we weren’t around, and that was all we needed.

For the first five months of her pregnancy, no one knew; she kept it hidden. For doctor’s visits, it was always in the evening, and Dr. Crawford was discreet. Freya and I were always with her. When she hit five months and started to really show, someone found out and posted it online. We weren’t fast enough, but she saw it first and sent Chris after them. Then the accusations started. Havenwood Times posted an article saying she had Asher murdered, and she got pissed. She sued them for defamation and won; after that, nothing, everyone stayed quiet.

Daphne, Aunt Darla, and I were handling the scholarship committee. Christmas was quiet for us. I moved back in with her because she needed me. Liam was okay with it; he spent half his time here and half at home. Martha came to visit for a few days, and it was a change of pace. She made Sky laugh, which she needed because she had stopped smiling. The sisters from the orphanage came too. After the pregnancy announcement, they visited. The visit was good for her health.

I was sitting in the living room when she walked in. “Hey, baby girl, how was your day?” I asked as she dropped her bags and sat down.

“Like every other day. This one won’t stop moving,” she said, pointing to her stomach, and I laughed.

“What do you want him to do, stay still?”

“Mrs. Rhys. Welcome home. Would you like a drink?” Hilda asked from the doorway.

“Some water, please, Hilda,” she said wearily.

“I’ll be back,” Hilda said, leaving.

Suddenly, she sat up and slapped her hand to her forehead.

“Shit… I forgot about her,” she said in a whisper.

“Who?” I asked, confused.

“Kira, she’s right where Emelda was,” she said, and I waved my hand.

“She’s okay, still…” I stopped when Hilda came in and handed her the water.

“Thank you, Hilda.”

After Hilda left, I continued, “She’s still alive, almost mad, but alive. You weren’t in any position to deal with her. Leon told Samuel, and Samuel told me, so I had them continue.”

“Thank you, Miles. I swear, when Liam marries you, I’m throwing you the biggest wedding ever, bigger than mine,” she said, smiling, and I shook my head.

“Miles, we’ll continue to plan Freya’s proposal party. I want them to get engaged before this one gets here,” she said.

“Okay, I’ll call Chris and have him set a date. He’ll give us a list of people he wants to invite. Freya’s side?” I asked.

“Just me and the sisters. She became close to them, also her friends from her baking classes.”

“Okay, we’ll do that.”

I called and demanded a date, saying it was Sky’s order. He said Saturday and gave me a list of names, so Sky and I prepared. Sky called Lana and the others while I made the local calls. On Friday, Sky’s house was full, and so was my place. On Friday, Chris said he was taking Freya out on Saturday morning and would be back later in the evening, which would give us time to prepare without her seeing it.

I was going over the decorations when Olivia and Lana came to me.

“How’s she holding up?” Lana asked.

“Still holding onto hope, but other than that, she keeps complaining because the baby keeps moving around.”

“Oh, how I wish we were about to celebrate this under normal circumstances, but life has a way. How is the baby?” Olivia asked.

“He’s good, heartbeat, growing, everything is fine with him. Dr. Crawford said she needed to reduce her salt intake. I told Hilda. When Sky found out, she was complaining, but I told her to suck it up.”

“I swear nothing gets past you,” Olivia said, laughing as she grabbed a box of decorations and headed out.

“Miles, I’m leaving. We’re heading over to the station. Going over some notes for the next search,” Lana said.

“Okay, be back in time, all of you, or I’ll kick your asses,” I yelled after her.

She flipped me the bird and walked out the door.

By nine that evening, we were all standing out back and watched as Chris proposed. Liam was standing beside me.

“You’re next,” he said quietly, and I looked at him.

“Baby, if you’re going to propose, it better be grand, or I’m saying no.”

“Oh, of course, it will be. You just confirmed to me that you have thought about getting married,” he said, walking away from me and heading towards Chris and Freya to congratulate them, and I was left frozen to the spot. Shit, I mumbled under my breath.

I kept my eyes on Sky the entire night. I saw her talking to the sisters, and then she was talking to Freya. I was about to get a drink when I saw her going towards the house. I caught Liam’s eyes and nodded towards Sky, meaning I was going with her, and he nodded.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“Washroom, Miles,” she said, laughing.

“Stop laughing, hurry up, I’m waiting here,” I said, standing on the patio. I knew Samuel, Leon, Ron, and the rest of the security detail were stationed throughout the house. Samuel and Leon haven’t left her side. They always had eyes on her. I was standing there checking my messages when she walked back out.

“Miles?” she said in a whisper.

When I looked up, her face was pale. When I looked down, I saw the blood running down her legs. Shit.

“LANA, FREYA?”

I rushed over to her and picked her up. I heard the running; they were behind me. When I rushed in, Samuel and Leon were there.

“Hospital now. Freya, call Dr. Crawford.”

“I’m calling; we’re behind you,” I heard her say.

I got into the car with her and held her hands. Liam jumped in the front seat, and Samuel took off.