Her attention turned to Matt and Stephanie, and once again she felt a pang at their obvious devotion to one another. Stephanie was a sweet girl and perfect for Matt. Toni just hoped Stephanie felt as much for Matt as he did her.
Then her gaze slid to Starla who stood several feet away from where Simon was conversing with Chief Maxwell. It escaped Toni why Starla had even shown up, but then the barbeque always got its fair share of people who invited themselves. Before the day was over, most of the town would probably end up coming by.
A series of shrill beeps split the air and a chorus of groans soon followed. The on duty guys, including Mike, scrambled up and headed for the inside of the station. He stopped on his way by and offered an apology. “I’m sorry, Toni. If I’m not back by the time you get ready to leave, can you get a ride home with Simon and A.J.?”
She nodded and he hurried off. A few minutes later, the fire truck left the station and the party resumed. She picked at the rest of her food, her appetite practically non-existent.
A curious tightening in her abdomen had her shifting in her seat to alleviate the discomfort. After a few minutes, she got up and threw her plate away in the garbage. She stood watching everyone else, fidgeting from one foot to another. She couldn’t explain the slight unease she felt.
In relief, she turned her attention to Matt, who stood and motioned for silence. Stephanie stood beside him, smiling shyly at the people now staring at her and Matt. Toni’s chest tightened and a smile found its way to her mouth. She knew what was coming.
“I have good news, folks,” Matt announced, a broad grin on his face. He glanced down at Stephanie and squeezed her hand. “Stephanie has agreed to marry me.”
The people gathered erupted in cheers and whistles and Matt and Stephanie were immediately swarmed as everyone came to offer congratulations, hugs and handshakes.
Toni stood back, her smile growing ever wider. It was wonderful to see Matt so happy. He found her gaze and she smiled even bigger. He returned her smile then mouthed I love you.
She blew him a kiss then wiped quickly at her eyes. When the crowd around them lessened, Toni walked over and enfolded Matt in her biggest hug. “I’m happy for you,” she whispered.
He gripped her harder.
Then she drew away and smiled at Stephanie. “Congratulations, Steph.” She hugged her future sister-in-law.
“Thank you, Toni. Are you sure you’re okay with this?” she asked anxiously, holding on to both of Toni’s hands as they drew apart.
“You’re kidding right?” she asked in mock surprise. “Anyone who can make him smile that big has my blessing.” She winked at Stephanie. “You two make a great couple.”
Stephanie relaxed and settled back into Matt’s side.
“Do you have a date yet?” Toni asked.
Stephanie looked up at Matt. “We thought next summer.”
Matt nodded his agreement.
Once again, Toni felt the discomfort of guilt. She had a feeling if it weren’t for the fact she was pregnant, they would marry much earlier. But as it was, they wouldn’t have a house to live in until she and the other guys moved out.
She turned away and excused herself then headed inside the station to go to the bathroom. A few minutes alone would do wonders before her smile cracked in front of everyone else. And she did have to pee awfully bad.
But when she pulled down her underwear and sat down on the toilet, she forgot all about everything but the faint smudges of blood in her panties.
Her stomach clenched and panic swelled in her throat. She closed her eyes and tried to remember the passage in her pregnancy book about blood. Damn it, there were only forty different reasons a pregnant woman could spot, but the one uppermost in her mind was miscarriage.
Chapter Thirteen
Toni walked outside, her eyes seeking A.J. When she zeroed in on his location, she made a beeline for him. Thankfully, he was on the edge of the crowd of people so they wouldn’t attract any attention.
She walked up to him and touched him on the arm. He stopped talking to the sheriff’s deputy and turned to her. Alarm flashed in his eyes. Was her fear that obvious?
Before he could voice any concern, she tightened her grip on his arm. “Can I speak to you a minute?” she asked in a low voice, hoping not to be overheard by anyone else.
He followed her over a few feet then immediately demanded to know what was wrong. She swallowed the rising panic and tried to speak calmly so as not to alarm him further. “Can you take me home?”
He frowned. “Sure, but what’s wrong?”
“I’m spotting,” she whispered.
His eyes widened. “Let me get Simon and Matt. We need to get you to the hospital.”
She caught his arm as he turned. “No.”
“Why not?” he demanded.
“Shhh,” she hissed. “I don’t want to make a big scene. I don’t want to ruin Matt and Stephanie’s moment, and Simon is busy talking to Starla. Can you just take me home? Simon can get a ride with either Starla or Matt.”
“I’m taking you to the hospital,” he said stubbornly.
She gritted her teeth. “First I want to go home so I can call my OB. It may be nothing. I’ve read that spotting is common with pregnant women. I just want to be safe.”
“Then come on,” he said, taking her arm and leading her toward the truck.
They climbed into the truck and A.J. backed up and roared off. “I don’t like this,” he said. “I should be taking you to the hospital.”
“And maybe you will. I just want to see what my doctor has to say. I just didn’t want to make a big to do in front of everyone back there.”
“Was it the fall?” he demanded.
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I don’t know anything at all.”
As if sensing how close she was to losing what semblance of control she had, he reached across and squeezed her hand tightly. “It’ll be okay, Toni.” But she could hear the uncertainty in his voice.
When they got home, A.J. ushered her in. “Sit down on the couch. I’ll bring you the phone.”
She sat down in the corner of the couch and curled her feet underneath her. Her hand smoothed over her stomach, feeling the bulge. Tears stung her eyelids, and she blinked rapidly to keep them at bay. She couldn’t lose her baby. She’d never even told Simon it was his.
A.J. sat down beside her and handed her the phone. He placed his hand on her back and rubbed up and down in an effort to comfort her as she punched in the number for her doctor.
After leaving a message with his answering service, she hung up and looked helplessly over at A.J. “I can’t lose this baby, A.J.”
“I know, sweetheart,” he said enfolding her in his arms. He rocked her back and forth rubbing up and down her back. “Are you sure you don’t want me to just take you in to the ER and get you checked out?”
She shook her head. “I’ll see what the doctor says first.”
The sound of the kitchen door opening had Toni wiping her eyes frantically. She looked over to see Simon standing by the bar staring at her and A.J.
“What the hell is going on?” he demanded. “Toni, why are you crying?”
Simon took in Toni’s tear-stained face and fear seized him. What was wrong? Why had she and A.J. left the barbeque? The phone ringing interrupted his question, and Toni quickly snatched up the receiver.
A.J. stood up and walked over as Toni murmured in low tones to whoever it was on the phone. He strained to hear, but A.J. spoke up in a whisper. “She started spotting.”
Simon caught his breath. “Why didn’t you take her to the hospital?”
“I tried,” A.J. said shaking his head. “She wanted to come here and call her doc first.”