Acting On Temptation (Temptations) Page 12

  She moans, “Yeah well I shouldn’t be so sweet to you since you didn’t tell me that Linc was going to propose to Gabby tonight.”

  I chuckle, “Yeah, he threatened my manhood and I know how attached to that you are, so I felt it vital to keep the secret.”

  She looks up at me, “I guess if you were protecting your man-bits then I can forgive you. Did Cade know?”

  I nod, “Yeah, just you, Gabby and Daria didn’t know.”

  She pops me on the arm, “Asshole.”

  I spin around walking her backward to the bed, “Awe sweetie don’t be pissed, I’ll make it up to you several times, a few time naughty and a few times nice.”

  She giggles pulling her shirt over her head, “Well then you better get started this is going to be a long night.”

  ***

  Christmas morning we both wake up very satisfied. I mean I think some sort of Christmas miracle happened last night because I don’t think I’ve ever been able to get off that many times in that short amount of time.

  She rolls over and smiles, “Merry Christmas.”

  I kiss her and mumble against her lips, “Merry Christmas.”

  She giggles, “We better get up while I’m still able to walk.”

  I laugh, “Oh really. Well am I at least out of the doghouse for keeping secrets?”

  She looks over her shoulder as she’s getting up, “Oh yeah.”

  We both dress quickly and walk out into the living room, my parents are both already having coffee.

  My mom looks up, “Merry Christmas you two. Are we ready to open gifts?”

  We nod and sit down on the couch. I look over at Anna, “Sorry to disappoint you, but I didn’t get you an engagement ring.”

  She chuckles, “Okay I guess I’ll forgive you.”

  My mom hands us our stockings, yes Anna already has her own stocking. I hand Anna her gifts from me and she hands me a couple from her. We all begin to open.

  My Dad lets out a cheer, “Yeah, I got a gift card for Cablea’s.”

  My mom rolls her eyes, “Great…”

  We open all of the things my parents got us, mostly gift cards because we are poor college kids. All of a sudden I hear Anna let out a scream, “OH MY GOD RUSS!” She’s jumping up and down. She opened the tickets to Bama Jam.

  She still jumping up and down, “This is awesome…I can’t wait. You know Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton are both going to be there this year?”

  I nod, “Yes, sweetie that’s the reason I got them.”

  She’s still giddy, “Thank you I love it so much and I love the perfume, it’s my favorite too. Now open yours.”

  I open the cologne she got me, and the new wallet. I open the next thing and it’s a gold ID bracelet turning it over it reads, “Its Only Yours.” I know the double meaning behind it, she means her heart and that beautiful pink…

  “Russ.” My mom breaks me from my thoughts. I know I’m grinning.

  I look up and clear my throat, “Ma’am?”

  “Well, what is it?”

  “Oh an ID bracelet.”

  Mom smiles, “Well, let me see it.”

  I hand it to her and she smiles, “Oh that’s so sweet Anna.”

  My Dad looks over, “Well, what does it say?”

  My Moms smiles, “It’s only yours…talking about her heart. That is so sweet Anna.”

  Anna smiles, “Thank you.” Then she looks at me with that evil temptress grin.

  I lean over and kiss her cheek, “Thank you.” I whisper in her ear, “Oh and I know what else is only mine.”

  She laughs, “Your welcome.”

  A few minutes later we take my Mom out to see her gift, she starts crying. She’s wanted one of those for years and my dad finally made it come true. Anna and mom both ooh and aah over the craftsmanship of the wood work. After that we spend the rest of the day hanging out around the house, until Anna’s dad comes over for a brief visit before he had to head home.

  Chapter 31Anna

  “Bye Daddy, I’ll see you soon okay?”

  My dad hugs me, “Okay. Are you guys coming home for Spring Break this year?”

  “Well, we were thinking about it. Well going down to the beach anyway for a few days.”

  He nods, “Okay sounds good just keep me posted.”

  I’m wrapped up in a hug with him, “Yes sir.” I start to choke on the tears I’ve been holding back, “I’m so glad you came up here Daddy.”

  He holds me tighter, “Me too. Well, now you and your sister get to plan a wedding.” He chuckles.

  I laugh, “Yeah I guess we do.”

  We let go of each other and he looks at Russ extending his hand, “Well Russ, it was great to finally meet you. Thank you for taking such good care of my baby here.”

  Russ is still shaking his hand, “Oh I try, and she can be trouble sometimes.”

  I pop him on the chest, “Hey mister.”

  My dad is laughing as I finish walking him to the car. I look over at him, “Hey keep us posted on everything else, you know the crap with Mom and all.”

  Dad nods, “I’ll keep you posted on some things. But I don’t want you and your sister drug into the middle of all of this.”

  I nod as he gets in the car and I watch him drive away. Russ is waiting for me at the door to the house. He pulls me into a huge hug whispering in my ear, “I love you so much sweetie.”

  I smile, “I love you too.”

  “What do you want to do tonight?”

  I lay my head on his chest, “Can we just snuggle in your bed and watch movies, maybe eat a sub or something? I’m tired and I’ve had all the Christmas food I can stand.”

  Russ laughs, “Sounds great to me, what kind of movie do you want to watch? A scary one so you can snuggle up to me?”

  I chuckle, “No, I really want to watch one of my favorite Christmas movies, if that’s okay.”

  He fake rolls his eyes, “I suppose, as long as it isn’t that bell ringing angel wing movie.”

  I bark out a loud laugh, “You mean, It’s A Wonderful Life? No, that movie gets on my nerves.”

  He chuckles, “Well then what is it?”

  “Well there is actually two of them. Don’t laugh, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and Ernest Saves Christmas.”

  He of course starts laughing, “I love those movies too.”

  I jump a little, “Yay, Gabby used to always bitch when I would make her watch them with me.”

  He tilts his head back, “It takes a very smart person to appreciate Ernest.”

  I smile, “I know right?”

  ***

  A couple of hours later we sit here surrounded by junk food, subs and sodas. We are both laughing a Chevy Chase, I swear this movie never gets old.

  The squirrel just leapt out of the Christmas tree, when we hear the house phone ringing.

  A minute later I hear Amy scream. Russ and I both jump off the bed and run down the hall to the living room. Russ rushes to his Mom, “What’s wrong?”

  His Dad is standing too at this point, “Amy, what’s wrong honey?”

  She looks to me and then to them. “There was a bad accident, someone lost control of their car and swerved hitting Marshall, Linc and Gabby head on. That was Vivy, we need to get to the hospital.”

  I feel like the room is tunneling out. I can’t breathe. I can hear Russ, “Anna breathe baby, come on breathe.”

  I finally catch my breath as we are running out to the car. Hugh is trying to stay calm and drive. I look at Amy, “What did Vivy say? Did she say anything about Gabby?”

  She looks back at me, “No Sweetie, she was on her way too. She hadn’t gotten there yet.”

  I nod, “Oh.”

  Luckily we are only minutes away from the hospital but even those minutes felt like eternity. Hugh brings the car to a screeching halt in a parking space outside the ER. We go running in like crazy people. Luckily security leads us right back to where the family is waiting. Mary is sobbing. Hugh and Amy rush ov
er to her, she looks up at them and falls apart.

  I can’t hear what they are saying but Hugh drops to his knees. I’m beginning to freak out a little, “Where’s Gabby? I need to find Gabby.”

  Russ grabs my hand and we walk to where his family is sitting with his Aunt and Dad sobbing. Amy looks up, “Anna, Gabby is getting checked out she was in the back seat. Linc is in critical condition in surgery right now.”

  We both nod and then it hits Russ, “Wait what about Uncle Marshall?”

  Amy shakes her head, “He was gone by the time they got here. It was pronounced when the ambulance arrived with him.”

  I need to see my sister, “I’m going to find Gabby and make someone let me to her.”

  Amy looks up, “Russ, honey go help Anna find out about Gabby, please. If I get any news on Linc I’ll let you know.”

  Russ nods and we walk off, I can tell he’s so worried about Linc and upset about his Uncle. They’d just made such progress in their relationship. I’m tucked under Russ’s arm when we get to the E.R. nurses station.

  I step forward, “Ma’am, I’m Anna Lewis my sister Gabriella Lewis was just brought in a little while ago. Can I please see her?”

  The nurse looks something up on the computer, “You’re her sister?”

  I nod, “Yes ma’am, I’m the only family she has here. Her fiancé is in surgery.”

  She nods, “Okay come this way. Now she’s been sedated a little. She was in pretty big shock when she came in. So she may sleep through your visit, but I’ll get Dr. Blain and let him talk to you.”

  I walk into a small room with the curtains drawn, when I look at Gabby’s face, its cut and scratched. There are stitches and bandages all over her arms. I start sobbing, I run to her side, “Gabby?”

  She looks up at me and groggily says, “Anna? Where are Linc and Marshall?”

  I look at her, so sad, I can’t tell her. “They are checking them out right now.”

  She nods and doses back off to sleep. I look over at Russ shaking my head, “I just couldn’t.”

  He holds me close to his chest, stroking my hair, “Do you want me to call your Dad?”

  Oh my God I hadn’t even thought about Dad. I shake my head, “No it needs to come from me, will you stay here in case the doctor comes in and tell him I’ll be right back.”

  He nods, “Yes Sweetie.”

  Chapter 32Russ

  Standing here looking at Gabby all cut, beaten and bruised I’m scared to think what Linc looks like. I’m scared to find out what his condition is. I can’t even think about losing him. What if Linc dies, he’s my best friend, and he’s my cousin and basically my brother. I love him; if something were to happen to him I’d be lost. Gabby would be devastated as would my Aunt Mary. Poor Aunt Mary, her world is falling apart. God Uncle Marshall, he and my Dad were getting along so much better and he’d just apologized to me for everything he’d said. I feel something wet on my face and I wipe it. I realize I’m crying.

  About that time Anna steps back in the room, “He’s on his way. I felt bad I really didn’t have much to tell him about Gabby. Has the doctor still not been in?”

  I shake my head unable to speak; my world is in such limbo.

  Anna wraps herself around me and we both have a good cry. She looks at me with those big green eyes, “Russ, if something happens to Linc, I don’t think she’ll be able to handle it. He completes her.”

  I nod, “I know Sweetie, and I’d be lost too.”

  She looks up at me, “Oh God Linc I’m so sorry. I’m so inconsiderate. Your cousin is in surgery, your uncle died. All I can think about is my sister and she’s going to be okay, I guess. I’ll find out whenever the doctor gets in here.”

  I look down at her, “Baby its okay and we’re all losing it a little.”

  About that time the door slides open, “Ms. Lewis, I’m Dr. Blain.”

  We nod and Anna shakes his hand, “Can you tell me anymore about my sister than what I see right here?”

  He smiles, “Okay she suffered several cuts and gashes, and her cheek bone is fractured. But everything with her looks really good. She was in the back seat, so she took the least amount of impact.”

  Anna nods, “Okay, um we know that her soon to be father in law passed away can you tell us anything about her fiancé? This is his cousin.”

  “Mr. Addison is in surgery. He sustained some broken bones and a little internal bleeding, even though he’s in critical condition the surgeon is very optimistic.”

  I’m nodding, “Is there any worry about him being paralyzed or anything?”

  The doctor looks at us, “No he and Ms. Lewis are out of the woods on that. They should both be fully recovered and doing well by the time the baby gets here.”

  I look at Anna whose mouth is hanging open like mine, the doctor looks like he just told a government secret.

  He looks at us, “I’m taking it you didn’t know that Ms. Lewis is pregnant?”

  Anna shakes her head, “No. I don’t think she did either. Um is the baby…is the baby okay?”

  He nods his head, “I’m sorry you found out like this, I’m even sorrier that she’s going to find out like this. The baby is fine, strong healthy heartbeat and good movement. She’s eleven weeks and two days from the ultrasound we did. We were going to wake her up soon and talk to her.”

  Anna looks at him and gives a soft smile, “Um if you don’t mind can we let her rest until we find out about Linc’s surgery and I would like to be the one to tell her about the baby. She may freak out a little. Also, since I don’t think they know can we not tell anyone else. This may be a little bit too much for Mary, since she just lost her husband, also our Dad will be here soon and I’m sure Gabby would like to tell him herself; after her and Linc both know.”

  He nods, “I understand sibling love, I have a couple myself. I’ll instruct the staff not to say anything, that the news would be best coming from you.” He pats us on the shoulders, “I’ll let you know when Mr. Addison is out of surgery.” With that he leaves the room.

  After the door shuts Anna looks at me with huge eyes, “Do you think they knew?”

  “Linc and Gabby? No, I think we’d of heard the commotion.”

  “Holy crap Russ, how do I tell her all of this? I mean this is good, but at such an awful time.”

  About that time my mom comes in the door. Anna and I give each other the look like we aren’t saying anything. My mom walks in and brushes Gabby’s hair back from her face looking back at Anna, “Oh Anna baby I’m so sorry, I know you’re worried about her.”

  Anna nods, “The doctor says she’ll be okay she just has a lot of healing to do. He feels like Linc will be okay too.”

  Mom nods, “Yeah, they told Mary that they were very optimistic on Linc. But poor Mary has lost the love of her life. She’s happy that the kids are going to be okay, but I’m afraid she’s going to be lost without him.”

  Anna looks up at me knowing that she’s thinking the same thing, we’d be lost without each other. She gives a small smile, “I need to go call Cade.”

  I nod, “I’ll stay here in case she wakes up.”

  Anna nods and steps out of the door. I look over at Gabby, wow she and Linc are going to be parents, they just got engaged- holy crap this has been a crazy Christmas.

  Mom looks over at me, “How are you two doing? This is a lot for both of you. Did someone call their Dad?”

  I shrug, “We are doing okay, holding it together. Anna called their dad a little bit ago. He’s on his way.”

  My mom nods, “Ok sweetie.”

  I look over at her, “How’s dad doing? I mean he and Uncle Marshall were getting so close? I mean Uncle Marshall had just apologized to me the other night for all the Sabrina stuff.”

  She nods sadly, “Your dad is taking it pretty rough right now. He and Mary are leaning on each other. I think he’s taking it better than if they had still been resentful toward each other. He knows that his brother loved him and that his brothe
r knew how much he loved him. I think maybe God was trying to make sure they’d healed their relationship before this happened. So there were no regrets.”

  I nod, “Yeah, maybe you’re right.”

  She nods, “I’m going to go back and check on everyone else, and when Linc is out I’ll let you know.”

  I nod as she kisses the top of my head and leaves.

  Chapter 33Anna

  Once I’m finally off the phone with Cade and Daria. I walk back into the room where Gabby is and Russ is sitting with his face in his hands. I walk over to the chair beside him, “Hey baby.” He looks up at me and has been crying. I can’t take that, I start crying and we just sit there holding each other for a while.

  He finally pulls back, “So did you get up with Daria or Cade?”

  I nod, “Yeah, they’ll be here as soon as they can make the drive.”

  He nods, “Sorry, I was so upset when you came in.”

  I lay my head on his chest, “It’s okay. You are like me you’re worried about everyone right now.”

  “Yeah, I mean. All I could think is what if that had been us, what if I was sitting here while you were in surgery or you were sitting here while I was in surgery. I just don’t think I could take that.”

  “Hey, but it wasn’t okay. Gabby is going to be fine, Linc is gonna be fine and the baby will be fine.”

  He shakes his head, “I just still can’t believe they’re going to be parents.”

  I shake my head too, “I know, I can’t imagine.”

  He looks at me dead serious, “What if it was us? What would you want to do?”

  I look at him with confusion, “Baby, what’s going on in that head of yours? I mean I hope you don’t want us to have a baby just because they are. That’s just what my family needs a third pregnant person.” I let out a laugh, “My Mom is going to be a new mom and Grandma all around the same time. Hope she likes them apples.”

  Russ snickers and looks at me, “No what I mean is, if that did happen to us accidentally, would you be okay with it?”

  I shrug, “It wouldn’t be my first plan, but the day I told you that I was allergic to latex and we couldn’t use condoms, I knew there would be risks with us having sex. Even if we had been able to use condoms they don’t always work. So, yes I knew then that if we happened to get pregnant, well you and I would figure it out.”