Chapter 11

The chaos that erupted after the senator's wife showed up made her want to laugh. Eason was the big dog around here, but when the woman informed Eason that she was lunch buddies with the director of the FBI, Eason started hemming and hawing about stuff then he must have realized exactly what a mess he was in because he immediately began tossing around a bunch of yes, ma'ams and I'm sure this will be solved soon, ma'am.

Then she came over and sat with Haisley while she waited for the ambulance to arrive. Haisley wasn't ashamed of who she was, and she'd never really wanted to be anyone else, but sitting next to this woman, she realized how unpolished she was.

“Hello, my name is Ginger Unger. I’m staying with you to make sure you’re okay.”

“You don’t have to.”

"Yes, I do. Davey wouldn't let me live it down if I abandoned you. Just don't ever tell him I called him Davey. He says it makes him sound less serious, and as a senator, he has to be serious. "

A laugh escaped Haisley, and she slapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s funny. So, dear, what is your name.”

“Haisley Beale. But I’m no one special.”

“Oh, trust me, you are. If you have a SEAL member protecting you, you’re special. You may not think you are, but you are.”

Haisley felt like a fraud. “He doesn’t really know me. I’m living here because his parents took me in when I ran into a bit of trouble. Then they passed away, and he just showed up to clean out their house. It’s not like he wants to protect me.”

Ginger put her finger on her lips and looked like she was thinking. "Let me tell you a little something about him. If that man wanted you gone from this house, he would have no problem getting you out of here. I shouldn't probably tell you this, but Davey is alive today because a group of six SEALs saved him and twenty-three of his Navy buddies. Those SEALs did stuff that is impossible. They did what twenty-four men couldn't. If a SEAL is helping you, it's because you have a purpose. You may not know it, but you are special."

The ambulance arrived, and Haisley felt bad that they'd come out. She was really okay. All this attention brought a load of guilt and shame. She wanted to tell them to leave, but Peach was there, demanding that they look at her before they examined the man who'd attacked her.

Haisley shook her head. “Really, I’m fine.”

“Let me get your blood pressure and see how your heart sounds.”

She swallowed over the fear and wondered if he would be able to hear the baby’s heartbeat. She had to tell them about the baby.

“How are you feeling? ”

“I’m really okay. It’s just—“ she glanced around, seeing Sheriff Eason wasn’t around and it was only Peach, Ginger, and the EMTs. “I-I’m having a baby.”

The EMT blinked. “Not right now, right?”

She shook her head. “No. Thank goodness.”

“Okay, well, with a pregnant woman, we really want to bring you in to make sure you’re okay and that the baby is okay. We don’t want anything to happen to you or the baby.”

“I just feel weird.”

The EMT shook his head. “That’s totally normal. A lot of women feel like they don’t deserve to have help.”

Ginger squeezed her hand. “You do deserve to be helped. But I understand if you think you don’t need an ambulance. The ambulance rides can be expensive. My husband and I have a charity for people who need medical transport to the hospital. I’ll meet you there and fill everything out so you aren’t charged.”

Haisley shook her head. “Oh no. I can’t?—“

Ginger put her hand on Haisley’s arm. “Yes, you can. If anything happens to that baby, I’d never hear the end of it. Davey will be beside himself once he learns that you are pregnant.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Unger,” Peach said.

Ginger flashed Peach a huge smile. “Think nothing of it. We’d do anything for you.”

Haisley couldn't believe so much was being done for her. No one had ever cared this much other than Ellen and John. They had taken her in and treated her like she mattered. Being treated like a human was different. It brought up emotions she didn't know what to do with. Was this how life was supposed to be?