Three In One (Teresa Book 1) Read online

  “If you choose to have this child, this is what you must do for the next 7 months.” Dr. Levine interrupted her train of thought. “You’ll be on bed rest until you give birth. Every day I am going to have to monitor you and the fetus. If circumstances progress along nicely, then maybe I won’t have to see you every day.”

  “That would mean moving up here to Anchorage.” Jackson chimed in.

  “Unless you all have a helicopter?” Dr. Levine asked. Some of his patients did.

  Teresa shook her head.

  “Ok then yes it would mean living up here for awhile.” Dr. Levine agreed with Jackson. “The reason why I have to monitor you so much –“

  “Is to see if the fetus’ growth is tearing my uterus.” Teresa completed for him.

  “Yes. Exactly.” Dr. Levine said replied surprised by her understanding of her situation. “I may have to move the fetus around to make sure it doesn’t do that. Those procedures would probably take many hours and it has been awhile since I have done them. Most ob/gyn’s don’t do it because of the risk to the patient. And I probably shouldn’t be doing so either. But if you want to have this child, I will do everything in my power to make sure you both live.”

  “What chance does she have for living if she gives birth?” Henry asked.

  “Ten % optimistically, three % pessimistically. With the abortion her chance of survival is 98%. Usually back alley abortions account for the last two %.”

  “The baby?” Henry continued with his question.

  “One percent chance it would live.”

  “Why so low?” Jackson asked. “What would happen?”

  “She would hemorrhage profusely. The baby would drown in her blood. That is why I must monitor her so closely. So that at the first hint of bleeding she’ll be taken care of.”

  “Teresa, I think –“Jackson began

  “How would I pay – “ Teresa interrupted.

  “Don’t worry about that.” Jackson interrupted her. “Don’t think about the logistics right now. Not until you make your decision. Then the three of us will figure it out.”

  “You don’t have to make a decision right now. Take some time. But not too much. Overnight maybe?”

  Teresa nodded her head. “Yes doctor.” she rasped, her throat and mouth parched. She was feeling so overwhelmed by what she had to do. It would be a life changing decision no matter how she decided. What was she going to do?

  “Do you know who the father is?” he asked.

  Henry, to her left, began to squirm in his seat. Jackson, to her right, sat up straighter and leaned forward. Teresa’s heart sank at having to have this conversation right now.

  “I don’t know who the father is.” Teresa answered reluctantly.

  “What are you talking about Teresa?” Jackson exclaimed. “I’m the father, right?”

  Teresa took a shaky breath in. “I-I don’t know.” she stuttered. “Henry could be the father too.”

  “Henry!” Jackson proclaimed. “How could Henry be the father?”

  “Don’t you remember Jackson, you were sharing me with him these past two months. Because I didn’t think I could get pregnant, we never used protection. Just like we never did.”

  “Sharing?” Jackson asked with quiet fury. “Y-yes.” Teresa answered already afraid of his tone and the course their conversation seemed to have taken. “You’ve been sharing me with Henry right? He said that you were best friends and you shared everything. And that included me.”

  Jackson looked over at Henry, who sat very still in his seat looking at the floor.

  “You son of a bitch.” Jackson said softly, seething with anger.

  “I don’t understand.” Teresa said. She looked at Henry and he smiled bashfully at her. He leaned forward, towards her and said, “Jackson was never sharing you with me.” She listened with confusion. “I don’t understand.” she said again. “Did you … you told me that …” Henry gently put a lock of her hair behind her ear.

  “I know.” Henry conceded looking at her. “I told you that so you would sleep with me. I knew you wouldn’t sleep with me if Jackson hadn’t given you permission. I lied to you.”

  Chapter 53

  The walk home was quiet. Nobody said anything to anybody. Everyone quickly made their way up to the hotel suite. Teresa went into the bedroom she shared with Jackson. She really just wanted a shower at this moment. But she could hear that wasn’t going to happen.

  “How could you do this?” Jackson yelled at his best friend.

  “What do mean how could I do this?” Henry repeated. “Do you know the woman we are talking about? We were both there for her these past six months. I fell in love with her just as much as you did.”

  “Yes I can understand that.” Jackson said. “But you lied to her. You told her that I would ‘share’ her. What does she think of me now? I’m just like the Admiral.”

  “No she doesn’t. You’re nothing like the Admiral. Don’t over exaggerate. I’m pretty sure she knew it was just a lie we were both using in order to be with one another. She felt like she needed your permission to do so.”

  “Yeah I wonder why she thought she did but my best friend didn’t.”

  “Because I love her Jackson.” Henry tried to keep from yelling. “I’m not about to let go of her.”

  “Even though your best friend –“

  “Yes even though my best friend also loves her and wants to be with her. I don’t understand why we can’t make this work.” Henry said with irritation.

  “Make it work?! How do we make it work?” Jackson shook with anger.

  “We’ve been making it work for the past two months.”

  “No, you two have been ‘making it work’ for the last two months.” His anger nearly choking him. “I, myself, have done nothing to make this work because I would not want it to work. I don’t want the woman that I love, sleeping with another man even if it’s you, especially if it’s you.

  “I have never treated her badly. Yet she still thinks I could be a man like the Admiral. I have never once hurt her in any way. But she still accepts that I would share ‘my woman.’” Jackson sighed deeply. “I’m getting nowhere with her.”

  “You know what, screw it.” Jackson said with contempt. He went into the bedroom and found Teresa sitting on the bed. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her in to the common living space of the suite.

  His grip hurt but Teresa didn’t dare say anything.

  “Here!” Jackson said, pushing her towards Henry. “You can have her. Clearly she doesn’t think that much of me. Why would I want a woman who thinks so little of me? That I’m just like her pimp.”

  Since Teresa didn’t move towards Henry, Jackson pushed her again.

  This fueled Henry’s anger. “What the hell do you think you’re doing Jackson?!” Henry yelled, stepping closer to Teresa “Don’t push her around like that?”

  “It’s ok Henry. He’s angry and needs to take it out on someone. That’s my purpose.”

  “No Teresa.” Jackson vehemently denied. “That isn’t your purpose. I’m not taking anything out on you. The only thing I am saying is that things are not going to work for us because you refuse to look at me like I am. The only man you ever see in every man standing in front of you is the Admiral. And I understand why. But I’m just tired of trying to change that. I’m tired of trying to be such a good man that you’ll forget about him.”

  “I’m sorry Jackson.” Teresa said turning toward him, reaching out to touch him. He pushed her hands away. The tears started falling then. She had been able to keep it together through most of his tirade, but that hurt. “I’m sorry.”

  “You know, you say that a lot Teresa.” Jackson said. “It’s beginning to be meaningless. You’re not really sorry. You just want me to say you don’t have to be sorry. Is that it? Is that why you’re so lost? You want someone to come looking for you. To prove that they love you? Is that it?” Jackson asked again.

  Teresa thought about it for a momen
t. She didn’t really understand what he was saying but on a gut level it seemed true. It seemed right. She wasn’t sure how. It must be horrible she thought. Because he hates me for it.

  “I – “ she began. “You’re right. I – I - I say I’m sorry because I want you to know that was what I was taught whatever it was that I was sorry for. I wanted you to tell me it wasn’t true, that I wasn’t a bad person, I wasn’t filthy, I wasn’t stupid. Yes I guess what you’re saying is true.

  “And yes maybe I am lost because I want you to come find me. I wanted somebody to come find me and to take me away from the Admiral and my parents, all the men, so many men. I just wanted someone to make it stop.

  “But there was nobody, nobody who was coming to help me. So I had to do it myself. I got away from the Admiral. I got through his trial. And I moved to Alaska, where I didn’t know anybody. What I didn’t realize was that, you’re right, I may be here but so are all my ghosts. So are all the voices. So are all the memories. But I thought I was slowly exorcising them. At first by myself, then you and Henry came along … You were so much help. You did the things I couldn’t do by myself … in order to get rid of the ghosts.” She sniffed. “You kept the darkness away. Contradicted every voice that was in my head. You gave me the courage and words to contradict them myself.

  “Deep down I knew you weren’t trying to share me with Henry. At first that’s exactly what I thought we were doing, but then I realized when I watched the two of you together, you didn’t boast about fucking me, or one upping each other … on what demeaning act you performed on me. I realized it wasn’t true. I knew it wasn’t true because it was you and neither you nor Henry would ever do such a thing to me. I knew that.”

  “Then why did you keep fucking him?” Jackson demanded with barely contained rage.

  “Because I enjoyed it.” Teresa answered honestly. “I enjoy making love to him. He is so different from you. You are so different from him. You both satisfy different parts of me.”

  “Yeah well you’re going to have to pick which part to satisfy.” Jackson spat out the words with scalding acidness.

  “What do you mean pick a part?”

  “You’re going to have to pick me or Henry to be with. No more threesomes. If you have the baby that’ll probably make the decision easy. Whoever is the father will be the one you’ll be with. If you don’t then you need to pick.”

  “Jackson, don’t give her an ultimatum.” Henry retorted angrily.

  “If you won’t choose, then I will choose for you.” Jackson told her. “Now what is your choice?”

  Teresa looked at Henry and then looked at Jackson. She looked back and forth between the two. She couldn’t make a choice. So she left. She told them not to follow her. She had her cell phone, she would get back to them when she felt like talking to them.

  Chapter 54

  She walked toward Dr. Levine’s office. It was the only part of town she knew. It was only a couple of blocks anyway. She hadn’t planned on going very far before returning to the hotel room. As she was walking towards the doctor’s office, she saw Dr. Levine come out of the building. He looked to his right and immediately recognized her. He automatically smiled when he saw her. Because of the infectious smile he had she smiled back at him.

  “What are you doing out here?” Dr. Levine asked, when she walked up to him.

  “As you can imagine the three of us were arguing and … it just … was too much for me.”

  “I can definitely imagine the argument that ensued. They are two alpha males, for sure.”

  “Alpha males?” Teresa asked, not understanding the reference.

  “Yes. The leaders of their packs. Two very strong-willed men who don’t give up easily.”

  “That’s them.” Teresa agreed softly.

  “You do not have a coat on.” Dr. Levine noticed she was hugging herself trying to keep herself warm.

  “I just rushed out of there without really thinking it through.” she said, her teeth starting to chatter. “It’s really cold out here.”

  “Well here, take this.”

  “No I can’t take your coat. Aren’t you cold?”

  “Yeah but you’re the pregnant one. We have to keep you warm.”

  Teresa slipped into the huge leather, fur lined coat. It was so heavy and so warm. It smelled like a man, like cigars and scotch.

  “Come on.” Dr. Levine said. “Get in my car and I’ll take you to my place and leave them to hash it out.”

  “No I couldn’t put you out like that.”

  “No problem at all. And in case you’re wondering, I’m your doctor so nothing will happen. Ok?”

  She looked at his earnest face and realized he was trustworthy. He was like Jackson and Henry. Well meaning, good men. He wouldn’t hurt her. It would be ok. He wasn’t the Admiral.

  “O-o-k.” she stuttered.

  “Great.”

  Chapter 55

  “You can sleep here tonight.” Dr. Levine told her, showing her his extra bedroom. “I am just next door. Bathroom is through there. Here is a t-shirt for you to sleep in.” He handed her one of his.

  “Thank you.” Teresa said. “I really appreciate you letting me stay here for the night. I don’t have any money or credit cards. I just realized the boys always pay for everything.”

  “What happened here?” Dr. Levine crouched down next to her left leg. She bent over to look at the side of her thigh too. “Looks like a deep laceration.”

  “I remember bumping into something that scraped across my thigh. I didn’t feel it cut me.”

  “Adrenaline can do that.”

  “I think you are going to need stiches.” the doctor said after examining it closer.

  “I don’t have any money to go to the ER. Maybe I could staple it together – “

  “You’ve got an in-house doctor right here. I’ll be right back. Take off your jeans. Sit on the bed.” the doctor told her. “What’s wrong?” he asked her when she faltered.

  “Are you sure you … want to - to let me sit down … here – on the bed?” she asked, hesitantly.

  “Yes.” he answered, perplexed. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “No reason.” Teresa quashed her desire to tell him about how dirty she was for his own sake. But she wasn’t going to raise it if he didn’t. Perhaps he didn’t see it.

  When he returned with his emergency suture kit, he caught her, jeans off, bending down, looking at her wound and not sitting on the bed like he had told her to. The white cotton panties were a stark contrast to her caramel skin. His mouth went dry. You are pathetic, he scolded himself. She’s your patient, she’s half your age and she’s pregnant. Get it together, he told himself. He hoped she didn’t notice his burgeoning dick. Taking a deep breath he moved in closer to her.

  Chapter 56

  “Have a seat.” he commanded gently. “Give me your leg.”

  She hesitated but he gently grabbed the wounded leg and ensconced it between his own thigh and arm. He cleaned the area he was about to work on. She whimpered at the sting. He looked at her. “I know it hurts.”

  She met his level gaze with a sad smile and said, “It’s ok. I’ve hurt a lot worse than that.”

  “Well you shouldn’t have to. Let me go get something.”

  The doctor came quickly back with a bottle of whisky and a glass. He poured her an amount he thought would take the edge off. He told her it would dull the pain. She swallowed it down quickly. Her face scrunched up and she gasped, putting a hand on her chest. “Ok well. Generally you’re supposed to sip it.” the doctor told her. “I’m sorry.” she managed to get out. “Nothing to be sorry about. How about sipping another glass? That way I know you won’t feel any pain.”

  “Thank you.” she said when he gave her the second glass. She sipped at it a few times. As soon as he started suturing, he heard a short intake of breath and then she downed the second glass he had give her. That one went down much more smoothly. It didn’t burn so much. Taking the bottle off t
he night stand he had set it on, she poured herself a third drink.

  She was tired of hurting all the time, of being in pain whenever somebody touched her. Even if it was to suture a wound. She was just so tired. She took a fourth glass of the 20 year old whiskey. By the time he realized she was well passed her second glass, Dr. Levine had finished sewing her up. Keeping her leg snug under his arm, he fell to his knees, still down in front of her. He looked at her. He was so tall that he still had to looked a slight bit down to see her eyes. Her eyes were intriguing. Brown but also dark, her pupils were so dilated. The goofy smile she wore on her face made him smile. He looked over at the bottle of whisky and saw how much she had drank, given that it was full just a few minutes ago. “You know you shouldn’t have drank that much. That’s a lot of liquor for a girl your size in such a short amount of time.”

  “What do you mean ‘a girl my size?’ A girl as fat as me?” she slurred.

  “Are you kidding me?” Dr. Levine answered confused.

  “Yeah. I know I’m fat. Doesn’t seem to bother the … um, boys. I can’t seem to remember their names.” she drawled and chuckled. She knew she should remember their names. She knew she knew their names. For some reason this information eluded her at that moment. She looked back at the doctor, smiled and then looked down at her leg. She wanted to see his work. He held on tighter to her leg to keep from falling back. His thumb rubbed against the inside of her thigh. He tried to remember how soft her skin felt.

  “Wow Dr. Levine. It looks really good. I almost can’t tell there are stitches.”

  “Those are dissolving stitches so in 10-12 days they’ll disappear.”

  “Oh. So I don’t have to come back to see you to get them out?”

  “No. And even if you did need to take them out, Dr. Rhodes could do it. Are you up to date on your tetanus shot?”

  She nodded her head.

  Disappointment flooded her face.