Serendipitous Chapter 10

Tyler and Rebeka met 29 days ago. (I put these days here because I only post once a week and because of that it seems much longer. This will NOT be in my manuscript.)

Previous Post:

"Not a date. Just as friends." When Tyler nodded, Rebeka continued, "One of them felt relaxed. Maybe more than relaxed, maybe at home, comfortable. Is that possible? Is it a bad thing?"

"It is possible. I'd say it's good. If one of them felt it, I bet they both did."

Her eyes met his. "You think so?"

"I'm pretty sure. This is just hypothetical, right?"

Rebeka averted her eyes. "Of course."

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." Tyler grinned. "Let's go inside. I need to check your blood pressure and glucose. How's the cramping and spotting?"

"Both a lot better, very slight."

"I'm glad. I'll be right back." Tyler went to his den. I guess I don't need to address Elena. Beka felt comfortable with me. I felt it too. Now what?

TODAY'S POST:

Chapter 10
17 weeks pregnant

Tyler slammed the door to his pickup and rushed inside the house. "Aunt Beth, what's going on? Is Beka all right?"

"Ty, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let him in the house."

"It's not your fault. I'm glad you called. How's he behaving?"

"Not good. They're in the dining room. Beka's in tears. I offered them iced tea and cookies, hoping it helps."

"Call Christina and the school. Ask her to keep Missy until tomorrow. I don't want her around this." He headed toward the dining room.

Tyler stood outside the room for a few moments, took deep breaths, and then entered. "Mr. and Mrs. Miller, welcome. How was the drive?"

Elijah answered, "The traffic was horrible. A typical Friday afternoon." He stared at his daughter. "Rebeka is still here. Living in sin."

"I can assure you nothing sinful is happening under my roof." Tyler's eyes met Elijah's as he sat. "I'm curious why you made the trip."

"I had hoped my daughter had come to her senses and moved out of this house."

"I told you while we were at your house that Rebeka will remain here until the baby's born. She's safe and her pregnancy's difficult. We saw her doctor two days ago. Rebeka's still in danger of an early delivery. Nothing has changed."

"I told you that women have had babies since the beginning of time, and they do not need doctors or should they be pampered." Elijah took a drink of iced tea. "I do not have much of a dowry, but since my daughter is living with you in sin, she does not deserve one. I am sure you know she is a good cook and a hard worker." He nodded his head toward Rebeka. "You already know she will give you children. She meets all the requirements of a wife."

You have a terrible opinion of women. Tyler tilted his head. "What are you saying?"

"The only solution I see to this problem is that I offer you my daughter in marriage. It is too late to save my daughter, but this child needs a father. I do not want an illegitimate offspring in my family."

Rebeka stood and moved closer to her father. "I know I've sinned. Daily I asked for Heavenly Father's forgiveness. Tyler doesn't deserve to be spoken to this way. He has done nothing wrong and is not the baby's father. He has opened his home to me and has made sure I'm safe and taken care of. He should be praised, not condemned."

"Dr. Butler is living with you in sin."

"Father, you need to listen. You're wrong. We are not living in sin."

Elijah stood, knocked Rebeka into the table, and reared his hand back to strike her. "No daughter will speak to me with disrespect."

Tyler grabbed Elijah's hand before it struck Rebeka.

Rebeka grabbed her stomach. She cried, "The baby!"

Then Tyler picked up Rebeka, carried her to her room, and said over his shoulder, "Aunt Beth, call Heather and then bring my bag." He laid her on the bed, held her hand, and placed his other hand on her stomach. "I can feel the tightness. You need to relax. I want you to deep breathe. Look in my eyes and breathe with me."

Tyler took deep breaths and blew them out slowly. Rebeka followed.

This lasted a few moments, before Rebeka asked, "Am I going to lose the baby?"

"I can't answer that. Aunt Beth called Heather."

"Does she make house calls?"

"She will for me." He paused. "Deep breaths."

"What about Father?"

"Don't worry about him. I'll take care of him. Right now, you need to relax. Deep breathing will help." He inhaled a deep breath.

This continued until Elizabeth showed Heather into the room.

Heather watched for a few moments. "Rebeka, I understand you're having some problems." She glanced at Tyler. "How's her vitals?"

"I haven't taken any. Her cramping was severe. I had her do breathing. She needed to relax." Heather's eyes widened, as Tyler continued, "Her father happened."

Heather motioned Tyler toward the door and whispered, "Cramps or contractions?"

His eyes met hers. "The tightness in her stomach indicated contractions."

She closed her eyes. "Leave us alone while I examine her. Babies don't survive at seventeen weeks. I'll do what I can. Prayers will help the most."

Tyler walked to Rebeka. "Heather wants to examine you. Right now, I need to have a conversation with your dad. I'll return when I'm finished."

"Don't kill him. You're my birthing coach. I need you."

"I won't do anything to jeopardize that. I promise." He squeezed her hand. "I won't be long."

Dr. Sharp covered Rebeka's legs as she raised her dress. "I need to listen to the baby."

*****
Tyler sat in the dining room and remained quiet.

Ruth studied Tyler with tears in her eyes. "Is Rebeka and the baby all right?"

Elijah growled. "Of course they are fine. Your daughter always overreacts. She does not want to admit the truth."

Tyler made fists and extended his hands a few times as stretched his neck to each side, before he spoke, "Rebeka is in danger of losing the baby. Her doctor is with her. After her examination, she'll decide what's best for Rebeka and the baby."

"What is best for my daughter is for her to quit living in sin."

"Rebeka and I are not living in sin." Tyler carefully chose his words, "Yes, she is living in my house, but we have separate bedrooms. We don't share a bed and have never shared a bed. I respect Rebeka way too much to take advantage of this situation."

"If you respect her so much, then you will do what is right and marry her."

"Do not force marriage on them," urged Ruth.

Elijah glared at her. "Shut up, Wife. No wife of mine will contradict me. Later we will talk in private."

Ruth hung her head.

Tyler studied Ruth before he asked Elizabeth, "Would you and Mrs. Miller please get some coffee. I feel it's going to be a long night." When she agreed, he continued, "Thank you." Again, Tyler stretched his neck. "As for you, Mr. Miller. I'll agree to marry your daughter, but you'll need to promise me a few things. First, you'll need to leave Rebeka alone until after this baby is born."

"I will need to do the wedding ceremony."

"That you can do. You'll in no way upset Rebeka." Tyler exhaled. "Second, you'll never, and I mean never, raise a hand to strike Rebeka or another woman again, that includes your wife."

"You are not married. You do not understand how a man needs to keep a woman in her place. Paul told the Ephesians in Chapter 5 that the man is the head of their home."

"You're right but you seem to have forgotten the rest of the chapter. Verse 25: 'Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her'. The way I understand this you are to love your wife as Christ loves the Church. Are you doing that or are you abusive toward her?"

"How dare you speak to me like that!"

"Since you want me to marry your daughter, this is the way it's going to be. I'll marry Rebeka because I respect her. It seems the only way to get you out of her life. I'll give you time to think about it." Tyler stood. "I need to check on Rebeka."

*****
Heather glanced at the door when Tyler walked in and he asked, "How's Beka?"

"At this minute, she's all right and so is the baby. She's asleep. But she won't be able to take much more of this. What happened?"

"The quick version, her father basically accused her of living in sin and demanded I marry her." Heather's hand flew over her mouth, and Tyler continued, "Beka stood up to him, and he knocked her against the table and attempted to hit her."

"She needs to stay away from him if she has a chance of keeping this baby." Heather studied Tyler's eyes. "What are you not telling me?"

"I told him, out of respect for Beka, I'd marry her, but he needed to agree to stay out of her life until the baby's born and never lay a hand on another woman."

"Tyler? Are you sure about this?"

"I am."

"You've finally fallen for a lady, haven't you? Does she feel the same?"

He closed his eyes and released a deep breath. "Yes, I'm falling in love with her. I have no clue how she feels. At times I think there's a possibility and then other times I'm not sure."

Heather took Tyler's hand. "I think I'm happy for you, but I'm not sure. I guess we wait and see how this plays out. When are you telling her? She won't take it well."

"Not until tomorrow."

"Be sure she hears it from you and not her dad. She trusts you." Heather squeezed his hand.

"She may not trust me, once I tell her."

"You're right." Heather kissed Tyler's cheek. "I feel you two have created a special bond. I think after the initial shock, she'll trust you again." She glanced toward the door. "I'd better get home. I don't want Rebeka to be left alone during the night. Right now, the contractions have almost stopped. If they get worse, she'll need to be hospitalized. I also want her to remain in bed for at least three days. Bring her to my office Monday, and I'll see if I can rescind the bed order."

"I'll be in touch."

When Heather left the room, Elizabeth came in. Tyler gave her the information and asked her to explain it to Rebeka's parents.

Before Elizabeth left, she asked, "Are you really willing to marry Rebeka?"

"I am. Has Elijah agreed to my stipulations?"

"I'm not sure."

"One more thing, Heather doesn't want Rebeka left alone."

"I'll stay with her tonight. With the Millers here, you shouldn't."

"You're right." Tyler hesitated. "You'll get me if there's any problems, right?"

Elizabeth tilted her head. "Do you even need to ask?"

He chuckled. "I guess not. Go talk with them. I'm staying with Rebeka."

*****
A while later, Rebeka woke up. "Ty?"

He moved, so she could see him and took her hand. "I'm here. How you doing?"

Rebeka started to get up. "Better I think."

"Buttercup, you're not going anywhere. Heather's restricted you to bed for three days. Monday, you have an appointment, and she'll decide if you'll remain in bed."

She leaned back. "I guess I have a valid excuse to avoid Father."

"There's no way I'm allowing him in this room."

"You shouldn't be here either."

"Probably, but Heather said you shouldn't be left alone. Aunt Beth's dealing with him, so that leaves me. Do you mind?"

"I probably should but I don't."

Tyler nodded. "Good."

~~~~~
Rebeka Miller - our heroine, she's twenty -two, a romance award winning author, extremely old fashioned

Dr. Tyler Butler - 'Ty' an ER doctor, raising his niece, Lily.

Richard Stuart - Rebeka's agent and rich spoilt brat, a not nice person

Amber Wilson - Rebeka's personal assistant and best friend

Peter Dawson - Tyler's friend and part-time ranch hand

Elizabeth - 'Aunt Beth', helping raise Lily and helped raise Tyler after parents died

Christina - Elizabeth's close friend

Lily - 'Missy', Tyler's niece, 5 years old

Lori - Tyler's deceased sister and mother of Lily

Zeke - Golden Retriever mix, family dog

Roger Whitmore - a lawyer and Tyler's best friend

Dr. Heather Sharp - OB/GYN and Tyler's childhood friend

Ruth and Elijah Miller - Rebeka's parents