Baumgartner Generations: Janie

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Oh my god, Josh!” I exclaimed as I stuck my head out of yet another room in the Plaza’s Presidential Suite. “There are so many! How many bedrooms does it have?”

“Come here, you!” he called, holding out his hand. He was standing at the bar, pouring himself a drink. I went to him, smiling, hips swinging, knowing he was watching me, the black silk of my dress clinging to my body.

He pulled me close-he’d already kissed me breathless in the car, both when he picked me up and when we pulled up to the hotel-burying his hands in my hair as he looked down at me.

“Are you staying here indefinitely?” I asked, my eyes bright.

“It’s fifteen-thousand a night.” He laughed. “Even Catherine would think that’s too extravagant.”

My eyes widened, my jaw dropping. “Are you crazy?”

“Probably,” he murmured against my ear, his hand trailing down to the small of my back. “But it’s just for tonight. I’ve got a condo section of the Plaza reserved for a much more reasonable price. Not as good of a view though.” We were on the top floor-the entire top floor, Josh claimed-which was already making me nervous, even though I’d avoided the windows on my impromptu tour of the place.

“There are five bedrooms,” he breathed, his thigh pressed between mine. I moaned softly as he kissed my neck, making delicious patterns with his tongue. “And I’m going to have sex with you in all five of them…”

“Tonight?” I gulped.

He smiled. “In the next hour.”

Our kiss was hungry, eager, and I let my hands run all over him, down his back, over the hard edges of his chest and stomach, finally reaching for the part of him my body wanted most, finding him delightfully hard.

“Easy, girl.” He kissed me, soft and slow, his tongue exploring.

“I can’t help it,” I whimpered, rubbing up against him. I loved him in a suit, his belt buckle biting into me. “We’ve waited so long…”

He smiled, grabbing my ass and lifting me. I squealed as he carried me, my legs wrapped around his waist, toward the sofa.

“What are you doing?” I cried as he sat me down, pushing my dress up over my thighs.

“Taking the edge off.”

“Ohhhh,” I whispered as he yanked at my panties, pulling them down and off. He knelt down between my legs, his eyes caressing me first, his hands moving slowly up and down the smooth, taut flesh of my inner thighs. He still wanted to take it slow, but I was eager.”Please,” I pleaded, swallowing hard as I looked down at him. “I want it so bad.”

“This?” He parted my pussy lips gently, finding my clit with his index finger. I moaned, spreading wider and kicking off my heels, putting my feet up on the edge of the sofa.

“Circles,” I instructed softly, and he obliged, his finger moving around and around against my clit.

“Like this?”

“Mmmm-hmmm,” I agreed as he rubbed me, his cheek resting against my thigh.

His breath on my pussy was hot and I wanted his mouth. “Now do that with your tongue.”

“Yes ma’am.” He grinned, leaning in to oblige me. I moaned softly as he explored me first, his tongue slipping into my crease. I’d shaved, so I was soft and smooth, and I was already incredibly wet. “Oh god, Janie, you taste so good!”

“Lick it,” I urged, grabbing his hair and pulling his mouth to my cunt. “Josh, lick it! Please!”

He groaned as he sealed his mouth over my mound, his tongue making circles, just like I wanted. My head went back as he licked and licked me, and I couldn’t control the low sounds coming from my throat. It was too fucking good to stop.

I gasped when he grabbed my hips in his hands, repositioning me on the sofa so I was lying back against the arm and he was stretched out on the other half, his tongue still circumnavigating my clit, again and again. Then he got really busy, pulling down the bodice of my dress, molesting my breasts, seizing my nipples. I thrashed under him, whimpering under the relentless lash of his tongue.

When I looked down and saw his hand pressed against the crotch of his trousers, his erection obvious even through the material, I lost it, my hips rising, my toes curling, coming so hard in his mouth I could barely breathe. The pleasure didn’t just come in waves-it was like one long, continuous tidal wave, a fucking tsunami, drowning me in ecstasy from head to toe.

I reached for him, still panting for breath, and he came to me, kissing me softly again, this time with the taste of my sweet juices on his tongue. I slowly sucked them off, kissing and nibbling at his lips, all the while my hips undulating, grinding my crotch against the bulge of his cock pressed between my thighs.

“God, girl,” he murmured as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You’re so fucking hot. I might just have to get one out of the way first, too.”

“I’m happy to oblige.” I reached down and caressed his cock through the material.

He groaned, letting me for a moment, rocking against the heat and press of my palm, before taking a deep breath and moving back.

“Diabolical,” he breathed, shaking his head and looking at me, still all mussed and practically unclothed, dress pulled both up and down.

“Wanna take me to bed, Mr. Wickham?” I slid my foot along the length of his thigh.

“More than I’ve ever wanted anything.” He swallowed as my toes reached his crotch.

“Then what are you waiting for?”

Something that sounded like a doorbell startled me and I looked at him, wide-eyed.

“That, actually.” He stood, walking toward the door, while I pulled my dress back up-and down-but I didn’t have time to put on my panties before he swung the door open, so I just kicked them under the sofa as someone pushing a trolley cart entered the room.

“Thanks,” Josh said.

“Would you like me to open the champagne?” The man with the cart wasn’t dressed like a waiter, whoever he was. He was wearing a dress shirt and tie, not a monkey suit. He smiled over at me as I hung back, watching.

Josh gave him a nod, gesturing me over, but I went slowly, unsure. The waiter popped the cork on the champagne, letting the bubbles spill into the ice bucket, before pouring two glasses.

“Thanks, Eric.” Josh watched him hand me a champagne flute. “What have you got for us tonight?”

I looked between the two of them-they were clearly on a first-name basis. Did they know each other? I wondered how often Catherine and Josh had stayed at the Plaza-just for the hell of it.

“Eric is the head chef at the Oak Room,” Josh explained to me. “The Presidential Suite comes with its own personal chef, and he likes to oversee things himself.” I looked at Eric-he was a good-looking guy, a little older than Josh, I’d have guessed, with kind eyes and a big smile.

“You get the best up here.” Eric winked as he began to lift the silver coverings on things. “Assorted crudites, fruits, cheeses, including brie, and there’s also caviar and pate. I do highly recommend the chicken-liver crostini. Also the lobster rolls with lemon vinaigrette and garlic butter.” He pulled another silver dome off and set it aside. “I’ve made you a special shaved fennel, radish and grapefruit salad. There are, of course, various petite fours.” Another silver lid set got aside. “Including the always romantic chocolate-dipped strawberries and cherries.” He winked again and leaned toward me, smiling, to say, “But if you like cookies, try the blackberry-walnuts. They’re amazing.”

“Thanks.” Josh gave him another nod.

Eric stepped back. “Just call me if you need me.”

With that, he was gone as quickly as he came, and I sat there, staring at Josh, my mouth gaping. “This is too rich for my blood.”

“I thought you’d like a little snack after dinner.”

We’d barely made it through our meal at the Oak Room downstairs before coming up here.

“No, seriously Josh.” I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my upper arms with my palms. “This is… like… really rich. Like, Donald Trump rich.”

“If you knew how much money Catherine had you’d keel over right here.” He laughed, popping a fat, red grape into his mouth and chewing. “Might as well enjoy it now. The pre-nup I signed will keep me happy, but not this happy.”

“But you make money as an agent,” I said, unable to resist Eric’s recommendation and nibbling at a blackberry-walnut cookie. “Oh my god, these are fantastic!”

“I make enough to support you in the manner in which you will become accustomed,” he agreed, drinking his champagne and watching me eat my delectable dessert.

I looked over at him, shaking my head. “You make my head spin.”

“In a good way, I hope.”

“In every way.” I took a drink of champagne-if my head was going to spin, I should at least have a reason, I decided. He poured me another glass, and I drank that, too, getting more adventurous and trying the fennel, radish and grapefruit salad, which was also just to-die-for.

“I love watching you eat,” Josh said. “From that very first morning, watching you eat canollis… it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” I blushed, remembering. It hadn’t been that long ago, I realized, looking over at him. I’d been completely swept away. Like Ronnie said, I felt like I’d been hit by a truck-or a freight train-only in a really, really good way. There was no stopping it now.

“What are you doing?” Josh raised his eyebrows as I pushed my chair back from the table and slid slowly under it.

“Having my dessert.”

He gave me a half-smile as I appeared between his thighs, nuzzling his crotch.

He was only half-hard when I unzipped him as he pushed the chair away from the table, leaning back to give me room. I experimented with my tongue, looking for his most sensitive spots and finding two, parallel to each other on the left and right side of his cock, just under the ridge. Every time I flicked my tongue there, he gave me a louder moan or bucked his hips up.

I could tell he liked it when I used my hand and mouth together-his head went back and his eyes closed when I did that, and I tasted a bit of pre-cum on my tongue. I was wishing I’d put panties on, because I was embarrassing myself with the amount of wetness on my thighs. Sucking him made me crazy with lust.

“Janie, I don’t—” he panted, grabbing my hair, but there was no way I was letting him go. I could feel his cock swelling and turned my head so my lips rubbed those two spots just right, working just the head of his dick with my mouth while I jerked him fast and hard with my hand. “Ohhhhh fuck! Wait! Ohhhh!”

I happily swallowed the first thick flood of his cum, looking up into his eyes-he was watching his cock disappear into my throat-and then took another, hotter blast of the white stuff, his hips rolling up helplessly, his head lolling back. I was a good girl and drank it all, even licking the tip of his cock clean.

“I couldn’t wait,” he whispered, looking down as I licked the last bit of him off my fingers. He reached out and smeared his fingers over my lips, reddened and swollen from sucking him. “That sweet little mouth…”

“That was better than strawberries.” I leaned in to kiss the softening head of his dick.

“You’re bad.” He groaned, tucking himself back in and zipping up. “I think you need to be punished.”

“Oooo!” My eyes lit up. “Are you going to spank me?” He laughed, pulling me up to kiss me, and I couldn’t help myself-I crawled into his lap, straddling him, my sopping pussy making a wet spot on his trousers as I ground my hips.

I gasped when he pulled my dress up, but I wasn’t expecting his hand to come down against the swell of my behind-although I probably should have-making me jump and yelp.

“Hey!” I quickly climbed off. “No fair.”

He stood quickly, grabbing me by the arm and whispering in my ear, “Hold still.” I did as he asked, watching him yank at the knot in his tie.

“What—” I asked quizzically, but my question was answered soon enough when he put it over my eyes, using it as a blindfold. “Josh…?” I asked hesitantly as he stepped behind me, holding my arms behind my back. I smiled, though, when I felt his erection, already returned, straining against my ass.

“Walk,” he instructed, and I took hesitant steps forward, letting him lead me.

“There are stairs here.”

There were, curved ones-I remembered seeing the staircase and wondering what was up there. I let the rail in my hand guide me upward. When we reached the top, Josh pushed me gently forward, and I felt him reach in front of me and knew from the sound he was opening a door.

I gasped when I felt the cool outdoor air on my face, and again when he took my blindfold off.

“Josh!” My cry was strangled and I turned, clinging to him, hiding my face. “It’s too high!”

“Ah, that’s right.” He crooned, stroking my back. “You’re afraid of heights.” I could feel him laughing and pulled back to look at him.

“You knew that!” I pummeled him with my fists, but he just grabbed my wrists, still smiling.

“Look, Janie.” He turned me around, holding me tight. “I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”

I was shaking-being anywhere up high made me tremble-but we were on the eighteenth floor of the Plaza, and the view was spectacular and meant to be enjoyed.

After a few deep breaths, I really started to calm down enough to appreciate it. With Josh’s arms around me I felt safe, and I slowly relaxed against him, looking at the lights of city below. It was a fabulous sea of jewels, just like the stars in the sky above. The moon was full and bright, a pearl in a web of diamonds.

“It’s really beautiful.” I slipped my hands over his at my waist. I squealed, though, when he propelled me even further forward, closer to the patio edge. “Nooo! Please!”

“I promise,” he whispered again in my ear. “You’re safe.” I whimpered, but we stood there at the very edge of the building, and from here it felt like flying. My stomach lurched and I turned in Josh’s arms. He held me close, stroking my hair, kissing my forehead.

“Hey, Janie,” he said softly.

“Hm?”

“I think I can see your house from here.”

I laughed. “But can you see Russia?”

“No.” He smiled, tilting my chin up and looking into my eyes. “But I can see heaven.”

“If I used that line in a story, my editor would redline it in a heartbeat.” I grinned.

“Too cliche.”

“What isn’t?” Josh kissed my eyes closed, both of them. “It’s all been done before. We’re just doing it all again for the first time, together.”

“I like that,” I murmured as he proffered kisses over my neck. “I’m going to steal it.”

“I’m going to steal you. ” His breath was hot against my breasts as he nuzzled them. “I’m going to lock you up and keep you forever and ever.”

“How very caveman of you.”

“Grog like girl,” he grunted, sinking to his knees and hugging me close, kissing my belly. “Grog want girl.”

I laughed as he squeezed the swell of my ass in his hands.

“What are you doing down there?” I smiled, running my hand through his dark curls.

“Proposing?” He grinned up at me and I think my heart stopped completely. He saw the look on my face and stood, taking me in his arms. “Let’s go to bed.” I gulped, looking up at him.

“Come on.” He smiled softly, pulling me toward the French doors that opened onto the patio. “Don’t make me drag you by your hair.” Inside, the view was almost as spectacular as outside. The poster bed was high and wide and white, and Josh, apparently the quintessential romantic, had ordered rose petals, red of course, strewn all over the white coverlet. But there was something else—lilacs, bunches of them in vases all over the room, probably a whole bush’s worth. It was that time of year, they were in full bloom all over the place, but how—?

“How did you know they were my favorite flower?” I bent over to breathe in the scent from the vase sitting on the night table.

“Lucky guess?” He hopped onto the bed, leaning back, his hands behind his head. He was grinning.

“Feh!” I rolled my eyes. “Who did you ask? Ronnie?”

“I’m not telling.”

“You better tell.” I frowned. “I can make you tell.”

“How?”

“I have my ways.”

I stood above him on the bed, my feet straddling his chest, and slowly inched my dress up my thighs. He watched, eyes bright, as the hem of my skirt cleared the top of my cleft. I knew I was swollen and wet, my clit peeking out of my slit, looking for attention, and I gave it to her as he watched, rubbing myself with one finger, back and forth at first, then in fast little circles.

“That’s fucking hot.” His eyes were dark and glued between my legs.

I ignored him, pulling my dress up further, wiggling out of it and tossing it onto the floor next to the bed. Then I unhooked my bra, leaning over him, balancing with one hand against the headboard, to dangle it in his face. He snatched it from me and pressed it to his nose, breathing in my scent. I let him fondle my breasts like that, moaning when he wet his fingers in his mouth and slathered them over my nipples.

“Come here.” He caught my hips and pulled me to my knees. I stayed that way, still rubbing myself, feeling his hands moving over my body, everywhere at once. He was still fully clothed, except for his tie, and I reached for him with sticky fingers, unbuttoning his shirt from the top down. He let me, smiling as I spread it wide and ran my palms over his chest and belly. The hair on his chest was dark and I let it curl around my fingers, tracing down the center of his belly, following the line of hair from his navel to his belt buckle.

“Didn’t I undo this once already?” I complained, unbuckling him again. When I unzipped him and tugged down both his trousers and his boxers, his cock sprang free and I admired it, tracing the ridge around the head lovingly with my fingernail, seeing him shiver. I leaned in to kiss and lick the tip of his cock, hearing him sigh and feeling him shift his hips to press himself deeper into my mouth. I sucked him in as far as I could, gagging a little, and his eyes widened as my nose touched his pubic hair.

“Damn, girl,” he groaned, his hands in my hair, pulling me back up. “Come here.” I slid up to kiss him, trapping his cock between us and it pulsed against my belly as he ran his hands down over my back, my ass, clasping me hard against him. He tasted like alcohol and caviar and I sucked at his tongue as his hands rocked my hips, kneading his cock between us.

“Josh,” I gasped, begging with my eyes. “Please.”

“In the drawer.” He nodded at the night table. “Condoms.”

“It’s okay.” I shook my head, reaching down to grasp him, making his breath catch. “I’m on the pill.”

“If I had a dollar for every time a woman said that…”

“Trust me.” I stroked him slowly in my hand as I sat up, straddling him. “I need you. Inside me. Please.”

He hugged my hips in both hands, his thumbs on either side of my navel, watching as I rubbed him against the top of my cleft, teasing my clit. It was already swollen, so very sensitive, but I needed more of him-all of him.

“Slow,” he murmured as I positioned him against my hole. “Ahhh god… Janie…” I eased myself down, watching his face, seeing his eyes close, hearing his breath coming in slow shudders. When I had him all the way inside me, he pulled me down to kiss me, his mouth slanting across mine with a fierce longing. I whimpered when he thrust up, holding my hips still in his hands, working his cock up into my cunt.

“Oh yes,” I whispered, burying my face against his neck and letting him do the work, my breasts pressed against his chest. He wrapped his arms around my waist and we moved together, our bodies riding an invisible wave.

“You feel so good,” he panted, reaching down and gripping my ass, pulling me in tight, completely immersed in me. I wiggled on him, wanting, needing more.

“Let me ride you.” I kissed his shoulder, raking my teeth there. “I need to, please. Please.”

He let me go as I sat up on him, my thighs spread, rolling my hips. I moaned and closed my eyes as he squeezed my breasts in his hands. Then I really rode him, faster, deeper, harder, going down the length of his cock like a fireman sliding down a greased pole. He bit his lip, watching as I fucked him, taunting, teasing, rolling my hips against his.

“Janie,” he gasped, but I grabbed his hands in mine, palm to palm, linking our fingers and squeezing as I ground my pussy against him, feeling his cock moving deep, deeper inside. “Oh god, Janie…”

“Nn! Nn! Nn!” I mewed and quivered as I came, my pussy contracting around his cock, hugging it, the feeling of him inside me making my orgasm even more intense. He growled and rolled me, dazed, underneath him on the bed.

“Josh,” I gasped before his cock began pounding into me, his mouth pressed hard against mine. I took his weight, welcoming it, letting him fuck me, gripping him with my thighs, my legs going around his waist.

“Oh yes,” he whispered when I squeezed my muscles around him. He looked at me, his eyes searching mine. “Can you come again?”

I smiled dreamily, slipping a hand behind his head. “I can come all night.” He groaned happily, but I whimpered when he slid out of me. I didn’t want to ever let him go.

“This way,” he directed, rolling me to my side as he spooned me, his cock nudging between my thighs, searching for the sodden heat of my pussy. I reached down to guide him in and he hefted my leg as he entered me. He held me tight to him, and I felt the muscles in his stomach and chest working as he fucked me, his breath hot in my ear.

“Touch yourself,” he urged, but my hand was already there, rubbing the aching bud of my clit in time with his thrusts. Our bodies slapped together, growing slippery with sweat. “Come on, Janie,” he implored me, his breath panting fire against my cheek.

“I want to feel you come.”

I whimpered, closing my eyes and biting my lip, his cock driving, relentless, sending shockwaves through me.

“Please,” I whispered, rubbing faster, faster. “So close.”

“Oh Janie, you’re so beautiful,” he groaned, spreading my legs wider as he plunged in deep, grunting with every thrust.

“Now!” I cried, arching against him as I came, hot, delicious spasms clamping my pussy down around the swell of his cock inside of me. I turned my face into the pillow, trying not to scream with my release as Josh whispered my name over and over, wrapping both arms around me, holding me, rolling again so I was on top of him, back to front this time.

“So sweet,” he murmured, kissing my flushed cheek. He was still inside me, his thighs spreading mine, thrusting up lazily. I shivered, my pussy clenching again involuntarily, making him moan. “Janie, I…” He grabbed my hips, holding me still-I was rocking with him. I couldn’t help it. “Oh god… Janie, I want to come inside you so bad.”

“Oh yes!” I turned my face to his, my mouth against his ear. “Please, Josh. Yes, I want it. Please.”

He slid both hands down the front of my body, stopping to play with my nipples before settling into the groove of my thighs as he fucked me, my hips rocked forward to take him in as deep as I could. His breath sucked in sharply when I reached down to touch myself, feeling him going into me, slick with my juices.

“One more time for me, Janie?” He moaned as I rolled my hips against his thrust, my fingers slicking between my swollen lips.

“Maybe,” I murmured, squeezing his cock. “Can you hold out until I come one more time?”

He groaned softly. “I’ll try.”

“You do it for me,” I urged, grabbing his hand and pressing it between my legs.

“Rub it. Hard. Get me off.” He followed my motion, pressing his palm against my mound as I guided him, making flat circles. “Fuck me, Josh,” I begged, my hips rocking.

“Please. Don’t stop.”

“Oh god, Janie,” he panted, his breath coming fast in my ear. “I don’t know if I can…”

“Please!” I begged, writhing on top of him, my whole body quivering, even my voice wavered. “Pleeeeease!”

“Ohhhh fuck!” He thrust up with a deep growl and I actually felt his cock expand with the first eruption of his cum. “Janie-eee!”

“Yes!” I clutched his hand, making it into a fist and grinding my clit against it.

“Ohhhh god, yes, fill me, baby, fill me with all that hot fucking cum!” My orgasm rocked us both, and Josh held me tight with one arm wrapped around me, the other clenched between my trembling thighs. I felt his cum dripping out of me, each spasm of my climax sending more of it in a flood mixed with my own juices down my ass.

He wrapped both arms around me as I turned to kiss him, our lips salty with sweat. I smiled as I rolled to my side, so we were pressed belly to belly, still catching our breath, and picked a rose petal out of his hair, flicking it. It stuck to his chest and I laughed.

“Romantic idea,” I said. “But highly impractical. I’m covered in rose petals.” We both were-they were stuck all over us, arms, legs, hair-and I didn’t even want to think about the other places they might be hiding.

“You’re beautiful.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “There’s a tub fit for a princess in this bathroom. We can get clean before we start round two.”

“Does it have jets?” I perked up.

“I think so.” He picked petals out of my hair. “Why?”

“Because I want to show you something.”

He leaned over and captured my mouth again-god I loved kissing him-and murmured, “Oh goodie, I can’t wait.”

“Wait… this bathroom? How many bathrooms are there?” I asked, maneuvering toward the edge of the bed.

“Five.”

My eyes widened. “Five?”

“That’s right.” He rolled onto his belly, grabbing a pillow and hugging it as he looked at me. “And I intend to fuck you in every single one of them.”

“Five bedrooms.” I counted on my fingers. “Five bathrooms…” I held up all ten fingers, smirking. “Are you up to that?”

“Let’s find out.”

I squealed as he came after me, quick as a snake, and I didn’t even make it to the bathroom before I was in his arms again.

“I don’t want you to go.” Josh pulled me into his arms across the Mustang’s console, kissing me for the umpteenth time. I’d lost count of kisses and times we’d made love and times we’d chased each other around completely naked and laughing hysterically, Josh threatening to spank me, and me threatening to tie him up and tickle him to death. I’d discovered his one weakness, his Achilles, well, not heel, but armpit-

and had taken full advantage.

“I don’t either.” It had been a dream-three days in the Presidential Suite at the Plaza, with Eric cooking our meals and nothing to do but play all day. Josh had simply taken the days off work, and I’d called Ronnie to tell her I wouldn’t be home until Wednesday. Thank goodness it was summer break, because I didn’t think I could have said “No,” to Josh, even if it meant getting fired.

But I knew, of course, they wouldn’t fire me.

“Stay with me.” His eyes searched mine in the morning light. “Move in with me.” I blinked at him, swallowing hard. Not that it wasn’t tempting, but…

I glanced at the house, knowing Ronnie was home, probably making Beth breakfast while TJ got ready for work. They were my family. How was I supposed to just…give all that up?

“Josh, I can’t…” I winced at the pained look on his face. “I mean, where I live… it’s also my job.”

“But you don’t have to work…” He sighed when he saw the look on my face.

“Okay. But will you think about it? Maybe in a month or two…” I nodded and he kissed me again, quickly this time, before coming to open my door. He was getting my suitcase from out of the trunk and I was standing next to him, teasing his ribcage with my fingernails, threatening to tickle him, when I heard the front door open. I turned, my hand caught in mid-wave as the screen door banged wide and TJ burst out, carrying Ronnie in his arms.

“Call 911!” Josh sprinted past me and I stood there, aghast, not moving. I couldn’t move. Ronnie was covered in blood, the whole front of her nightgown soaked in red, and TJ stopped for a moment as Josh said something to him. He shook his head, starting down the porch steps, but Josh stopped him again, still talking.

“Janie!” Josh yelled again, and I startled, looking at him, my eyes wide. “Call 911! Now!”

I dug my phone out of my purse, dialing and walking toward them in a daze as I watched TJ collapse, sitting on the front porch steps with Ronnie in his arms, sobbing.

She was awake, aware, talking to him, her arms wrapped around his neck. Josh sat beside them, putting an arm around TJ’s shoulders, still talking.

“Please, I need an ambulance,” I croaked when the 911 operator asked what my emergency was. Josh looked up at me and saw the look on my face. “There’s so much blood, please, you have to come.”

He took the phone, pulling me down to sit next to him on the porch too, telling the operator the address.

“I think it’s a miscarriage,” he said into the phone, glancing over his shoulder as Gretchen appeared at the door, her mouth agape. I saw Beth coming up behind her and looked at Josh, my eyes wide.

“Take Beth inside!” he snapped at Gretchen, covering the mouthpiece of the phone with his hand. “And shut the door! Do it! Now!” She blinked at him, but turned and ushered Beth into the house, shutting the door behind them.

“Ronnie, are you okay?” I reached my hand across TJ’s lap to grasp hers. It felt cold and small in mine. Her head was resting against TJ’s chest and she opened her eyes, looking at me.

“It hurts,” she whispered, wincing and closing her eyes again.

And we sat there, Josh holding me, TJ holding Ronnie, waiting for the ambulance, or the end of the world, whichever came first.