Serendipitous Chapter 5 A pt 1

Tyler and Rebeka met 7 days ago.

Previous Post:

Once Lily's story was over, Tyler noticed Rebeka's bedroom door was closed and knocked. "Beka, I need to check your blood pressure." As he did that, he said, "We'll need to leave about seven-thirty."

"I'll be ready. How bad is it?"

"It's gone down slightly, but not enough. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."





TODAY'S POST:

Thursday morning when Rebeka joined the family in the kitchen, she noticed three bouquets of flowers on the kitchen table. "The flowers are beautiful."

Tyler picked up a mid-sized bouquet of buttercups. "Yesterday was a mess, and I neglected to give my Valentine's Day presents to my three favorite ladies. These are for you."

Rebeka accepted the vase. "Thank you, but..." Tears welled in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.

His left eyebrow rose as he asked, "Did I do something wrong?"

"No!" Rebeka exhaled and dried her tears. "I've never received flowers before."

"Then I'm honored to be the first man to give you flowers. I doubt I'll be last."

Elizabeth held up a beautiful display of multicolored flowers, as Lily held up a small bouquet of colorful tulips with a small heart-shaped box of assorted chocolates that Tyler had given to each of them.

"You're welcome, ladies." He grinned and checked the time. "Missy, we'll leave in thirty minutes."

"Okay, Uncle Ty." She faced Rebeka. "Will you be here when I get home from school?"

"I should be. We're visiting my parents today, so I don't know who'll return first."

"Good." Lily jumped up and down. "This afternoon, I'll introduce you to Maude and Gabby."

"I can't wait. Your uncle has told me about them."

"Don't believe anything he says. He makes them sound naughty, and they aren't."

Elizabeth set breakfast on the table. "Let's say prayer and eat."

*****
The drive into town was filled with Lily discussing the antics of Maude and Gabby. A few blocks from the school, Tyler noticed a news crew had set up. "That's not good." He called Christina, Elizabeth's friend, and asked if Rebeka could stay with her while he dropped off Lily at school.

At Christina's home, Tyler introduced the ladies and hurried back to school. He ignored the crowd and the reporters, as he carried Lily inside. Once Lily was in her classroom, he explained to the principal he didn't want Lily involved with any discussion surrounding Miss Miller or himself. He was assured that wouldn't happen.

*****
On the drive to her parents, Rebeka apologized, "I'm sorry for the mess I've made of things. There's no way you should be involved."

Tyler chuckled. "I agree. I shouldn't be, but it's not your fault." He glanced at her. "Even with everything that's happened, I'd still help with the accident and invite you into my home."

"Why?"

"It was the right thing to do." He paused. "Yesterday, Pete called a tow truck and they're coming today to take your car to a mechanic. We should know in a few days if it can be fixed."

"Thank you."

Tyler nodded.

They engaged in small talk about the scenery and similar conversations for a while, before Rebeka said, "I have a question. If I'm being too personal, just say so and I'll understand."

His eyes widened as he glanced her way. "Ask away."

"Where's Lily's father?"

"Tom was in the Army. Two months before Missy was born, he died in Afghanistan. He was three weeks shy of returning to the states. She never knew her father."

"I'm sorry. That had to be difficult."

"It was. For everybody involved. I'm proud of the way Lori picked up up the pieces and continued."

"I'm sure you and Aunt Beth were there to support Lori."

"We were. That's when Aunt Beth moved into the house. I should've moved home then and been more available for Lori. I regret that."

"Hindsight is twenty-twenty."

"Very true. Tom was a good man. I know he'd have been a great father. I have huge shoes to fill."

They both fell silent.

*****
Tyler parked outside of Rebeka's parents' modest house and then opened the passenger door. She exhaled a deep breath. "I guess I'm ready." She accepted his offered hand to help her out. "I don't imagine you're going to wait out here, are you?"

"Not a chance. Let's do this."

Rebeka's mother opened the front door. "Mother," greeted Rebeka. They hugged and then she continued, "I'd like to introduce Dr. Tyler Butler." He offered his hand, as Rebeka continued, "Tyler, my mother, Ruth Miller."

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Miller."

Ruth tentatively accepted his hand. "Nice to meet you. I will take your coats." She turned and called, "Elijah, your daughter is home."

Moments later Elijah came to the door. He glared at Tyler. "Rebeka, I understood you to say you were bringing a friend home with you."

"I did, Father. Dr. Tyler Butler is my friend. I was in a car accident and my car was damaged. He was kind enough to drive me here. I have a few things I need to discuss with you."

Tyler offered his hand. "I'm happy to meet you, Mr. Miller."

Elijah refused the offered hand. "How do you know my daughter?"

"I crashed my car into his mailbox, and he was kind enough to help me," repeated Rebeka.

"Daughter, I did not ask you," snapped Elijah. "I asked Dr. Butler."

Tyler repeated what Rebeka had said and added additional details of what had happened that day, and then said, "We need to discuss a few other things that might take a while. Would it be possible to sit? I think everyone would be more comfortable."

"You are forward, young man." Elijah turned. "We can go into the living room. What do you have to say?"

Ruth studied Rebeka. "Elijah, dinner is ready. Is it all right if we go straight to the table?"

"Yes." He pointed to where each person would sit. After they were seated, he blessed the food. Nothing was said until everyone was served.

Elijah took the first bite. "Rebeka, what is so important that you traveled all this way to tell me?"

She studied her plate, trying to gather the nerve to tell her father. "I'm three and half months pregnant," she whispered.

Her father set his jaw, he slammed his fists on the table, and rage filled his eyes as he studied Tyler. "You did this to my daughter?"

"Father, Tyler isn't the father. He has only been respectful toward me."

"Yet you are living with this man!" yelled her father.

"Beka is staying in my home, but we aren't living together. We have separate rooms and will continue to have separate rooms. I have never disrespected your daughter and never will."

"My daughter's name is Rebeka. You can address her as Rebeka or Miss Miller, which is what I prefer you call her." He glared at her. "Who is the father? Why are you not with him?"

Rebeka repeated part of the situation and then stated, "I want nothing to do with him. He's not a nice person. I will raise this baby by myself."

"You thought he was nice enough to allow him to get you pregnant."

"Sir," said Tyler. "Sometimes situations aren't as they appear. He took advantage of your daughter."

Elijah's eyes glared at Tyler. "Were you there?"

"No, I wasn't."

"You do not know anything. You need to keep quiet. This is between my daughter and her father. She has disrespected our family and our God. She knows what that means." Elijah's eyes met Rebeka's. "Do you not?"

Tears welled and dripped down her cheeks. "I do know, Father."

He stood and on his way from the room said, "Wife, we no longer have a daughter. Collect the things she left when she went to live in sin."

"Yes, Elijah." Ruth left the room.

Tyler's hand covered Rebeka's. "I'm sorry. What can I do?"

Her tears turned to sobbing. "Nothing." She groaned and grabbed her stomach.

"A cramp?" When she nodded, he put his hand on her stomach. "I need to check the cramping." After he felt her stomach for a few moments, he stood. "I'll be right back."

Ruth came in, held her daughter's hand, and sat with her. "I am sorry."

Immediately Elijah's loud angry voice was heard, "You are not welcome here. You need to leave my house. You never should have brought this Jezebel."

"Rebeka's your daughter. How can you treat her like this?" shouted Tyler.

"I do not have a daughter."

"You do have a daughter who loves you very much. She's having a difficult pregnancy. She's in danger of losing this baby. She needs your love, prayers, and acceptance. She doesn't need your judgement and condemnation."

"Since the beginning of time women have had babies. They delivered babies in the fields and then went right back to work. She doesn't need to be pampered."

"I'm sorry you feel this way." Tyler was silent before he added, "A girl who never felt a father's love and affection will never fully understand what it feels like to be loved by a man. Maybe you're the reason Rebeka got involved with the jerk who took advantage of her."

"If you do not have a wife or daughter, how can you judge someone for raising a daughter as they see fit?"

"I've never been married nor had children. My sister and her husband died. I'm raising my five-year-old niece. I do have some idea what it's like to raise a daughter. By being an example, I'm making sure she understands how men should treat her."

Tyler entered the dining room and noticed Rebeka had left. He headed toward the door. Ruth handed him his and Rebeka's jacket. "Thank you," he said. "Sorry, you had to hear that." He glanced out the door and saw Rebeka walking down the road. "Will you be all right?"

"Yes, some church members will be by in a few minutes. They will stay until Elijah calms down."

He removed his card from his wallet and said, "My contact information. Please call anytime you need to, day or night."

Ruth placed her hand on his arm. "Please take care of my daughter."

He covered her hand with his. "I will. I promise. I need to tend to her now."

*****
Outside, Tyler hurried to Rebeka and held her coat as she put it on. "Still cramping?" When she nodded, he said, "Ready to leave?"

"Yes."

He cupped her elbow and led her to the SUV.

The first thirty minutes of the drive was silent, before Rebeka said, "I'm sorry."

He glanced toward her. "Why are you sorry? You were afraid of your father's response. I had hoped you were exaggerating, but you weren't." He watched her hold her stomach. "Still cramping?" When she nodded, he said, "We'll stop the first chance we get. I want to check your blood pressure and the cramping."

The drive continued, until Rebeka said, "Stop!" She took a deep breath. "I'm going to be sick."

Tyler quickly pulled onto a gravel side road. Rebeka opened the door and stepped out. He joined her, as she walked slowly down the road.

"Has this helped? Feeling any better?" He paused. "Did you hear your father's and my discussion?"

She held her stomach. "You mean the yelling match?"

"Sorry. What he said was wrong."

"This isn't your fight."

"True." Tyler put his hand on her arm. "I've made it my fight. I'm here for you."

"Why?"

"You've been wronged and didn't deserve it. You need somebody in your corner."

Rebeka studied his sapphire eyes for a few moments, before she threw her arms around his neck and let the tears flow freely.

He held her and caressed her back. "It's all right. I'm here for you and will be until this little one's born and you're back on your feet."

Once Rebeka cried her last tear, Tyler escorted her to the car, opened her door, and helped her inside. As she sat, she said, "Thank you."

"Anytime. When we get on the Interstate, we'll stop for gas and get something to eat. I noticed you didn't eat anything."

Rebeka nodded.

*****
At a gas station, Rebeka finished with the bathroom and walked around. When she found what she was looking for, she hesitated and studied Tyler. He glanced at her, and she said, "Ty?"

He moved closer. "A problem?"

Her view went to the women's pads and liners.

Tyler exhaled. "Spotting worse?" When she nodded, he added, "Get what you need."

"I don't have any money."

"I know. Also, get a drink and something to eat."

"Thank you."

*****
Inside the car, Rebeka put her hands over her stomach. "Another cramp?" asked Tyler. When she nodded, he placed his hand on her stomach. "I need to feel the tightening in your stomach." When he moved his hand, he made a phone call, "Aunt Beth, we won't be home tonight. Beka needs to rest. I'll keep you posted. Tell Missy I'll call before she goes to bed."

Rebeka's eyes met his. "What's going on?"

"I'm finding a hotel. You need a break. I don't want to risk traveling any longer. This trip was too stressful."

They took the exit with the first billboard sign that advertised a hotel.

~~~~~
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