Flirting with the Society Doctor / When One Night Isn't Enough (41 page)

“Is your baby here yet?” Jake asked.

“Soon, big guy,” Jared answered. “I think Ali’s in labor,” he said to Victoria. “Help me keep an eye on her, will you?”

“Sure thing.” Victoria and Jake walked into the party.

Not seeing Ali in the house, Jared walked into the backyard in search of her. Gramps had a bunch of kids’ games set up over in Mrs. Meyer’s adjoining yard.

“Their parents are not going to be happy they’re playing with water guns,” his mom said, walking up beside him.

“I’m sure they all have several changes of clothes. Gramps is well-known in this town,” Jared said. “How’re you doing, Mom?”

“The arthritis gives me some trouble. Today’s a good day.”

“I’m glad.”

“Well, I’d better get back into the kitchen. I offered to help plate some sandwiches. I just wanted to give you this.” She held out a lavender envelope.

“Mom, you didn’t have to …”

“When your daddy died I got lost in a dark place. It took a while for me to find my way back. I’m sorry, Jared. You were a good boy. You deserved better.”

“It’s okay, Mom.”

“It’s not. But maybe this will help. For the past few years I’ve had a man in my life. He lives with me. He’s not
your daddy, but he treats me good. I’ve saved as much as I could of the money you sent me. I want you to have it.” She pushed the envelope into his hand.

“That money’s for you.”

“I’m doing fine, Jared. Spend it on your family. If I need you, now I know where to reach you. Go help your wife.”

Jared looked in the direction his mother’s gnarled finger pointed. “What the …?” Ali was carrying a huge glass platter filled with fruit. Jared ran to the patio.

“I am going to tie you to a chair,” he threatened, taking the platter from her.

“Let me help.” His mother moved some serving dishes around to make room on the table.

Something splashed at his feet.

“Uh-oh,” Ali said. “I think my waters broke.”

“You think?”

Victoria walked over to them. “Either that or she popped.”

“I don’t want to miss my party,” Ali grumbled.

“We are going to the hospital. We’ll invite everyone back after the baby’s born.” One at a time.

“You’d better slip out quietly,” Victoria suggested, “or you’ll have an entourage of people accompanying you.”

Exactly what he did not want.

“I’ll clean up this mess,” Victoria offered.

Ali moaned through another contraction.

“Call us when we can converge at the hospital,” Victoria said. “I’ll make sure things go smoothly here.”

“And I’ll help,” his mother said.

“What about Gramps?” Ali asked.

“He’s having so much fun, let him stay.” So Jared and Ali could share the birth of their first child in private.

“Would you tell Gramps we left for the hospital and
I’ll call him when the baby’s born?” Ali asked her new mother-in-law.

“He’s the one wearing the balloon hat, the red bandana over his mouth, carrying the purple and yellow water blaster,” Jared said before wrapping his arm around his wife and helping her around the side of the house to the driveway.

“Wait,” she said as he shifted the car into reverse. “I forgot the picture I’m using for my focal point. It’s on the shelf above the TV. And my suitcase.”

“I’ll find you a focal point at the hospital. I’ll bring your suitcase later. We have to go.” He put his arm behind the seat, turned to look over his shoulder and prepared to back out.

Ali opened her door. “I want the focal point I’ve been practicing with.”

“Don’t you dare get out of this car, Allison Padget.” He threw the car into park, jumped out, ran like a man being chased by wolves, entered the house calmly, grabbed the picture from the shelf above the TV without even looking at it and ran from the house.

“What’s so special about this picture that I had to risk you giving birth in the car to get it?” Jared handed it to Ali then rammed the car into reverse again.

“Look at it.” Ali held it up for him.

Shouldn’t the woman be screaming in pain or something? He sure felt like screaming. Didn’t pregnant women about to give birth
want
to get to the hospital?

“Look at it.” She moved it in front of his face.

It was a close-up picture of him and Gramps on the front porch, holding her sonogram picture between them. “My three favorite men,” she said, just as a monster of a contraction must have hit, because she transformed before
his eyes. “Now, get me to the hospital, and do not stop for anything.”

“Yes, dear,” Jared said, and did just that.

Sweet baby James, named for Jared’s dad, was born one hour and seventeen minutes later.