Nine months later
B.J. and Crash rushed down the corridor of the hospital toward room 413, carrying a huge stuffed animal.
“I’ve never carried a zebra’s tail before,” he said. “Want to swap ends?”
“Hush up and hang on to your end. Humility becomes you, my love.”
A huge bouquet of balloons adorned the door, and from inside drifted the sound of a tape, playing softly. B. J. and Crash stood outside, shifting the gigantic stuffed zebra into an upright position.
“Great Caesar’s pony cart. Is that song what I think it is?”
B. J. grinned at her husband. “What did you expect. They even played it at their wedding, remember?”
“How could I forget? Joe set Maxie on top of the table right by the wedding cake and she belted out “Hard Hearted Hannah” while you and Helen and Kathleen sang back up. It was the sexiest rendition I’ve ever heard.”
“The Forever Friends are kind of great, aren’t we?”
“Great? I’d say sensational, Philadelphia.”
She stood on tiptoe and kissed him, and he almost forgot why he was at the hospital. “I hope Maxie will be as happy as we are.”
“I’d say she and Joe are off to a roaring start.”
“I thought they’d never make it to the altar.” B. J. sighed. “The best part of the wedding was when she tossed those gold shoes at Joe, and he served up the champagne in them.”
“No,” he said softly. “The best part is waiting beyond this door.”
Crash pushed it open, then wrapped his arm around his wife as memories washed over him. There was his brother, bending over the bed, and there was his brother’s wife, her red hair like flame on the pillow, gazing up at her husband with adoring eyes, a baby cradled against each breast.
“Twins,” Maxie said. “Can you believe it?”
“Of course I can.” B. J. handed the little girl to Crash and cradled the little boy in her arms. “You never did anything halfway in your life.”
“She certainly doesn’t.” Joe kissed his wife in the way of a man deeply in love, then sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand. “I guess you two know what this means.”
B. J. pretended surprise. “Surely you’re not going to ask us to be the godparents.”
“Of course he is,” Crash said. “Remember what he said at Joey’s christening party. Joseph always keeps his promises.”
“He certainly does.” Maxie caressed her husband’s face.
Just then the door burst open, and in came Claude, carrying another enormous stuffed zebra. He set the zebra beside the one B. J. and Crash had brought, then took both babies in his arms.
“Well, I guess you two little darlings expect old Uncle Claude to get out his clown suit and do that live zebra bit all over again, don’t you?”
“Of course they do,” the babies’ parents and aunt and uncle chorused.
Claude blustered and carried on, but his chest was puffed out with pride.
“Do you have any idea how mean those little devils can be? One of them kept trying to bite me on the butt and the other left an odious trail. If I hadn’t done some fancy footwork, my clown shoes would be ruined.” He kissed each baby on the forehead. “Now you two little rascals expect me to do all that again?”
“No one but you could possibly do it, Claude.” Maxie reached for his hand. He placed the babies in her arms, then sat on the opposite side of the bed, holding her hand.
“Anything for Magic Maxie,” he said.
o0o
Later, when the guests had gone and the babies were tucked into their cribs fast asleep, Joe bent over his wife.
“Anything for my magic Maxie,” he whispered.
“Is the lion roaring?” she said.
He pulled her close and buried his face in her hair. “Always, my love. Always.”
-o0o-
Coming July 30, 2013, The Sweetest Hallelujah by Peggy Webb writing as Elaine Hussey. In 1955, two courageous women cross color lines to save a child. Excerpt, details and pre-ordering info at www.elainehussey.com. Review: “If you can buy only one book this year, make it The Sweetest Hallelujah.”
o0o
If you enjoyed The Donovans of the Delta series, you’ll also enjoy The Mississippi McGills, another romantic comedy series.
(The Mississippi McGills, Book 1 of 4)
Author’s Note: Rick McGill, the lovable hero of Valley of Fire, first appeared as a secondary character in Higher Than Eagles, book five of the Donovans of the Delta Series. I’m delighted to bring him back in this first book of the Mississippi McGills Series.