Emma led Abigail into the kitchen an hour after she arrived with her children and tried to ignore the nagging backache that was giving her a headache as well. She was happy that Abigail had lost her shyness when Hannah stole the hearts of her youngest children, Victoria and Liam, since it seemed like they’d forged a friendship Emma was sure would last a lifetime.
Emma pointed to the counter where Carmen, with the help of her father, had set out dinner. She pressed her fingers to her temple, hoping the pain would subside. “Carmen, would you please call up and have all the kids come down? Maybe between Hayden and Sadie they can take control of the hyped-up trio I hear running around up there,” she said. The request was barely out of her mouth when a spear of pain hit her. Abigail and Carmen came to her side and placed their arms around her waist as she grimaced and held onto the counter.
“How about you sit for me first,” Abigail said, glancing at Carmen since Ross had glued himself to Emma’s side. “Could you go get Cain, please?”
“I’m okay, really. It’s just this load is giving me fits. The end can’t come soon enough, but I’m still a few weeks out.” Sitting was making her nauseous, and all she wanted to do was lie down.
“I could be wrong, but I think you’re about to get your wish. The date shouldn’t worry you. If the baby’s ready, it’s ready.” Abigail placed her hands on Emma’s abdomen and pressed in a few spots. “Then we’ll have something in common.”
“Stretch marks?” she said, and they both laughed.
“There’s that, yes. But we’ll also have three kids each.” Abigail turned as they both heard someone running toward them.
“What’s wrong?” Cain, out of breath, knelt next to Emma.
“Nothing, but Abigail thinks we might have a ride to the hospital in our future.” She ran her fingers through Cain’s hair to comb it off her forehead. “Let’s call Ellie and Sam to see if they want us around.”
“Let me take care of that,” Abigail said. “Those two are good for my business, so you go somewhere and try to get comfortable.”
“Thanks, Abigail, and sorry if this ruins our dinner plans.”
“As if you need to worry about that.” Abigail helped Cain get Emma on her feet. “You concentrate on not having any complications, and Finley and I’ll take care of everyone else. She needs the training.”
Cain and Ross led Emma to the sunroom and made her comfortable on the sofa, but her nagging back pain wasn’t easing up. Cain looked worried, and her father was in the same state. “Relax, mobster. It’s going to be a while yet,” she said as she gripped Cain’s hand.
“All that matters now is that you listen to what Abigail said about no complications.” Cain lowered her head and kissed her, then her midsection. “So take your time, both of you.”
The gesture made her bite her lip to hold back the sob wanting to escape. She didn’t have enough words to describe how much she’d missed Cain at Hannah’s birth. All those hours of misery, followed by years of isolation and abuse from her mother for every bit of her Carol found lacking, had left scars on her soul that still ached. She was grateful when Ross left them alone for the moment.
“Lass,” Cain said softly.
When Emma looked up, her tears started to fall.
“You need to bury all of that,” she said as she wiped Emma’s face with her thumbs.
“How’d you know?”
Cain smiled, and Emma was shocked to see Cain’s face wet with her own tears. “Because you’re mine, lassie. You’re mine so I know your heart like you know my own. Those memories we wish we could change are only as important as we make them. Our little girl will only remember how loved she is now, not where she started, so give this one a happy beginning.”
“You are my life,” she said, crying harder when Cain held her tight against her.
“The luck of my ancestors is still with me then,” Cain said as she kissed her temple. “I’ve lost my heart to only one woman, but it’s a good thing since you’ve taken such good care of it.”
“If you two are done with the mush, it’s time to go,” Finley said from the door. “Abigail and I are going to stay here with the kids, so don’t worry about anything.”
“Thanks, Finley, but if you have to leave, they’ll be in good hands,” she said, not wanting to let Cain go.
“If I tell Victoria and Liam we have to leave their new buddy Hannah, I’d fear for my life. Lou’s waiting, so get going. Once you’re out the door I can start drinking your whiskey and raiding your refrigerator.”
“Thanks, cousin,” Cain said, kissing Emma again.
“It’s nice to do for family again, so maybe I should thank you. Do you want Abigail to go with you two?”
“Stay and have dinner. Remembering our childhood, it might be good to have a doctor in the family. If she has to put stitches in anyone, don’t tell me until I come back,” Cain said with a laugh.
Emma laughed as well, and despite her discomfort, she was happy. “I’m glad you’re here, Finley, and even gladder you’re staying in town.”
“Thank you for being so welcoming of Abigail and her kids. They’ve been through so much.”
“They’re not alone any more, and it makes me happy that they’ll have cousins around to make memories with. We just met, but Cain’s told me about growing up with all of you so close. We’re lucky to watch that happen in the next generation.”
“You’re a lucky woman, Cain,” Finley said, placing her hand on Cain’s back.
“You know it. Could you get Ross back in here? I’m sure he’s going to want to come with us,” Cain said as she gazed at Emma. “You ready, my love?”
“For this and whatever comes next.”
*
“You do realize you threw me out, right?” Nicolette asked as she sat at the desk in her new French Quarter apartment. She’d barely glanced at Marisol since she’d walked in, her face bruised and swollen. Something had happened, but her curiosity wasn’t strong enough that she’d demean herself to ask. “I haven’t heard from you since some guy that works for you escorted me to the door.”
“If your father had called, you’d have ignored him?” Marisol dropped into the only other chair beside her. “All that talk was just crap, wasn’t it?”
“I came to you and offered my friendship and so much more.” She put her pen down and stared at the deep cut across Marisol’s lips. The wound looked like it would reopen if Marisol smiled too widely, and her off-center nose was hard to ignore. Whoever had hit her had definitely broken and pushed it to the left. “You repaid that by throwing me out like some whore who’d finished serving you.”
“My father’s business was in trouble. Try to understand that. We were attacked and I needed to get answers. It had nothing to do with what we talked about.” Marisol’s voice rose, anger flaring across her abused face.
The bruises didn’t make sense, but she could guess now who’d put them there. If she was right, she and her father could exploit this opening. It was time to show a little mercy. “I’m sorry.” Nicolette stood and walked to the kitchen for a wet towel. “You’re right. I would’ve done the same thing.” She pressed the towel gently to Marisol’s top lip where it had started to bleed. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”
Marisol appeared reluctant at first, then started talking. She surprisingly included all the details of her family’s dispute that ended with Hector beating his heir apparent bloody. “That bitch is going to pay, and my father will just have to accept it.”
Whoever this Tracy Stegal was, the woman had replaced Cain Casey on Marisol’s list of people who needed killing. That Hector had forbidden her from any type of retaliation was obviously making Marisol crazy, so it was important not to push too hard right now. “He hit you for defending your honor? I would think a man like your father raised you to not take abuse or disrespect from anyone.”
“He did, and he would’ve never allowed anyone to speak to him like that. This is all because that bitch is spreading her legs for him, and she complained the minute he got back. He’s my father and I love him, but the man can’t function when some fucking idiot is sucking his dick.” Marisol flinched when she finished her rant, and the bleeding got worse.
“Come on.” Nicolette held her hand out to Marisol and waved her people away for the night. “You need to stop talking and rest.”
They moved to the partially furnished master bedroom. The decorators were filling in as her things arrived from France, but the king-sized bed she’d bought here was all she needed. She handed Marisol the towel and slowly undressed her, making sure to caress every part of the unblemished body she uncovered.
“Let me fuck you,” she said when Marisol stood with her legs spread open. She was wet and hard. Perhaps Marisol had more in common with Hector than she might want to own up to. “Sit.” Marisol grabbed her by the hair when she knelt between her legs, but Nicolette persisted. “Let me take care of you.”
Marisol gave in, and Nicolette did her best to make her feel good. Once Marisol was satisfied, she lay back in the bed, and Nicolette took the opportunity to start closing her trap. “Are you going to trust me to help you?”
After a pause Marisol opened her eyes. “Help me how?”
“I keep telling you that you and I will be great partners. We have the same interests, the same enemies, and the same ambitions. If you let me take care of a few things for you, we’ll be free to take control of this city.”
Marisol sat up a little on her elbows and stared at her. “What ideas do you have in that pretty head?”
She smiled and ran her hands up Marisol’s legs. “Nothing that anyone involved will ever see coming, so leave it to me.”
*
“Do you want or need anything?” Cain asked.
Emma took a deep breath. The pain had grown progressively worse, and she felt rather idiotic for not realizing sooner that she was beginning labor. Cain was about to crawl out of her skin with restlessness, and it was making Emma nuts. She’d already sent her father to the waiting area to try to relax since the two of them together were too much.
“Baby, I love you, but you’ve got to calm down.” She held her hand out and laughed at how quickly Cain took it. “Do you know something?”
“That I’m about the happiest person alive right now?” Cain leaned over the bed, thankfully not shaking it, and kissed her.
“There’s that, but that’s not what I was thinking about. You are the love of my life, and I’m glad you’ve been the only one in it. I’ll try for many lifetimes to repay you for all the happiness you’ve given me, but I think I’ll fall short.” She picked Cain’s hand up and placed it on her abdomen. “This baby, our family, and you are my greatest gifts.” She finished as the first strong contraction began. “Shit,” she said loudly once it was done.
“That’s a good way to punctuate all that, my love,” Cain said with a smile. “And in case you’re curious, I feel the same way.”
“Are you in the mood to change diapers?” Dr. Sam Casey said as she let her partner come in first. “Because I think your slacking time is up.”
“Who are you calling a slacker?” Cain pointed her finger at Sam and tried to appear menacing, but Emma saw through her façade. Sam and Ellie had been good friends as well as her OB/GYNs for years. Cain had always told Sam she put up with her because of her blessed last name.
“Now that the children are finished poking at each other, how are you feeling, Emma?” Ellie Eschete asked. Ellie and Sam were more than partners in business and had a baby together.
“The contractions are starting but my water hasn’t—” The sensation was like the first two times, unpleasant and wet. She grimaced as she soaked the bed. “Just once I’d like to be somewhere near a bathroom when that happens.”
“Sam’s right,” Ellie said as she pushed the nurse call button. “I hope you two are ready and don’t have plans for tonight. You either ignored the signs all day or this one is in a hurry to get here, so try to relax. Do you want an epidural?”
“Let’s wait. If he’s in a hurry, I’m not going to slow him down.”
“I’m not confirming that you’re right, but did you peek during one of those ultrasounds?” Sam asked.
“Just a hunch so don’t ruin the surprise for me if all my scientific guessing is wrong.”
“Can you guys unhook all this stuff for a minute and I’ll clean her up,” Cain said.
“It’s okay, love. The nurses will do it.”
Cain kissed the top of her head and then her lips. “I could do it or pace, so I’d rather take care of you. I don’t mind.”
It didn’t take long to change her and the bed. Emma grabbed the railing when her contraction hit since Cain had gone to change into the scrubs they’d brought her. She was breathing deeply, on the downside of the contraction, when the phone rang. She answered it, glad for the distraction. “Hello.”
“Hey, Mama.” Hayden sounded so cheerful, she could imagine the size of his smile. “You doing okay?”
“I’m doing great.” She massaged the side of her abdomen as the pain briefly subsided. “Are you ready to be a big brother again?”
“You think it’ll be today?”
“The doctors are fairly sure either today or early tomorrow. Depends on how stubborn this one is. If they’re anything like you and your sister, we might need a crowbar to get them out.”
“Really? I don’t think you or Mom ever told me that story.”
“Do you want to hear it now?” she said and clicked her teeth together as another contraction started. She was caught off-guard by how close together they suddenly were. “Just…give me…goddamn.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? You sound like you’re in a lot of pain.” He sounded anxious now, like Cain when she was worried about her. His concern made her smile through the pain. Receiving her son’s forgiveness and regaining his love had been one of the greatest accomplishment of her life so far.
“Hey, son.” Cain returned, taking the phone from her. “Your mama’s fine. The cursing is simply a side effect of pregnancy, so how about we call you in a little while?”
“Can I come? I promise not to be in the way.”
The phone was close enough that Emma could hear, and she nodded.
“Sure. Have Mook bring you over, and maybe you can take my place holding your mama’s hand for a while. I’ll tell you that story about your birth while she’s busy insulting me,” she said and laughed. Cain took Emma’s hand after ending the call. “Thanks for agreeing to that, lass. I think he gets more like me every day, especially when it comes to worrying about you, so being stuck at home would’ve driven him crazy.”
“Baby, could you get the nurse for me, please? These contractions are coming way too fast.” The one that started while she’d been talking to Hayden had finally eased up, so she took some more deep breaths, lay back, and tried not to freak out.
Ellie reappeared after Cain pressed the call button and examined her. “The first one is murder because it takes so freaking long,” Ellie said when she glanced up at them. “At least in my experience it seemed like days, but the second one is easier, even if not everyone agrees. The third one, though, seems to fly by in comparison, my patients tell me, so you’ll have to confirm it for me when we’re done, Emma. We’ll be ready to push soon, so do you mind me hanging out with you for a bit?”
Hayden arrived not long after and led Ross back into the room. Their son stared at her with wide eyes as the contractions came and subsided for another hour. She smiled at him as he wiped her forehead with a wet cloth and said a silent prayer the new baby would have as good a heart as both Hayden and Hannah.
When Ellie checked again, she confirmed that it was time.
“Hayden and Ross, how about you go wait for a few minutes with your mom’s guys. I promise we’ll come get you as soon as we’re done,” Ellie said.
“I love you, Mama,” he said and kissed the back of her hand. “Please be all right, okay?”
“I’ll be fine, and I love you too.” Emma was sorry to see him go, but she didn’t want to traumatize him.
Ellie lifted Emma’s feet into the stirrups as soon as the door closed and looked to her, then Cain. “You guys ready? It’s time to push.” The door opened again, and Sam came in with another stool so she could sit close to Ellie.
“I’m ready,” she said, her eyes on Cain. “Thank you for this,” she said as Cain kissed her. “I thought I should mention it before the pain takes over and I say something that might make you think otherwise.”
“You let those curses fly, lass. I’m dying to meet this little one so I’ll develop a thick skin.”
She started pushing when Ellie commanded her to do so, and she gripped Cain’s hands so hard she expected to hear bones breaking, but Cain never complained. She had taken over Hayden’s job and mopped Emma’s forehead as the exertion made her sweat.
“Come on, Emma,” Sam said after another hour. “Give me another one and bear down hard.”
She clenched her teeth and pushed as hard as she could, but she was getting tired. A little movement from the baby made her scream and she pushed again, not caring if Sam or Ellie weren’t ready. “Shit,” she said when she lay back down.
“I can see the head, so once you’re ready, let’s go again,” Ellie said, making Cain glance down.
“You move and I’ll break all your fingers,” Emma threatened, wanting Cain with her.
“I’m not going anywhere, my love. Whenever you’re ready, go ahead. Let’s both meet this bruiser.” Cain wiped her face and kissed her forehead. “You’re the bravest woman I know because I think I’d rather take a bullet than do this.”
The comment made her want to laugh and cry all at once, but she tried to focus on Cain’s face and sat up a little to push. She put the last of her energy into the motion, and in a rush, it was over. It was a strange sensation, but she gave in to her tears when she heard a cry a moment later.
“You were right. It’s a boy,” Sam said as she let Cain cut the cord. “And from the look of him, he’s definitely yours,” she said to Cain, laying him across Emma’s chest.
The sight of him made Emma cry more. If her life ended in that one second, she’d go with a happy, full heart. William Cain Casey was red-faced and loud, with a full head of coal-black hair that gave her a flash of memory from both Hayden and Hannah’s births. He was beautiful, and she forced herself to glance away from him and look at Cain, who was crying as hard as she was.
“I told you it was a boy,” she said as she touched Cain’s cheek.
“That you did, lass. I was hoping for a blond one this time around, but this particular model is so beautiful he makes me want to dance a jig. Maybe four will be the charm.”
“Let her recover from this one, Cain, before you go ordering any more,” Sam said as she stood holding Ellie’s hand.
“I don’t mind those special orders, Doc.” Emma looked at the baby again and fell in love with him like she had the first two.
“He’s beautiful, lass, and he’s ours,” Cain said with so much pride that Emma beamed.