| |
BECK’S HEART WAS POUNDING as they walked into The Wheel House, holding hands. He ran his thumb over her knuckles, brushing across the ring he’d put on her finger. The style was perfect for her, a diamond set into a platinum band, so it wouldn't catch on anything when she was taking care of the babies or going about her nursing duties.
He couldn't believe she’d come out to the house to look for him today, couldn't believe he was going to be her husband, the father of her kids. On the drive over, they’d talked briefly about when they’d get married. He wanted to get married before the babies came, but that didn't leave a lot of time, since she was due in just over a month.
Their friends and family were waiting for them—he’d called Con to pick up his mom on the way, since Beck wanted to get to Lacey’s early and give her her ring.
The second party they’d had here in less than a month, and the ladies had done a great job decorating the stage and the area around it with pastel colors. The table was set with two matching cakes that looked like babies sleeping with their butts in the air, and presents were piled on the stage, some of the boxes making him glad he had brought his truck.
Poppy was the first to notice them standing there, holding hands. Her eyebrows shot up as she looked at her friend, and she hurried over.
“Welcome, little mama,” she said loudly, but her gaze went pointedly to their joined hands, and her eyes went even wider. She reached down and grabbed Lacey’s hand away from Beck’s.
“What’s that?” she demanded, holding up the ring for inspection.
“Beck proposed,” Lacey said.
“A second time,” Beck reminded her.
Squeals echoed throughout the crowd, and Beck felt Lacey being torn away from him, embraced by her friends. Her father pulled her out of the mob of friends and hugged her, then reached for Beck’s hand.
“You got her to say yes. Good for you. Proud of you.” The older man pumped his hand, then turned back and embraced his daughter again.
His mother walked forward on unsteady legs and gripped Lacey’s arms in both hands, then she leaned forward and hugged the surprised nurse.
Then she took Lacey’s hand in hers and lifted her ring to inspect it.
“That’s a very lovely ring, Beck. I’m proud of you. Pretty and practical.”
“Learned from the best,” he said, leaning over to kiss his mother’s temple, a move he never made, but today, what the hell.
Lacey’s mother and sister finally made their way to her. Beck wasn't sure why they waited. Maybe they didn't think this was a good idea. Maybe they just wanted to wait until everyone was out of the way. He wouldn’t read too much into it. Tonight was a night for celebrating, and he lost his girl once more in the crowd.
“When are you getting married?” Hailey asked when things settled down a bit, and Beck and Lacey sat at one of the picnic tables, Beck curved around her, feeling a little awkward at the intimacy, but he wanted to be close to her.
“I’d love to do it before the babies are born,” Beck said. “How soon can you throw another one of these parties?”
“Ha!” Hailey countered. “Nope. Give me a month, at least.”
“Oh, me, too,” Lacey said. “I don't want a rushed wedding. I want a real one. Don’t you?”
“Don’t care, as long as you’re there.”
She gave him one of those looks that he loved, the sideways ones that made him wonder what she was thinking, made him want to be alone with her so he could find out.
“I’ll be there,” she promised. “And hopefully a few sizes smaller.” She rubbed their joined hands across her belly as the babies bucked, apparently aware of all the excitement.
He nuzzled her neck, just briefly, breathing in the smell of her, her no-nonsense soap and a slight layer of sweat, because she was enormously pregnant and outside in Texas at the beginning of fall.
“Why doesn’t everyone grab a plate, get something to eat?” Hailey suggested. “Then we can get to the presents, and then the cake.”
“Are we playing games?” Tanya asked.
“We have a few, but let’s eat first, then take it from there. Lacey, you go first.”
Beck noticed Lacey picked at her sandwich, concentrating more on the salty chips she probably shouldn’t be eating. She’d put cut vegetables on her plate, but was ignoring them, too. Was she nervous? Having second thoughts? She was quiet, which wasn't unusual for her, but he wanted to know if she was happy, or worried, or what. Maybe she just didn't like being the center of attention.
“Present time!” Poppy announced a few minutes later, standing beside the stage like Vanna White, arms out in presentation. “Which do you want to open first? Don’t worry. We’ll bring them to you, and Tanya will write down who gave what, okay?”
“Well, then, we’ll save the biggest for last,” Lacey said. “Bring me that bag.”
Beck sat by while she unpacked tiny clothes and socks and bibs, bottles and diapers and gift cards. She unwrapped things he couldn't identify by use, like diaper genies and wiper warmers. But she apparently knew, and exclaimed over everything.
He helped Poppy pull over one of the bigger boxes—two were identical.
“That’s from me, and the other is from your brothers,” her mother said.
Lacey stood up to unwrap the beautifully wrapped gift, and immediately froze. “Hey, can y’all excuse me for a minute? I need to go to the bathroom.”
She caught Poppy’s hand and gave her a look before the two hurried off toward the bathroom. Beck watched after them, tension in his body.
“That was weird,” he said.
“When you gotta go, you gotta go,” Austin said. “Especially with two babies sitting on your bladder.”
But a few minutes later, Poppy came back to the table and drew Austin away from the group. Beck was on his feet in an instant to join them.
“What’s going on?”
“Lacey’s not sure, but she thinks her water broke,” Poppy said.
The adrenaline pump was instant, and Beck pivoted toward the building.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute,” Austin said, his hand on Beck’s arm. “Let me talk to her, see what she felt. See what’s going on.”
Beck didn't want to wait, wanted to go to her and see how she was doing, but Poppy held him back while Austin went to check on her.
“What’s going on?” Lacey’s dad asked, joining Poppy and Beck.
“She thinks her water broke.”
“Why are we standing around?”
“Austin is checking her. She’s not sure. She thought maybe she wet her pants,” Poppy said.
Just then, Austin and Lacey emerged from the building, Austin’s arm around Lacey’s waist.
“Who’s the one driving to San Angelo?” Austin announced. “You might want to get on the road.”
A moment passed before the words sunk in, then Beck surged forward to take Lacey from Austin.
“You sure that’s the best thing?” he demanded of Austin. “You don't think she should have the baby here?”
“Please don't have the baby here,” Hailey teased, and Beck noticed they were once again surrounded by their friends.
“I mean in town. In the doctor’s office. Do you think driving that distance is okay?”
“She’s not going to give birth in the car, if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m a little concerned that they’re six weeks early. I’d feel better if they were in a place with a neonatal unit.”
“Yes. Please,” Lacey said. “But I don't have my bag. I haven't even packed one yet.”
“We’ll pack one and bring it to you,” Marianne said. “You get on your way.”
“My party! The cakes.” Lacey looked longingly in the direction of the twin cakes.
“We’ll save you some,” Hailey promised. “You go take care of business. We’ll be there in the morning.”
“I’ll go get the truck,” Beck said, reluctant to let go of her even for that amount of time. He left her to the embraces of her friends and ran out of the yard to pull the truck around. He was glad he parked close, but still he didn't want to make her walk the distance. He was aware of the other patrons watching him as he ran down the street to get in, whip it around in the messiest three-point turn he’d executed in his life, and whipped it back to the gates in front of The Wheel House.
“Are you having any contractions?” Beck asked as he helped her up into the passenger seat.
“I’ve been having a few cramps, but it wasn't like the Braxton-Hicks. I thought it was just anxiety.”
“You weren’t eating. Is that why?”
“Yes.” She squirmed a little on the seat.
“Are you having a contraction now?”
“No, I—I’m just not comfortable. I guess they’ve dropped.”
“It’s not too late. Austin can deliver them.”
“I don't like that he wasn’t ready to do that. That he’d rather send me to my regular doctor. I’d feel safer knowing I’m in the best place for them.”
As she settled in, Poppy jumped into the back seat, patting Lacey’s shoulder as she did so. Beck ran back to the other side of the truck to come face to face with Tanya and Joyce opening the back door on the driver’s side.
“We’re going,” Joyce said without preamble, like she was waiting for an argument.
Beck wasn't going to take time to give her one. Instead he swept his hand toward the back seat. “Make yourself comfortable.”
But he wasn't going to wait for anyone else to jump into his truck, and pulled onto the street among shouts of well-wishes before Tanya even found both ends of her seatbelt.
By the time they got to the hospital, the contractions had started, and Beck’s nerves were shattered, watching Lacey in pain and not being able to do anything about it, not even able to comfort her. But she’d had Poppy and her mom and Tanya alternately comforting her, coaching her and terrifying her.
“Guess we won’t be getting married before the babies come,” Lacey said once they were in the delivery room and she was changed, waiting for Dr. Fredrick to come check on her.
“Yeah, well.”
“They’re going to be your children, anyway, you know. Package deal and all that.”
“What?”
“That’s what you were thinking, wasn't it? Wanting to get married before? That we’d be married and they’d be your children?”
He admitted that was close to the truth, though he didn't say that what he was worried about was Jesse coming back into her life at the last minute, claiming her and the babies as his.
Could still happen. But he wasn't going to bring it up.
“I want to give them my name,” was all he said.
“I’m going to get in touch with Jesse as soon as this is done. I want to do this legally, get him to surrender custody so you can adopt them legally. If that’s what you want to do. I know it costs money.”
“Worth it,” he said, settling in beside her and taking her hand, bringing it to his lips. “Absolutely what I want to do. I want it to be legal, and forever. Both the babies, and you.”
Her eyes teared up when she met his gaze. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”
“Ha. Don't ask my mother that question, or she might pull out a list. I’m the one who’s lucky here.”
“This has been a busy day,” she said with a laugh. “When I came out to ask you to be in the delivery room with me, I didn't think we’d be here in just a matter of hours.”
“Yeah, but think about the great story we’ll have to tell the kids.” He rubbed his thumb over the back of her knuckles and smiled at her, but the smile dropped away when a contraction hit.
The next few hours wrung him out. Her dad and Marianne arrived shortly after they did, and the tension between her dad and mom was palpable, so he sent them all the hell out of the room. Lacey didn't need that added stress. Poppy and Tanya stayed by her side, and Beck was grateful for them distracting her, making her laugh, cheering her on. He could see her relaxing, and he in turn relaxed.
His entire body tensed as her body curled up over her belly, and Poppy coached her through the breathing. Beck didn't breathe at all. It was only until his eyes got blurry did he realize it, and he took a breath as Lacey dropped back against the pillow.
Suddenly he wasn't sure he needed to be here. He couldn't help her. Seeing her in pain was destroying him. And, well, things were about to get really personal as the labor progressed.
But she’d asked him to be here. He’d power through. Damn, it seemed the least he could do, since she was doing the hard work.
Dr. Fredrick came through the door then, in a cap and wearing a gown over her scrubs. “Let’s see how we’re doing. They’re about two minutes apart?”
“Not even that,” Beck said, since Poppy had given him that job, and even though he was flustered by every contraction.
“Thinking it’s time to push.” Dr. Fredrick took her position at the foot of the bed, gave Lacey a quick exam, and met Lacey’s gaze. “Time to push. You ready?”
“I guess no isn’t an acceptable answer?” Lacey asked breathlessly.
Dr. Fredrick smiled warmly. “Not even close.”
Lacey nodded quickly. “Okay, let’s go.” She wrapped one hand around Beck’s and the other around Poppy’s.
He knew it would sound cliche, but she’d never looked so beautiful as she strained to bring her babies into the world, first her daughter, then her son.
Their cries were lusty and high as the nurses carried them away to waiting bassinets where they cleaned the babies up, wrapped them in blankets and brought them back to Lacey, whose pain and exhaustion washed away when she took her babies in her arms, and oh God. Watching the woman he loved fall in love took his breath away.
“You did good, Mom,” Dr. Fredrick said, rising and rubbing a friendly hand over Lacey’s ankle. “Nothing to it, right?”
Beck choked out a laugh, and she patted his shoulder, then smiled adoringly at the twins before she left the room.
“I never thought they’d be so beautiful,” Lacey murmured, not knowing where to look, turning from one to the other.
“They take after their mama,” he said, cupping his hand around the back of her head and pressing a kiss to her forehead.