RUSS AND MANDY WERE in the den, stacking building blocks, while they waited for Melissa to get up from her nap. He’d insisted she lie down each afternoon now that she was so big with his child.
“Russ?” Her voice drifted down from upstairs.
“Yeah, sweetheart, I’m coming.” He scooped up Mandy, much to her delight, and hurried up the stairs. They’d been in their new house for three months now. He’d hurried the construction so they could move in before Melissa got too far along in her pregnancy.
He entered the bedroom, a smile on his face. These days he smiled all the time.
Then he frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Mommy?” Mandy said, echoing his worried tone.
“I’m okay,” Melissa assured them both, “but I think it’s time.”
Russ froze. He’d prepared for this day, taking classes with Melissa, reading books. But now the time had come, he felt a sudden panic. “You mean you’re in labor?”
“Yes. Call Natalie and then the doctor.”
She’d written those two numbers by every phone in the house. He’d teased her about it, but now he was glad. He couldn’t remember either one.
Natalie had moved to Casper to live with Mrs. Tuttle shortly after their wedding. She’d promised to come care for Mandy when the baby arrived.
“Natalie? It’s Russ. It’s time. Can you come right away?”
As soon as she agreed, he dialed the doctor’s number. “Dr. Pelham, it’s Russ Hall. Melissa’s in labor.” He turned to his wife. “He wants to know how far apart the contractions are.”
“About six minutes. I’ve been feeling some discomfort since this morning.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he demanded, hurt that she’d kept it from him.
“Because you would’ve wanted to go to the hospital right away, and it wasn’t time,” she said calmly, a smile on her face.
He expelled a deep breath of frustration and repeated the information to the doctor. After receiving instructions, he hung up the phone. “Come on. We’re supposed to go to the hospital at once.”
“I know. Will you forgive me?”
He stood Mandy on the floor and drew Melissa into his arms. “I just want to protect you, sweetheart.”
“You do, Russ. Mandy and I are so well-protected and loved. We couldn’t be happier.”
“Me, neither,” he assured her before his lips covered hers. The kiss was ended when he felt her muscles tighten with another contraction.
He turned and headed for the stairs. “Come on, Mandy,” he called, not forgetting the little girl who’d taught him about babies.
“Okay, Daddy,” she agreed, grabbing his pant leg.
“Can you walk? he asked Melissa. “I’m afraid to leave Mandy to navigate the stairs by herself.”
Melissa agreed, but Mandy had no fear. She was already several steps down.
“Wait, Mandy. I’ll carry you,” he assured her. Once he’d carried her down, he hurried back to help Melissa. By the time she reached the bottom of the stairs, Mandy was on her way back up.
“Mandy, come back,” he called, going after her. “I never should’ve built a two-story house,” he muttered.
“The house is perfect, Russ.”
He returned to her side for another kiss, Mandy struggling in his arms to get free.
He raised his mouth from hers reluctantly. “If her brother is half as active as Mandy, I’m going to become skin and bones. I can’t keep up with her.”
Melissa grabbed his arm as another contraction seized her. “I—I think they’re getting closer together.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, worry filling him. The sound of a car had him running to the window. “Natalie is here. We’ll be at the hospital in a few minutes, sweetheart.”
He opened the door for their friend, handed Mandy over to her and guided Melissa out of the house.
“Oh, my suitcase. It’s in the hall closet,” Melissa reminded him.
He ran back in, grabbed the suitcase, kissed Mandy goodbye and raced to the car.
As he drove to the hospital, he once again counted his blessings. “You know, if our son ever wants to be in a bachelor auction,” he began, reaching over to pat her stomach, “I’m going to be all in favor of it.”
Melissa smiled. “Me, too.”
Russ pulled her closer, driving with one hand. “You okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. But I’m in a hurry to meet the next Hall bachelor. I only hope he’ll be as perfect as his father.”
“I just hope he’ll be as lucky,” Russ said, and turned into the hospital parking lot.
* * * * *