Читать книгу Special Delivery - Laura Browning - Страница 8

Thoughts of Holly nagged Jake all night. First thing the next morning, Jake was in the station and on the phone. Mountain Meadow might be a small police force, but they still had resources they could call for help. And friends. And right now he was calling in a favor.

“Trev, it’s Jake.”

“Hey, dude! How are things hangin’ out there in the Blue Ridge? Longing for the big city yet? You know there’d always be a place for a man like you here at the bureau.”

“Not a chance,” Jake shot back. “I’ll leave the big city and the politicking to you, buddy. Give me my mountains any day. Look, I need a favor.”

“Anything. I still owe you for that night in Kandahar.”

Jake shook the memory off. Not something he wanted to think about, let alone talk about. “I need some information about two people: a Holly Morgan and her brother Tyler…same last name. Tyler’s just a kid.”

Trev laughed. “You got anything other than names? You know, maybe ages, descriptions, some basic ID I can use?”

Jake passed on what he’d gotten out of Tyler on the way into town. He’d been hesitant to try to pump too much information from the kid. “Until about two months ago, they lived in Lynchburg, She graduated from a college or university there.”

“Well now. That’s more to go on. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”

Jake hung up, then called Jenny.

“Hey, Jen, it’s Jake. Busy?”

“I’m a family practitioner in a small town with the only hospital in a three county area. What do you think, Jake?”

“No need to be testy. I won’t take much of your time. I just want to know what Holly Morgan’s due date is.”

“Jake, I’m overjoyed you’re showing such personal interest, but you know I’m not supposed to tell you anything. Besides, I still haven’t forgiven you for your choice of friend to bring to my party.”

“Come on, Jen. I just want to help.”

“Okay, I will give you one interesting tidbit. You’re the second person today to ask the very same question. Someone else called first thing, claimed they were planning a shower for her. Sure didn’t sound like anyone from Crawford’s, so I think it might have been somebody just fishing.”

Jake’s senses went on alert. He hadn’t gotten the impression from Jen or Holly she’d been around long enough to have friends wanting to give her a shower.

“Did you tell them anything?”

A snort sounded from the other end of the line. “No. We didn’t even let them know she was a patient. And I’m not telling you anything either.”

“Look you already told me she’s all but lost her job. What else is stressing her? I mean, she looks at me like I’m Jack the Ripper—not Dudley Do-Right as you keep calling me.”

Jenny’s exasperated sigh floated over the line. “I am so violating confidentiality here. Her ex-fiancé hassled her to give him the kid after they split. He wants her to play incubator and then hand the baby over to his new fiancée. That’s why she’s got the PO.”

Jake grimaced. “Damn! That’s cold.” He jabbed the pencil he’d been tapping on his desk blotter back into the cup holding a half dozen other pens and pencils. If a woman like Holly were having his child, there wouldn’t be anyone but her.

“Okay. So now I’ve told you way more than I should’ve because you’re one of my very best friends, and I think Holly could use a friend like you. I hope the information is for a good cause.”

“I thought I’d take more food over later this week. The weather forecast calls for snow, so I don’t want her and the kid stuck with nothing to eat. Jeez, Jen. I opened her fridge to get a glass of tea yesterday, and it was almost empty.”

The pause stretched. “Like I said, Jake. She could use a friend, even if she doesn’t think so.”

He ended the call so he could take his turn doing patrol duty. As he drove, he kept turning over the mystery call to Jenny’s office. If someone was sniffing that close, chances were they had a lead on Holly already. Jake blew air out in frustration. If it turned into knowing her address, she and Tyler would be in deep trouble. Crawley’s place was way too isolated.

He had just cleared a domestic argument, sparked by a husband who spent too much of the family paycheck on holiday cheer, when his phone rang. He pulled his unmarked cruiser into the parking lot of the Presbyterian church.

“Jake here.”

“Hey, dude. Got you the info you were looking for.”

Jake pulled out a notebook and a pencil. “Okay, Trev. Shoot.”

“Holly Marie Morgan. Twenty-two years old. Bachelors degree in Accounting from Lynchburg College in May of this year. Legal guardian of Tyler Matthew Morgan. Eleven years old. Parents were Matthew and Marie Morgan, both killed in a car crash Thanksgiving of last year. Tyler was injured, but survived. Until five months ago, Holly was engaged to Spencer Dilby, of Richmond.”

Jake raised his brows. “Would that be like Dilby Department Stores?”

“You got it.”

And the guy wanted her kid? That was some serious pressure with the money and pedigree to back the name.

“Who ended it?”

“He did, and is now engaged to a Celia Segal whose family is from Fairfax. Pretty straightforward stuff. Hope it helps.”

“More than you know, Trev. Thanks.”

“Anytime, bro.”

Jake sat in the car and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. That would explain why the ex-fiancé might be after the kid-to-be. The child had a claim on the Dilby fortune. It would also explain some of her wariness around him. She no doubt figured the Dilbys could pressure anyone with all the money they had backing them, protective order or not. If so, they hadn’t ever been to Mountain Meadow. Folks in this part of Virginia didn’t take to people who flashed their cash.

* * * *

Just as Holly suspected, the phone company cut service Wednesday. They’d told her the last time she’d called a partial payment wouldn’t be enough. She rubbed her back as she returned to the couch from her latest trip to the bathroom. She had the radio tuned to one of the local stations for some background noise because, with no satellite and no cable, they got almost no television reception in the hollow where they were, even with the box to convert the digital signal.

Her forced inactivity drove her bananas. Used to working, she made a list of baby items she still needed, but all she did was frustrate herself when she realized she had neither the time nor the money to be ready for her daughter’s arrival.

Jake stopped by Thursday with another box of food in hand. Without Tyler as a buffer, he swallowed, and after he handed the box to her, he took his cap off and slapped it against his leg a couple of times. She was relieved when he mumbled something again about chopping wood and hurried outside.

The window gave her a great view while he worked. He made it look so effortless, and for him it no doubt was. There wasn’t an ounce of flab anywhere on him. Holly bit her lip and let the curtain fall into place. He was handsome, but she had no business looking at him. She had no business looking at anyone. Still, she twitched the corner of the curtain again, drawing some comfort from the smooth swing of the ax. She was disappointed when he just stuck his head in the door and mumbled a good-bye.

What did she expect? She’d been pretty bitchy to him. Holly bit her lower lip. This wasn’t who she was or what she was like, but after the mistake she’d made about Spence, trusting anyone else was nearly impossible, even someone like Jake.

Jim Tarpley brought Tyler home most of the week. On Saturday, he stepped into the house for a minute to say hello.

“Susie had me bring this box of baby clothes and whatnot. We kept items around when our grandchildren were tiny, but most of them are in their teens now, and she thought you might could use it.”

Holly smiled in genuine pleasure. “Thank you, and please thank Mrs. Tarpley, too. You’ve been such a help.”

His eyes twinkled when he smiled. “Anything we can do, you just let us know. Tyler’s a hard worker, and we’re real fortunate to have him with the holidays coming. You let us know if you need anything, you hear?”

Holly smiled. Tarpley waved his good-bye and shut the door behind him.

While Tyler did his homework, Holly went through the clothing, blankets and small toys. In addition, several items appeared brand new. Baby wipes and powder, diapers, a bulb syringe, and a couple of bibs. She blinked back tears.

They had met some nice people since they came to Mountain Meadow. Folks like the Tarpleys, Doc, even Jake. Maybe things here were different. Jake called it being neighborly. Until Spence, Holly had trusted in the basic goodness of people. Then he opened her eyes to reality, but maybe that was Spence’s version of reality. Her eyes drifted to the full wood box. Somehow, she bet Jake’s reality was a lot different. And given a choice, she wanted Jake’s version.

After Tyler went off to bed, Holly doused the living room lamp and settled on the couch. She now slept half-propped just to find some comfort and still be able to breathe. Even so, she was getting far less sleep than she needed. By Tuesday morning when Tyler set off for school, she was achy and lethargic.

“Pay attention to the weather, Tyler,” she told him as he started out the door. “They keep calling for snow.”

He waved at her. “I will.”

Just after noon, Holly realized the weather wasn’t her biggest problem. Her labor had started. The first hard pains hit about the same time the snow began to cascade in thick, fluffy flakes. As the contraction rippled through her, Holly clutched the edge of the kitchen counter and tried to regulate her breathing. She stared at the phone in frustration. She had no way to call anyone. Stupid.

Well, it would be hours before she needed to worry. Weren’t first labors generally long? And someone would bring Tyler home. She could get a ride into the hospital then. In the meantime, she would pack a bag for her and the baby.

* * * *

Spence tapped his finger on the manila envelope in front of him and smirked. The detective hadn’t brought much, but it might be enough. Tyler was enrolled in the Castle County Schools, a fifth grader at Mountain Meadow Elementary. He’d made some other phone calls, but had so far come up empty. His information didn’t include a physical address, just a PO box.

Maybe it was time for a ski trip. He and Seely could go through there, giving him the perfect excuse to stop and nose around just a little. Holly’s baby should be born any time. A Dilby. That was all his parents cared about. So if he could deliver, they’d quit pestering him.

Yep. Time to head to the mountains.

* * * *

Snow blanketed the town square, and Jake thought of the additional box of food he had for Tyler and Holly. He had to let Jenny know not to say anything. He told Holly the boxes were gifts from Doc, but aside from the first one, Jake had packed them. He hated to think the grief she would give him if she found out. Hell, Evan was already calling him Father Teresa. Yeah, he hated the way he smirked when he did it, too, like he thought Jake was going all moony over Holly. He was just being neighborly, like his parents had taught him.

He called the general store and talked to Susie Tarpley, letting her know he’d run Tyler home in a couple of hours. In the meantime, he finished the paperwork on his desk. It included a proposal to the town council for an expansion to the building and the force. Right now they had just six sworn offices. Jake hoped to add two more. Ernie had shuffled more and more of the administrative work on him. About four-thirty he grabbed his coat and cap and checked in with the chief.

“I’m gonna get out of here early. I told Jim and Susie I’d run the Morgan kid home, so I’ll be in my truck. I’ll have my cell phone with me, though.”

“Careful. Scanners are starting to light up with a lot of traffic problems north of here along the interstate. Looks like this is switching over to freezing rain.”

Jake frowned. All they needed was an ice storm. Snow was one thing, but when things iced up, nobody moved no matter what they drove. He stopped by his house and grabbed the food he’d forgotten, tossing the box onto the backseat of the four-door truck. A half hour later he halted in front of Tarpley’s.

The snow indeed switched over to thick drops of freezing rain. They plopped like syrup on the windshield before the wipers whisked them away. Why was he doing this? Holly didn’t even live in Mountain Meadow, and she hadn’t given him any come-hither looks. Hell, maybe that was it. She was so determined to do everything on her own… Tyler slipped and slid his way to the passenger door and climbed in. Jake waved to Jim and Susie across the seat.

“Buckle up. This could be an interesting ride home.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Have you talked to your sister to let her know you’re on the way?” Jake put the truck in gear. When Tyler didn’t respond, he glanced over and saw the boy shift. “Tyler? Did you call her?”

“Our phone’s shut off.”

Jake started to swear, remembered the boy sitting next to him, and bit his tongue, smacking his palm against the steering wheel instead. “You mean to tell me your stubborn sister is all alone out there on bed rest with no way to call anyone?”

“Yes.” Tyler’s voice shook. “We couldn’t pay it, so they cut it off last week.”

Last week? Why hadn’t she said anything? He’d been by several times. Did she mistrust him so much? Jake pressed his lips together. “Okay, okay. We’ll get you home, then come hell or high water, I’m taking you and your sister out of there tonight. Even with a phone, I’m not sure any help could get to y’all in an emergency.” Thinking of the protective order, he added, “You can stay with me until you find someplace closer in where Holly can get help if she needs it.” And by God, if she bowed up on him, he’d carry her out over his shoulder, pregnant or not.

As they set off, Jake realized he was doing what Jenny had angled for at her party. He realized something else. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t let Holly and her brother stay in that piece-of-shit house any longer. The place should have fallen in years ago.

* * * *

How long had it been since the last contraction? Holly huddled in the bathroom. She’d been sick a couple of times as the contractions rolled through her. The pains came harder and faster, and now she wasn’t sure just how much time she had. She put clean towels on her bed and boiled water. What the water was for she had no idea, but it seemed like people always wanted boiling water when they screamed about birthing babies in the movies.

She checked her watch. Five o’clock. She’d been in labor about four hours. Not very long. She remembered other women at Doc Owens’s talking about being in labor for twelve hours and more. She checked her watch as the next contraction hit. Less than five minutes. The freezing rain hit the windowpanes with an ominous ticking noise.

For the first time, unease stirred and with it the realization she was in very real trouble.

When she heard a vehicle outside, she braced one arm on the edge of the tub and tried to stand, but she was tired. As she shifted one more time, something popped and was followed by a gush of warm liquid that drenched her clothing and left her gaping in horror. The front door opened and Tyler called to her.

“Holly? Where are you?”

Another contraction hit, and she moaned.

* * * *

Jake pushed into the house right behind Tyler and stomped the snow off his boots. He heard Holly’s moan as soon as the door shut. He took in the scissors and string on the table, the pot of water on the stove, the towels and a book on pregnancy and birth. Dropping the box he carried into the chair next to the door, Jake shot past Tyler.

“Holly!” Fear drove him down the hall.

She knelt on the floor of the bathroom in a puddle. His throat ached. Her eyes swallowed her pale face. He had seen the look before: pure, unadulterated fear. For soldiers, it could be deadly, and Jake had no doubt this could be just as dangerous. Calm down. He had to be the strong one because she must be scared spitless.

“Holly, honey, it’s Jake,” he murmured, not sure how aware she was. “You need me to help you?”

She nodded. “My water just broke, but I’ve been in labor for a while.” She sucked in a shaky breath. “Oh, Jake. Thank God you’re here.”

He picked her up, mindless of her wet clothing, and carried her down the hall to the room he assumed belonged to her. He was relieved to see the bedcovers turned back and towels already covering the sheets. He glanced at her with new respect. She’d prepared to get through this on her own. As he settled her on top of the towels, he asked, “How long have you been having pains?”

“They started around one.”

He glanced at his watch. About five hours. “How far apart are they?”

She swallowed and whispered, “The last ones were three minutes.”

Jake pulled out his phone, checked to see he had a signal, and punched a button. It rang just two times. “Doc? It’s Jake.”

“Hmm, you’re calling me Doc, so this must be business.”

“It is. I’m at Holly’s house. I brought Tyler home. She’s in labor. About five hours. Pains three minutes apart.”

“Shit.” There was a pause and then she said, “Why didn’t she call someone? No. Never mind that now. Think you can deliver a baby?”

“Uhh, Jen…we covered the basics in training, but I’ve never done it.”

“Jake, I’m at home and stuck. If you move her on this ice and get stranded, the situation could go from bad to worse—life-threatening worse for her and the baby.”

Jake closed his eyes then opened them to stare at the ice hitting the windowpane with its rhythmic tick, tick.

“Give me a refresher. Her water’s already broken.”

“How’s she holding up?”

“Other than being scared, breathing and color seem okay. I haven’t checked her pulse.”

“It’ll be elevated. I’m not so worried about that. Has she said anything about feeling the need to push?”

“No.”

“Chances are she’s not fully dilated yet. Clean her, get her changed, and make her comfortable. Check to see if you can see the baby’s head, then give me a call.”

Jake punched End and stared at the blank phone screen. What the fuck? He was barely on a first-name basis with Holly and Jenny wanted him to… He looked at Holly’s pale face and wide eyes. Jake blew out a deep breath. Time to put his personal interests aside. This was professional. Right. And he was no doctor.

“Holly?” Tyler’s voice came from the doorway. His face was pinched and pale as he took in her soiled clothing. “What’s wrong? It’s too soon for the baby, isn’t it?”

Jake heard the edge of hysteria in the boy’s voice and realized he must be thinking about losing his parents the year before. Now the only family member left was bloody and in pain.

“It’s okay.” Holly’s smile vanished as another contraction slammed into her. “Just a little early. No big deal.” She panted and closed her eyes as if to hide her fear from her brother.

So Jake smiled. “Your niece, Uncle Tyler, has decided it’s time to be born, and she and Holly will need our help. Can you be a big man and do that?”

Tyler straightened his thin shoulders. “Y-yes. Yes. I can.”

“Good. I just got off the phone with Doc Owens. She says we need to get Holly cleaned up and make her comfortable. Can you find me a nightgown?”

“Yeah.” Tyler went to the chest of drawers and pulled out an oversize T-shirt. “Here you go. It’s what she usually sleeps in.”

Holly lay against the pillows, sweat beading her brow. She must be so tired, and he felt nearly helpless to change that.

“Great, buddy. Now get me a warm washcloth and a clean towel so Holly can wash.” As soon as Tyler left the room, Jake stripped off his jacket. “Can you clean up, or do you need help?”

Her gaze slid away from his. “I—I’m going to need some help.”

Jake skimmed her cheek with his fingertips. “Now’s not the time to be embarrassed. You and I are gonna get to know each other a whole lot better in the next few hours. Doc says not to move you.”

Holly’s eyes widened. “Have you done this before?”

“No,” he admitted. And he wasn’t sure he wanted to do it now, but he couldn’t tell her.

She smiled, weariness plain on her face. “Couldn’t you lie to make me feel better?”

He stroked the hair off her face. “No. We need to be straight with each other about what’s going on. It’s the only way to get you, the baby, and Tyler through it too.” And me, his internal voice shouted.

Holly nodded. Her expression relaxed somewhat. If she still didn’t quite trust him, she at least didn’t look petrified anymore.

Tyler returned and handed them the cloths.

“Thanks, man. Say, if you’ve got any coffee around here. I could use a pot.”

“There’s some in the freezer,” Holly said. “You remember how to make it, Tyler?”

“Yeah.”

Jake grinned. “Then get to it while I help Holly.”

As soon as Tyler left the room, Jake hefted her to her feet, supporting her with one arm while he helped her remove the damp nightgown with his other. He wiped her, patted her dry, and then slipped the clean shirt over her head.

As much as he tried to be objective and impersonal about the whole process, his insides were in a knot. He’d never seen a pregnant woman’s body before and he marveled at all the changes. When he looked into her face, she blushed and looked away.

“Don’t, Holly,” he blurted. “You’re beautiful.” Jake felt heat in his cheeks, but he refused to look away. She was pretty. She needed to know that.

Her laugh was half sob. While she sat in the chair near the bed, Jake put additional towels over the mattress. He’d never seen a human baby born, but he had helped with cattle births on the farm when he was a kid and knew clean and easy weren’t necessarily part of the process. When he was done, he helped her onto the bed just as another contraction began. He sat next to her and held her hand. How the hell was he going to do this?

“Doc said I should make you comfortable. Would you rather sit on the bed or move around a bit?”

Holly’s eyes were so bright they almost glowed. “Sit for now. Have Tyler get the extra pillows out of his closet. I’m so tired. I guess the pains I’ve had since yesterday weren’t false labor like I thought.”

“If you’ll be all right for a few minutes, I’m just gonna check on Tyler, and then I need to call Doc and the chief. I’ll bring those pillows, too.”

Holly laid a hand on his arm, and he stopped to look at her.

“Thanks, Jake. I know you didn’t expect this, but I can’t tell you how glad I am you’re here. I thought…”

He squeezed her hand. “You thought you were going to have to do it by yourself.”

She let out a relieved breath. “Yeah.”

He grinned. “You’da done it, too.”

* * * *

The weather deteriorated as the night wore on. The tick, tick, tick of freezing rain continued to beat against the windows and onto the rusted tin roof. In a strange way, Holly found it soothing, like being cocooned inside the small house.

Jake’s presence was more reassuring than she might have imagined. He sent Tyler out to his truck to bring in the emergency kit he kept in the backseat and then had her brother fill two of the collapsible five-gallon water containers he pulled from the kit. Tyler gave him a questioning look.

“Why ya having me get all this water?”

“In case the power goes out, buddy. If you lose power, you’ll lose the well pump—so no water. After you’ve filled the containers, fill the tub, too. I’m gonna call Chief Jones to let him know where I am and talk to Doc Owens.”

He sat in the chair next to her bed to make his calls. Holly shifted position, rolling to her feet awkwardly. When Jake started to rise, she waved him back.

“I’m okay. I just need to move around some.”

While she walked around the room, she listened to Jake’s end of the conversation with Chief Jones. The weather situation was worsening. Jake pinched the bridge of his nose while he listened.

“Look, I’m sorry to leave you in the lurch like this. I know it’s not our jurisdiction…”

When he hung up a few minutes later, Holly said, “If being here is getting you in trouble…”

He glared. “Don’t even finish that sentence. Ernie told me to stay right here. Sam and his deputies can cover until I get back.” He studied her belly. “You doing okay?”

Holly nodded. “A little tired.” Another contraction started, so she held onto the bedpost and rode it out. She knew Jake was worried. She tried to smile. Then he surprised her by coming around to rub her shoulders and her back.

“That help?”

“Yes.” Another stronger contraction doubled her over. “I think I need to sit, and Jake?”

“What?”

“I think you should call Doc again. I feel like I need to push.”

Jake helped her to bed, propped her with the pillows, and left the covers over her. This wasn’t how Holly had pictured the birth of her baby. This man was little more than a stranger, but as he moved around her with easy grace, his hair falling over his brow and his gaze flicking her way with concern, she realized if Doc Owens couldn’t be here, she was glad Jake was.

He was on the phone with Doc. He listened for a few moments, huffed out a breath, and ran his fingers through his hair before he said, “Yeah, I’d already kind of figured that, Jen.” He paused an instant and then handed the phone to her. “Doc wants to talk to you. I’ve got to go scrub.”

“Hi, Doc.”

“You okay with this, Holly?”

She smiled as Jake left the room. “I don’t have a lot of choice, but yes. Jake’s doing a great job.”

“Good. I know you’re a little uncomfortable with people you don’t know, but he’s a good guy. You’re going to be pretty busy here in the next little bit. Just keep in mind everything Jake does is to help you and the baby. Okay?”

“Yes. I feel like I need to push.”

“Sounds like you’re close. Let me talk to Jake again.”

He had just returned from the bathroom and used a towel to grab the phone from her. After a minute or two he held it out to her. “Hit the End button, please.”

That’s when the lights went out. Jake swore, and Holly’s heart skipped a beat. As if he sensed that flutter of panic, Jake squeezed her knee. The gentle pressure reassured her.

“Tyler?” he called calmly.

“Yeah?”

“Get in my emergency kit. You’ll find two flashlights, some candles and matches. Bring them here, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

Tyler walked in with a flashlight beam already bobbing in front of him. In another minute, several candles cast a soft glow around the room. Jake’s lips quirked. “Someday you’ll have some great stories to tell your little girl.”

Holly’s laugh cut off as another strong contraction started.

“I need to take a look to see how close we are to the real work.” He glanced at her. “Still feel like you need to push?”

“Yes.” She panted.

“Easy, honey. Big breaths. Just relax. We’ll get your baby here right and tight. Tyler, I’m sorry, buddy, but you’re going to have to be an active participant. I need you to hold the flashlight so I can see.”

“Okay.”

This had to be tough on Tyler and was no doubt more than he wanted to know about how his niece was getting into the world. “Ty, if you’re not okay with this, we’ll figure something out.”

He swallowed. “I’m okay. Really. I watched Jimmy Pruitt’s beagle have her puppies, so I have some idea.”

If Holly hadn’t been in so much pain, she would have laughed. In fact, she could have sworn she heard Jake do just that.

“I remember delivering a few puppies,” he said, “but I think we’ll bypass the part where you swing the little guys to get them breathing, and I don’t think Holly will need to bite through the umbilical cord.”

“Ooh.” Tyler made a face. “That’s just gross.”

Jake’s eyes twinkled. “What do you think?”

“I’m all for snipping,” Holly assured him.

Jake put a hand on her knee. “I’m just gonna take a look, okay?”

The heat of his palm offered some comfort, but everything took a backseat to the simple need to push the baby. “Hurry.”

“Oh, wow!” Tyler whispered at the same time Jake spoke.

“I see the top of her head, Holly.” A note of excitement crept into his deep voice. He glanced at her and grinned. Her contraction eased. When Holly half laughed and half sobbed, he patted her leg. The touch was enough to reassure her. “You’re doing fine. Doc says you should push with your contractions, but easy. As soon as the head’s out I’ll need to suction and check to make sure the cord’s good.”

She nodded, feeling a mixture of awe and fright. The life inside her had taken control, and she had no say at all in what was going on. As another contraction began, Holly sobbed and began to push. It hurt, more than anything she could have imagined, but even the pain paled next to the anticipation.

Jake told Tyler, “Prop that flashlight right there. Take the other one into the kitchen and bring me the bulb syringe I saw on the table. More towels, too.

“You mean the thing with the squishy rubber end on it?”

“Yeah. Then come sit next to your sister and tell her what a great job she’s doing.”

Jake’s gaze reassured her that everything was okay. Her nerves settled. When the next contraction came, she concentrated on bearing down, the effort almost enough to overcome the pain. She was nearly done. Just a little more and her daughter would be here.

Jake laughed. “That’s it. The head’s out, honey. Relax a minute.” He reached for the bulb syringe. She supposed he must be suctioning the baby’s nose and mouth, but she couldn’t see. Holly tried to catch her breath.

“Jake…” Her body took over and the next contraction sent the baby out into Jake’s waiting hands. He cradled the infant for just a moment, and even with her blurring vision, she saw his eyes well over as well. As if he realized, his expression went blank and he blinked several times before he laid the infant on her stomach and began drying the baby. There was just the faintest tremor in his big hands as he touched the newborn, but he made no attempt to hide it. Jake was as overwhelmed as she was. The baby cried, angry mewling sounds, and her tiny face screwed up as she voiced her displeasure at this unwelcome change in her surroundings. The warm weight of her daughter now rested on her instead of inside her. Her miracle.

Holly reached trembling fingers to stroke her child. Her baby. She swallowed against the thickness in her throat. “Is she okay? Is she perfect?”

“The most perfect baby I’ve ever seen.”

Holly smiled and let her head fall against the pillows. She was okay. “Thank you, Jake,” she managed to choke out.

Tyler’s eyes were huge.

“How you doing, Uncle Tyler?” Jake murmured.

“I’m good. Wow!”

* * * *

Jake stared at the umbilical cord. “We’re not done yet. Call Doc, Tyler. Just hit Redial while I wash.”

Tyler held the phone for him as he came out. Jenny ran down the directions to deal with the cord, then explained Holly should try to nurse the baby to help stimulate contractions to deliver the afterbirth. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing compared to the baby, just a little messy.”

The afterbirth was a snap compared to delivery, but fatigue had worn them down. By the time Jake settled Holly on clean sheets so she could nurse, cleaned everything, and put it away, he was exhausted. He returned to her bedroom to find Tyler curled on one side of the bed watching as the baby slept. Jake sat in the chair next to Holly’s bed. When she smiled, the wariness she’d treated him with had disappeared. For right now, trust had replaced it. The change floored and scared him. He swallowed past the thickness in his throat.

“You were amazing, Holly. I don’t know many women who would have been so calm in this situation.”

“I didn’t feel very calm. I don’t know what we would have done without you. I was so scared, and then you got here…thank you.” Tears welled again, spilling down her cheeks.

He touched the wetness, brushing it away. “I’m just glad I was here. I’ll bring you some Tylenol, then you need to rest.” He tapped his fingers against his thigh. “You…uh…you didn’t tear or anything.” Shit, he so didn’t want to go into this. “I just thought you should know. Doc will check you out and all.”

Holly smiled. “I had a great delivery guy.”

At Jake’s signal, Tyler scooted off the bed and blew out the candles. Jake waited for the boy to precede him out of the room, then said to Holly, “I’ll leave the door open. If you need anything, I’ll be in the living room. Just call me.”

He checked in on her a couple of times and found both her and the baby sleeping. She looked exhausted, not even stirring when he brushed a stray lock of hair off her face. His gaze moved to the tiny bundle of the baby, as delicate as a porcelain doll. A fierce surge of protectiveness moved through him, and not just for the baby, he realized. His emotions had been riding a roller coaster since he walked in the door. Now looking at them both, he realized a connection was there. He’d been interested the first time he saw Holly, and that had only grown as she tried to juggle her pride with what she knew was best for her brother and her baby—and how what was best always won. He would get them both to the hospital just as soon as he could, and then? Then he would move them in with him—her, the baby, and Tyler.

Now, all he had to do was convince her. He hadn’t told her his suspicions about someone looking for her. Eventually, he would have to. For a moment, Jake wondered if moving her in was for them or him. He’d wanted a family, and fate had put one right in front of him.

Holly and Noelle. Tyler’d said Holly wanted to name the baby Noelle because her birthday was supposed to be around Christmas. Well, it was December. An early Christmas gift. He touched the infant’s head with his big palm and shifted his gaze to Holly’s pale face. He had helped her bring this baby into the world. He hadn’t counted on how that changed things. Emotional ties bound them together, and he wondered where it would lead.