Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Thirty-Nine
Adam—February 14
Working Valentine’s Day sucked, and I was so damn happy to be done with the Rainbow Tavern’s annual Valentine’s special dinner that I practically broke out into a dance as I let myself into Ramona’s house.
“Can we watch another movie?” Teddy was negotiating with Quinn, and as neither had noticed me, I took a moment to appreciate how natural Quinn looked on Ramona’s sofa, surrounded by a village of Lego structures and toys on the coffee table. Teddy bounced up and down. “There’s another one with that hero guy. Please?”
“Maybe.” Quinn’s tone was indulgent. Darren might be excelling in the bonus-dad role, but Quinn was quickly giving me a run for my Uncle of the Year title. He’d even volunteered for this babysitting gig so Darren and Ramona could go to the dinner at the tavern. “I’m expecting your parents back any minute.”
“And Uncle Adam.”
“And him.” Quinn’s voice was warm enough to chase away the February chill that had followed me in. It had rained all damn day like the weather itself knew how much I would have rather spent the day with Quinn.
“Did you get him a valentine?” Teddy asked. I could have announced myself right then, but I was too busy trying not to laugh.
“Yup.” Quinn was all cagey, but Teddy was persistent.
“What is it?”
Quinn made a strangled noise. “Dinner. A card.”
He was an awful liar. He had indeed made me dinner the night before, but he’d also given me a present that involved extensive use of his mouth and which absolutely was not a G-rated conversation topic.
I saved him more sputtering by stomping my feet and coughing. Both Teddy and Quinn spun in my direction.
“Uncle Adam!”
“Hey, kiddo.” I ruffled his hair. “Your folks should be right behind me.”
“How did you beat them here?” Quinn asked, grinning like me being a few minutes early was a gift. Damn. I loved him so much.
“We slowed down a lot post-dinner rush. Horatio flexed his new manager title and told me the wait staff could handle the final close.” We’d held a meeting, Logan, Mason, and I, and decided to promote Horatio while hiring a few more part-timers to make it easier on everyone.
“We’re back!” Ramona called brightly as she and Darren entered the house, but then she groaned. “Whew.”
“You okay?” Darren hovered behind her. It was cute how he acted like Ramona was the first pregnant person in the history of humanity, and he was more ready for the baby than anyone, having put a lot of hours turning my old room into the perfect pink nursery complete with a crib he built himself.
“Yeah.” Ramona patted his arm. “Ate too much at dinner.”
“Me too. Damn, that chocolate thing was good.” Darren licked his lips and everyone laughed.
“It was good.” Ramona’s voice was strained as she paced away from the door.
“Ramona,” Quinn said in a warning tone, professional manner coming out. “Indigestion? Or contractions?”
“Oh, don’t you pull the doctor-voice on me. Save that for my brother.”
“Ramona.” Quinn didn’t back down. As much as I loved him letting me take over in the bedroom, I also loved him like this, uncowed by Ramona’s death glare and determined to do his doctor thing.
“Okay, okay. A few mild contractions. But I’ve had them weeks now and all darn day too. Due date’s two days away. Nothing…new.” She paused for a long beat, face scrunching up into an intense grimace and blowing out a breath.
“That one seemed harder, babe,” Darren observed. He was already a great dad, but he hadn’t yet learned not to argue with the pregnant lady.
“It’s fine,” Ramona snapped, then groaned again. “Okay. Maybe I should try getting to sleep early in case I wake up in real labor. Finally.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” Quinn agreed, shooting me a quick look that said he was taking this way more seriously than Ramona. “I’ll keep both our phones on in case you need us to come back quickly for Teddy.”
“Thanks…oh.” Ramona’s gasp had both Quinn and Darren springing to her side.
“What?”
“My water just broke.” Panting, she slowed for another pause. “Wow. I might have a baby by morning even.”
“I’ll grab your bag.” Darren was instantly in go-mode, hurrying back to their bedroom.
“We’ll stay here. Don’t you worry,” Quinn assured Ramona before turning back to the couch, where Teddy was watching all the proceedings with wide eyes. “Teddy, go ahead and cue that movie.”
“Huh. Oh, man. This hurts.” Ramona paced away again, rubbing her lower back.
“Sit down while you wait for Darren,” I suggested, pointing to her favorite chair. Seeing her hurting was the worst.
“No. Can’t sit.”
Quinn’s eyebrows went up at that. “That’s…you do whatever feels comfortable. Let’s call your OB, let them know you’re on the way to the hospital.”
“It seems…faster…than last time.” Ramona was panting between breaths, groaning softly. I’d been with her then, holding her hand, Mom on the other side, both of us coaching her through hours and hours of a long labor.