After getting the text message that Ms. Patti had been located, all the women decided to finish moving everything from Jill’s bakery to the church, since it was a good bet Ms. Patti wouldn’t be heading there and wouldn’t catch on about the party. The plan was to meet Tessa and Beth at the church and make sure the flowers and other decorations were done, and the gift bags were finished.
“Anybody need a ride? I brought the van, so there’s plenty of room.” Maggie had shown up about thirty minutes earlier, and Jill thought the other woman looked a bit frazzled. Of course, she’d been dealing with vendors for the past couple of days, and that was enough to send a sane person’s blood pressure skyrocketing. Though, come to think of it, Maggie had her hands full dealing with the women coming through the shelter she ran, helping abuse victims get back on their feet and safely away from their abuser. Jill shook her head, wondering how anybody could stay in an abusive relationship, but then again, she didn’t have firsthand experience. Her one and only love was Lucas Boudreau, and he was the sweetest, most caring man she’d ever met. It felt like she’d love him her entire life, and being part of the Boudreau circle made her life complete.
“Is there room in the back for the cake? I’d like to get it there…” Jill broke off when she heard her phone’s text alert sound, quickly followed by Camilla’s phone and Harper’s too. “It’s Tessa. Oh—oh, Beth’s in labor!”
“What?” Maggie snatched the phone right out of Jill’s hand and read the group message. “Girl’s been in labor for several hours and didn’t know it? How do you not know you’re in labor? I mean, we’re talking about pain, right?”
“So I’ve heard. Can’t say I’ve got personal experience.” Harper grinned and turned her phone toward Jill, showing she’d gotten the same message. “She’s at the emergency clinic.”
“Should we go there? Let me call Tessa, see if they’re sending her to the hospital.” Jill’s hand shook as she dialed, waiting for Tessa to pick up. It was exciting, knowing Beth and Brody’s son would arrive soon. Of course, it kind of threw a wrench in their plans for tomorrow, especially if Ms. Patti ended up being admitted to the hospital. Not that the celebration couldn’t be postponed, but she couldn’t help worrying about both women, both of whom were part of the reason there was even a celebration to begin with.
“Jill!” Tessa’s raised voice told Jill more than words could how excited Tessa was Beth was in labor. “We’re at the clinic. Beth’s in labor, really in labor this time and not Braxton-Hicks, and Brody’s not here!”
“What? Why isn’t he with Beth?”
“Apparently he drove to Austin to pick up something, and his truck broke down on the way back. I swear, his timing could have been a little better, but Dante’s on the way to meet him with the tow truck.”
Knowing her brother, she’d bet Dante would drive like the Caped Crusader leaving the bat cave to get to Brody. Dante and Brody were good friends, and he knew how much Brody needed to be by Beth’s side when his son came into the world.
“What can we do? Maggie, Camilla, Harper, and I were loading stuff to take over to the church when we got the message about Ms. Patti, and then your group text about Beth.”
She heard Tessa sigh, and then silence then a fumbling sound. “Jill, I want you and the others to do exactly what we planned. Get the stuff over to the church. Make sure everything that can be put into the freezers and refrigerators gets in them. All the flowers are already set up in the front of the church, and there are three more pews that need decorating, if one of y’all can take care of that.”
Jill chuckled softly because that hadn’t been Tessa barking out orders, it had been Beth. Trust the little general to want to keep things moving on her timetable, even while suffering labor pains. It looked doubtful they’d be having a party tomorrow, not with two of the main participants laid up in the hospital, but if Beth wanted them to pretend everything was normal, who was she to rock the boat?
“Beth, don’t worry about a thing. All you need to concentrate on is having a healthy baby. Us gals will make sure the pews are decorated, the food is secured and put away, just like you assigned. I’ll make sure the hairdresser and the makeup person are put on hold for tomorrow as well, at least until we know more about what’s happening.”
“Thanks, Jill. I swear—” Beth’s voice abruptly cut off, and a long loud groan came through loud and clear over the line, followed by panting breaths. Jill looked at Camilla and Harper, whose twin expressions were intense, following along with every word.
“Gotta go,” Tessa sounded frantic. “Doctor just walked in and needs to check on Beth.”
The distinctive sound of the call disconnecting echoed through the speaker. “Well, we have our marching orders, ladies.” She flung her arm dramatically toward the road. “To the church!”
Harper and Camilla chuckled as they climbed into Maggie’s van. “Are we going to the clinic after we finish up at the church?”
Maggie nodded, starting the car. “Try and stop us.”
“You heard the doctor. There’s nothing broken, it’s simply strained ligaments. They aren’t even going to admit me.” Folding her arms across her chest, Ms. Patti stared at the three men standing at the foot of her hospital bed. Each one of them wore identical expressions, mulish and stubborn. And worried. While she appreciated their concern, she wasn’t about to get stuck in a hospital bed for a sprained ankle. The doctor said the blackout spell was probably dehydration, and they’d pumped an IV into her arm while they’d been waiting for the radiology results. All-in-all she felt fine, and more than ready to head home. Yet her overly concerned husband, son, and hopefully soon-to-be-client and new neighbor acted like she was a recalcitrant five-year-old pouting for her missing stuffed bunny.
“Love, I think it would be a good idea to stay one night. I know the doctor said it was your choice, but—”
“Douglas, you do remember what tomorrow is, don’t you?” She injected a modicum of sweetness into her words and watched a wave of guilt wash over his face. More surprising was the look of what-the-heck that crossed Rafe’s face. Something was up with her son. If she was at the top of her game, she’d figure it out, but right now she needed to focus on getting back to her own home, her own bed. Plus, she needed to call Jill or Tessa and make sure everything was on track for Beth’s surprise baby shower.
“Momma, I don’t know—” Before he could finish his sentence, Rafe’s phone sounded a text alert, and he pulled it free of his pocket. His eyes widened at what was written there.
“Rafe, what’s wrong?” Douglas’ deep voice asked the question before she could.
“Nothing’s wrong.” Rafe grinned. “Beth’s having the baby. Apparently she’s been in labor for a while and didn’t realize it.”
Throwing back the blanket covering her legs, she struggled to sit upright. “Decision made. There’s no way you’re making me stay in the hospital when my daughter-in-law is having my grandson. Douglas, get my clothes out of the closet. Rafe, go tell the doctor to get the discharge papers ready.” She looked at Stan, noted him shifting from one foot to the other. “And you’re coming with us.”
His surprised gaze met hers. “Ma’am, this is a family affair. I’m just going to head home, and…” He trailed off when Ms. Patti slammed both fists on her hips. Catching sight of Rafe standing behind her, rapidly shaking his head and waving his hands, mouthing the words, “Don’t argue with her, man,” Stan shrugged. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good boy.” Taking the clothes from her husband, she hobbled into the bathroom, knowing the men would wait for her to get dressed. While she didn’t want to put the soiled clothing back on, there wasn’t time to drop by the house and change, and she wasn’t about to head back to Shiloh Springs in a cotton hospital gown. A jubilant feeling of excitement coursed through her. She was going to be a grandmother again. She adored her granddaughter Jamie, Beth’s daughter from her first marriage, and her grandson, Daniel, but this was going to be special, because she’d get to be there when this baby was born. See him take his first breath. Hear his first cry. Well, she would if they got there on time. Standing on her left foot, and keeping her weight off the bandaged right ankle, she quickly tossed on her clothes, leaving the hospital gown neatly folded on the edge of the sink. She rolled her eyes at the state of her hair, the normally fluffy and sprayed bouffant flatter than the proverbial pancake, but there wasn’t time to worry about it now. Right now, they needed to get to Beth.
She limped back into the hospital room. “Rafe, what hospital is Beth in? We need to get there right away.”
“Momma, she’s not in a hospital. She’s at the emergency clinic in Shiloh Springs. Doctor Stevens is taking care of her.”
