Daisy looked at Ken and said, “Ken, we all have phones. We don’t actually need a babysitter.”
Ken shook his head. “The three of us feel better knowing someone’s here who isn’t pregnant.”
Alex threw her head back and laughed. “You better go.”
They walked out of the house, and Valerie put down the footrest of the recliner. “I think I do want to eat. Will someone please help me up?”
As Alex took one hand and Daisy took the other, Jeremy stood and said, “Ladies, please. I enjoy living, so I don’t want to explain to your husbands why you all went into labor while helping Valerie get to her feet while I sat there like a bump on a pickle and watched.”
He walked forward and took Valerie’s hands in his, taking her weight and helping her stand. She rubbed her hip and shifted her body, then thanked him.
In the kitchen, Daisy grabbed a plate and selected a slice of rye bread and a scoop of egg salad. As she slathered mayonnaise on the bread, Alex said, “I can’t believe the guys actually went to this meeting. Jon has been hovering like a helicopter for a month now. I can barely get him to spend the entire morning at work.”
Valerie shook her head. “Big annual meeting with all the department heads. It’s always the last Thursday in February. I imagine Brad could have changed the date this year, but they have consultants that come in from out of town.”
Daisy shrugged. “I don’t really care that they left us. I just think it’s kind of funny.”
Alex chuckled. “I think the only person who doesn’t actually find it funny is Jeremy.”
“Just hold your water, and all will be well,” he said with a wink.
Alex walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a pitcher of orange juice. At the sound of liquid hitting the ground, she gasped and inspected the pitcher as if it were the source of the noise. Daisy realized what happened and rushed toward her. Alex looked down and saw the puddle forming at her feet. “No. I’m not first!”
Jeremy immediately took her elbow and said, “What did I just say? Okay, cousin, you’re with me.”
Alex shook her head. “No. It’s not me first. Valerie goes first, then Daisy, then me. I’m not even due for another week.”
“Sorry, sweetheart. We don’t make these decisions.”
“Do you have a change of clothes with you, maybe in your car?” Valerie asked. Alex pressed her lips together and shook her head. Valerie patted her on the shoulder and said, “It’s okay. I can go get you something.”
As Valerie started from the room, she froze and bent at the waist. Daisy rushed to her side. “Are you okay?”
Valerie looked up at her. She had sweat beading on her brow. She panted, “Contraction. Hard one.”
Daisy met Jeremy’s eyes. “Do you want to call them, or shall I?”
“You send text messages. I’ll drive.”
“We’ll take my SUV,” Valerie said. “Brad made sure it was accessible before he left.”
Outside, Alex put her hand on the hood of the vehicle and leaned against it, moaning out loud. Daisy rubbed between her shoulders. “Can you get into the car?”
“I have to, don’t I?”
Jeremy helped her into the back seat, then rushed around the hood to help Valerie. Daisy climbed into the passenger’s seat and pulled her phone out of her pocket. She sent a text to Ken.
Alex’s water broke. Valerie is having contractions. Jeremy is driving us to the hospital. I love you.
As soon as she got confirmation that it sent, she texted Rosaline.
Alex’s water broke. Valerie is having contractions. Headed to the hospital.
About a mile into the drive, Daisy had to close her eyes. Jeremy’s darting in and out of traffic, ignoring speed limits, running lights, it all started to overwhelm her. Her heart skittered, and a sour taste in her mouth perpetuated some nausea. She trusted his driving because she didn’t believe he’d intentionally put them in danger, but the tension mounted with every broken traffic law.
It took them twenty minutes to get to the hospital. In that time, Valerie had two more contractions, and Alex panted and moaned the entire time. Jeremy pulled to a stop outside of labor and delivery and left the vehicle at the curb. He ran in. Daisy could see him talking to someone at the desk.
“Oh no,” Alex moaned, throwing her seatbelt off. “He needs to do something.” Before Daisy could respond, Alex had the door open and stumbled out of the vehicle. Daisy opened her door and carefully scooted out of the seat. “Are you okay?”
