That seemed to satisfy the three-year-old and she smiled. “Then you can come see her at the ranch. She’s going to move in with the new baby.” She turned to her mother and was practically jumping up and down. “I can’t wait. I get to hold the baby, too.”
Jarrett looked at his sister-in-law. “So, it’s definite?”
Kira nodded. “I’m pretty sure I have her convinced it’s best for her and the child.”
“Isn’t that neat, Unca Jay, she’s gonna be in our family? It’s almost going to be our baby, too.”
“That’s great,” he said.
The girl’s eyes lit up more. “Maybe if you ask, Mia will share her baby with you, too.”
Jarrett looked at Kira for help, hoping she didn’t read anything more into his relationship with his neighbor. “Where does she get this stuff?”
Kira only smiled. “Sounds like a pretty good idea to me.”
The next day Jarrett drove to his office, McKane Properties, and started two of his staff working on finding affordable apartments for some of the tenants. He needed to get this over and done with.
He needed everyone to move on, but if Mia and the baby moved out to the ranch, he’d still see her. Would that be so bad? With Kira and Trace looking out for her, at least he wouldn’t worry about her so much.
That way he could go back to business as usual and a life without Mia in it. He turned his thoughts to the day at the doctor’s office and seeing the ultrasound. He’d had no business sharing that with her. Just as he’d had no business kissing her Thanksgiving Day.
He had to stay away.
There were other things he needed to think about, like the Fulton plant project. It had been a big cause of his loss of sleep. He’d been working on some changes, changes to the factory site that might help everyone.
For him to survive financially, Jarrett knew he had to finalize this deal, or he might be living in the Mountain View Apartments permanently.
A few days later Jarrett was awakened in the middle of the night by his ringing phone. He grabbed it off the bedside table.
“Hello,” he groaned.
“Jarrett,” a familiar voice said. “I’m sorry to bother you, but could you come over?”
“Sure.” He hung up, got out of bed, pulled on jeans and shirt along with boots. He crossed the hall, but before he could knock she opened the door.
At 3:00 a.m. in the morning, she looked fresh and dressed for the day. Her dark hair lay in waves around her shoulders and she even had on makeup. “I take it the call wasn’t for a donut run?” he joked.
“I need you to take me to the hospital. My water broke.”
He froze, then his heart began to race. “You’re in labor?”
She nodded. “I’ve only had some light contractions, but Doctor Drake said I need to come in now.”
“Of course.” He pointed to his apartment. “Let me grab my car keys.” He rushed back, slipped on a coat and hurried back to find her waiting with a small bag.
“I hated to ask you, but Nola’s daughter is sick and she’s helping with the grandkids,” Mia apologized.
He took her by the arm and they slowly made their way to the elevator. “I’m glad you asked me, I don’t want Nola to drive at night.” He gave her the once-over. “You okay?”
She smiled. “Outside of being a little scared, I feel pretty good.”
“I think it’s normal to feel scared.”
They rode down one floor and the doors opened. “Thank you for helping me out, Jarrett. I know this isn’t in your landlord duties.”
“Hey, I told you it’s not a problem.” They stepped off the elevator and walked outside. “Is there anyone you want me to call?”
Mia shook her head. “Nola was supposed to be my coach, but I can’t take her away from her grandkids.”
“Is there a backup?”
She stopped and looked at him pleadingly. “You?”
“You’re kidding?”
“Do you think I like asking you again?”
“I didn’t say I mind doing it, I just don’t know what to do.” He wasn’t making any sense.
“Join the club. This is my first time, too,” she began, then suddenly groaned.
He saw the pain etched across her face, but it was her fingernails digging into his arm that told him what was happening. Labor had begun.
“Looks like you’re getting an early Christmas present.”
Thirty minutes and five labor pains later, Jarrett pulled up at the emergency-room door. An attendant brought out a wheelchair, and Mia took the seat. Then Jarrett drove off and she was wheeled inside to get admitted.
After minimal paperwork, she was taken up to the maternity floor and into a labor/delivery room. Once dressed in a gown and in bed, she was hooked to monitors to watch her progress.
“Looks like you lose the bet for a Christmas-day baby.”
Mia looked up as Dr. Drake walked in and nodded to the other doctor leaving. “December fifteenth seems like a fine birthday to me.”
“How are you doing?” Lauren asked, checking the monitor.
No sooner were the words out than Mia felt a contraction begin to build.
“Breathe,” the doctor instructed her as she came to the bedside. “It’s almost over. There. Take a cleansing breath.”
Mia sighed and lay back against the pillow. “That was stronger than the others.”
“They’re going to get even stronger before the baby comes. Don’t worry, the anesthesiologist should be here soon with your epidural.” The doctor glanced around. “Do you have someone here with you?”
“Will I do?”
They both turned to find Jarrett standing in the doorway. He hadn’t gone back home.
“Jarrett, you don’t have to stay. This could take all night.”
He came in anyway. “I called Kira and she’s on her way. So how about I be a stand-in until she arrives?”
“Kira’s coming all the way here?”
“I didn’t ask her to, she just said she’s coming to help you.”
Mia had to blink back tears. She wasn’t going to be alone. She managed a nod at Jarrett. “Thank you.”
“I know my limitations. My only experience is birthing calves.” He shook his head. “And that was a long time ago.”
“I’d like to see you all decked out in Western gear, cowboy hat, chaps.” Mia found herself saying, feeling oddly relaxed in between pains.
“Hey, I didn’t look bad.” She knew he was nervous about his role as coach and trying to distract her. “I had a few girls following me around when I did some rodeos. Calf-roping was my event. I was known for my quick hands.”
Mia couldn’t hide her smile. “I bet you were,” she said as another contraction grabbed her. “Ooh…”
The doctor looked at Jarrett. “Do your job, coach,” she told him.
Jarrett took Mia’s hand as Lauren instructed him on what to do.
Over the next hour, Mia’s contractions grew more frequent and