Chapter 28 #2
“Do we need to bring in extra help?” John asked.
“Let me check their availability and I’ll let you know.”
“Can I go see my wife now?” Nathan asked, already walking away.
“Yeah, we’re done,” Jay laughed. “Robinson, can I have a second?”
“Sure.”
“Something about this is off. Cate feels it too.” So did I. We’re missing something. “You can’t afford to get distracted.”
“Yes, sir.”
“If you’re too close, I can assign someone else.”
Over my dead body. I didn’t use those words, but my “No, sir.” conveyed the message.
“That’s what I was afraid of. Just…” he gripped the back of his neck. “Just be careful.”
“Yes, sir.” That should’ve been the end of the conversation, but Jay wasn’t convinced.
“You’re sure your feelings won’t be an issue.”
“Positive.” I stood tall and staked my claim. “There isn’t a person on this planet who’ll work harder to protect her.” Before he could say anything, I set him up.
“How far would you go to protect Cate?”
He swallowed before admitting, “I’d kill to protect her.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’d die to protect her.”
I felt the same about Madi, but I had to use stronger words to convince her brother. “I’d scorch the world to keep Madi safe.”
It was Jay’s turn to pick his jaw up off the ground as I walked away.
At the entrance, Jay stopped short and turned. I didn’t stop fast enough, so we were nose to nose when he said, “Don’t tell Cate I said that.”
I nodded. “We good?”
He clapped my shoulder. “We’re good.”
And we waited.
The guys talked shop, including strategic planning for the week ahead.
Mary, Madi, Ashley, Meg, and Emily’s mother, Anne, took turns checking on Emily and Jamie.
Minutes turned into hours, and the date on our phones turned over.
One by one, couples left. Chris took a very pregnant Vicky and their daughter home. Doug took Beth and Chase home. Blake and AJ felt useless, so they left shortly after.
Jack and Meg stayed as long as they could, but a screaming Natalie forced them to go home.
Jay and Cate, and Nathan and Ashley stayed. So did the parents.
Everyone planned to stay through the night.
Madi refused to leave her twin brother, which meant I was staying.
In a moment of rare vulnerability, Madi had mentioned that the guys she’d dated assumed she didn’t want to be taken care of because she was strong and independent. She’d admitted, “Just because I can do it alone doesn’t mean I want to.”
She didn’t have to anymore. I was nothing like those idiots, and I had plenty of time to prove it.
“Hey, let’s take a walk,” I said to Madi after she returned from her most recent shift with Emily.
She nodded. The bags under her eyes were more pronounced, and I had a feeling she needed to talk. When I reached for her hand, she absentmindedly accepted it.
In my mind, I raised a fist in victory.
We walked just far enough for privacy.
“Is everything okay with Emily?” I asked after we sat.
Her head snapped up. “Yeah, why?”
“Madi, I can see the worry in your eyes and the toll it’s taking.”
She blinked a few times before looking down at our entwined hands.
With my free hand, I lifted her chin. “Talk to me.”
Madi took a deep breath and opened up. “Emily’s struggling more than is normal.”
I let her have the moment she needed to compose herself.
“Her contractions are closer together, but her cervix isn’t dilating like it should, and her blood pressure is skyrocketing.”
I didn’t have half the medical training Madi had, but I knew that was a bad omen.
“What do you need from me?”
There she went again, blinking as if she expected me to disappear when she opened her eyes again.
“Why are you still here?”
I hadn’t expected the question, but the answer fell from my lips without thought. “Because you are.”
“Oh.”
“You’re helping everyone else. I’m here to help you.”
“My mom and Anne are helping too.”
“They are, but your dad is taking care of your mom and Chris is taking care of Anne. I’m here to take care of you.”
This time she blinked to rid her bloodshot hazel eyes of the extra moisture.
“I’m going to ask again, and this time you’ll answer me. What do you need from me?”
The corners of her mouth lifted ever so slightly.
“Can you tell me everything will be okay?”
I nodded, tugged her closer, and kissed the top of her head.
Sweat mixed with her normal floral scent.
I pushed her away but kept my hands on her shoulders.
“The doctors are monitoring Emily and they won’t let anything happen to her or her babies.
I’d bet my salary they’re already prepping their Plan B. ”
“Thank you. I needed that reminder.”
“You’re welcome. You want to stay here, or go back?”
“Let’s go back.”
When we got back, John was talking to Emily’s father. They laughed like old friends sharing memories.
“How long has your family known Emily’s family?” I asked.
“Forever. Jamie and Chris have been friends for as long as I can remember.” She sat next to Jay, and I took the seat next to her. “They were the best man at each other’s weddings, and Jamie is Zoe’s godfather. Chris will be baby boy Sheppard’s godfather.”
“They haven’t decided on names yet?” I wanted Madi focusing on good things, giving her mind a reprieve from worry.
“They have,” Jay answered. “They just won’t tell us.”
“Emily read an article about parents changing their minds after the babies are born, and she didn’t want to be stuck with names because they’d told everyone.”
“Like we’d care if they changed the names,” Jay huffed.
“When it’s your turn, you can do whatever you want,” Madi shot back.
Jay and Cate shook their heads as one. “Nope.”
“We don’t want kids,” Cate added, in case we misunderstood their violent head shaking.
The conversation died down and before long, Madi was asleep on my shoulder. When I looked over at Jay, Cate was asleep on his. He dipped his chin once in solidarity.
I tried not thinking about how good it felt knowing Madi felt safe enough to use me as a pillow while she slept.
Just because my feelings for Madi had clawed their way out of the locked box in the back of my mind didn’t mean she felt the same.
She was letting me in, slowly but surely, but that didn’t mean she was ready to admit she had feelings for me.
Shortly after two on Saturday morning, Mary, Anne, and Jamie walked down the hall.
Mary smiled softly when she noticed Madi asleep on my shoulder. Jamie squinted, a flash of irritation crossed his eyes, then he inhaled for a four count and shrugged.
I get it dude, you have way bigger fish to fry.
“Madi.” I shook her gently to wake her.
“What?” she asked, wiping sleep from her eyes. As soon as she saw Jamie, she shot to her feet. “Is everything okay?”
“The doctors are scheduling Emily for a C-section,” Jamie choked out.
Ashley gasped as her hand shot to her mouth. Nathan tugged her closer and rubbed her back. This had to be hitting them extra hard because Ashley was due in four months.
John stood and clapped Jamie on the shoulder in support. He stayed by Jamie’s side as we talked.
“Did they say anything else?” Madi asked.
Jamie repeated what Madi had told me, then added, “The twins are ready to meet the world, but Emily’s body isn’t cooperating.”
Madi walked over to Jamie, not bothering to say a word as she stepped between her dad and brother. Jamie didn’t care. He pulled her into a hug. I looked away when I saw the tears on his cheek.
A few minutes later, Jamie went back to Emily, and Madi walked back to our group.
“Jamie asked me to stay with them.” She hugged herself before saying, “You can go home now.”
“No.” I wouldn’t play this game again.
Jay, John, and Nathan smiled their approval.
I could confidently say I had the approval of two Sheppards. Jack wouldn’t be hard to convince. Nor would Jamie, when he had the bandwidth to think about it.
“But—”
“I said no.”
Her jaw fell open, and she looked around for help. There was none.
“Mom?”
“Sorry, honey, but who am I to argue with Matt?” Mary sounded innocent, but I knew better. If she wanted me to leave, she’d invoke her Mama Bear and do a lot more than argue.
The tally of Sheppard’s won over was now three to two, and I liked my odds of getting Jack and Jamie’s approval in the near future.
“Dad?” she pleaded.
“Madi, the man said he’s staying. I suggest you accept it.”
Did he just tell his daughter to listen to me?
I hadn’t expected him to interfere, so hearing him actively take my side blew my mind. I should play the lottery.
Mary smiled and patted her daughter on the shoulder. If I read it right, her message was: be a good girl and listen to your father.
The contrast between John and Mary’s authoritative style had been on full display all night.
If John’s intimidation tactic didn’t work, Mary would use sweetness.
If Mary’s sweet approach didn’t work, John used intimidation.
No one stood a chance against them.
Mary would kill you with kindness. John would scare you to death.
Or just kill you if the situation called for it.
They see what Madi doesn’t, and they’re on my side.
That victory fist in my mind, it went sky high. I’d like to say I wasn’t the type to gloat, but my grin would call me a liar.
“Madi, go help your brother. I’ll be here when you’re done.”
I really didn’t expect her to follow my order, but she did. It surprised me, but not as much as it surprised everyone else.
“Okay.” Gratitude filled her eyes as the tension from the day melted off her shoulders.
Madi wanted me to stay, but wasn’t willing to admit it. Not even to herself.
That was fine by me. She didn’t need to ask for my support; it was hers.
Jay let out a low whistle before saying, “Damn, how’d you do that?”
I didn’t have to answer because Cate said, “Don’t get any ideas.”
It wasn’t hard to explain. Madi was strong and fiercely independent, but in that moment she was scared and exhausted. She needed someone to see past her tough exterior and lift the weight off her shoulders.
And she likes following my orders. But that was our little secret.