Chapter 7 #2
“Yes, but we couldn’t have done this without your support. You know that.”
“Listen, this is what it’s all about, Amanda.” Her father spread his arms so wide he nearly knocked over the Christmas elf on the hall table. “Family. What else could your mother and I wish for? Sure, Florida’s a great place, but I can tell you, we’ll be coming up to see this baby.”
“You’ll always have a place in our spare room,” she assured him.
“That’s real nice to hear, little girl.”
She beamed. Doesn’t every woman want to know that for her dad, she’ll always be his little girl?
“And listen, while we’re talking about all this, tell Connor not to worry about returning any help we offer. You can’t take it with you and who else do we have?”
“Oh, Daddy.” She hugged him again.
With a quiet smile, he headed for the stairs, and she slipped into the bathroom.
As Amanda stared at her pale face in the mirror, it hit her.
Would they even have a spare bedroom in eight months or so?
She had to make a quick trip to a drugstore.
Disbelief and excitement made her downright dizzy and she grabbed the cool edge of the sink.
When she got back downstairs, the buffet line had formed. Taking the baby from Connor, she urged him to fill a plate. “Could you just fix something small for me? Maybe plain turkey to nibble?”
“Your stomach has me worried.”
“Maybe we can stop at the drugstore on the way home?”
“That bad, huh? I want you to see a doctor if this doesn’t stop.”
“Oh, I will.” So hard to squelch her grin.
Dinner ran long. Eventually the mincemeat and pumpkin pies pushed them all into a food coma.
Some had to work the next day so families reluctantly began packing up.
On the way home, Connor pulled into an all-night drugstore.
The parking lot was almost empty. Her parents waited in their own car, exhaust curling into the darkness.
Connor had insisted they follow, not wanting them to get lost.
Cold night air nipped her cheeks as Amanda rushed inside. Two clerks chatted over their registers. Her footsteps echoed in the empty aisles. Took some searching but she found what she needed and bought three.
“Merry Christmas.” The words bubbled to her lips when she was checking out.
Slipping her purchase into a bag, the clerk smiled at her. “Well, Merry Christmas to you too.”
Amanda didn’t miss the knowing grin the girl gave her friend at the next register.
When they reached the house, her parents quickly said good night. “Best Christmas ever, Amanda,” her dad whispered.
“I don’t know when I’ve had a more exciting holiday, do you, Bill?” Still perky as all get out, her mother followed her dad up the stairs. “Now don’t forget to turn off all the lights, you two. See you in the morning. I just might make pancakes.” The bedroom door closed behind her chatter.
“I’ll be right back,” Amanda told Connor, handing him the baby, who was squirming. He’d been so good. “I want to heat a bottle for Sean.”
Sean. Just saying his name lifted her steps on the way to the kitchen. She stopped in the powder room on the way.
When she returned to the living room, she handed Connor the bottle. “Have you ever seen my parents so crazy about anything?”
“Wish they’d been that thrilled when I came alone.”
“They’ve always liked you.”
He settled back with the baby, pleased grin on his face. “I think my stock just went up now that Sean’s in the picture.”
The two looked so natural together. She could sit and gaze at them forever. Amanda flicked on the tree lights, and the baby stopped sucking, eyes searching.
“Looks like we’re going to be pretty busy from now on, isn’t that right, little guy?” Connor smiled down at the baby, who’d gotten back to business.
“I’ve been thinking maybe I won’t go back to school after my maternity leave.”
“Really? You sure that’s wise?”
“Yeah, just a thought.” She searched for the tiny statue hidden under the white sheet. Time to add the baby to the nativity set. Her fingers found it and she gently lay the small figurine in the hay. The infant just looked so right in the manger. She could swear Mary and Joseph were smiling.
When she turned, Connor pinned her with his eyes. “Just a few days with Sean and you know you want to stay home?”
Amanda shrugged a shoulder. “It feels right. For a while at least. Best thing for us.” She pulled something from her pocket and stared at the line.
“What’s that, Amanda?” Connor paled. “A thermometer? Are you that sick?”
She gave her husband a mysterious smile, enjoying the delicious waves of excitement washing over her as she joined them on the couch. Amanda marveled at her own restraint. “How do you feel about bundling?”
Connor looked wary. “What? Like my dad’s fishing lures?”
“Not exactly the kind of bundling I see in our future.” Tapping the pregnancy test against her palm, she fixed him with an excited smile. Sean wailed when his dad dropped the bottle.
Reaching down, Amanda scooped up the bottle and got the feeding back on track.
Connor was still zoned out, eyes wild and the muscles in his throat working. He handled five-alarms fires better than this. “Are you sure?”
“As sure as I can be right now. Guess I’ll call Logan tomorrow. Isn’t this just a miracle, Connor?” Excitement bubbled through her until she thought she’d explode.
His smile widened with disbelief. “Guess Christmas really is the time for family miracles.” Connor’s laugh startled the baby and he quickly took it down to a chuckle.
Amanda couldn’t wait to tell her parents in the morning. But some things were worth waiting for.
***