Chapter 16
HAILEY
A week later, it was time for Val’s obstetrician checkup.
When the baby appeared on the screen, my eyes started to burn.
He or she was so little. Carter, Peyton, April, and I were all huddled around the bed.
I was the only one about to shed tears, but I wasn’t embarrassed in the slightest. I was so happy for my sister, for the entire family.
“Ahhhh, congratulations. It’s a girl.”
All of us started talking at the same time, and it was all I could do not to jump up and down with joy. I hugged April and Peyton, who were already reciting potential girl names. Carter squeezed Val’s hand.
“Let me take some measurements, but everything looks normal.”
Afterward, when the doctor asked to talk to Carter and Val, I went with the girls to the coffee shop across the street, entertaining them. April was fifteen and already a fashionista, so we had lots to talk about. Peyton was listening to us with rapt interest.
When Carter and Val joined us, I immediately noticed my sister’s demeanor had changed.
Her shoulders were hunched, and she was frowning.
When Carter suggested to the girls that they go to the counter with him to buy a second round of treats, I knew I wasn’t imagining things.
The second they were out of earshot, I focused on Val.
“What’s wrong?”
“You can tell something is wrong just by looking at me?”
“Duh. You’re my sister. So, spill it. What did the doctor say?” My hand flew to my stomach. I braced myself.
“The baby is okay, I’m okay, but she advised me not to fly this trimester. I can’t come with you to Chicago in two weeks.”
I felt so much relief, it was as if my very bones had turned liquid.
Val was supposed to give birth mid-June.
We were in the third week of April now. We’d booked the trip eons ago, before we knew she was pregnant, but in retrospect, I should have realized that flying so late during a pregnancy wasn’t a good idea.
“Val, forget about Chicago. What else did the doctor say?”
“Aside from the fact that I’m at an advanced maternal age? At least she didn’t call it geriatric pregnancy.”
I winced. Both sounded harsh.
“She just said that it would be good if I didn’t do anything strenuous.”
“She suggested bed rest?”
“Not exactly, but she thinks travel would take a toll. Especially with a longer flight. I’m really, really sorry.”
“We can do Chicago another time. Or not at all.”
“But you already have the hotel booked.”
“I’ll just go by myself, then. I’m used to it.” When I worked as a consultant, I ventured alone everywhere I went.
“You can convince someone else to take my place.”
I frowned, not quite understanding where she was going with this.
“Okay.”
“Why don’t you ask a certain broody hotel owner if he wants to join you?”
“Reid? No, he’s not into this.”
“Doesn’t hurt to ask.”
“Val, this is just so new. If I bring this up now, he’ll just think I’ll always have unreasonable expectations.”
“But you want to go with him, don’t you?” she said, smiling coyly.
“Of course, I do. I love spending time with him. He’s so…
I don’t know, different than I thought. He can be broody, but he’s also fun.
” I chuckled, remembering our cocktail session last week.
But now was not the time to think about Reid.
I had to focus on Val. I knew the next two months wouldn’t be easy.
She was an active person. A few years ago, she’d had to stay at home for a few months after a car accident, and she’d taken it pretty hard.
I needed to plan a diversion for tonight, cheer her up.
First, I had to check with Carter if he already had something in mind. I sauntered to the counter under the pretense of wanting to order something for myself too and exchanged a few words with my brother-in-law.
“I did have something in mind, but I agree with you. She’ll love having the clan at the house tonight,” he said.
Did I mention that I adored Carter? He made my sister so happy.
“Perfect. I’ll set everything up.”
Lori was the planner, so I called her first, stepping to an empty corner of the coffee shop.
“Okay,” Lori said. “I’ll tell everyone else. You focus on Val.”
“Done.”
Things moved fast in our family. We mobilized quickly when one of us needed something. I was feeling victorious when I returned to the table.
“I have an announcement to make. We’re having family dinner twice this week. The clan is gathering at the house tonight.”
“What? Why? Not for me, I hope,” Val exclaimed.
“Yes, for you. You need some Connor love. Carter agreed with me.”
She turned to him, but he just shrugged, kissing her forehead. “I did.”
“But we don’t have anything for dinner. I can whip up something—”
“Hold your horses. I have it under control. Pizza, cheesecake.”
“Hailey.”
“What?”
“I feel okay.”
“I know. But an impromptu Connor get-together never hurt anyone.”
Carter and the girls were smiling, looking between us.
Val laughed. “So much for you being able to keep secrets now, huh?”
“Hey, I didn’t give Lori details. Just told her we need to lift your mood up.”
My family was always teasing me about this, and they were right.
Sort of. As a kid, I’d been good at keeping my secrets, but not theirs.
Even to this day, I was ashamed that I’d ruined a few surprise birthday parties (and gifts) with my big mouth.
I was a work in progress, but I had made progress.
I even kept to myself for a few weeks the knowledge that Jace wanted to propose to Brooke.
Only a few years ago, I would have been bursting to tell my sisters.
Well, I had been bursting but managed to keep myself in check. That counted, right?
My line of work was perhaps ironic given this flaw, but I had no problem keeping mum when it came to my clients. My PR role had slowly seeped into our family dynamic too. I was good at keeping everyone else calm… once I was calm.
“So pizza and cheesecake. Carbs and my favorite people? How can I say no?” Val said finally.
“That’s my girl. Any special requests?”
“How quickly will I get my food? I’m already starving, and I don’t want to ruin my appetite by eating something now.”
“Roger that.”
“I say we can already head to the house,” Carter said. “Girls, are you done?”
They both nodded.
“I’m in charge of buying food. I’ll pick it up on the way,” I said.
Val gave me a hug, whispering, “You’re a great sister. And I’m really sorry about Chicago.”
“Sis, don’t worry about it. Really.”
As soon as I was in the car, I called Lori again. “You know what I was thinking? We should make a party of it. Laid-back, of course. But upping the ante. Not just pizza and cheesecake.”
“Ah, I love how your mind works, baby sis.”
I grinned as I hung up. Operation: Take care of Val was going to be a success.
I couldn’t believe she was still worried about Chicago.
I’d just go alone… or… I could ask Reid.
I didn’t want to send him running for the hills though.
But now that she’d planted the idea of Reid joining me, I couldn’t deny that it was appealing.
A few days where I had Reid all to myself in a city I couldn’t wait to explore? Very, very appealing.