Chapter Two
LOGAN HOPS OUT OF the SUV the moment he put the vehicle in park behind the fenced in barricade for the new clinic. He skirts around the front of the car and opens Avery’s door wide so he can assist her down from the cab.
His hands rest gently on her hips, and as if she hasn’t gained forty pounds, lifts her effortlessly from the vehicle. He holds her close, as close as her protruding stomach will allow, and kisses her gently.
She has to stifle back a giggle when one of the babies kicks at her stomach as her husband presses closer, his tongue licking at the seam of her lips.
“They’re not even born yet and they’re already cock blocking me,” he says with a groan as he tilts his face towards the bright spring sky.
“Don’t take it personally; they’ve been jumping on my bladder for the past few weeks. I am pretty sure that I can’t sneeze without causing a catastrophe.”
He looks at her lovingly, his mouth curving into the sexy smirk she loves so dearly, and his eyes crinkle in the corners just a tad. Avery loves him fiercely, but when he looks at her like this, she can feel that love all the way to the tips of her toes, squeezing her heart for all it’s worth.
The door leading through the entrance of the building slides open and Brooks appears before them.
Logan and Brooks had met through emergency rotations in the Hospital in Raleigh, Logan had mentioned to his friend that they were hiring a Medical Director for the Pediatric Clinic of Carson, which Avery was funding with estate money given to her from her fiancé’s death.
Avery had met a Brooks a few times since he agreed to join them in their endeavor and even went to help him house hunt in their small town.
But recently she’d been relegated to being on her feet less and less, per doctor’s orders, so she hasn’t seen him in a while.
Avery still gets a bit of shock every time he approaches.
Brooks stands significantly taller than her half-brothers, around six-seven or six-eight, and has enough muscles to make anyone curious as to what he looks like under his stark white doctor’s coat.
With the knowledge that Brooks is an ex-professional baseball player, Avery is sure that he keeps up with a stringent workout routine.
He scoops his hand through his hair, messing the glossy black strands as he approaches, and the glint in his blue eyes shine in the sun’s light.
Avery definitely understands what has the single females in the town of Carson up in a roar since he moved to town.
Luckily, she is immune to his good looks and, from what she can tell; he has his heart set on one of her sisters.
“Hey, Logan, Avery,” he welcomes as he reaches outward and shakes her husband’s hand and then leans forward, pressing a kiss on her cheek. “Do you mind?” Brooks asks as he gestures to her belly.
“Not at all, you’ll be holding them soon enough,” Avery jokes.
Brooks places his hands gently on her stomach just before another sharp pain shoots down her spine. She can tell when Brooks notices that her softness has gone rock solid because he gazes up at her in concern.
“It’s just Braxton Hicks contractions. Dr. Burnett says that it’s normal.”
Brooks nods but his brows hang heavy over his eyes in concern and a bit of skepticism.
Standing straighter, Brooks comes to his full height and gestures them to follow.
“Well, let’s get this tour over and get you off of your feet.”
Brooks proceeds to take them through the clinic, making sure to point out the newly designed lab and treatment area. Avery had been very specific that she wanted the clinic to do as much as they could in-house so that patients didn’t need to travel, especially those with premature or special needs.
Waddling behind Logan and Brooks as they discuss the merits of the new MLB team forming out of Asheville, Avery takes a few moments to peek into each of the exam rooms and the labs. She’s impressed with what she finds.
Bright colors, clean lines, books and pictures lining the walls to keep the patients entertained and even small televisions in every corner.
Avery remembers how traumatic doctors’ visits can be, even when they are well checkups, so something to keep the children calm is always a good marking in her book.
“Hey, are you still with us?” Logan bellows from down the hall, his face mixed with amusement and concern.
Avery smiles at the men and lets out a deep sigh.
“I’m coming as fast as I can.”
Brooks starts chuckling as Avery shuffles as fast as she can towards them.
“What’s so funny?” she asks as she reaches them, panting as she works to catch her breath.
“Nothing,” he replies as he suppresses his laughter.
Standing with her hands on her expanded hips Avery purses her lips and cocks an eyebrow as she narrows her eyes towards him.
Brooks’ laughter ceases and he seemingly starts to squirm under her steady gaze.
“Alright, alright, geez. I was going to say, ‘that’s what she said,’ it’s kind of lost its effect now. And man, I feel bad for your kids. You’ve got that mom scowl mastered.”
Brooks grimaces as Avery narrows her eyes a little more tightly before relaxing her face into a huge grin.
“Oh, thank you, I’ve been practicing on Logan. Why else do you think he goes out to get me ice cream at three in the morning?”
“Um, because he loves you?” he questions as he glances over to his friend.
“Well yes of course, but no one loves you enough at three in the morning, when there is a foot of snow, to go get your wife ice cream, especially when you need to be at work at five in the morning. So, the ‘mom’ face was then born. I find it to be pretty effective.”
Logan leans towards Brooks and whispers, “It kind of scares me, to be honest. She can turn it on in the blink of an eye. I don’t think I’ve ever feared for my life so much until that moment.”
Brooks snickers and whispers loud enough for Avery to hear, “And just think, you get to sleep with her the rest of your life.”
Logan looks over to Avery, hands still resting on her hips, her face scrunching up at Brooks’ words and he smiles broadly at her as he says, “Fuck, yes I do.”
Pregnancy hormones in over-drive, Avery launches herself at Logan, who catches her tightly in his arms.
“I love you so much. You’re the best husband ever,” she adds as she kisses him adoringly.
“Alright you two lets finish this tour so you can go do, whatever it is you need to do in private.”
“Fine,” Avery adds solemnly as she retreats from Logan’s hold.
“Don’t worry, boss lady. I have something exciting to show you. It is sort of a surprise I’ve been working on since we came in under budget.”
Her eyes widening in shock she nods gleefully as she urges him onward.
They travel towards the back side of the clinic, nearing the wing extending from the first floor to accommodate the town’s ambulance.
“Here we are,” Brooks exclaims as he swings through the double doors into a small surgical unit.
Avery turns in a circle, taking in her surroundings. “I don’t understand.”
“Well, we came in way under budget since your brother was able to get some grants and donations due to our rural location.” Walking around the perimeter of the room Brooks adds, “As you know, we have a serious need for pediatric emergency surgery. I can perform if necessary, but I was able to hire a top-notch surgeon with pediatric medicine experience, she’s someone I would trust with my own child.
We’re lucky that Dr. Long wanted to join us. ”
Avery stands in place, completely baffled by the news Brooks presents her, but before she can express herself Brooks walks back out of the double doors and enters a room next door with four incubators centered in the room.
With a gasp, Avery enters the room and her eyes well with unshed tears.
“Oh, Logan. It’s a NICU.”
Speaking up, Brooks adds, “It’s a low-level NICU since we aren’t attached to a hospital, but we can care for preemies and any baby that can be stabilized before sending to Asheville if they require special care and those returning from the hospital that are on the upside of recovery.
I have five neonatal nurses that will rotate their shifts and assist in the general practice.
Dr. Long has agreed to be their supervisor. ”
“This is...this is so much more than I could have ever imagined. It’s perfect Brooks. We will be able to help out so many children.”
“Well, we couldn’t have done it without you.”
She hugs him tightly as her tears fall down her cheeks and she sends prayers of thanks to her deceased fiancé, Declan, for blessing her with the ability to provide this for the town that has opened its arms to her.
Logan reaches out and rubs her back as she sobs onto her friend’s chest finally feeling at peace with all that had brought her to this very point.
As she steps out of his grasp Brooks smiles down at her.
“Good surprise?”
“The best,” she responds before she takes in his shirt, now sporting a wet spot from her tears smack dab in the middle of his chest. “I am so sorry,” she points out as her cheeks redden in embarrassment.
He looks down and snorts before removing his white coat, resting it on a nearby chair, then tugging the shirt over his head, leaving his chest exposed and about a foot from her face.
“Oh my,” she whispers before taking a step back and wrapping a hand around Logan’s arm.
“Hey now,” Logan jokes.
“Sorry, it’s just, wow,” Avery admits as she fans her face. “It’s hard not to notice when he’s right at my eye level.”
“Come on, we have a lunch date with your parents,” Logan insists as he shakes his head at his friend as he stands proudly before them, flexing his muscles.
“Don’t worry, I’ll put a shirt on before my lunch date,” Brooks shouts as they leave the room.
Avery can’t be sure, but she could swear she hears him add, “Now if only I could get your sister to notice.”
***
NIKKI REACHES ACROSS THE table, her generous stomach rubbing across the edge as she placed the last centerpiece on the rented buffet table.