Chapter 21
Patch pulled into the ER entrance and ran around the truck to help Claire. He scooped her up in his arms while she protested.
“I’m having a baby. I can walk,” she insisted. “Oh, my dress has a stain. What about the truck seat?”
“We’ll buy a new one. I’m sure the grans will know how to get out a stain. You’ve clutched your stomach quite a few times without telling me. Something tells me those contractions are closer than you’re admitting.”
“I can’t be in labor. We still have to fix the porch light and the French doors,” she cried.
“Claire Bear, the baby’s coming whether we have the house done or not,” he said as a nurse brought a wheelchair and he gently set her in it. “The contractions are eleven minutes apart. Her water broke approximately fifty-two minutes ago,” he gave them a report as they wheeled her down the hall.
“Hi, Claire,” Annabelle greeted her. “I’m here to take you to the maternity floor. Dr. Greene will check you there,” she said, taking over the wheelchair. “You’re stunning. Did you do an expectant mother’s shoot?”
“No.” Claire clutched Patch’s hand. “We got married this morning.”
“Oh, how wonderful,” she exclaimed. “I guess the baby wanted to celebrate.”
“Have you heard from Ragu?” Claire asked as they entered the elevator.
“We haven’t heard from them in three days,” she said sadly. “Doc finished his work early, and he and Whiskey discussed leaving earlier.”
“When did they decide?” Patch asked.
“This morning. Ahmed will take charge tomorrow,” Annabelle said as the doors opened and she wheeled her across the hall from Gabby.
“How’s she doing?” Claire asked, biting her lip. “She’s having an awfully long labor.”
“Dr. Greene went in before you got here to discuss her options. Victoria brought you those.” Annabelle pointed to a large bouquet. “She’s leaving in the morning.”
“Oh, I wish I got to talk to her more. I didn’t get a chance to thank her for bringing Patch home,” Claire said as Annabelle helped her out of the chair.
“She might pop in after she visits with Kassie. Why don’t we get you out of this dress? Or I can leave it to Patch to help you?” Annabelle asked.
“I’ll help,” Patch volunteered.
Annabelle smiled and left, giving them privacy.
Undoing the tiny buttons, Patch muttered, “This wasn’t how I imagined taking you out of this dress.”
“Maybe the sex started labor?” Claire guessed, biting her lip.
“Hey. I know you’re nervous, but you’re a week early, and your scans showed a perfectly healthy baby,” Patch informed her.
“How do you know?” she asked.
“I asked Kassie to email them to me. Since I didn’t get to make any appointments, it was the next best thing,” he admitted. “You put me on your HIPPA.”
“Why didn’t you say something? I’d have sent them to you,” she exclaimed. Then, her eyes narrowed. “Did you find out the sex of the baby?”
Scowling, Patch replied, “No. Kassie put a big sticker over the genitals and wrote ‘No Peeking’”
“Good,” she said. “I’m excited to discover it together.”
The dress slid to the floor, and he kissed her shoulder. Taking the hospital gown, he helped her dress and climb into bed. As he pulled the blanket over her, Dr. Greene gently knocked on the door and entered.
“I know you and Gabby have spent entire lunch hours planning everything. Did you plan this, too?”
“I wish,” Claire said. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s good,” Dr. Greene assured her, placing the belt around her tummy to watch the contractions.
“It seems you have a very determined baby who wants to see you today,” she said, giving them a motherly smile.
Claire drew a deep breath.
“We got this, Claire,” he assured her.
“Let’s see how close these contractions get, and then we’ll make a plan,” Dr. Greene said as she watched the monitor.
Patch watched the screen intently.
“It appears you’ll be here for a bit,” Dr. Greene reported. “Since your water broke, I’ll check to see how much you dilated and then we’ll decide if you want to go home for a bit or stay.”
“She’s staying,” Patch said overprotectively.
“Patch,” Claire admonished. “Dr. Greene knows what she’s doing.”
“We’re here. I know it’s where we need to stay,” Patch said firmly. “I’ve learned to trust the signs. I came home early, we got hitched this morning, and now you’re in labor. Trust me on this.”
Dr. Greene gave him a patient smile. “Fortunately, you and Gabby are the only two women in labor. I’m here all day. It won’t hurt to see how it progresses. I’ll be back in a few minutes to check your cervix.”
Patch let out a sigh of relief. He came to her bedside, sat, and took her hand. “What a way to start our day. Do you realize our baby will be born on our wedding day? How cool is that? This day can’t get any better.”
“It’s beyond wonderful,” she said. “Since we planned on checking on Knight and Gabby, why don’t you pop over and see how they’re doing? Dr. Greene can’t tell us anything, but they can.”
“I don’t want to leave you,” he admitted.
Claire laughed. “It’s literally across the hall.”
“All right,” he said begrudgingly and rose. “I’ll be right back.”
Patch crossed the hall and knocked gently on the door in case Gabby rested.
Knight came to the door and wiped his hand down his face. “Hey. We didn’t expect you until later.”
Patch grinned. “Claire and I got hitched this morning, and her water broke at the courthouse. We’re in the room across the hall.”
“No kidding?” Knight’s face lit up. “Our kids will be practically twins.”
“Uh, I don’t think so. If my kid turns out looking like you, we’ll have a problem,” he said, grinning. “Claire wanted me to check on Gabby. How’s she doing?”
“The contractions have stayed ten minutes apart. We’ve walked the hall, and it helped a bit, but not enough. She’s over it,” he whispered.
“May I come in and say hello?” Patch asked.
“Sure,” Knight said, stepping back and allowing Patch to enter.
“Hi,” he greeted Gabby. “I came to tell you about your bestie. She’s in labor across the hall. She wanted me to check on you.”
“I want this baby out of me. You’re a medic. Reach your hand down there and yank it out,” she demanded. “I haven’t slept, I’m starving, and these contractions have gone on forever.”
“Dr. Greene gave us options,” Knight whispered to Patch. “Gabby wants to do this naturally. It doesn’t help she’s eaten all the banana popsicles on the floor, and it’s the only thing that cures the beast, if you know what I mean.”
“Did you check downstairs? Kassie keeps extra boxes down there for when Emma doesn’t feel great,” Patch informed him. “It’s a secret stash way in the back on the right-hand side.”
“Will Randy get mad?”
“He’s not down there. They ran into a plumbing problem in the floor.
They’re all at the community center making sides, and then he grills the meat here to keep it hot for dinner.
Kassie ordered pizzas and assorted meals for lunch, and nobody’s down there until 1400 when they prep for supper.
He won’t even know, and we can replace them before they even realize they’re gone. ”
“You’re a lifesaver,” Knight murmured. “Honey, I’m running down to the kitchen. They may have a stash of popsicles there.”
“I want the entire box,” she grumbled. “This baby must be a boy, because it’s taking its sweet time like its father.”
Patch chuckled. “I’ll let Claire know how you’re doing.”
“Please tell her I send my love and keep us posted,” Gabby said sweetly before turning to Knight. “What are you waiting for? Do you see an ice cream truck making its way onto the floor?”
“I’m leaving now,” Knight said, walking out with Patch. “I hope this baby comes soon. She’s getting crabbier by the minute.”
“It’ll pass,” he assured him. “It sucks she’s not able to rest, and she hasn’t eaten much since yesterday.”
“Dr. Greene let her have broth and gelatin. It didn’t stay down. We’re back to ice chips,” Knight explained.
Patch clapped him on the shoulder. “Keep strong. We’re becoming fathers today. Keep your eye on the prize.”
“Knight, if you’re in the hallway talking to Patch, I will get off this bed and go down to the kitchen myself,” Gabby called from the bed.
“I’m going,” he said, sending Patch a harassed expression before jogging down the hallway. Patch crossed the hall to Claire’s room and smiled at his wife. Man, did he like the sound of that.
“Gabby’s fine. She’s a bit grumpy. The contractions have kept her up all night, and she’s determined to have this baby naturally. Knight said she ate all the banana popsicles on the floor. I told him about Kassie’s secret stash. He’s running down to get her a box.”
“Dr. Greene checked me. I’m four centimeters,” she informed him. “I have a feeling it’ll be a while before we get to meet this baby.”
“It’ll come when it’s ready, Claire Bear,” he assured her. “Why don’t you rest while you can?”
“I’m trying, but I’m too excited,” she confessed. “I hope Gabby has the baby soon.”
“Knight’s wishing the same thing,” Patch chuckled.
Someone knocked on the door, and Patch answered it. Victoria smirked when she saw him. “I came to check on Claire.”
Patch let her in, and she walked toward the bed, kissing Claire’s cheeks. “Kassie and Catherine send their love. They’re meeting with the funeral director today, and Catherine’s taking it hard.”
“Oh, please hug them for me. I can’t even imagine,” she said sadly.
“They will get through this,” Victoria vowed. “I’m leaving in the morning and came to give you a wedding present. I heard you lost your senses and married this barbarian.”
“Victoria, you know damn well I didn’t mean anything about women in the field. I only meant Sparky presented the weakest link in the chain,” Patch explained.
“I believe you thought I left the search for Leo to,” Victoria stopped speaking to make air quotes with her fingers.
“Stock up on Irish coffee and bring Kassie her favorite sausages.” Her eyes narrowed, and her voice conveyed her hurt.
“Maybe Sparky felt she needed to finish something. She has a good head on her shoulders, and I remember you acting obstinate on occasion.”