Thirty-One and a Half Regrets
Page 97

When Crocker’s men planned his jail break, they made Bruce Wayne come back to Weston’s Garage to give them information about me. He’d given them some accurate information he deemed harmless while misleading and flat-out lying to them about anything important. But when Crocker had gotten angry about not finding me, Bruce Wayne had borne the brunt of his frustration. The bruises he’d sported the first week after his return were proof enough of that.
“I’m glad you’re back,” I said, wiping a tear from my cheek. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” he said, refusing to look up at me.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Have a good night. And tell Neely Kate hi.”
“I will.”
When I arrived at the hospital with a wrapped present, Neely Kate was in the waiting room on the maternity floor. She squealed with excitement when she saw me. “It’s about time! You’re late!”
“Only by five minutes. I stopped to check on Bruce Wayne.”
She grinned. “Well, if you were on time, I could have been holding her five minutes ago.”
“That baby isn’t going anywhere,” I teased.
“They grow up fast, Rose.” She looped her arm through mine. “Come on already!”
The door was already cracked open when we got to Heidi Joy’s room, and we could see both mother and baby in the bed. She must have heard us approach because she looked up with a smile. “Well, hello, you two. Come on in. I just got her to sleep.”
I pushed the door open and Neely Kate immediately rushed over to the bed. Heidi Joy was wearing a silky pink nightgown and the baby was wrapped in a soft pink receiving blanket. My friend’s face glowed with happiness.
“She’s so cute,” Neely Kate gushed. “Was your labor hard?”
Heidi Joy looked down at the little round face. “She might be my sixth child, but it was my hardest labor yet and movin’ in the middle of it didn’t help matters. Andy’s sure I went into labor just to get out of havin’ to help. Shows what he knows,” she scoffed. “What woman would willingly subject herself to twenty-five hours of labor just to get out of moving? Now Andy’s gonna put things away where I don’t want ’em while his mother spoils those boys rotten.” She glanced down at the baby’s face. “In any case, I didn’t think this baby was ever gonna come. But she came in her own sweet time.”
“What’s her name?” Neely Kate asked.
“Clementine. Clementine Joy.”
“Can I hold her?”
“Of course.” Heidi Joy handed the baby to Neely Kate, who sat in the chair next to the bed.
“She’s so sweet,” Neely Kate said, sticking her pinky finger into Clementine’s little fist.
I sat on the edge of the bed and studied Heidi Joy’s face. “How are you doing? Really?”
“I’m tired. But I’m happy.” She leaned closer and grinned. “Especially since I got my tubes tied. No more babies.”
“I’m happy for you. On both accounts.” I handed her the present. “Here, open it. Only it’s for you and Andy, not Clementine.”
She carefully unwrapped the small box and grinned when she opened it and pulled out the coupon book. “Free babysitting? I love it!”
“You call me anytime you need me.”
A sly grin spread across her face. “Will Mason come with you?”
“I don’t know.” I smiled back. “Maybe. He’s getting around better than we expected with his crutches. But he went back to work the day after his surgery. He didn’t give himself time to recuperate, so he gets really worn out.”
Neely Kate’s head popped up and she lifted a neatly trimmed eyebrow. “Are you sure you don’t play a part in wearing him out?”
I looked down and blushed.
Heidi Joy grabbed my hand. “You were lucky you weren’t both killed.”
I sighed, trying to put the nightmare behind me. “I know. I don’t know how I would have made it if I didn’t have Mason with me.”
“And you saved his life too,” Neely Kate added.
“We saved each other.” In more ways than one, when I thought about it.
“So, Joe…?” Heidi Joy asked.
My mouth tipped up into a sad smile. “We’re done. My decision.”
Neely Kate stood and handed me the bundle. “Do you want to hold her?”
“Yeah.” I took Clementine, snuggling her in the crook of my arm. “She’s so precious, Heidi Joy.”
“Maybe you and Mason will get married and have babies,” Heidi Joy said.
“Maybe…”
“Well, she won’t be having them first,” Neely Kate said in a knowing voice.
I lifted my gaze to her beaming face.
“I’m pregnant! I just found out this morning.”
We squealed and the baby stirred, but I bounced her until she settled down.
“So I guess it wasn’t those hot wings making you sick after all,” I said.
She groaned. “They sure didn’t help.”
“When are you due?”
“June.”
Heidi Joy waved her hand. “Girl, you’re gonna be so hot, but it won’t be as bad as if you were due in August. Trust me. I know.”
The baby wiggled and made faces again and I bounced her and cooed, leaning over to breathe in her sweet baby smell.