Baby Experts 02 by The Midwife’s Glass Slipper Page B

Jared’s pager went off. He checked the number. “It’s my mother’s surgeon. I’m going to go outside to call.”
    She watched Jared as he hurried into the anteroom, as he stripped off the protective gown and mask and cap, as he pushed the button on the sliding glass door to step outside the nursery. With a sigh, Emily looked down at Olivia and brushed her finger over the baby’s little hand.
    Were dreams of wedding bells and lace with a partner who was tender and passionate and who loved with all his heart a fairy tale that could never come true for her?
    At thirty-two, she was too old to believe in fairy tales.
     
    The house that Tessa and Vince had bought to begin their married life was a fixer-upper. But along with the first coats of paint and Vince’s newly mastered skill of hanging wallpaper, the newlyweds filled the house with love.
    On Saturday afternoon, Emily carried a tray with dishes of chicken salad and fresh fruit onto the wraparound porch.
    “Where did Vince take the kids?” Emily asked as Francesca brought a smaller tray with their drinks outside also.
    Tessa had arranged napkins and silverware on three side tables beside each rocking chair.
    “The new fast-food restaurant has a play gym,” Tessa explained. “He insists the kids have to have fast food at least once a month because it’s an inalienable right.”
    The women laughed.
    “How’s Sean’s shoulder?” Francesca asked.
    “It’s coming along. We knew it would be slow. He could be three or four before he has full use of his arm again. But he’s a trooper. We do exercises with him every day.”
    When Vince had lost his best friend in an automobile accident, Sean’s shoulder had been injured. Vince had brought the baby home to Sagebrush because there was a physician in Lubbock who specialized in that particular type of shoulder injury. The little boy’s surgery had been a success, but recovery would take a long time.
    “When are you going back to your practice?” Emily asked her.
    “Not until February, at least. And then, it will only be part-time. Actually, Rhonda can’t wait because then she’ll have care of the kids again.”
    Emily knew Vince’s housekeeper, Rhonda Zappa, was a wonderful nanny. She’d taken care of Sean full-time until Vince and Tessa had married.
    “What’s she doing with herself? I know someone who could use her right now.” Emily suspected Rhonda would be wonderful with Jared’s daughters.
    “She’s visiting her son in Austin. She decided to stay for two months and be Grandma every day for a while, instead of just on holidays.”
    “Speaking of taking care of children, tell us about Jared Madison’s daughters.” Tessa’s tone was bland, but an arched brow asked lots of questions.
    “They’re wonderful. Definitely into the princess craze. Jared’s a terrific dad and—” She stopped.
    Tessa eyed her shrewdly. “Is there something you’re not telling us?”
    “No, not really.”
    “Emily…” Tessa prompted.
    Emily had confided her whole story to Tessa and Francesca earlier this summer, so there was no reason to hold anything back now.
    “I like him,” she said in a rush. “I know I shouldn’t, but there’s this connection between us or something. He doesn’t want to get involved and I shouldn’t even be thinking about it. But whenever we’re alone together—”
    “Fireworks?” Tessa suggested.
    Emily nodded, and then realized how absolutely quiet Francesca had been. She hadn’t eaten a bite of her chicken salad. She was sipping a glass of water and staring out across the lawn as if deep in thought.
    Emily laid her hand on the arm of Francesca’s chair. “Is something wrong? You’re quiet today.”
    Francesca looked from Tessa to Emily and took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”
    Emily was too surprised to speak. Francesca had beensingle for so long, except for one steamy June night with saddle maker Grady Fitzgerald.
    “How can that be?” Tessa asked bluntly. “You