New Additions (By Design Book 5)

by J. A. Armstrong

  NEW ADDITIONS

  By Design Series: Episode Five

  J.A. Armstrong

  Text © Copyright 2015 J.A. Armstrong Books

  All Rights Reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced without permission.

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter One

  Jameson was fidgeting in a large chair that sat in the corner of a waiting room.

  “You okay there, J.D.?” Michelle called over in amusement.

  Jameson looked up, her expression mirroring that of a deer suddenly caught in the headlights. Candace smiled and interceded. “Long night,” she told her daughter as she placed a comforting hand on Jameson’s knee. Michelle immediately noted the look of warning in her mother’s eyes. For some reason, Candace seemed to be indicating that this was not the best moment for Michelle’s customary teasing.

  Michelle sighed softly. “Coffee? I’m sure that I can find some,” Michelle offered. Candace nodded her approval. She snickered when Michelle prodded her sleeping girlfriend. “Come on, sleeping beauty. Time to wake up.”

  “Huh? Whaaa…What happened?” Melanie opened her eyes in confusion.

  “Nothing yet,” Michelle said. “I do see coffee in your future. At least, I see you helping me carry it.”

  Melanie stretched and rubbed her tired eyes. “What time is it?”

  “Late,” Michelle said. She gently poked Melanie.

  “I got it. I got it. I’m going,” Melanie griped quietly as she followed Michelle dutifully from the room.

  Candace squeezed Jameson’s knee. “Tired?” she asked. Jameson managed a wan smile in response. “Jameson?”

  “Jonah called four hours ago,” Jameson said. “I mean, aren’t you worried?” she asked. Candace smiled. “You think I’m being silly.”

  “No, I don’t,” Candace assured her wife. “Sometimes it takes longer than expected.”

  “He said she was getting close…”

  “Mmm. Sometimes, you are not as close as you thought,” Candace giggled.

  “You’re really not concerned?” Jameson asked

  Candace sighed. She was concerned. Laura had gone into labor just after dinner the previous evening. Jonah had called just after midnight to let his mother know that it looked as if the newest addition to the family would be making his or her appearance soon. She and Jameson had been waiting for the impending arrival to make an appearance for just over four hours. A small part of her excitement was turning to anxiousness. But, she had traveled this road a few times. Candace suspected if anything were wrong, Jonah would have called her or sent someone to let them know.

  “I am,” Candace confessed. Jameson went pale. Candace smiled reassuringly as she continued. “A little, only a little,” she said. “I think Jonah would have let us know if there was any reason to worry,” she told Jameson. Jameson forced a smile onto her lips. “Jameson,” Candace continued. “Laura will be fine.” She took note of the uncomfortable expression on Jameson’s face. “What is it?’

  “I don’t think I could handle it,” Jameson said.

  “Handle what?” Candace asked.

  “If that were you,” Jameson said. “I couldn’t handle it—I don’t think.”

  Candace grinned and placed a kiss of Jameson’s cheek. “Well, there is one worry that you don’t need to fret over,” she reminded Jameson.

  “Yeah.”

  “Jameson?”

  Jameson was not certain what she should say. Her thoughts had been spiraling for the last hour, recalling Candace’s story about Jonah’s birth. For some reason, Jameson found herself envisioning Candace in that moment. It terrified her. Silly, she kept reasoning. That was twenty-five years ago, long before Candace Fletcher was a blip on Jameson Reid’s radar. Jonah was a healthy man about to become a father himself. Why the thoughts were plaguing her, she could not explain.

  “Jameson,” Candace attempted to coax her wife. “What is going on in the head of yours?”

  “I don’t know,” Jameson said with a shrug of her shoulders. “It just makes me….unsettled. Things can happen.”

  “Yes, they can. But, most of the time they don’t. And, it’s worth that risk,” Candace said.

  “You sound pretty sure about that.”

  Candace laughed. “I have a little bit of experience in this arena,” she reminded Jameson. “You weren’t this nervous when Maddie was born.”

  “No,” Jameson admitted. “But, I wasn’t sitting in a hospital waiting room either,” she said.

  Candace nodded. “Laura will be fine,” she said assuredly. “But, if it makes you feel any better, I am certain that she will be exhausted when she gets home in a couple of days.”

  “Why would that make me feel better?” Jameson wondered.

  “Well, it’ll give you a chance to help with all those diapers.”

  Jameson smirked. “Funny, Nana. You certainly picked a good time for a road trip,” she teased Candace.

  “Hey, you will have to change an awful lot of diapers to catch up with my numbers.”

  “Maybe you should add that to one of your stump speeches, Nana,” Jameson suggested as seriously as she could manage.

  “Maybe I will.”

  “Maybe you will what?” Michelle asked as she and Melanie made their way back into the room.

  “Oh, nothing,” Jameson replied. “Your mom and I were just discussing how she could turn out the youth vote,” she snickered before receiving a jab in the side from Candace.

  “Uh-huh,” Michelle looked at the pair suspiciously. She handed her mother and Jameson each a cup of coffee. “The youth vote is not her problem.”

  “I have problems?” Candace asked her daughter. Michelle arched an eyebrow.

  “God, that is so freaky,” Jameson commented absently.

  “What is?” Michelle asked, lifting her brow ever higher.

  “That!” Jameson pointed to Michelle.

  “What?” Michelle asked a bit more forcefully.

  “You all do that. One of these days it’s going to get stuck up there,” Jameson joked.

  “What the hell are you talking about J.D.?” Michelle asked.

  “S.G.A. Even Spencer does it,” Jameson mumbled.

  “What?” Candace and Michelle asked in unison.

  In reply, Jameson attempted to lift one eyebrow as high as she could. No matter what she did, both seemed to lift together, neither coming close to the height that the Fletcher women had mastered.

  “Jameson, what on earth is wrong with you?” Candace asked.

  Melanie tried to conceal her amusement. She covered her face, but against all efforts she erupted into laughter.

  “What are you laughing at?” Michelle asked her girlfriend, eyebrow again rising. Melanie just laughed harder. “What the hell is S.G.A.? Is that an architect thing?” Michelle looked at her mother for an answer. Candace shook her head. “It must be. Why is that so funny? What the hell is wrong with you two?” Michelle asked again.

  Jameson and Melanie had both fallen into a helpless fit of laughter. A good deal of it had been brought on by sheer exhaustion. Melanie and Jameson had often joked about the infamous S.G.A., as they called it. Melanie had originally called it the Fletcher Arc. Jameson had to remind her that the quirk came from Candace, which made it decidedly a Stratton genetic trait. Hence, the signature expression that told both Jameson and Melanie that they were in trouble became known as the Stratton Genetic Arc or S.G.A.

  Candace was about to address the silliness when the door to the room opened again and Jonah stepped inside.
She looked up and met her son’s tired gaze. “Jonah?” Candace addressed the young man.

  “Hey. Thought you would want to know,” he began. Candace felt her heart lurch slightly. Jonah was not smiling. “They are prepping her to take her in for a C-section,” he said quietly.

  Candace hopped to her feet and made her way to Jonah. She wrapped her arms around him in a comforting embrace. “It will be all right,” she told him.

  “I know,” he said, sounding unconvinced. “She just tabled out at seven centimeters. Nothing seems to be moving things along and her blood pressure is up. They…”

  Candace smiled. “Jonah, better safe than sorry.”

  Jonah sighed. “Maybe it’s me, huh?” he asked his mother, his voice echoing a feeling of guilt.

  “You?” Candace asked. She shook her head and took hold of his shoulders. “Jonah, it happens. It just happens sometimes, sweetheart. Trust me, she will be fine and so will that little one.”

  Jonah nodded. “I should go. I’ll let you know when…”

  “We’ll be right here,” Candace assured him. “Go on.”

  Candace kept smiling as Jonah took his leave. Jameson noticed her posture change the moment that Jonah had disappeared from sight. She immediately made her way to Candace. “They will be fine,” Jameson said.

  “I know,” Candace replied. “I just wish,” Candace began to reply and then suddenly closed her eyes. Jameson wrapped her arms around Candace and kissed her gently.

  “Mom?” Michelle called over to Candace.

  Candace pulled back from Jameson and offered her daughter a confident smile. “It’s okay, Shell. Just makes me mad.”

  “Mad?” Michelle was curious.

  Candace led Jameson back to the sofa and flopped down. “Yes, mad. Stress can cause so many issues in a pregnancy.”

  “Speaking from experience?” Michelle guessed.

  “I am,” Candace said. Jameson took Candace’s hand. Candace felt the trembling of Jameson’s fingers and turned to her. Jameson had been worried before Jonah arrived with his news. Candace finally smiled in earnest. “So?” she began. “Why don’t you enlighten us about this S.V.A. thing you and Melanie find so amusing.”

  “S.G.A.,” Melanie corrected Candace.

  “Um-hum,” Candace began, “I stand corrected. So, S.G.A.?”

  “I’ll bet this one has it too,” Melanie said softly. Candace’s eyebrow lifted dramatically at her daughter’s girlfriend. “See!” Melanie pointed. “There it is, right there—S.G.A.! That settles it, Shell— I am having our kids.”

  Jameson and Candace simultaneously turned their sights to Michelle who had gone pale. “Something you want to share, Shell?” Jameson teased.

  “What?” Michelle asked. Jameson folded her arms across her chest and waited for an answer. “Ohhhh….Nooo…No, you don’t. My womb is not at issue. Your acronyms are. S.G.A.! Let’s have it.”

  “It’s a genetic arc, is all,” Jameson deadpanned.

  “Genetic arc?” Michelle looked at Jameson suspiciously. “Since when did you take up biology, J.D.?” she asked. Jameson shrugged just as Candace started to chuckle. “What’s so funny?” Michelle asked her mother, her brow lifting as she waited for a response.

  “Well, Shell, if I am not mistaken your girlfriend and my wife are making fun of us,” Candace said.

  “What?” Jameson feigned innocence.

  “Um-hum. Explain this arc of yours,” Candace challenged her wife. Jameson’s jaw opened and closed silently. “That’s what I thought,” Candace said. She turned to her daughter. “A while back, Jameson pointed out to me that Jonah and I shared a certain quirk. Apparently, these two find it odd that we have the ability to lift one eyebrow all on its own.”

  “You two seriously have too much time on your hands,” Michelle said seriously. “Is this what you do all day at that office?” she asked pointedly. Jameson shrugged again. Michelle heard Melanie snicker across the room. “Something you would like to add?” she asked her girlfriend.

  Jameson jumped in to save Melanie. “Relax, Shell. It’s cute.”

  “So cute that Mel seems to think she should have our children?” Michelle pointed out.

  Candace bit her lip to quell her laughter and compose herself. “Do me a favor? Hit the altar first, okay?”

  Michelle promptly went pale again. Jameson rolled her eyes. “I am way too young for all these grandkids,” she mumbled.

  “Don’t hold your breath waiting for me to add to the equation, J.D.,” Michelle barked at her friend.

  “I’m not. I’m waiting for her,” Jameson pointed to Melanie.

  “Excuse me,” a head popped into the room. All four occupants turned immediately. “Senator Reid?” the young nurse inquired.

  “Yes?” Candace asked.

  “There was a call for you at the nurse’s station,” the woman said. Candace was puzzled. “Your daughter asked if you could call her. She said she tried to reach your cell phone,” the woman explained. Candace reached in her bag. Jameson reached in her pocket, both looking at their phones. Candace looked at Jameson and sighed at the stream of missed calls.

  “She’s probably just worrying and wondering,” Jameson said.

  “One can hope,” Candace replied. She made her way to her feet. “Thank you,” Candace addressed the woman directly. The nurse nodded and took her leave. Candace lifted her phone with a deep sigh. “Marianne?” Candace listened for a moment. “Slow down. What happened?” Candace asked. All eyes focused on the senator and her conversation. “Slow down, sweetheart. Laura is all right. What happened? Don’t be sorry, just calm down and breathe,” Candace said. She listened intently and closed her eyes. “All right. All right. Try and relax, okay? No. We’ll figure it out. No, you have nothing to be sorry for. Stop. Jonah will understand. I’ll call you back in a minute. Just try and relax, okay? Okay. Give me a minute. Breathe. It will be all right,” Candace said. She disconnected the call and turned to three pairs of worried eyes. Candace sucked in a deep breath. “It’s Rick,” she said. Jameson grabbed Candace’s hand. “Car accident. That’s all I know. That’s all she knows right now.”

  Jameson felt her heart plummet. Rick had headed back to Texas to take care of some final matters with the house. Marianne had stayed behind in New York with the kids. “I’ll go,” Jameson offered immediately.

  “Jameson,” Candace said softly.

  “You stay here and wait for Jonah’s news with the girls. I’ll go take care of Marianne.”

  “She needs to get back…”

  “I know,” Jameson said. “I’ll handle it. Let her know I’m on my way,” she said. She turned to Melanie. “You take care of these two,” she said seriously. Melanie nodded. Jameson looked at Candace. “I’ll handle it,” she promised. “Take care of Jonah.”

  “Jameson,” Candace whispered. “I have no idea…”

  “I know. I’ll find out, okay? Call me when Jonah emerges,” Jameson said. She placed a kiss on Candace’s cheek and whispered in her ear. “Never a dull moment, huh?” she said as lightly as she could. Candace shook her head, appreciating Jameson’s attempt to calm her. “I’ll call when I know something,” Jameson promised. Candace nodded.

  “Mom?” Michelle looked at Candace helplessly. Candace took Michelle’s hand and squeezed it tightly. “Are you okay?” Michelle asked.

  Candace nodded. I have to be was the only thought that ran through Candace’s brain. There was no choice in parenting or in leading. Even when she felt completely lost, Candace had learned she needed to appear totally in control. “I have to be.”

  ***

  Jameson pulled into the driveway of Marianne’s house, turned off the car, and gripped the steering wheel forcefully. Of the three of Candace’s children, Marianne was the one Jameson had still struggled to connect fully with. They had developed a friendship, but Jameson could sense the fierce protective streak that Marianne possessed with regard to her mother. No matter how much time passed, no matter how strong of
a relationship Jameson had cultivated with her siblings, Marianne kept a slight distance. It was strange in a way to Jameson. Jameson and Rick had become fast friends. Candace and Jameson often cared for Spencer and Maddie. It was a standing joke in the family that Spencer thought Jameson somehow belonged to him. He called Jameson ‘his Jay Jay’ constantly. He seldom lost sight of Jameson when the family was together. Jameson not so secretly felt the same way about the toddler. Other than Candace, Spencer was Jameson’s favorite person on the earth.

  With a deep breath for courage, Jameson stepped out of the car and began to make her way to the front door. She looked up at the house appreciatively. Rick had asked Jameson to help Marianne in their quest to find the perfect home. The house needed a bit of work, but it was exactly what Marianne and Rick had hoped to find. It would accommodate their growing family nicely. It was set back from the road, had been built in the late 1800s, and the surrounding neighborhood was inhabited by numerous young families. Jameson hated the reason for this visit. She could not help but feel a sense of foreboding. Marianne had not given Candace much information. The last thing Jameson wanted was to think of the worst possibilities, but somehow that had been what she had been doing on the thirty minute drive from the hospital. What if Rick was seriously injured? What if something happened to him? How on earth would they tell Spencer? How would they support Marianne? Jameson was about to knock when a teary eyed Marianne opened the door and fell into her arms. Jameson held her trembling step-daughter.

  “J.D.? What am I going to do?” she cried.

  ***

  Jonah bopped through the waiting room door with a smile on his face. He was clearly tired, but elated. Candace stood immediately. “Boy,” he announced proudly. Expectant eyes waited for the rest of the statement. “Jameson John Fletcher,” he said. Candace began to cry. “Where is J.D.?” he asked. “Mom?”

  Candace shook her head and moved to wrap Jonah in her arms. “Congratulations,” she said.

  Jonah looked over his mother’s shoulder and saw the red rim of his sister’s eyes. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Laura is okay, Mom. She did great. And Jameson, well, he is perfect,” he assured her.