“Not yet.”
“What’s holding you back?”
When Clint got started on an interrogation, he was as bad as Rick.
“I’m considering my options.”
“That’ll be a first for my son who planned to be a hotshot until retirement.” His gaze was unrelenting. “I have an idea. Since I need to join Pam in a few days, why don’t you get on the phone and invite Laurel and her family for dinner tomorrow night?”
Before Nate could reject his offer, he barrelled on. “Last month Pam spent some time in the kitchen teaching me how to cook authentic Tex-Mex. I’m pretty good at it now. You two can help.”
“I’ve got an even better idea,” Rick interjected. “I want to talk to Dad about getting another sponsor to back me. Brent made a suggestion at dinner that might have possibilities. Why don’t you leave now and deliver your invitation in person? Take these leis with you while they’re still fresh. Laurel and Julie will love them and I’m sure Pam won’t mind.”
“She’d be thrilled,” their father affirmed.
Rick placed the boxes in Nate’s arms and virtually pushed him out the door.
LAUREL’S MOTHER-IN-LAW had brought one of the Pierce family scrapbooks so the two of them could reminisce over dozens of family pictures that included Scott both before and after their marriage.
Little did she realize that her daughter-in-law had pored over similar scrapbooks with many of the same photos in the weeks following the funeral. But for Reba’s sake, Laurel tried to concentrate.
It was impossible.
After her talk with Brent last night, Laurel had been forced to give up hope of seeing Nate again. What if she never got him out of her system?
This was a different kind of pain than she’d known before—because Nate was alive. And Copper Mountain wasn’t that far away….
Thank goodness for Joey. While he waited for a friend to come over, he showed great interest in all the pictures having to do with his favorite uncle.
It seemed the rest of the family had deserted them. Julie was downstairs in the kitchen making dinner. Mike had gone with Brent and Wendell to play nine holes of golf.
“That’s Kyle,” Joey said when the doorbell rang. “See ya later.”
After he ran out of the bedroom, Reba expelled a heavy sigh. “Laurel? I’ve wracked my brain wondering why Scotty would choose to do anything as dangerous as flying jets.”
“You’re not alone, Reba.” Men like Nate and Scott were a rare breed. “My friend Carma, the one who lived next door to me on the base in England, used to cope by saying ‘Someone has to do it.’ I’m afraid I found little consolation in those words.”
“It’s so strange,” her mother-in-law mused mournfully. “Neither Gary nor Tom showed the kind of interest Scotty did in—”
“Laurel?”
She looked up to see her sister in the doorway. “Excuse me for interrupting,” Julie said. “Could I talk to you for a minute?”
“Of course.” Laurel patted her mother-in-law’s arm. “I’ll be right back. Take a look at the baby clothes Julie’s handed down to me. They’re in the rest of the drawers and the closet,” she said, getting up to leave the bedroom.
Once in the hallway, her sister caught her around the shoulders. “Nate’s downstairs with Joey,” she whispered as they descended the staircase.
The words she’d never expected to hear created such a burst of excitement, Laurel almost lost her footing. If it hadn’t been for the railing she would have fallen.
“He knows Brent’s out golfing with Wendell, but he didn’t ask about Reba. To be honest, I don’t think he wants to meet her right now.”
“Then let’s not force it. If she comes down and sees him, we’ll let him handle it.”
“Good plan. Now don’t rush,” Julie cautioned. “Joy goeth before the fall.”
Joy was the word. Pure joy when she walked into the living room to find Nate standing there in a navy T-shirt and jeans. He looked so good….
“Hello, Laurel.”
“Guess what he brought you and Mom?” Joey said before she could respond.
Dazed, she could only stare at Nate. “I have no idea.”
“Neither do I,” Julie murmured.
He nodded to Joey. “Go ahead.”
Her nephew walked over to the coffee table, where there were two large boxes. He lifted the lid off the first one and drew out the most gorgeous yellow-and-white lei Laurel had ever seen. Both she and Julie gasped.
“That one’s for your mother. You know what to do.”
“Yup.” He was concentrating hard. “Okay, Mom. Bend down.” Julie did. “Aloha from Hawaii.” He said the words perfectly.
“Aloha, honey.” She rubbed her nose against her son’s. He sprang away embarrassed.
Nate chuckled. “Okay. The other one’s for your aunt Laurel.”
Out came a second lei in beautiful shades of blue and lavender. The flowers were still so fresh, perfume filled the whole room.
Her nephew studied her for a moment, then looked back at Nate. “I don’t think she can bend low enough.”
“Joey!” his mother cried.
Laurel burst into laughter.
“You may be right. Give me the lei.”
There was a gleam in Nate’s eyes as he moved toward her. His sensuality reached out to her like a living thing, and her heart began to pound with almost sickening intensity.
When he lowered the lei over her head, she felt his taut stomach against her belly. The unexpected contact set off a tremor that shook them both. It wasn’t something she’d imagined.
“You have to say aloha!”
“You’re right, Joey.” Nate’s breathing sounded ragged. “Aloha, Laurel.”
“Aloha,” she answered in a husky whisper. It was pure torture to be this close to him when she couldn’t do anything about it. She fought to suppress a moan as he eased away from her.
“This morning my father returned from his honeymoon in Hawaii.” Nate seemed fully recovered, but she was sure she’d never be the same again. “As you can see, he arrived bearing gifts. Rick and I felt two lovely women like you would do them more justice.”
“They’re absolutely incredible,” Julie exclaimed.
“They are.” Laurel buried her nose in the blossoms. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. Dad might not have met Spade, but he always wanted to. In a few days he’ll be leaving for Texas to join his wife. When he found out you were living in Denver, he asked me to invite all of you for dinner tomorrow night. I know it’s short notice.”
“We’d love to come.” Laurel tried to keep her voice steady. Her thoughts were already leaping ahead. Reba and Wendell would be leaving at eleven in the morning. That would give her time to rest before the drive to Copper Mountain.
Julie gave him an enthusiastic nod.
“Good.” His eyes sought Laurel’s once more. “Out of deference to you, we thought five o’clock so you won’t have to be up too late.”
“That’s very thoughtful. Please thank your father for the invitation and the gifts.”
“I will. See you tomorrow evening. I’ll let myself out.”
The minute the front door closed, Joey asked, “Can I go find Kyle? He was supposed to come over.”
“We’re having dinner in half an hour, so don’t be long.”
“I won’t.”
Laurel hurriedly removed the lei and put it back in the box. Julie did the same. She shot Laurel a quick glance.
“While I put these on the back porch, you go upstairs and tell Reba I needed your help with the dinner menu.”
“I hate lying to her, but in this case—”
“It’s for the best,” Julie broke in. “Believe me.”
Laurel nodded, then started for the foyer. If Reba had come down, Laurel would’ve been forced to introduce her to Nate.
Thank heaven it didn’t happen!
Laurel hadn’t forgotten what Brent had told her l
ast night.
If Nate’s emotions are involved, then meeting Scott’s parents at this early stage would probably overwhelm him with guilt and kill any chance for the two of you to explore your feelings.
Knowing she’d be seeing Nate the following evening made her so happy, she was able to enjoy her in-laws’ visit to the fullest. She even forgot the ache in her lower back while she devoted the rest of her time to them.
Because she couldn’t go inside the terminal on Sunday morning to see them off, she got up at seven and drove to the motel in Julie’s car. She wanted to spend this last hour with them alone before they left to drop off their rental car and check in.
To her surprise she still had her backache. She must have wrenched it after her near-fall the day before, when Julie had told her Nate was downstairs.
Reba shut her cosmetic case, then glanced at Laurel. “Your mother says she’ll be flying out when your baby comes.”
“Yes. Julie and I are looking forward to that.”
“Promise you’ll phone us as soon as you have the baby?” Her voice trembled.
“Oh, Reba…” Laurel gave her a tight hug. “Do you even have to ask? You’ll be the first people I call. Don’t forget, we’ll be seeing each other as soon as the doctor says I can travel with the baby.”
“We’ll have Scotty’s room waiting for you, Lori Lou.” Wendell sounded as emotional as Reba. He’d been weepy all morning. “Just think. Before long we’ll have another little Scotty.”
Laurel bit her lip. She knew Scott’s wishes when it came to names, but she couldn’t think about that right now. Unfortunately, his parents couldn’t imagine her giving birth to anything but a son.
“Maybe it’ll be a girl,” she said carefully.
“I wish you’d been more curious, Laurel.”
“This is one time I want to be surprised. With my next baby, I’ll probably want to know.”
The comment slipped out before she realized what she’d said. The shock on their faces would’ve seemed comical if she hadn’t been so aware of their suffering.
Wendell reached for her. “It’s a damn shame Scotty’s not alive to give you another child. Take care of yourself, Lori Lou.”
“I will.” She lifted her head from his shoulder. “Thank you for coming and bringing the gifts. I love you both so much,” she murmured.
They left the motel room and walked out to their cars. “Have a safe flight. Call me to let me know you got home safely.”
“Will do.” Wendell blew her a kiss.
She hugged them once more, then watched as they got into their rental car and drove off. After one last wave, she eased herself into Julie’s car. Tears welled up in her eyes as she started the engine.
Her burgeoning feelings for Nate were absolute proof that she’d put the past behind her. The tears she was shedding now were for Scott’s parents.
Please God. Help them find a way to move on, too.
CHAPTER TEN
NATE’S FATHER WALKED into the kitchen, followed by Rick. Nate was already there, finishing some last-minute preparations. Laurel would be arriving in another few minutes, the endless hours of waiting were almost over.
“What’s in the oven?”
“Everyone will love your dinner, but Laurel’s on a salt-free diet. I put some chicken and vegetables in a roasting bag for her, the way Mom used to do it.”
“Your mother’s doctor took her off salt with both her pregnancies, too. It still didn’t help that much at the end.”
“What do you mean?” Rick stole a nacho from the hors d’oeuvre plate.
Their father smiled. “Right before you were born, Anja asked me to help get her foot into one of her ski boots, just to see if she could still do it.”
“And?” Rick prompted.
“She couldn’t. Not by a mile.”
All three of them broke into laughter.
“Laurel couldn’t get her shoes on the other night, either.” She’d looked so flustered to realize Nate had witnessed it. She’d looked vulnerable and, heaven help him, desirable….
“There’s the phone,” their father said. “It’s probably Pam with an update. I’ll take it in the den.”
“What do you make of Dad’s marriage at this point?” Rick asked after their father left the kitchen.
“Same as you. It’s still too early to tell much of anything.”
No sooner had Nate spoken than his father reappeared.
“Nate? Phone’s for you. It’s Brent Marsden.”
He jerked around. “They should be here by now. I wonder what’s wrong.”
He hurried through the house to the den and grabbed the receiver. “Brent?”
“Hi, Nate. I hate to do this to you and your family, but it can’t be helped. We were just outside Silverthorn when Laurel’s water broke. She’s in labor. This baby could come fast. I’ve turned around. We’re headed for Aurora Regional Hospital. She’d like you to be there.”
Perspiration beaded his forehead. “I’m on my way.”
“Just a minute. Don’t hang up. Laurel wants to talk to you.”
Talk? How could she even think at a moment like this?
He had to rein in emotions that were struggling for release.
“Nate?”
“I’m here, Laurel.”
“Forgive me. I’m so sorry this happened when you and your family went to all the trouble of making dinner for us. Please—” She paused for a moment, no doubt because she was in pain.
“Please thank your father. We’ll have to get together when the baby’s born. I—” She couldn’t finish what she was trying to say.
“Forget the dinner. Don’t try to talk anymore. I’ll see you at the hospital.”
Nate dropped the receiver on the hook. His wallet and car keys were in his room. He dashed after them. When he returned downstairs, his father and Rick were waiting for him.
“She’s in labor!”
His dad stood there with his hands on his hips. “So I gather.”
“I’ve got to go.”
“Call us later, Nate.”
“I will.”
Silverthorn was only twelve miles from Copper Mountain. If he drove fast, he’d catch up to them on the highway.
Rick accompanied him to the Blazer. “Try to stay on the ground.” His comment reminded him of something Laurel had said.
Top guns are notorious for maneuvering their vehicles ten feet off the ground if they can get away with it.
He revved the motor. “I’m not promising anything.”
“Message received.” He grinned. “It’s lucky I filled the gas tank on my way to the store this morning. Take a moment to count backward from ten. She’s going to be fine, Nate.”
She’s got to be.
Nate backed out of the driveway and took off.
The damn Sunday traffic turned out to be a nightmare and he had to concentrate on his driving. Yet after traveling for an hour over the speed limit, Nate couldn’t see Brent’s car anywhere. Laurel’s brother-in-law had to be moving at a pretty fast clip.
Forty-five minutes later, he pulled into the hospital parking lot. He took off for the E.R. on a run only to find out he’d come to the wrong place. Labor and Delivery were on the fourth floor.
Not bothering with the elevator, he found the door to the stairway and raced up the steps three at a time. An orderly gave him directions to the west wing.
He put his palms against the edge of the nursing station counter. “Where can I find Laurel Pierce?”
A nurse working on charts looked up at him. “She’s down the hall on the right. W412.”
Thank God she’d arrived safely. “Thank you.”
When he tapped on her door, Brent answered. He flashed Nate a broad smile. “What took you so long?”
“Is that Nate?” Laurel called out. “Tell him to come in.”
“Is she all right?” he whispered.
“What can I say? She’s in labor. Julie and I will be in the lounge.”
<
br /> As Nate entered the room, two things struck him at once. The sound of the baby’s heartbeat from the fetal monitor and the scent of flowers. Somehow the lei had made it inside the room. When he saw it hanging over the closet door handle, a lump rose in his throat.
Like a heat-seeking missile, his gaze sought hers. She held out the hand that wasn’t hooked up to an IV. “I was hoping you’d get here in time.”
“Laurel…”
He crossed the distance between them and grasped it between both of his. As he kissed her fingers, a nurse came in, followed by a doctor.
He nodded to Nate. “There’s a lounge around the corner. If you’ll please step outside, I’m going to administer her epidural.”
“Thank heaven,” he heard Laurel mutter between groans of pain. “Please don’t leave the hospital, Nate.”
“Nothing could drag me away now.” He relinquished her hand, although it was the last thing he wanted to do.
THANK GOD for epidurals, Laurel thought. The pain was just so intense. In fact, she’d never known pain like that in her life. Why hadn’t her mother told her what labor was really like?
Just then Dr. Steel entered the room. He walked over to Laurel, a concerned expression on his face. “Looks like you’re ready to have this baby. How are you doing?”
“Fine, now that I can’t feel the contractions.”
“That’s the idea.”
She couldn’t believe this was finally happening; it had been such a long time in coming.
“Okay, Laurel. Let’s do it,” he said a few minutes later. “Give me a good push.”
She strained with all her might. It was odd to feel pressure but no pain.
After twenty minutes the doctor said, “The head’s out.”
“Oh…” She half laughed and cried at the same time.
More medical personnel had appeared in the room.
“I want you to bear down as hard as you can now, Laurel.”
Once again she was calling on every muscle in her body. The passage of time meant nothing to her. All she knew was that the doctor eventually murmured, “Here it comes.”
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