by Ginny Baird
“Don’t tell me you’re still cleaning?” Katie quipped from the other end of the line. “Amanda, I’ve seen your place. It’s plenty tidy.”
Amanda dropped down in a chair to catch her wind. “There’s a difference between tidy and sanitary.”
“I think you have that nesting thing going on.”
“No, I’m just getting ready.”
Katie surprised her with a laugh, but it was good-natured. “How are the contractions coming along?”
Amanda checked the stopwatch on the table. “They seem to come and go, but I don’t think they’re getting any closer together.”
“Good, that’s good. Just hold it steady, then. And, for goodness sakes, Amanda, stop mopping your kitchen floor!”
Amanda held the phone away from her and stared at it, wondering if she’d accidentally hit video chat or something. “I wasn’t mopping,” she said back into the mouthpiece.
“Uh-huh.”
“Okay, okay. I might have been scrubbing a little.”
“Amanda!”
“Well, don’t yell at me. I have to be prepared.”
“You, woman, are infinitely prepared. You’re the only pregnant woman I know who made herself two weeks’ worth of individually packaged homemade meals and stuffed them in the freezer.”
“With Luke away, I certainly can’t rely on friends to fill in every gap.”
“Too true. You sure can’t count on me to bring a casserole. I’m not much of a cook unless it moves from the freezer to the microwave.”
“Exactly. That’s what I have planned!”
“I know!”
Amanda’s tone softened. “Katie?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for being there. I really mean it.”
“You know I’m happy to. But Amanda?”
“Yes?”
“If you’re still so bent on cleaning, I have a suggestion.”
Amanda waited.
“Come work on my place.”
“Ha-ha.”
“Hanging up now.”
“Okay.”
“Text me later.”
“Will do.”
Amanda set down her cell and shook her head. She was glad she’d only put on stretch pants and a T-shirt this morning, because already she was a sweaty mess. She’d take a shower, then grab some lunch. After a short nap, she’d tackle the baby book. But before all that, she thought she’d better check the nursery, just to make sure there were no dust bunnies hanging around.
Chapter Five
Later that afternoon, Amanda adjusted herself on the sofa by stuffing two large pillows behind her back. It had been aching all day, especially after all that floor scrubbing. Perhaps Katie was right. Maybe it was time to lay off the cleaning for a while. She propped the baby book on her knees, folding it open to its bookmarked page. She couldn’t even see the bottom of it over her blooming stomach! But she could view enough at the top to know she’d reached the right place marked First Holidays. Amanda thoughtfully lifted her pen, pondering what she might say. This was her first message to the baby; it had to be special. Then again, there wasn’t much space on the page, so she’d have to be brief. She had Luke’s message to include as well. She stretched forward to snatch Luke’s missive off the coffee table. She’d printed it out, then diligently folded it over, promising herself not to peek. But it would help to know how long it was. She’d barely caught a glimpse when she’d snatched it off the printer. The memory of Luke’s words haunted her as she turned her head away. No cheating!
She reluctantly set the paper down on the sofa beside her. She’d promised Luke she wouldn’t look, so she couldn’t. Besides, these needed to be her words and her thoughts alone. Maybe she should just dive in and write from the heart.
Dear Baby, she began, feeling her eyes mist. Baby! She was about to have a baby! And not just any old kid; this was Luke’s child. She sighed happily and focused once again on the page. Before she went further, she added the date at the top: February fourteenth.
Dear Baby, You can’t know how excited your daddy and I are about having you come into this world to join us. It seems we’ve been waiting on you forever, and now—finally—you’re almost here. We thought you might arrive before today, but apparently you had other plans. We’re ready for you, though! And can’t wait to hug and hold you. All our love this Valentine’s Day and always, Your Mom and Dad
Amanda studied her message a moment, satisfied. It wasn’t the most eloquent prose, but it was heartfelt. She decided to leave it just the way it was. But wait. What if she should have signed just for herself, instead of for her and Luke? Wasn’t the idea for them each to leave their own message? She opened Luke’s paper now and peered inside it. It started with Little Bean. Amanda cupped her hand to her mouth and giggled out loud. “Oh, Luke.” Then she continued reading.
Your mom doesn’t like it when I call you that, but the truth is, I probably will. At least until you grow big enough to tell me to cut it out. But seriously, baby Lena or David, it’s an honor and a privilege to record these thoughts... Your mom and I both wanted you for a very long time, and good things come to those who wait. I can’t think of any better Valentine’s gift than knowing the three of us will be a family. I can’t wait to have and hold you. I’ll be home as soon as I can. Meanwhile, know that you’re very loved, now and forever. From, Dad and Mom
Amanda caught her breath and choked back her tears. She couldn’t believe how similar her and Luke’s messages were. Then again, they’d been known to think alike before. Like when they first decided it was time to have a baby two years into their marriage. They hadn’t understood at the time it would take another three years for Little Bean to finally come along. Oh no! Now she was doing it! She started to laugh, but then emotion overcame her. She wanted him here. She did. My Luke. She wasn’t supposed to go through this alone.
Tears sprang from her eyes as she clutched the open baby book to her chest. “Oh Luke, if only…” But she knew he couldn’t hear her and was half the world away. Amanda leaned forward and hung her head, shaking slightly with each new sob. She would get through this. She would. And Katie would help her. But all she wanted at the moment was her husband, lover and best friend. All she wanted was Luke.
Chapter Six
Forty miles away, commotion ensued at the landing of the USS Liberty. Spouses embraced in the bitter cold, and children hugged their parents’ legs in the darkness. Luke climbed into the back of Logan’s SUV and buckled himself in beside the car seat where Logan’s toddler daughter, Jocelyn, sat cooing. He couldn’t believe he was going to have one of those of his own. And any day now. He addressed Logan’s wife, Tammy, who sat behind the wheel. She had pretty, dark hair in bouncy short curls and big brown eyes. Her mouth was offset by dimples. “Awfully nice of you to give me a lift.”
“We’re happy to do it,” she said into the rearview mirror, dimples deepening.
“Anything for a friend.” Logan reached back and tugged at his daughter’s foot, and the baby gurgled. “Especially a friend about to be in a family way.”
Logan knew what that was like. His daughter had been born two years ago while he’d been at sea. He’d missed her arrival by just two weeks. Now Logan was determined to help his best buddy since flight school do better. They would get him home in plenty of time. First babies always ran late.
Light flakes of snow began falling outside, dotting the frosty air. The automatic windshield wipers clicked on to combat them, but soon even they couldn’t keep up. “Wow,” Tammy said, pulling away from the dock, “I had no clue it was going to get heavy.”
“Just take it easy.” Logan patted her knee in a reassuring gesture. “You’ll do fine.” Luke could tell from the way Logan’s gaze lingered on Tammy that he’d missed her badly. It was rough being away so long when you had a good woman at home. Doubly rough when you had a tiny child waiting too. Yet there was something so electrifying about doing a job you felt you were born to do, and doing it well. Logan
was a top gun. He was going to go far. As would Luke, just not in the direction he’d initially thought he was headed.
There was a long line of cars before them, and their progress was slow. When Tammy finally turned out of the parking lot, their wheels skidded, sending the rear of the SUV sliding. “Jeez!” she cried, jamming on the brakes. “Where did that ice come from?”
Logan checked the temperature on the dash. “Only eighteen degrees out.” He studied the whitening sky. “Everything’s going to be frozen solid soon, if it isn’t already.” He checked the indicator light, saw that the four-wheel drive had been disengaged, and punched it back on.
Tammy let out a puff of air.
“Still okay to drive?” Logan asked her.
“Yes, fine,” she said, shaking her head. “I’ll try to watch it.”
Logan glanced over his shoulder at the baby, then lifted an eyebrow.
“I will watch it, I mean. I know you guys are beat.”
“Thanks, Tammy,” Luke said from the back. “This means a lot to me. It will mean a lot to Amanda too.” At least Luke hoped to goodness it would. For an instant, Luke feared he’d done the wrong thing in not telling his wife about his early return. But then he looked around him at the dismal weather and thought this was no kind of night for Amanda to be out and about. She would have insisted on coming to get him, and that would have been nearly an hour-and-a-half round-trip. Not to mention the wait while the ship disembarked and the delay in getting out of the parking area. She wasn’t even comfortable driving anymore. The last few times they’d talked, she’d said she barely fit behind the wheel.
“Still don’t want to give her a call?” Tammy asked Luke, but Logan answered for him.
“He wants to make it a surprise. Isn’t that romantic?” he asked with a teasing lilt.
“Yeah, I think it’s very romantic. Especially on Valentine’s. Which reminds me…” She turned Logan’s way with a playful pout. “What did you get me?”
Luke thought of the roses he’d ordered online for Amanda, hoping they’d arrived in time. Although she wasn’t aware he was coming home early, he still wanted her to know he’d thought about her.
Logan pursed his lips a beat, then glanced ahead. “Line’s moving now!”
Luke saw it was true. The other cars were finally inching forward at more than just a crawl.
Tammy clucked her tongue. “Right.”
The back of Logan’s neck reddened. “Tammy, honey, we were out… Couldn’t possibly have gotten you some... I mean, it’s not like there’s a Duty Free on board.”
She put the SUV in gear with laugh. “I know, you big silly! I was just teasing, that’s all.”
Logan reached over and fluffed his fingers through Tammy’s curls before turning to Luke with a smirk. “Gotta love the girl.”
“Yes, sir, you do.” He eyed the baby beside him, who was already drifting off to sleep. “Both of them.”
Logan settled back in his seat with a satisfied grin, so obviously glad to be home. “You bet,” he said proudly. “They’re a pair.”
Chapter Seven
Amanda leaned against the bathroom sink and gripped her phone in a panic. This was the third time she’d called Katie, but the other woman had failed to pick up. She stared down at the towels at her feet and the general mess around her. Amanda’s water had broken, and she was in a scramble to pull things together. While she thought she’d packed a hospital bag and put it someplace accessible, now she couldn’t find it anywhere. To make matters worse, the contractions were coming on stronger, doubling her over in pain with each new burning twinge. It felt like her back and belly were on fire, with lava-like flames wrapping themselves around her middle. For a moment, Amanda felt faint. But she steadied herself with her breathing. Finally, on the first ring of the fourth call, Katie answered.
“Where have you been?” Amanda asked, her voice rising.
“Out shoveling snow off my car just in case… Wait a minute! Amanda?”
Amanda held her breath, then panted into the mouthpiece, “Yes, yes. It’s time.”
“Eeeee!” Katie squealed so loud she nearly shattered Amanda’s eardrum. That was all she needed, another thing bursting. “Really?”
Amanda’s face flashed hot, then cold, then hot again. “Really,” she said, puffing lightly. “Really, really. Can you get over here?”
“Give me ten minutes to heat up the car and clear the rest of the ice off the windshield. Fifteen minutes, tops. Don’t want to drive too fast on account of the snow.”
“All right, but hurry. Safely, I mean.”
“You just sit tight and breathe like we practiced. Remember?”
That was easily said from the coaching end. Amanda winced, steeling herself against a new bout of cramping. She spoke between measured breaths. “I can’t…find…my bag.”
“In the closet, with your coat. You put it there so you wouldn’t forget.”
“Right.”
“Just get yourself together and bundle up warm. I’ll be there in a jiff.”
Ten miles down the road, Luke checked his pilot’s watch and gauged that he’d be home soon. The snow was coming down in droves, covering the cars passing them by in both directions. Tammy was taking it nice and slow, and that was okay. Better safe than sorry. Jocelyn snoozed in her car seat, the teddy bear hat on her head drooping. And even Logan appeared to be nodding off up front. It was no wonder. Tammy had it as hot as blazes in here, with the heat cranked way up and the defroster going full blast. Luke stared through the blurry windshield and thought he spied something up ahead. Something dark bolting onto the road, its silhouette illuminated by headlights in the cascading snow. It was a buck! An enormous one, darting straight into the lane in front of them.
“Tammy!” Luke called out to her, “Don’t—”
She saw it at the same time and did just what he was going to advise against.
She hit the brakes.
Chapter Eight
Amanda struggled to pull herself together, pausing periodically to breathe through her contractions. She was excited but scared to death. She’d never had a baby before! Then again, billions of other women had been in this position and happily lived through it. By this time tomorrow, Amanda would be holding her brand-new baby girl or boy. Oh! Lightning-bolt-like cramps tore around her body, squeezing her like a vise. She waddled into the living room, steadying herself along the furniture as she went. Through the double French doors, snow was pounding outside. She hoped the roads weren’t bad and that Katie wouldn’t have trouble.
Something fierce wrenched in Amanda’s chest, and she brought her hand to her heart. Without warning, she thought of Luke. Her eyes burned, though she didn’t know what was wrong. It was as if she had sixth sense he was in danger. But that was crazy! She’d just Skyped with him last night, and he’d assured her he was well out of harm’s way… She was probably just worried about the baby or afraid of going through this alone. But she wouldn’t be by herself. Katie would be with her. She’d arrive any minute. All Amanda had to do was put on her coat and wait.
The SUV spiraled into a turn, spinning around and around as headlights flashed and horns blared around them. Logan snapped to attention and grasped the wheel to keep it steady, despite the fact that Tammy’s white gloves still gripped it fiercely. Their vehicle careened out of control. Luke’s heart hammered harder as he sat there helplessly, his outstretched arm bracing the wailing baby. She’d awakened too and was now screeching at the top of her little lungs. The seconds spun out like hours as their SUV turned in slower and slower revolutions. Gradually, the landscape around them came into focus, and the SUV scraped to a halt.
Luke realized with sudden horror they’d crossed the center line and now faced the other way—straight into oncoming traffic. A huge semi was headed toward them, its headlights gleaming through slivers of blinding snow. The breathing in the SUV was so loud it was audible. But they would get out of this; he knew they would. Luke had to help them. Amanda a
nd the baby depended on him. He quickly judged the distance from where they were to the side of the road. There wasn’t much of a shoulder, but there was about five feet of ground between them and a large stand of trees. If Tammy didn’t panic, they could make it. “Tammy,” he said, just as calmly as he could. “Ease on the gas and steer to the left.”
Her eyes darted sideways, then back to the oncoming truck that was gaining on them. On the opposite side of the highway, cars were flying by fast. “But there’s no room, we’ll crash into those—”
“Tammy,” Logan instructed firmly. “Do what he says.”
Hands trembling and arms shaking, Tammy drove the SUV off the road. The shoulder was narrow, and their right front tire slid into a ditch. They all pitched forward with a jolt. Luke instinctively cupped Jocelyn’s head with his hand to protect her. Tears streaked the child’s face, but she’d finally stopped crying and was sucking in gasps of air.
Seconds later, the semi roared by at breakneck speed, kicking up an icy splatter.
He hadn’t even seen them.
“Man,” Logan said between rapid breaths. “That was close.”
Tammy was silent, tears streaming down her cheeks. Logan lifted his glove to dry them. “It’s okay. We’re going to be okay.”
Tammy stammered, her lips quaking, “I’m sorry. So sorry. I shouldn’t have swerved to—”
“Shh, shhh…” Logan told her. “Everything’s all right. Luke and I will get us out of this.” Then, much to Luke’s relief, he added, “Then afterwards, I’m driving.”
Chapter Nine
Amanda heard a car door open and glanced out the front window. It was a florist’s truck, of all things. It was after five o’clock and awfully late for a delivery. Then Amanda reminded herself it was Valentine’s Day. All the flower shops in town had likely been working overtime trying to deliver their overabundance of orders, particularly in this inclement weather. She thought she heard footfalls on the path crunching through the snow and ambled toward the door to open it. A tall deliveryman stood there dusted in white and holding the most gorgeous arrangement of roses before him. “Flowers for the lady of the house.” Amanda’s heart bounded. That voice sounded just like—”
