“Remember the apple cider vinegar? He was the attending doctor on the floor that day. He’ll help us.” Georgie slammed the ATV door, raced into the house and called out to Dorothy.
“Upstairs, dear.” Dorothy’s voice swirled down the staircase. “Second room on the right.”
Georgie walked into the bedroom to find Chance and Katie in a standoff. Hadley and Dorothy quickly retreated to the kitchen. Thomas stood guard near a tall armoire.
“Georgie, tell my wife to lie down.” Chance pointed to the queen-sized bed.
“Georgie, tell my husband to leave.” Katie massaged her back and walked in a small circle.
“Chance, pull the comforter and blankets off the bed,” Georgie ordered. “Ethan is coming with supplies.”
“She needs to be lying down.” Chance never budged.
Thomas started rolling up the thick comforter.
“Only the one in labor gets to make the rules,” Georgie said. She earned a grateful smile from Katie. “We want to get the bed prepared so Katie can lie down when she chooses.”
Chance’s mouth flattened. He turned and helped Thomas, then piled the pillows against the headboard for Katie to lean against. “Now she can lie down.”
Katie glowered and continued her slow, circular walk.
Thomas grabbed Chance’s arm and tugged him toward the door. “I hear Ethan downstairs. Let’s get the supplies.”
Katie lifted her head. “Is it so wrong that I want to stand?”
“Nothing is wrong,” Georgie assured her. “You do what’s comfortable.”
Katie took both of Georgie’s hands. “You’re not leaving me, right?”
“We’re in this together,” Georgie promised.
Tears rushed into Katie’s eyes and leaked from the corners. “I’m going to have a baby.”
Katie’s joy and wonder squeezed around Georgie’s heart. And she was going to deliver her first baby. Her cousin’s child. “Let’s get ready to meet your child.”
Georgie twisted her hair up into a bun, then helped Katie change into the loose nightgown and robe Hadley had left on the dresser. Chance and Thomas returned with Ethan, and they covered the bed in padding and sheets from the clinic. Georgie changed into the scrubs they’d brought and washed her hands in the bathroom sink.
Zach appeared in the bedroom doorway, holding Georgie’s phone. “Dr. Stafford is on the line for you.”
Georgie took the phone, squeezed Zach’s hand on her way into the hallway and greeted Dr. Stafford. Five minutes later, she returned the phone to Zach and walked back into the guest room.
Katie still stood. Chance gripped the bedpost. Ethan and Thomas waited.
Chance stared at Georgie. “We can’t get Katie’s doctor on the phone. Now what?”
“Now we wait.” Georgie rubbed Katie’s back for her. “And we let Katie tell us what she needs.”
“Georgie, we’ll be right out here in the hallway,” Thomas said. Zach and Ethan joined him.
After midnight, Katie’s water broke, and the contractions came faster and stronger. She finally agreed to get into the bed. Chance called out the time. Zach relayed the information to Dr. Stafford on the phone. Georgie never left Katie’s side. Hours shifted into minutes. Minutes into seconds.
Georgie followed Dr. Stafford’s instructions to determine how far along Katie was.
Only one hiccup derailed Georgie’s concentration.
Zach appeared in the doorway. His gaze was wide and his voice dull. “Hadley is now in labor, too.”
Katie dropped her head onto the pillow and moaned. “What time is it?”
“Almost three in the morning,” Chance said.
“Hadley and I are going to deliver on the same day.” Katie grabbed both of her husband’s hands and panted. “It’s amazing.”
Perhaps for the new mothers and cousins who’d share a birthday. But Georgie had never delivered one baby, let alone two. How were Thomas and she supposed to deliver two babies? Thankfully, Thomas never flinched at the news.
“Let’s concentrate on you, Katie, and welcoming your new Blackwell baby.” Georgie slipped on a new pair of surgical gloves.
Thomas said, “I’ll check on Hadley and the timing of her contractions and be right back.”
“Right.” Georgie examined Katie again and shoved every emotion surging through her out of her mental space. Georgie couldn’t fail. She forced confidence and calm into her words. “Katie, it’s time to really push.”
After seven pushes and an assortment of prayers and curses from the mother, the baby’s head appeared. Then one shoulder and the other. Georgie lifted the infant forward and the precious baby girl fell into her hands. Thomas handed her a clean cloth. She wiped the cloth over the newborn’s face, earned the tiniest of cries for her reward. She laid the newborn on Katie’s stomach, giving mom, dad and baby time to bond.
The rest of the delivery proceeded without incident. Thomas and Ethan prepared the umbilical cord to be cut and talked Chance through the process.
An hour later, the bedding had been changed and both Katie and the baby were clean and resting together. Chance sat beside them, watching over his family. A sleepy Rosie had also been welcomed in to greet her new sister before Ethan carried her off to bed.
Dr. Stafford had been thanked and advised there could be another call regarding Hadley. He’d gladly agreed to take it.
Thomas, Zach and Georgie headed into the master bedroom. Once again, Georgie walked into a husband-and-wife face-off.
“Georgie, tell my wife she should rest and save her energy for delivering our child,” Ty said.
“Georgie, tell my husband to make himself useful someplace else,” Hadley said.
Thomas and Zach retreated toward the door. Georgie shook her head and composed herself. “Here’s what we’re going to do.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“GO AWAY.”
Zach ignored Georgie’s command and continued into the sunroom. He took her hands and pulled her out of Dorothy’s rocking chair. Then sat and tugged her onto his lap.
“You’re supposed to go away when someone tells you to.” She shifted and curled against his chest. Her cheeks were damp; her voice was hoarse.
“I don’t feel like it.” He wrapped his arms around her. Finally, the tension in his body receded.
The stress, strain and worry of the past hours weakened its vise grip around him. And he breathed long and deep for what felt like the first time since dinner the previous night. He’d never have guessed a blizzard would only be a backdrop to the drama that had played out indoors.
He rubbed Georgie’s back. Amazed all over again at how she’d maintained her poise and confidence the entire night. Never once had she cracked or lost control. Not when she’d met her biological father. Not even when she’d delivered her first baby.
“I don’t feel like letting you see me like this.” She mumbled into his shirt, which was already damp from her tears.
“Like what?” Raw. Honest. Emotional.
“Weak.”
He kissed the top of her head. “You are anything but weak.”
“You don’t believe that.” She sniffed. “I don’t believe it. Look at me.”
He recognized her need to argue. Now that he had her in his embrace, he was content and willing to let her have her way. “I suppose you want to tell me what I believe.”
Her head wobbled against his chest. “You believe I’m stubborn.”
He didn’t disagree. “That’s not a fault. It means you are more decisive than other people.”
“You also think I’m controlling.” She scrubbed her palm across her cheek. Sniffed again.
“That’s not a fault either.” He handed her a tissue from the box on the side table. “It just means you are not afraid to act and get things done.” He admired her str
ength, courage and so much more about her.
“I was terrified tonight,” she countered. “Terrified.” She stretched out the one word into three long phrases.
“But you didn’t back away.” If anything, she’d become more involved. More connected to Katie, then Hadley, assisting the new mothers every moment. Her generosity and compassion humbled him. To be loved by someone like her would be a true gift.
“I’m cold and closed off,” she challenged.
Not with me. Not ever with me. “You don’t put your emotions on the stage for the world to see.” He touched her chin, lifted her gaze to his. Wanted her to see all he felt for her. All he couldn’t put into words. “That doesn’t mean you don’t feel. Can’t feel. It doesn’t mean you refuse to feel.”
He searched her face. So many of her emotions leaked out in the tears trailing down her cheeks. Wavered in the tremble of her lips. Shivered in the scratch of her voice.
“I don’t want to feel like this.” She bunched his flannel shirt in her fists. Anger and defeat in her words. “I don’t want to feel all of this all at once. It’s too much. I want to feel nothing.”
How many times had he prayed for the very same thing? Wished for a numbness to consume him over the years. He ached for her. “I can’t take it away for you.”
“Why not?” She pushed her fists into his chest.
“Because this is how you know you’re living.” Always drive through the storm, son. The sun will greet you on the other side every time. Zach often wondered if his father had ever found his own sun. Looking at Georgie, Zach could believe he’d found his. If only…
“My mom would say this is how we get to those best moments.” She sniffed and dabbed a tissue against each eye. The tiniest of smiles wavered. “I brought a new life into the world last night.”
The wonder in her voice stirred through him. “You did. How was it?”
“Besides terrifying?” She straightened her fingers and flattened her palms on his chest. “It was extraordinary. Exhilarating. Beyond words, really.”
He’d been the same just watching her work all night: beyond words. He tucked a strand of hair behind her cheek. “What’s wrong?”
“I haven’t heard about Hadley.” She checked the time on the fitness band on her wrist.
An ambulance had arrived for Hadley and Ty shortly after sunrise, while Hadley was still in labor. Thanks to the early morning snowplow skills of Big E and Rudy, the road on the Blackwell property and beyond had been cleared for the EMTs. Katie’s doctor was on her way to the ranch to check on Katie and her daughter, Holly. Zach glanced at the clock on the wall. “It hasn’t been two hours since they left for the hospital. I’m sure we’ll hear soon.”
“Are you always like this?” she asked.
“Like what?”
“Positive and calm,” she said.
Only with her. “That’s kind of you to say that about me.”
“I’m serious,” she pressed.
“We survived a blizzard, delivered a healthy baby, kept the baby’s mom safe, coached another new mom and met your biological father all in one night.” He nodded. “That’s quite a successful night. We should be positive.”
She dropped her forehead back onto his chest. “My biological father is here.”
Zach had one dad he hadn’t seen enough of. Now Georgie had two fathers. And from his brief conversations with them, both were good men. He wasn’t certain Georgie wanted to hear that just yet. “What’s the plan?”
“I don’t have one.” She rose up to stare at him. “I should have one. Peyton and Amanda will be here this afternoon. Lily and Fee, too.”
The tension returned to her tone. He rubbed her back. “You have to talk to him.”
“I know and I will.” She settled against him and yawned. “But not right now. Can it just be us right now? For a little while longer.”
It could be us forever, if you wanted it. If you chose me, not your career. Selfish. His mother had been right about him all along. Zach pressed his head back against the rocking chair and closed his eyes. He rubbed Georgie’s back until her breath evened out and she finally surrendered to sleep.
He carried her upstairs, set her on the bed, covered her and kissed her forehead. She never stirred. Never woke. He stretched out on the floor and stacked his hands behind his head.
Sleep eluded him. That was the fate of the greedy who always wanted more.
He could want more from Georgie. With Georgie.
But he would never ask. Never ask her to choose.
He squeezed his eyes shut and willed sleep to claim him, too. If he slept, he wouldn’t have to face the truth. Face his enormous mistake.
He’d fallen in love with Georgie.
He shouldn’t have forgotten what it was like to not be alone. He’d forgotten his loneliness. Now loneliness would return and this time with a vengeance.
CHAPTER TWENTY
GEORGIE PULLED HER damp hair into a ponytail and headed downstairs, restored by her nap and shower. Voices and laughter rolled from the sunporch. Her smile widened. Zach.
She’d woken up alone, but she’d fallen asleep on Zach’s lap. In the safety of his arms. Zach had been her rock last night. Knowing he had been within reach, would catch her if she stumbled, had kept her steady and buoyed.
Then she’d broken apart in his embrace earlier. It wasn’t weakness that pulsed inside her now. Surprisingly, she felt empowered and energized. All thanks to Zach.
“I hope we didn’t wake you, dear.” Dorothy came into the kitchen from the sunporch. “Your dad and I have been sharing stories about your grandfather.”
My dad. “Is Zach with you?”
“It’s just Rudy and me. Zach left about an hour ago.” Dorothy pulled a coffee mug from the cabinet and filled it. “He wanted to get the final parts to finish the bench.”
Georgie smoothed her fingers over her hair and eyed the sunporch. Her dad waited. They hadn’t shared a real conversation in months. Her continuous commitment to her work had only disappointed and frustrated him. His unrelenting determination to find her a date and possible husband had only dismayed and exasperated her. Until she’d reduced their conversations to the weather and his eating habits. Her dad had a weakness for hot doughnuts and dipped ice cream cones.
She skipped her gaze to Dorothy. “I don’t know what to say.”
Dorothy set a cup of coffee in her hand and pressed a light kiss on her cheek. “Just tell him what’s in your heart.”
Zach had given her the same advice yesterday.
But her heart was confused. Her heart was a traitor and not to be trusted.
Her heart had made a connection to her biological father last night. They’d worked side by side throughout the night. Thomas had assessed, anticipated, then acted. His approach was a mirror of Georgie’s. He’d been handing Georgie what she had needed before she’d even asked. Thomas had been reserved, composed and perceptive, offering encouragement to Chance and Katie, and continuous support to Georgie. She was grateful Thomas had been there.
And she felt like she’d betrayed her dad. The man who’d raised her and loved her. The man who’d understood her goals before she had put them into words. Rudy Harrison had given Georgie her first stethoscope, microscope and doctor’s kit with her very own lab coat.
Georgie clutched the coffee mug and walked into the sunroom. “Dad.”
He turned from the window. Fatigue extended the lines fanning from the edges of his eyes. His hair had transitioned to pure silver. The short cut only enhanced his distinguished look. He opened his arms. “There’s my girl.”
Georgie set the mug on the table and hurried toward him. So much had changed. But not Rudy Harrison’s bear hug of an embrace that had always comforted and protected. And Georgie found the right words. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you, too
.” He squeezed her and pulled away. “And I’m so very proud of you.”
Georgie released him, reached for her coffee and sipped, soaking her guilt. He wouldn’t be proud of her deceit. Perhaps not even of her career move. Not to mention her disloyalty. How could she like Thomas Blackwell after one night?
“It’s remarkable what you did for your cousins last night.” Approval carved into his words. The pride that always held his chin high and his shoulders straight expanded into the smile he aimed at her. “My girl delivered a baby last night. It’s extraordinary.”
“It’s an experience I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to repeat,” she said.
“I imagine there will be many extraordinary experiences in patient care,” he said.
Georgie sank onto the couch. “What do you mean?”
“You brought a baby into the world.” He sat on the other end of the couch. “And from what I’ve heard, helped your other cousins with their medical issues.”
“That was nothing.” Georgie sipped from her coffee cup. If her dad heard about Iris and Estelle’s idea for Georgie’s own medical practice in town, he’d have her moved in and the sign repainted before the end of the year. “I haven’t changed my mind about my research work.”
Her dad wiped a hand over his mouth. “I just assumed…”
“I’ve been helping family.” And enjoying herself in the process. But she liked her work in the lab, too. “You always told us to put family first.”
“Yes, I have.” He leaned into the couch. “You know that’s all I’ve been trying to do. I’m sorry if it hasn’t always seemed like that.”
She was sorry, as well. Sorry she wasn’t the doctor he wanted her to be. “I know. And I appreciate you watching out for us.”
“That’s a father’s job,” he said. “It’s also a father’s job to help guide his daughters to what he thinks is best for them.”
“My work is important to me,” she said.
“I’m not talking about your career.” He leaned toward her. “I’m talking about Zach. This new man in your life.”
Zach. The temporary man in her life. Georgie sipped more coffee. The caffeine only jolted another surge of guilt through her. “What about him?”
Harlequin Heartwarming December 2020 Box Set Page 19
