Best for the Baby (18 page)

S
PRING CAME TO
north Georgia a week earlier than usual. Wildflowers bloomed in the meadows, and dogwood petals littered the ground like snow, perfuming the air with their fragrance.

But at Heron Cove, Alaina was frustrated, uncomfortable and a little nervous. Her baby was a week late. Dr. Linderman had told her there was no need to worry, and she trusted him enough that she’d asked Zack to bring her up to Lake Harmony to deliver at the local hospital. But as happy as she was to be back at the cottage, she was so eager to have this pregnancy behind her that she’d started to harangue the baby.

“Come on, kiddo,” Alaina crooned, looping tiny circles over her stomach with her fingertips. “Don’t you want to come out and meet everyone?”

One of the bedrooms had been turned into a nursery, a pastel of rainbow colors that were predominately pink. Strawberry Fields paint—once one of Zack’s least favorites, now perfectly acceptable.

She’d been dead wrong about the baby’s sex. It was definitely a girl. A stubborn little girl who just wouldn’t make an appearance.

“Don’t you want to see what your daddy made for you?” Alaina asked.

The rosewood cradle held a special place in the nursery. Every time Alaina looked at it she was reminded of how loving a gift it had been.

There were a dozen other ways Zack had shown her he would be a good father. A great father. She was so touched and pleased by how quickly and easily he had embraced Jeffrey’s child as his own.

It had relieved her that Jeffrey had kept his word and was allowing Zack to adopt the baby. And why not? They’d received a postcard from him last week. He was thrilled with his life in Brazil, a five-year project working to save the rain forests.

Most of all, Alaina loved being married to Zack. Sometimes they fought, but in the old way, with laughter and love and the complete freedom to be themselves. But mostly, life with him was a world of joy and contentment, an ongoing parade of excitement and bliss. She felt at peace, in some unimaginable haven.

Now if only this sweet, delicious burden she carried would just cooperate.

“You can’t hide up here forever,” a male voice said behind her.

She turned to find Zack leaning negligently against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest. He was so handsome in jeans and a red polo shirt. His lopsided smile was as intimate and possessive as a caress, and even as huge as Alaina felt, that same small jolt of desire went through her every time she looked at him.

“I’m not hiding,” she replied. “It just takes me longer to get ready these days.”

He came up behind her, and his arms tightened
around her as he pulled her back to rest against him. She felt the feathery touch of his lips against the nape of her neck and trembled with delight.

“You look beautiful,” he told her.

“I look huge.”

“It looks good on you.”

“That’s very nice, but you’re prejudiced.”

“Nobody cares, Al,” he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. “Stop fretting and come down. Everyone’s waiting. If you don’t come down, I’ll bring them all up here.”

“Back off, Davidson,” she teased. “I’m bigger than you.”

He just laughed and slid his hand down her arm until his fingers found hers. “Come with me.”

She let him lead her out of the room. Downstairs on the patio were her parents, Maggie and Will, and Zack’s mother. Everyone had made the trip up from Florida for a long weekend, hopeful that sometime during their visit Alaina would go into labor. They wanted to be part of the big event. Unfortunately, it was Sunday afternoon, and so far, no baby. Now they were going to have one final get-together, a barbecue, before heading home. Alaina felt practically guilty, as if she’d called everyone here under false pretenses.

As Zack led her through the French doors, he said, “Here’s our little mother.” He drew her against him so that his lips were pressed against her ear. “Try to relax. I love you.”

She gave him a weak smile, and the group on the patio surged forward. In another moment she was lost
in the happy, careless shuffle of the family, people who wanted only the best for her and the baby. Some of her anxiety faded.

After a while, the group settled into different roles to make a family barbecue happen. Her father took over the grill when Zack brought out steaks and chicken. Maggie and their mother, comfortable to be in charge of the food, were busy in the kitchen. Zack’s mother, Rachael, hummed happily as she set the picnic table and Will brought out more chairs. As for Alaina, the family made it clear that she was expected to scoot back in one of the chaise longues, put her feet up and concentrate on being calm and stress-free.

She closed her eyes, breathing in the mingled scents of food and flowers on the breeze and listening to the trill of birdsong from the nearby oaks that shaded the patio. It was so lovely to be here, with all the people she loved.

Zack had decided not to sell Heron Cove, a decision that had made her heart swell with relief and delight. Already they had begun talking about future vacations at the cottage, beginning new traditions, rediscovering old ones. She couldn’t help thinking that somewhere Tom Davidson must be very pleased.

A butterfly-light touch made her open her eyes. Zack had knelt beside her chair and was running the back of his hand along her arm.

“You all right?” he asked softly.

She nodded, feeling saturated in perfect pleasure. “Don’t ever let me forget one thing about these moments.”

He placed his lips against her forearm. “Can you make room?” he asked. “I want to hold you, Mrs. Davidson.”

She felt her heart do a slow cartwheel.
Mrs. Davidson.
The words still gave her goose bumps. She couldn’t imagine anything better, this feeling of being safe and supported and so lucky.

She was about to move closer, sneak a kiss, when suddenly her mother and Maggie came back onto the patio. “Everything’s ready!” Maggie called out. “Dad! What’s the ETA on the meat?”

“Done!” James replied, waving a juicy bit of steak on the end of his long grilling fork.

“Maybe later,” Zack whispered, giving her a regretful glance. He held out his hand, and she placed her fingers in his, allowing him to help her slowly out of the chair.

As Alaina rose, she felt something within her give. A moment later, she gasped as a warm wetness drenched her thighs. She plucked her flowing skirt away from her legs. “Zack…”

He turned to her. They had acquired a full code of signals between them, and his smile died instantly when he saw the look on her face. Their eyes met in the briefest flash of surprise, then he went into action.

“It’s time!” he shouted, sounding far less confident than Alaina had ever heard him. “The baby’s coming!”

“Now?” her father said. “But what about—”

“James!” her mother snapped sharply as all three women hurried in Alaina’s direction. “Turn off the grill and put the meat in the refrigerator. Will, bring the car around. Maggie, call the hospital. The number’s by the phone in the kitchen.” Connie put her arms around her daughter, and Rachael moved to Alaina’s other side. “Do you have a bag packed, dear?”

“I’m on it,” Zack said, and in the next moment Alaina heard him pounding up the stairs.

There was surprisingly little pain, but she had to admit she was nervous. She’d read so many books, but suddenly she felt as if she couldn’t remember a thing. All around her was a flurry of activity, her family loving and concerned and efficient. But what she really wanted as she was led through the house and out into the driveway was Zack.

She was panting by the time they helped her into the back of the car. Will jumped into the front seat and she was vaguely aware that Maggie had planted herself on the passenger side, that their parents were talking about which cars to take and who would ride with whom.

A little panicked, Alaina said, “Zack! I need Zack.”

“Right here, sweetheart,” he said as he slid into the rear seat with her. His arms cradled her, and it felt so good. “You’re going to be fine,” he assured her, though she could hear his heart hammering against her ear, obviously racing with adrenaline. “It’s about time our little girl made her appearance.”

Alaina bit her bottom lip, clinging to him. The need to touch him had become more desperate than she could resist. “I’m scared, Zack. I can’t remember a damn thing I’m supposed to do.”

“I’m right here,” he crooned as his hand lightly swept her hair out of her eyes. “Just take deep breaths. All you have to remember is how much I love you.”

Yes, that was right,
she thought.
Calm down.

Zack was with her. As it was always meant to be. She would have this baby, and he would help her get through
it. She would be surrounded by a circle of people she cared most about in the world.

A new life, a new beginning, with the man she had loved forever.

And in a very short time, that is exactly what happened.