Page 61 of A Future in the Bay

“But maybe I can just push through to the end of the wedding,” Alissa said. “I hate to miss it?—”

Dane shook his head firmly, and around him, their friends and family members were urging her to go to the hospital right away.

“Alissa,” Johanna said firmly, taking her daughter-in-law by the arm. “You need to leave now.”

Alissa took a deep breath, looking apologetically at her twin sister. “I’m sorry—this is the worse timing. I feel so bad for interrupting your reception.”

Caitlin shook her head. “Don’t you feel bad for an instant,” she said, squeezing her sister’s hand. “It’s a baby—they’re always on their own schedule, and this little guy decided to come early.”

“I think he wants to be a part of the wedding,” Everett joked, and Johanna swatted his arm good-naturedly.

“Sorry, buddy,” Dane said to Alissa’s stomach. “We won’t get back in time for that.”

“Shouldn’t we just stop the wedding?” Caitlin asked. “I always told myself I’d go with you to the hospital, Alissa.”

“Absolutely not.” Alissa squeezed Caitlin’s hands. “I will absolutely not allow you to leave your wedding reception. You stay here and finish your evening as planned. I will be just fine.”

“But—”

Alissa shook her head. “Keep celebrating.”

“I’ll call you regularly with updates from the hospital. How’s that?” Dane asked, smiling at his sister-in-law. “I promise.”

Caitlin hesitated for a moment, biting her lip, and then she nodded. “All right. You’d better hurry—the hospital is pretty far from here.”

Since there wasn’t a hospital in Blueberry Bay, the townsfolk always went one town over for baby deliveries. It wasn’t terribly far, but Dane felt his stomach slosh with nervousness when he thought of the distance.

“I agree. Come on, let’s get going,” he said, wrapping an arm around his wife.

“Okay,” Alissa said weakly.

He began to usher her toward their car, eager to get her to the hospital. Around them, people called out well-wishes and encouragements, and he and Alissa smiled at them as best they could while still moving at a hurried pace.

Michael and Caitlin and Johanna and Everett and Alissa’s parents followed them to the car. Alissa insisted that they all stay at the wedding, and they reluctantly agreed. The group waved to them as they drove off, calling out encouragements.

“We’re so lucky to have a community like this,” Alissa murmured as Dane took the turn out of the parking lot as quickly as he could carefully do. “I feel so loved right now.”

He glanced over, resting a hand on her knee. “You should. You are.”

“Such bad timing, though, Oscar!” she cried, patting her stomach and pretending to reprimand their baby. “I wanted to finish watching my sister’s first dance.”

“We can watch the recording later on,” he assured her, and she nodded, smiling at him.

“You’re right. Thanks, sweetheart. And honestly, I’m so excited to meet Oscar that it does feel worth it.”

“What an eventful evening, huh?” he said, chuckling. “If I’d known this was going to happen, I would have worn more comfortable shoes.”

“Tennis shoes and a suit jacket and tie,” she said, laughing. “That would have raised a few eyebrows.”

He drove them carefully to the hospital, and it wasn’t until they arrived that he realized he’d been white-knuckling the steering wheel.

“I’ll drop you off at the door,” he said. “That way you can check in right away. Do you need me to come in with you?”

“No, I’m okay,” she said, smiling at him bravely. “Thanks.”

She squeezed his hand and then stepped out of the car. He watched her take a few steps forward gingerly, and he winced a little, able to see that she was in pain.

As soon as he’d parked the car, he jumped out of it and ran into the hospital. Alissa had just reached the front desk, and he hurried to her side. She turned to him, laughing a little.

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