Page 29 of Planes, Trains, and Candy Canes

Derrick cut him off. “But not everyone who buys a ticket necessarily gets on. Or they might get on at a different stop further up the line if their plans changed, right?”

“If your wife needs medical attention, sir—”

“She has to get home. Our house is near the hospital where our doctor’s team is located. You see,” he leaned forward dramatically, “my wife has Hibernia Syndrome. She absolutely must have her baby with a specialist on hand, and Dr. Heifitz is the only Hibernia Syndrome specialist on the East Coast!”

“Ah. I see, and I’m really sorry to tell you that—”

“Argh!!” Reese’s anguished scream was so real that Derrick actually shouted in surprise, turning to her with genuine panic in his voice.

“What? What is it?”

“My water just broke!” she shouted. “We only have a few hours until the baby is here, honey! We need to get on that train!”

“Get her on that train!” A voice from behind startled them both.

“Get on that train!” Another person took up the chant.

Derrick watched as people across the train station joined in. “On that train! On that train! On that train!”

“What’s the matter? Do they need money?” a well-dressed older woman shuffled forward. “I’ll pay for their fares!”

“I’m a nurse! What’s happening?” A stocky man in scrubs carrying an armload of frozen pies hurried towards them.

Shit. We might have oversold this.

He hoped no one would notice that Reese’s pocket was soaking wet and the path of the water went down the outside and middle of one leg, not from the crotch, as would be logical.

Derrick hurriedly plopped several twenties on the counter. “If she doesn’t get there in time—”

“Tickets, here! Platform B, go!” The frantic clerk yanked in the money, shoved out two tickets, and hastily closed the dark screen over his window.

“We need to run!” Reese cried, snagging the tickets with reflexes that would have done a panther proud.

“You can’t run in your condition, ma’am.” The burly nurse said, advancing on them.

“We have to make that train.”

“He’s right, honey. I’ve got you.” Derrick stepped forward, grabbed his “pregnant wife” around the small of the back, and thrust one arm under her knees, scooping her up.

“Someone get their bags!” cried the older woman who had offered to pay their way.

“I’ll walk with you and do a quick assessment,” the nurse juggled his pies into one arm and grabbed Reese’s laptop case with his free hand.

“You don’t need to do this. We’re fine, really,” Reese whispered, cheeks bright pink.

“Nonsense, my dear! It’s Christmas!” the older lady said, grunting as she began dragging her own suitcase as well as Reese’s.

Derrick watched in a kind of awe and embarrassment as half the train station seemed to follow them onto the platform. “I thought stuff like this only happened in Pine Ridge,” he whispered, thinking of his town’s unique community spirit.

“Ditto. Maybe we carry a little Pine Ridge magic with us,” she whispered back.

“Ma’am, are you having any cramping? Is there any pain?” the nurse interjected.

“It’s irregular. Don’t worry, I’ll be getting off in a few stops,” Reese gave her most charming smile and emptied the rest of the candy canes from her purse into the nurse’s hand. “Hand these out for me? Keep them for yourself, your patients, your family—whatever. I can’t thank you enough, but here’s a little something sweet to remember us by!” she winked as Derrick whisked her past the confused-looking conductor and onto the train.

Once they were aboard, Reese snagged her suitcase and hurried to the restroom at the end of one of the train cars.

Derrick walked past jam-packed seats, lugging all their other bags with him.

---