Page 69 of The Christmas Eve Delivery

“I don’t expect you to,” he said. “I needed to let you know how sorry I am that I let things get out of control.”

“Then why did you? You could have stopped it at any time. Instead, you didn’t tell me who you were, and you didn’t stop your lawyer from sending me those horrible letters. I never asked you for anything.”

I felt the tears burn behind my eyes. I didn’t want to cry right now. I was tired. I was cold, and everything was aching. Crying would only make me feel worse.

“Ah,” I cried out as a cramp took over my entire abdomen.

“That didn’t sound good, Lydia.”

“That didn’t feel good,” I admitted.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. Feels like cramps or bad gas,” I said.

“Is it the baby?”

“I’m not due for another couple of weeks, and the doctor said I was probably gonna go to full term.”

I let out another agonizing groan.

“That definitely sounds like you are not going to last another couple of weeks.” Miles was by my side and guiding me to the couch. “Let’s get your jacket off. Get you comfortable.”

“Maybe it’s Braxton Hicks. The doctor said I could expect them.”

“What’s a Braxton Hicks?” Miles asked.

“From what I understand,” I started, “it’s kind of like practicing labor. The body’s just getting ready for what to do when it’s time to actually have contractions.”

“You’re having contractions?”

“I don’t think I am,” I admitted. “I don’t know. Could you get me a glass of cold water? Maybe that’ll help.”

“I’ll be right back.” Miles disappeared down the hall into the kitchen. Moments later, he was back, carrying a glass of water.

“You didn’t overdo it by setting up your festival?”

I accepted the glass and drank. The water felt good, soothing. I sat back and closed my eyes. I hoped that these false labor pains would fade away like a bad case of hiccups I wanted to be gone. I waited, and when there wasn’t another one when I expected it, I tentatively opened my eyes as if my vision was somehow connected to the entire process.

“I think I’m okay,” I said.

34

MILES

“Why were you out there working, anyway? Shouldn’t you be resting?” My voice was tight in my throat. Seeing Lydia doubled over in pain caused me pain. What I thought was a weakness of emotion was really a deep concern and caring. I had never cared for another person the way I cared for her and the baby.

“The doctor said I was fine and that I could do manual work within reason.”

“Tearing down decorations in a snowstorm is within reason?”

“It’s what was necessary,” she said.

“Couldn’t someone else have done it?” I asked. I should have come here earlier. I could have helped.

“There was no one else to do it. It was just Evie and me as it was our project. Everyone else had gone home as soon as the festival was canceled.”

“Couldn’t it have waited until after the storm?”

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