Page 39 of Home for Nathan
“That’s tacky,” he and Zion said together.
They had so many things in common, and that was one of them.
They cut the cake, the filling a deep rich chocolate with a luscious pecan filling in between the layers.
Damn, that was gorgeous.
He fed Zion the first bite, then Zion fed him, the phones snapping photos wildly. It was perfect.
Well, except for the contractions.
Those sort of sucked big hairy monkey balls.
But he ate all his cake. He watched some of the dancing. He observed the dogs make what seemed to be an organized effort to steal a whole brisket…
They failed.
He winced as hard contraction pushed at him, pulled at him. Ow.
“Okay.” Devon called it. “Time to head down. It’s going to start snowing soon, and we need to go while the roads are still pretty clear.”
“But…we’ll be able to get home after, right? Someone will clear the roads? What about my go bag? The outfit the baby is wearing home? What about?—”
Dad smiled at him. “I’ll go get the bag and bring it down.”
“The baby will be able to go home,” Mark told him. “You’re nowhere as high as this monstrosity of a house.”
Zion nodded and stood. “I’ll get our coats. Can we ride down with you, Devon? I’ll give our folks the keys, and they can get all the things from the house and bring them to us.”
Everything was just happening, all around them.
“Of course.” Devon gave him a reassuring smile.
“We’ll take Torah, too,” Zion’s mom came to kiss his cheek. “You don’t worry about anything. Jeb and I have this.”
“Thanks, Momma.” Her name was Kelly, but she’d been firm. If his mom was Mom, she was Momma.
“Of course. Go on, get settled, and we’ll be there in short order.” She hugged him quickly. “We’ll have to pick her out some Christmas dresses, our sweet Rachel.”
His mom nodded and bundled him into his coat. “Go on, baby.”
Yes. Baby.
His back spasmed again, and he panted softly, as the contraction took him. “Oh. Oh, my.”
“I know. I’ll just feel more comfortable with you down the hill at the center.” Devon moved him toward the bright orange Jeep with the wide wheelbase, a baby rattle dangling from the rearview mirror. “There’s the big tub, surround sound, everything you’ll need.”
“I saw. When I did the tour with Raven.” He smiled, or tried to. Wow, he was in it to win it all of the sudden.
“No slipping, love.” Zion was right there, helping him into the Jeep, then sliding into the back seat, rubbing the back of his neck. “We’ll be down in no time.”
“Sure.” He sucked in a breath as another contraction yanked at him.
“I’ll drive like a super careful maniac,” Devon assured them.
Sure enough, they arrived at the birthing center in amazing time, but without a single issue, and Devon and Zion hustled him into the building, where Raven was already setting up a room for them.
“Sorry I missed the wedding,” Raven said, a little breathless. “I was with another client.”
