Page 72 of Lady and the Gamble (The Colby Brothers 2)

He smiled but didn’t respond.

“Now, if you don’t mind,” Erika said, “Would you kindly collect my darling husband and inform him that I’ve gone into labor?”

Ryan blinked. “What? Are you serious?”

She chuckled, “It’s all right, Ryan, I didn’t want to alarm you but I’d greatly appreciate you fetching Jay for me.”

“Oh my Lord, of course, just hold on.” He felt all at once clumsy and couldn’t recall which direction the dining room was but then thankfully remembered and rushed out to collect his brother.

“Jay, come quickly. Erika has gone into labor.”

Jay’s reaction was just the same as Ryan’s. He blinked first then reality entered his eyes at the same moment he flew out of his seat.

Erika wobbled into the room at that exact moment. “No need to rush, It’s just the beginning—ohhhh!”

Jay caught her just as her knees buckled. “What’s wrong, what’s happening?”

His mother was by their side in a flash. “Relax, Jay, she’s just in labor. And from the looks of it, has probably dilated rather quickly. When did you first start to feel contractions?”

“About an hour ago, but they were so small barely noticeable—arghhh!”

“Well, they are obviously noticeable now. Trista,” His mother turned to her girlfriends nearby. “Run upstairs and prepare Jay’s old bedroom for delivery. Rosalee, I need you to boil some water.”

“Wait, I can’t be delivering yet. I’ve got so much to do.”

“Doesn’t look like you have a say in the matter.”

She appeared slightly frazzled before pulling herself together. “Jay, can you run home and—”

“Pack you an overnight bag? I’m on my way. Don’t start without me.”

She laughed then turned to the oldest Colby brother. “Garrett, I need you to go with Jay and collect an advert from my grandfather’s den that I prepared for the Librarian post. I need you to send it to The Globe newspaper in Toronto. We need it in the next available edition as soon as possible.”

“I’m on it.”

“Ryan!” Erika turned to him next. He stepped eagerly forward, more than willing to fulfill whatever instruction she gave him. “I need you—no, I want you to get on that ship and go sail that ocean.”

“What—no, I’m not leaving now—”

“I knew you would say that, hence why I was not letting on about my contractions.” She sighed. “Go, Ryan. Don’t miss this opportunity on account of me. Follow your heart.”

Thing was, Ryan wasn’t entirely sure which direction his heart was trying to lead him.

Chapter 13

Evelina stood at the end of the walkway outside her house clutching the yard’s blue gate and looking down the street toward the docks. It was a marvel she was outside at all let alone standing such distance from the security of her home. That wasn’t to say she wasn’t internally battling the urge t

o rush back to the shelter of her home. Already she had received a few curious glances from folks passing by the house wondering what was so fascinating down at the harbor to which she stared. She fretted ridiculously about what they were thinking of her. That old familiar feeling of apprehension gnawed at her insides, but Dr. Leonard had instructed her to fight those phobias claiming they were nothing but a manifestation of her own mind.

It had been nearly three weeks since she announced to her parents that she was ready to see a psychiatrist. After her humiliation at Victoria’s engagement party, she knew she couldn’t go on living like that. She was tired of being ridiculed, whether of her own doing or not. She wanted to rid herself of the anxieties that had plagued her for so many years.

She didn’t doubt wanting to change Ryan Colby’s opinion of her had something to do with this decision as well. Though it was risky to allow her thoughts to drift too dangerously into this train of thought, there was no doubt his disapproval of her behavior had troubled her from the moment they met. She wondered if she had come across as a self-assured woman, he would have eagerly taken her on as a potential wife.

She sighed and looked out past the tall grass and swaying willows to where Detroit’s busy marina was overflowing with boats and ships entering and leaving the harbor. However, out of all those boats, none of them was the Francesca.

Today was Victoria’s wedding and Ryan had not returned to Detroit. He had broken his promise.

She briefly squeezed her lids shut tight from the sudden pain burning behind her eyes before turning away and glancing in the opposite direction upriver. Somewhere far beyond her view was a small coastal town that detained Ryan’s affection more.

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