Page 58 of The Ties That Bind
He quickly glanced at his phone. “It can wait,” he told her as he slipped it back in his pocket.
“I’ve been dying to ask if your car keys were at the front desk.”
Sir smiled. “They were, along with a note of congratulations.”
“That was kind of a stranger to offer to help us like that.”
“It certainly was,” he chuckled. “Although I momentarily questioned his intentions at the time.”
“I did, too!” Brie laughed. “Let’s call Rytsar and tell him the good news about getting permission to video chat with him during the birth. I had to cut our conversation short again because Dr. Glas walked in.”
“Good idea,” Sir agreed.
Brie could hear the relief in Rytsar’s voice when Sir told him he would get to watch the birth. “I am a fortunate man,” the Russian stated multiple times during the call.
It thrilled Brie that he would still be a part of the birth.
The moment Brie’s parents walked into the room, she could feel the heavy burden of their concern.
Her mother walked up to the bed, carrying a gigantic purse. She handed it to Brie’s father, who grunted under the weight of it.
“Oh, honey…” she cried as she hugged Brie tightly.
Her dad leaned over the bed with tears in his eyes and patted her shoulder awkwardly. “It’s going to be okay, little girl. We’re here now.”
She looked at them both and smiled. “Everything is fine,” she assured them. “Yes, the baby is coming early—but Hope did, too.” She glanced at the monitor. “And the baby is doing great.”
Her father swiped the tears from his eye and grumbled, “Of course. Just natural to be concerned like any parent would be.”
Her mother grasped Brie’s hand and squeezed it before grabbing the giant purse from her husband. “I’ve had this bag ready for a month. Ever since we learned you were having another baby, I started adding to it.”
Brie stared at the huge bag and giggled at her mom. “What do you have in there, the kitchen sink?”
Her mother winked at her. “It’s everything you could possibly want during delivery.” She started fishing things out one by one. “Magazines to pass the time, some Mad Libs, crossword puzzles—”
“Mom, I don’t like crossword puzzles.”
“Oh, those are for your father,” she stated, handing them to him.
Her mom surprised her by pulling out a portable CD player. “Got some of your favorite music, too.”
Brie giggled when her mother placed several old CDs on the bed. “Mom, I haven’t listened to this stuff since I was a kid.” But then she grabbed one. “Oh…I love Green Day!”
“See, I know you better than you think, sweetheart.”
She pulled out individual applesauce and gelatin cups next and explained, “These are to keep your energy up.” Then she fished out a beautiful sea-green robe and laid it out on the bed.
“Oh, Mom. It’s so pretty!”
“I thought you might like to wear it for your photos after the baby is born.” She patted Brie’s hand. “No reason Mommy can’t be pampered.”
Brie stared at all of the items scattered on the bed. “You’ve thought of everything.”
Her mom hugged her again. “I tried, sweetheart. I just want you to be as comfortable and happy as I can make you today.”
Her dad flipped through one of the crosswords and asked Sir, “How are you holding up, son?”
Sir looked at him with cautious optimism. “Better now.”
