Rory

by James, Nicole

  “All right.”

  “It’s settled then. I’ll have the paperwork drawn up. It’s a nice place, and this way you’ll be closer to your father and your girls.”

  “And my shop.”

  “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that. What if we opened a second CMW in Grand Junction?”

  She pushed up and twisted to look down at him, smiling. “I’d be a chain!”

  He chuckled. “You would. I was talking to Jameson the other night, and he told me that I need to invest my money in something—diversify he called it. So, I thought why not invest in your business?”

  “Rory, are you sure that’s what you want to do? What if you lose the money?”

  “Then we’ll be poor together. Would you still love me then?”

  “You know I would.”

  He brushed a stray lock of hair back and grinned. “I’d rather be loaded, though. It makes things so much easier.”

  “Promise me you won’t ever forget what’s important in life.”

  “Family.”

  “Yes, family and the people in our lives.”

  “I promise, Rayne. And you and this baby will always be at the top of that list.”

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  April—

  Rayne lay in bed, exhausted from the day. Her baby shower had been this afternoon and since she currently had the biggest place of all her friends, they’d had it here. Sasha took her to a doctor’s appointment this morning and when they came back, the place was decorated and everyone was here to surprise her.

  The girls came, and so did Rory’s three sisters-in-law, Ava, Malee, and Velvet, as well as Ava’s daughter and Malee’s daughter.

  Her aunt Mary and cousin Kathleen were here, as well as some of the wives of the guys that worked for her.

  They’d had a nice luncheon, cake, punch, and a huge pile of presents. Rayne had been overwhelmed by everything. It had all been lovely.

  The condo was now full up with Sasha in one room, the nursery being set up—and currently piled high with gifts—in another, and Rory’s sisters-in-law and their children in the other three bedrooms.

  Rayne rolled to her side and reached to the nightstand for the ultrasound photo she’d gotten at this morning’s doctor’s appointment. She smiled. The latest image of her little girl was so precious.

  Rayne’s cell phone rang, and she answered. It was a video call from Rory.

  “Hey, baby,” Rayne murmured.

  “Hey, gorgeous. How are you?”

  “Tired. It was a busy day.”

  “I’ll bet. Did we get some good loot?”

  She giggled. “Yes! We got everything we need.”

  “Awesome. How did the doctor’s appointment go this morning?”

  She held up the ultrasound photo so he could see. “Look. Isn’t she adorable? She’s sucking her thumb.”

  He laughed. “How about that! She’s a cutie.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Somewhere on I10, traveling between Jacksonville, Florida and New Orleans.”

  “I miss you, Rory—oh!” She sat up.

  “What is it?”

  “She just kicked me hard under my ribs. God, take it easy, kid.” She lay back against the pillows.

  “I wish I was there. I’d give her a talking to,” he teased.

  “Maybe she heard your voice.”

  “Hey, put the phone down by your stomach.”

  She did. “Okay.”

  “Hey, little one, it’s Daddy. Dan-ielle?” he said in a singsong voice.

  “Oh! She’s doing summersaults now. Thanks a lot.”

  “She likes Daddy’s voice.”

  Rayne chuckled. “So do a lot of women, I hear. You’re album is in the top twenty.”

  “It’s doing really well. Now comes the hard part.”

  “The hard part? What’s that?”

  “Following it up with a second album that’s just as good.”

  “Oh, right. Well, don’t worry, honey, you can do it. Just write from the heart.”

  “You make it sound way easier than it is.”

  “Write a song for your daughter this time.”

  He nodded. “You may have something there, but I think I’ll have to wait to meet her.”

  “Well, write about that—waiting to meet her and wondering what she’ll be like.”

  “And what are your thoughts on that?”

  “I’ve been writing every night in a journal.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Well, it’s not like there’s much else to do in this big bed while you’re away.”

  “Send me some of what you wrote down. We could collaborate on a song.”

  “Maybe I will,” she teased.

  “You think I’m kidding?”

  “Aren’t you?”

  “No. I need some inspiration.”

  “What are you feeling?”

  “You know men aren’t very good at talking about feelings.”

  “You want to be a songwriter. You better work on that, buddy.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She yawned.

  “You’re tired. Get some sleep, and I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Where does the tour take you this month?”

  “Across the South, then up through the Midwest to Minneapolis.”

  She yawned again. “Okay, honey. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “Goodnight, angel. I love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  She hung up and was asleep within minutes, a smile on her face.

  Chapter Thirty

  April turned to May, and business at Connor Motor Works began to pick up. Rayne spent more time there each day, trying to keep up. She was ungainly on her feet and waddled when she walked. The doctor told her that was because the baby had dropped lower in preparation for birth.

  Her feet were swollen, and she could barely fit into her loosest sandals. If they swelled any more she’d be walking around in stocking feet. She kept mostly in her office where she could sit for most of the day; being on her feet made her feet swell even more.

  Leaning to the computer, she studied the total hours before submitting payroll. This didn’t add up. Why did it say Cody only worked twenty-four hours? She must have transposed the numbers. She got up to go find Charlie.

  She’d gotten so stiff sitting in that chair that she knew getting up would do her good. She waddled down the hall to the retail store side of the business and found Charlie behind the counter explaining the pros and cons of two different helmet styles to a pretty brunette.

  Rayne smiled to herself. Charlie could barely take his eyes off the girl, and the grin on his face was from ear to ear.

  “Yes, ma’am. That’s the one I’d recommend.”

  Rayne was hesitant to interrupt him, so she hung back and pretended to study the printout in her hand.

  Finally, the woman paid for her purchase and left. Charlie looked over at her. “You need something, Rayne?”

  She smiled. “Who was that?”

  “Just a customer. She came in last week, asking if we gave riding lessons. Said she was interested in learning. I gave her some pamphlets from the local Motorcycle Safety Foundation.”

  “Good idea. The MSF has excellent courses for beginners. Of course you could always give her private lessons.” She gave him a suggestive look. “Maybe you’d get her number.”

  “I’m not an instructor.”

  “You taught me how to ride.”

  He grinned. “I did, didn’t I?”

  “Um hmm. And did a damn good job of it, too.”

  He lifted his chin. “What do you have there?”

  “Just a payroll issue. I think I transposed the numbers.” She took two steps toward him, and a knifing pain tore through her. She doubled over, crying out and clutching at the counter to keep on her feet.

  Charlie was at her side in an instant, cradling her in his arms as she almost went to her knees. “Rayne! What’s wrong? Is it
the baby?”

  She clutched at him. “Set me down, Charlie.”

  He lowered her to the floor behind the register, and she leaned against the display case.

  “I don’t know. My back’s been aching all day.”

  “Maybe you’re in labor. We better get you to the hospital. I don’t want to take any chances. It’s not worth it.”

  She nodded. “You’re right. It’s probably nothing, but I should at least go have them check me out.”

  “Don’t move. Let me get Cody, and I’ll be right back.” He ran to the garage area.

  Rayne dug in her pocket to text Rory but realized she’d left her phone on her desk.

  Charlie returned and knelt by her. “Cody is bringing my car around. Do you think you can walk to the front door or should I carry you?”

  “Don’t be silly, of course I can walk. Just help me up.”

  He pulled her up, and an aching cramp stretched from her back and radiated all the way around her stomach. “Oooo,” she moaned. “I don’t know for sure, but that felt like what a contraction is supposed to feel like.”

  “Let’s get you to the hospital, then.”

  “Wait. My purse and my phone! I need to call Rory and Sasha and my dad.”

  “Cody can bring them out. Let’s just get you to the car.”

  Twenty minutes later she was being wheeled up to labor and delivery. Sasha was on her way with the bag that Rayne had packed just in case, and she was also calling the girls and stopping to get Rayne’s father on the way.

  Rayne had left several texts and voice messages for Rory, but she knew that today they were traveling across western Tennessee toward Knoxville, and they may not get good cell service in the mountains.

  By the time Sasha and her dad arrived, she was in a room with monitors.

  When she saw her father walk in the room, for some reason, she burst into tears.

  “Aw, baby girl. Everything’s going to be fine.” He moved to the bed and hugged her.

  Her throat was tight, and she couldn’t speak, so she nodded and tried to draw in a calming breath. He patted her arm above her hospital bracelet and where they’d run an IV line.

  Sasha came around on the other side of the bed and gave her a hug. “What can I get you, honey?”

  “I haven’t been able to get a hold of Rory. I’ve called and called.”

  “Where was he supposed to be tonight?” Sasha asked.

  “I don’t know. I think Knoxville, but I can’t think straight. Maybe that was last night. He’s in a different town every night.” She started to feel scared. “What if he misses it?” She clutched Sasha’s hand. “I don’t want to do this alone.”

  “Don’t you worry. I’ll track him down. I’ll pull up his concert tour schedule and find out where he is—and you are not alone, Rayne. I’m here and your father is here and Carmen and Jenna are on their way. We’ll tag team, and we’ll never leave you alone. You can do this, Rayne.”

  She nodded. Sasha was right. She could do this without Rory if she had to, but she really didn’t want to. She breathed deep. Everything would be okay. Everything will be okay.

  ***

  Rory jumped out of the cab, tossed some bills at the driver, then dashed into the hospital entrance. He ran to the reception desk. “Where do I find Labor and Delivery, Room 4?”

  “Third floor. Follow the signs.” She pointed to a bank of elevators on the right.

  “Thanks.” He jogged over and hit the button, then watched the numbers slowly descend. The doors sluggishly slid open. He jumped inside and repeatedly punched the button for the 4th floor. Someone followed him on and pressed the button for the 3rd floor, and he silently cursed.

  It was a young man carrying a teddy bear and a balloon.

  “Just have a baby?” Rory asked, trying to make small talk while he tapped his thigh rapidly with his thumb, his foot bouncing a mile a minute.

  The man nodded. “This morning. I just went down to the gift shop to get her something. And you?”

  “She’s in labor and delivery. They told me the fourth floor. I just flew in.”

  The doors slid open for the 3rd floor. “Well, good luck.”

  The man stepped out.

  Rory rode up to the next floor and exited. He was immediately struck in the face with that hospital smell. Someone paged a doctor to radiology over the speakers. There was a nurses’ station and a hall with a sign that read 1-6 with an arrow. Rory walked quickly that direction. The door to the room four was closed, but the name Connor was written on a sign.

  He tapped his knuckle on the door and cracked it open. “Rayne?”

  “Rory?” she called back.

  He walked in to find Rayne in the lone bed, dressed in a hospital gown. A monitor blipped with what he supposed was the fetal heart rate. Another monitor displayed a squiggly line. There was an IV bag hanging with a line of tubing draping down to the cannula inserted into the top of her hand.

  Galen sat in a chair by the bed, watching a ballgame on the TV up on the wall. “You made it, son. Thank God.”

  “Galen.”

  Rayne’s face lit up, and he immediately went and kissed her. She lifted the hand with the IV and tried to hug him.

  “Careful, baby.”

  “You made it.” She clung to him, and he hugged her tight.

  “I ran all the way through the airport and told the cab driver I’d tip him a hundred bucks if he got me across town in five minutes.”

  She tried to laugh, but it came out a sob.

  He cradled her cheek. “Baby, don’t cry. I’m here. How are you? Is the baby okay?”

  Just then another contraction took hold of her, and she clutched his arm, moaning. Rory glanced at one of the monitors and saw the squiggly line climb higher and higher. Her nails dug into his arm until finally the line descended back down, and she released him.

  She blew out a breath. “That was a bad one.”

  “What did they tell you?”

  “That I’m almost there. I’m not quite dilated enough. They didn’t want to give me anything to induce because you weren’t here yet. The doctor is suppose to be in to check on me soon.”

  Rory nodded and brushed the hair from her forehead. “What can I do? Can I get you anything?”

  “Those ice chips over there. That’s all I can have.”

  Rory grabbed the cup off the tray and handed it to her. “Where are the girls? I thought they’d be here.”

  “They’ve been with me all day. They just went down to get something to eat. Dad said he’d stay.”

  The door opened, and two nurses and a man in green scrubs walked in, his mask pulled down. “How are we doing, Ms. Connor?” He looked over at Rory. “Are you the father?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I’m Dr. Harrison.” He held his hand out, and Rory shook it.

  “Let’s take a look and see where we are, Ms. Connor.”

  Galen stood. “That’s my cue to leave. She’s all yours, Rory.” He bent down and kissed her head. “I love you, baby.”

  “Love you, too, Dad. Thank you for being here.”

  “I’ll be in the waiting room if you need me.”

  “Thanks.”

  Rory shook his hand. “Thank you.”

  Galen patted his arm and left.

  The doctor moved to the end of the bed and lifted the sheets to examine her. Rory stood by her side, holding her hand.

  “Looks like this little girl is ready to be born, so we’re going to get started.”

  The nurses began making preparations. After that, everything was a blur. It seemed to take forever, yet on the other hand, it happened so quickly. Before he knew it she was making that last long hard push that brought his daughter into the world. The doctor cradled her while Rory squeezed Rayne’s hand as she fell back in exhaustion on the pillow.

  “Mr. O’Rourke, now comes your part. You get to cut the cord if you want. Come here.”

  Rory was a little scared, but he did what he was t
old and soon they were putting his daughter on Rayne’s chest to bond skin on skin.

  “She’s beautiful, sweetheart,” he murmured.

  Rayne cuddled her. “Oh, my sweet baby girl.”

  After a few minutes, they took the baby away, cleaned and wrapped her, and gave her back to Rory to hold. He cuddled her close while the doctor delivered Rayne’s afterbirth.

  And that’s when everything went to shit.

  Rory heard things he’d never wanted to hear.

  “She’s losing too much blood.”

  “Her pressure’s dropping.”

  He looked over at Rayne. She was losing consciousness. “Baby!”

  “We’ve got uterine inversion. Let’s move her. Go. Go.” The doctor glanced at Rory. “We’re rushing her to surgery; I don’t have time to explain.”

  Rory held the baby while there was rushed commotion going on in the room. The next thing he knew they were wheeling her bed out the door and rushing her down the hall toward a set of double doors.

  He followed them out the door into the hall. After they disappeared, he felt time slow to a stop.

  Rory just stood there in shock. They’d left him alone with the baby. He had no idea what to do, and he was panicked about what was happening to Rayne. He walked quickly down to the nurses’ station at the opposite end of the hall. There was one woman working at a computer.

  “Help me, please, My girlfriend just gave birth, and they rushed her down to surgery. They left me holding the baby, and I don’t know what to do.”

  “Oh!” The woman jumped to her feet and came around the desk. She ushered him back to the room. “Let’s get her taken care of.”

  She took the baby, checked her out, and examined her hospital bracelet.

  “Could you please check on my wife? There was no time…I don’t even know what’s happening. Please.”

  “Of course. Here, sit down and hold the baby while I go get someone.”

  After she left, Rory reached in his pocket and dialed Sasha. He had her number from when she’d called him.

  “Hey, Rory. Did she give birth yet? Do we have a little baby?”

  He didn’t answer her questions. “Get up here, now. Hurry.”