by Barbara Lohr
“Buddy,” McKenna threw in.
Selena looked as annoyed as Logan felt. Her sigh was audible as she reached out for the plate. “What’s that you got in your hands, buddy?”
“My strawberry jello mold,” McKenna said, pink staining her cheeks.
Selena whisked it from his hands. He almost laughed out loud at the appraising look she gave his shorts.
The kitchen buzzed with activity. Selena put Seth to work stirring a pot. When she opened the oven door, a rich aroma curled Logan’s way.
Logan sniffed. “Baked beans?”
“My brothers love them.”
His stomach gurgled. “Guess I forgot to eat breakfast again.”
“Again?” McKenna whipped around.
He managed a sheepish grin. “Some mornings I just go out for my run and then have a power drink.”
She was looking at him like he’d lost his mind. “Not gonna happen on my watch,” she said with a shake of one finger.
Logan trailed her into a back room that ran the width of the house, McKenna’s family filled a brown U-shaped sofa and two black lounge chairs. Some sprawled on the floor with sofa pillows jammed beneath their heads, staring at one of the biggest screens he’d ever seen. Definitely a man cave.
Bowls of popcorn were set on any available surface along with pretzels, salsa and chips. Serving platters crowded a table against one wall. McKenna maneuvered her plate onto the table and pulled off the foil. On the big screen TV, stock cars roared around a track while the group cheered, booed and hissed so loud no one could hear the commentators. Almost everyone in the room wore a hat or T-shirt with a different logo or number. No consensus here and they weren’t shy about showing it.
“Hey, McKenna. Over here.” Another auburn-haired guy waved a muscled arm. McKenna tugged Logan along behind her. “Sit,” the man said with a smile, patting the sofa. “I’ve gotta check on the kids.”
“This is Mark. His wife, Janie, is in the kitchen.” Rising on tiptoes—the stretch made her legs even more attractive—McKenna moved to the plate glass window and peered out at a play area. “Their boys are quite a handful. Randy and James.” Her eyes softened as she watched the two little guys argue over an inner tube that swung from a large maple tree.
After Seth brought the beverages, McKenna and Logan settled onto the sofa. Introductions were handled during commercials while everyone refueled, loading paper plates with potato salad and beans. Outside, Connor, the oldest of the clan, manned the grill. Platters of sizzling bratwursts, burgers and hot dogs kept coming through a sliding glass door. Keeping names straight became impossible. In the end, Logan just concentrated on the food.
He hadn’t eaten homemade potato salad in a long time, and the hint of mustard and pickles filled him with contentment. Myrtle, one of his grandmother’s housekeepers, had prepared potato salad just like this. The brats were hot and seasoned just right. Sitting with the group crammed on the wraparound sofa felt strangely comfortable. How amazing to have this group around every day growing up. His family’s River Forest mansion seemed almost museum-like in comparison.
The lack of space kept McKenna close. After whacking him once with the bill of her hat, she took it off and pulled the band from her ponytail. Red-gold waves fell softly to her shoulders and he inhaled that tantalizing smell of peaches. Just when they decided to grab more food, another brother arrived, ushering in three little kids and a flustered wife.
“Malcolm and Dana,” McKenna explained, handing Logan a plate. “And their three kids—Darby, Amy and Nick.”
Malcolm was the brother who worked for the food bank, McKenna explained. So Warren had been right. The Kirkpatricks were all involved in work benefiting the city.
When Mark returned from the backyard, he had in tow the two little boys who’d been arguing outside earlier.
“Aunt McKenna!” They dove for her.
“Are you two behaving?” McKenna asked after sloppy kisses that didn’t seem to bother her a bit. The shamefaced look on their faces told the story. Randy had a scrape just above his eye and James had dirt all over his red T-shirt.
Sometimes Logan wondered when he’d get over this awful squeeze in his heart every time he saw a little boy. Maybe never. Coming here might have been a bad idea, but he couldn’t avoid children for the rest of his life.
“Last time you said you would play animal dominoes with us,” James was pleading with McKenna.
Slapping her hands on her thighs, she jumped to her feet. “I am a woman of my word.” She glanced down at him. “Can you spare me for fifteen minutes?”
“Not a problem.” She’d be taking the little guys with her. Maybe his appetite would return.
But after a few minutes, Logan missed her. Dumping his empty plate in the trash, he grabbed a beer and wandered outside. In the backyard McKenna held court at a picnic table, slapping down cards with James and Randy.
He felt the familiar squeeze in his chest and took deep breaths until the tightness eased. Babies didn’t bother him, just the boys who were about that age. A therapist had once suggested desensitization. Maybe this was an opportunity. After a deep breath, Logan took a swig of his beer.
“Almost over.” She glanced up, pushing her hair behind one shoulder. Cute as the dickens, James was wearing his aunt’s cap.
Logan settled next to McKenna at the picnic table. Some kind of yellow bushes rimmed the rectangular yard. Reminded him of the house where his family had lived before his parents got divorced and he was shuffled off to his grandparents. This yard took him back to a life when he’d been like one of these little guys and thought life was uncomplicated. Only it wasn’t.
~.~
McKenna had never seen Logan so relaxed, long legs stretched out under the picnic table. At first she’d been horrified about her last-minute invitation. What was she thinking? But Vanessa had talked her off the ledge. “Enjoy the day.” After all, with her family, you didn’t have to do much talking. Lately, her parents often stayed home when “the kids” got together, although her dad might drive over for a beer. All her siblings were present and accounted for, with the exception of Harper. Sometimes she wished her younger sister didn’t live in Savannah.
Logan seemed fine with the chaos, sipping his beer at the picnic table in his shorts and blue polo.
The casual outfit made Hot Doc even hotter.
The heat spiraling through her body cooled when she yanked her mind back to “friend,” a concept she still had to explain to Selena.
“I’m out, Aunt McKenna!” James’s freckled face brightened when he slapped his last elephant card down. “I won!”
“Man, oh, man. You two get better every time we play.” She fanned her remaining gorilla, zebra and giraffe cards while Randy grumbled. Next time she'd make sure that Randy won.
While her nephews charged into the house to tell their parents, she noticed her brother Connor and his wife Amanda sitting under the wisteria arbor. Amanda was wiping her eyes, looking miserable. McKenna’s heart twisted. But she didn’t want Logan to see the couple.
“Ready for dessert?” she asked him.
“Absolutely.” When Logan smiled, she could forget their differences. This casual side of him was attractive, maybe too attractive. When she started seeing Nick, they’d gotten along great. Took time for the nitpicking to begin. At the end, Nick left the room every time she began to tell a story. Thought she was too aggressive, too self-assured. Kidded her about being “the fixer,” only it wasn’t funny.
One kiss does not a relationship make.
Buddy. She felt the nervous flutter in her stomach settle.
Smiling, she nodded toward the house. “Come and get it.”
Inside, Randy and James were at the serving table, along with Malcolm’s kids. Probably thinking no one was watching, James poked one finger through the strawberry jello and plunked the loaded finger into his mouth.
“James, I’m telling Mom,” his brother whined.
“You stinker, James,” McKenna admonish
ed her nephew. One stern look and the little guy crumbled, burying his face between her legs, his sticky hands clutching the backs of her knees. “I’m sorry, Aunt McKenna. I just wanted to taste it.”
“Aw, I know, honey.” Crouching, she gave him a quick kiss. “But use the spoon. Now, both of you go wash up, okay?”
Looking up, she caught Logan watching them march off. “Cute, aren’t they?”
“Very. You’re lucky.”
He’d probably make a great father. Kids really seemed to affect him.
When James and Randy returned with clean hands, she scooped out bowls of jello topped with a generous scoop of whipped topping.
Turning, she waved the spoon in Logan’s direction. “Want some?”
His head jerked, eyes still on the boys. “Sorry, McKenna. What was that?”
The plundered jello mold didn’t look very appetizing. “Maybe you’d rather have some carrot cake in the kitchen? That’s my favorite.” Putting the spoon down, she led the way.
Set on the kitchen counter, the cake was still covered. Carrot cake was Dana’s specialty. Pulling back the foil, McKenna cut neat squares and placed two on paper plates.
“Here you go.” She handed Logan a plate, but something was off. Some guys just didn’t like sweets, and she thought back to the plain doughnut that morning in the doctors lounge.
Selena had wandered into the kitchen and, to McKenna’s embarrassment, began to fill Logan’s ears about the benefits of an LDRP unit. He listened politely as he nibbled at the carrot cake, but McKenna fumed. She didn’t want Logan to think she’d had an ulterior motive in inviting him here. Although she tried to catch Selena’s attention, her friend steadfastly avoided her eyes.
Hating to leave Logan in Selena’s clutches, McKenna saw Amanda disappear into a back bathroom. Quietly following her sister-in-law down the hallway lined with pictures of nieces and nephews, McKenna waited outside the closed door.
“Hey, how’s it going?” she asked when Amanda reappeared. Her brother and sister-in-law wanted a baby so bad. The last five years had been heartbreaking.
Her sister-in-law’s lips trembled and her eyes filled.
“Not good?” McKenna asked, gently rubbing one hand across Amanda’s rounded shoulders.
“Oh, McKenna, is this ever going to happen? Are we ever going to have a baby? And now we’ve started to argue. I hate this.”
“Oh, sweetie. I am so sorry.” She hugged her sister-in-law closer.
“And it’s so expensive,” Amanda continued, trying to keep her voice down while her tears flowed. “On a fireman’s salary, we can’t afford this. The doctor’s saying something might be wrong with my ovaries…or maybe it’s the stress from teaching high school. Do you think I need another opinion?”
That’s when it hit her. “Do you know Logan has a fertility clinic at Montclair?”
Amanda blinked. “No, I didn’t realize that.”
“Why don’t you call him? Want me to speak to Logan?”
Amanda nodded, dabbing at her red nose with a tissue. “Sure. Why not?”
Her resignation broke McKenna’s heart. Maybe someday she’d be in Amanda’s spot. Giving her another squeeze, McKenna led her back to the kitchen. The small room felt warm from all the cooking.
“We’ve got another recruit for Guatemala,” Selena announced, her voice jubilant.
“Really?” McKenna scanned the room. The midwife training group didn’t need firemen or cops, even though they sometimes did deliver babies.
“Logan’s signed on.” Selena trumpeted. “I told him Guatemala’s gorgeous in July. Mosquitoes as big as your fist.”
McKenna’s stomach sank. She never should have left Logan here with Selena. When it came to Midwives in Action, her friend was a recruiting machine. “Sure, with smelly latrines and more rain than you’ve ever seen.” McKenna stared at Selena. Was she kidding?
Logan looked up from studying his Nikes. “Actually, I said I’d consider it. Sounds like a worthwhile venture. According to Selena, sometimes a doctor is needed.”
He’d been put on the spot and McKenna wanted to strangle her friend. “Well, I…you know, I think that’s exciting.” But she could barely get the words out. Logan in Guatemala? Was Selena crazy? The man was a technology freak. How comfortable would he be in a country where women pounded dried corn on rocks for supper? But there was plenty of time for him to change his mind. She’d make that clear on the way home.
In the family room, a cheer went up. The race was over. Her family began packing up. “Be right back,” she told Logan. “Could you grab my serving plate?”
“Sure.” He turned toward the table of empty platters.
Dashing outside, she found Seth pushing James on the tree swing and said a fast good-bye. “Thanks so much. We’re ready to take off.”
“Hey, I like this guy a lot better than Nick,” Seth said with a wry smile.
“Just a friend. We work together,” McKenna emphasized. “I just wanted him to have some fun.”
Seth frowned. “What does that mean? Logan can’t plan his own activities?”
She gave him a peck on the cheek. “Just don’t start planning the wedding, okay?”
“Right.” Eyes narrowing, Seth cocked his head to one side. “Someday we have to talk about this buddy thing you have going with guys. Not a turn-on.”
“You’re just trying to marry me off. See you later.” What was wrong with being a man's friend?
On the drive back to North Side, McKenna relaxed, cupped in the leather seat. Daylight was slowly draining from the sky. Logan’s smooth jazz filled the car, but McKenna’s mind was still on Seth’s last comment. Friend. Buddy. Did the words cocoon her from possible disappointment?
“Did you have a good time?” She swiveled toward Logan in the butter soft leather seat.
“I had a great time,” he emphasized with a convincing smile.
“You did? Really?” Hot Doc had a great profile, and she loved the lock of hair that never stayed put.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been with one big happy family.” His words held a reflective note.
“You were a good sport. It can get kind of crazy.”
“Sometimes crazy is good. Thanks for inviting me.”
Sunday evening and everyone in Chicago was coming back from somewhere. Took a while to negotiate the Eisenhower, but Logan managed. Gunning the engine and shifting like crazy, Logan whipped from lane to lane. The man had a crazy streak. What else about Logan would surprise her?
He pulled up in front of the apartment, engine idling. Should she ask him in? Wouldn’t a friend do that?
The memory of their parking lot kiss held her back from suggesting coffee. She clamped her lips shut. But her body gave a reluctant tug. Felt like her feelings and her mind were at war. When he opened the car door, she led the way up the stone steps, shoved her key into the lock and pushed the door open.
“Glad you had a good time today.” Turning, she held the empty platter in front of her like a breast shield.
His attention fell to the plate, a smile teasing his lips. “You have a great family. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Isn’t this what friends are for? Share families...and stuff.” God, this was awkward. She wanted to hurl the plate into the bushes and grab him.
Logan’s brows rose as his glance lifted. “So you want to meet my grandmother.?”
“Absolutely not.” Meet his family? Heat flooded her neck and cheeks. “That’s not that I meant.”
With a chuckle, he began backing away. “When you decide what you do mean, let me know.”
Seconds later she watched the tail lights of the Porsche until he turned the corner.
Shoot. She lowered the plate. This friendship thing was getting complicated.
Chapter 5
McKenna’s head had barely hit the pillow when her phone went off.
“Damn.” Struggling to sit up, she peered at the number—Sarah Lewis, who was pregnant with twins.
With one click, she answered. “Hey, Sarah, what's up?”
Five minutes later, she was headed for the door, car keys in hand. The complexities of this case ran through her mind as she drove through the darkness to the hospital. Delivering twins through water birth could become tricky, especially identical twins since they share a placenta. The first one usually arrived easily but the second birth could be more difficult. Yet Sarah had been adamant about wanting natural childbirth in the water birthing suite. McKenna had assured her they’d take that route if it seemed appropriate.
They were about to find out, and her heartbeat revved up a little as she drove through the dark streets. When she pulled into the parking garage, she called Gary, Logan’s partner, who’d already been prepped about Sarah's case. Then she got in touch with Bethany.
“On my way,” Bethany told her, excitement vibrating in her voice. “Can’t wait.” When it came to twins, two midwives were common protocol, but McKenna would also need physician backup in case they needed a C-section.
A short time after McKenna reached the hospital, Sarah arrived with Dan, her husband. She was panting through a contraction as a nurse wheeled her into the birthing suite.
“Now, are we on the same page about this? Water birth if everything goes without a hitch?” McKenna asked. She did not want Sarah to be disappointed.
“Right. Absolutely.” Nodding, Sarah looked to her husband for agreement.
“We don't want to risk anything,” Dan said. Shirt half buttoned, he’d obviously dressed in a hurry. So often the father was the nervous one. The couple had a little girl at home who had been delivered through water birth, so this wasn’t a first for them.
“Let’s see where we are.” McKenna helped Sarah from the wheelchair. “Dr. Rice will be here, just for backup in case we decide to take another route.”
After a quick check, McKenna and Dan helped Sarah into the water. With contractions coming regularly, Sarah was ready to settle in and prepare. Dan had brought their music and soon the pulsing strains of Enya filled the suite.
McKenna attached the monitoring equipment, the rise and fall of the music pleasant in her ears. “A sassy girl and a rambunctious boy. Sure you’re ready for this pair?” she joked, checking the screen.