Baby It's You (Seven Brides Seven Brothers Book 6)

by Calhoune, Belle

  All of sudden the door to Sully’s Tavern flew open. The rest of the Donahue brothers flew out the door with an urgency that spoke of something alarming.

  “What’s wrong?” Wyatt cried out. Panic seized him by the throat. His thoughts immediately veered toward his parents. Had something happened to them? Please, Lord. Not again.

  Blue’s complexion was ashen. “It’s Sarah. Her water just broke. She’s not due for six weeks. Delilah is taking her to the hospital.”

  “We gotta go,” Brandon said, motioning Blue toward his car. “I’ll drive you to Breeze Point Hospital. We’ll pick up your car later.”

  “Why don’t the rest of us all head over there together,” Mac suggested. “My truck can hold all of us.”

  Feeling dazed by the news about Sarah, Wyatt walked alongside his brothers as they headed towards the parking lot. Thankfully, Sarah’s sister, Delilah, had been there to provide support and get her safely to the hospital. The expression on Blue’s face had spoken volumes. His big brother was terrified. Sarah and their unborn child were his entire world, and if anything happened to either one of them, Blue’s life would be shattered.

  Life could turn on a dime. God seemed to be impressing that point on him with each and every day that passed. One minute everything was light and laughter-filled, while the next it was mouth in your throat, nail-biting anxiety. Above all else, life was a precious gift, not to be squandered or devalued. As he settled into the passenger side of Mac’s truck he said a silent prayer for Sarah, Blue and his unborn niece or nephew. Please Lord. Keep Sarah, Blue and the baby in the palm of your hand. Protect their precious child. Nurture her. Watch over their little family.

  **

  As far as family dinners went, Kaitlyn concluded, this one was proving to be rather uneventful. Mom had cooked her mouth-watering brisket while Dad had prepared a wild rice and vegetable dish. She’d brought the dessert—whoopie pies from Sweet Treats bakery. Lacey’s contribution had been her presence at the dinner. It was her sister’s typical self-centered behavior. Try as she might not to let it bother her, Lacey’s antics rubbed her the wrong way every time.

  After dinner Kaitlyn helped clear the table and load the dishwasher so her parents could sit back and relax. Although it irritated her to no end, Lacey sat at the table chatting with her parents as if she was a royal princess. With a sigh of irritation, Kaitlyn told herself to shrug it off, knowing her sister would never change her selfish ways. She placed the whoopie pies on a dessert platter and brought them to the dining room table.

  “These look delicious,” her mother said. “Sweet Treats makes the best desserts in all of Cape Cod.”

  “Thanks Kaitlyn. You’re so thoughtful.” Her father reached across the table and patted her hand. “You always have been.”

  Kaitlyn didn’t miss her sister’s dramatic eye roll.

  From the living room her cell phone rang out with her “Wicked” Broadway ring tone. After excusing herself, Kaitlyn rushed to the living room and fished her cell phone out of her purse. Wyatt’s name flashed across the screen. She picked up the call, pleasure slicing through her at the thought of talking to him. It gave her a rush.

  “Hey Wyatt. I hope you’re not cancelling tomorrow’s appointment,” she teased.

  “Hey Kaitlyn. I might have too. Something has come up with the family.” Wyatt’s voice sounded shaky and not like him at all.

  “What’s wrong? Your voice sounds funny.”

  “I’m at the hospital.”

  “Oh no. What happened?” She prayed nothing had happened to Wyatt’s leg to push his recovery back.

  “It’s nothing to do with me. It’s Sarah. She went into early labor. Her due date is six weeks from now, but it looks like she’s having the baby tonight.”

  Six weeks premature. That was frightening. As a nurse Sarah knew the risks associated with premature deliveries and low birth rate babies.

  Sarah was a wonderful, good-hearted woman. Although they weren’t close friends, they both worked at Breeze Point Hospital. Kaitlyn worked in the rehabilitation wing while Sarah worked in the emergency room. Sarah Dalton Donahue was a beloved figure in Breeze Point, and from what she’d glimpsed of Blue and Sarah, they were deeply in love.

  “Wyatt, what can I do? How are Blue and Sarah holding up?” she asked, wishing she could do something helpful for the family.

  “Blue is scared. It’s strange to see him like this because he’s usually a rock. And Sarah…I haven’t seen her, but from what I hear she’s putting on a brave face.”

  “I’ll be praying for them all,” she said in a low voice.

  “Kaitlyn…would you come by the hospital? I have my entire family here, but I could really use a friend.”

  Wyatt sounded so lost and consumed with worry. At this moment there was no place she’d rather be than at Wyatt’s side. That knowledge served as a kick in the gut, even though she didn’t have the time to fully analyze it. There would be time later on to dissect her feelings. Right now she had to get to Wyatt.

  “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  She heard Wyatt let out a hiss of air on the other end. “Thanks, Kaitlyn. We’re in the waiting room in the maternity ward.”

  “I’ll find you,” she promised, disconnecting the call after she heard Wyatt say goodbye.

  Kaitlyn felt her cheeks flush as she raced back to the dining room. “I’m sorry, but there’s a bit of an emergency. I hate to eat and run, but I have to head to the hospital.”

  “What a shame. I hope it’s not one of your clients,” her father said.

  “It’s actually Wyatt’s sister-in-law, Sarah. She’s gone into premature labor,” Kaitlyn explained. “The Donahues have all gathered at the hospital.”

  Her mother tutted. “I’m so sorry to hear that. I’ll be praying for them.”

  Lacey’s eyes bulged. “And why would you go over there? You and Sarah aren’t friends!”

  “Lacey,” Bill said in a warning tone. “This is Kaitlyn’s business.”

  Kaitlyn wiped her mouth with her napkin and placed it on her plate. She looked over at her sister. “We’re work colleagues. More importantly, I’m heading over to support Wyatt because he asked me to. He’s my friend.”

  Lacey sucked her teeth. “Don’t you mean your client?”

  “My client and my friend,” she snapped. “Goodnight everyone. Thanks for a lovely meal, Mom and Dad.” She bent over and pressed a kiss on her mother’s cheek then did the same to her father.

  As she headed toward the front door she paused in the living room to grab her purse.

  “I wouldn’t go running over there if I were you. You’re going to make a fool of yourself.” Kaitlyn turned around at the sound of her sister’s voice. Lacey was standing there with a scowl on her face, her features pinched with anger.

  “Well, you’re not me, Lacey. So please don’t concern yourself with what I’m doing. I can make my own decisions about where I go and who I choose to see.” Her voice came across as cool, calm and collected. She wasn’t about to allow her sister’s pettiness to rile her.

  There! She’d finally been straightforward with her sister and told her the cold, blunt truth. She’d put up with her spiteful behavior for far too long.

  Lacey took a step closer and lowered her voice, presumably so their parents wouldn’t hear them in the next room. “You made goo goo eyes at Wyatt in high school and it never got you anywhere.” She let out a harsh laugh. “You used to think you were so special because you were his tutor. The only reason he ever spent any time with you was because he wanted to pass his classes. It had nothing to do with you! Now you’re just setting yourself up for more heartbreak.”

  Kaitlyn sucked in a breath. She was shocked by what she saw reflected in her sister’s eyes. Jealousy. Envy. All this time Kaitlyn had been under the belief that her sister perceived her as beneath her when in actuality she was envious. It was all there in her eyes as clear as crystal. She was resentful, Kaitlyn believed, of her caree
r and the easy relationship she had with their parents. Lacey had been floundering from job to job for a while now and had recently moved back into the family home after her fiancé broke off their engagement.

  “From what I remember, you had a thing for Wyatt at one point,” Kaitlyn said as her mind whirled with the motivation for her sister’s behavior. “I wasn’t the only one making goo goo eyes at him.”

  Her sister had been in the same class as Wyatt, a year above Kaitlyn. Although her sister had hung with the cool crowd she’d never been in Wyatt’s orbit. It had grieved her sister that he’d never given her the time of day or asked her out. She now had the feeling Lacey had been harboring her own feelings for the golden boy of Breeze Point.

  “That was in middle school,” Lacey huffed. “It didn’t mean anything.”

  “Didn’t it?” Kaitlyn whispered as she slung her purse over her shoulder. “Because you’re not acting like some who’s over it. And I know you’ve been going through some hard times, but it doesn’t give you an excuse to bash me. Nevertheless, I’ll keep praying for you.” Kaitlyn walked out of her parents’ house without looking back at her sister.

  As she drove to Breeze Point Hospital, Kaitlyn uttered fervent prayers for the health of Sarah and Blue’s baby, as well as her sister’s soul. Frankly, she wasn’t certain who needed prayer more at this moment. Lacey’s failed engagement and her lay off from her job didn’t give her the right to lash out at Kaitlyn.

  Suddenly, she was no longer content to allow her sister free reign to walk all over her. Kaitlyn O’Malley had changed in the past few weeks. And she was convinced it had everything to do with a certain handsome baseball player who was never too far from her thoughts.

  “The foundation of our family was built on faith. Day by day, prayer by prayer, we built something amazing out of the ashes of pain, abuse, loss and suffering. Faith can move mountains.”

  Alec Donahue

  Chapter Six

  Once Wyatt and his brothers reached the hospital, the seriousness of the situation kicked into high gear. Blue had been whisked away by one of the on-call nurses to sit with Sarah at her bedside. Brandon told them that as soon as Blue got more information he would pass it on to them. They debated for a while about whether or not to call their parents. Finally, with a vote of four to two, they came to the conclusion that they needed to keep them in the loop. There was no protecting them against life events.

  At the moment, being a support system to Blue and Sarah was the most important thing. Sarah’s parents had joined them at the hospital and were gathered with them in the waiting room. Delilah had been allowed to stay with Sarah in her hospital room. Little by little more Donahue family members trickled in. Tess arrived with Gabrielle. Layla came rushing in from her studio still wearing her dance outfit. Rose strode in with AJ at her side, making a bee-line straight to Brandon’s waiting arms. His parents arrived looking way calmer than Wyatt felt. Being in their presence made him feel more centered due to their calm vibes and positive outlook. He knew that they were trembling with fear on the inside, but they were doing a great job of hiding it.

  The next thing Wyatt knew Kaitlyn was standing in the waiting room doorway holding two boxes of donuts and a big box of coffee. She was wearing a red beret on her head that tilted jauntily to the side. The sweet gesture caused a lump to form in his throat. Could this woman be any more wonderful?

  Wyatt went over to greet her just as Ryder took the boxes from her hands and Remy grabbed the box of Joe. He overheard his brothers thanking her profusely. With free hands, Kaitlyn reached out and hugged him, surprising him with her warm gesture. He’d been so careful not to touch her after his attempt to kiss her had gone so far left. Not that he hadn’t been thinking about what it would feel like to embrace her. For a few moments he allowed himself to sink in to the hug, relishing the feel of Kaitlyn resting in his arms. She smelled of sweetness—roses, lavender and his favorite brand of bubble gum. It caused a burst of joy to flutter through him. Reluctantly, he let go of her, knowing it wasn’t the time or place to focus on his growing feelings for Kaitlyn.

  Soon, very soon, he would have to deal with that issue head-on.

  “Thanks for coming,” Wyatt said, filled with gratitude for her presence amidst his large, bustling family. He knew when they were all gathered together it could be intimidating for anyone who wasn’t part of the Donahue clan. And he wanted her to reconnect with his family and get to know them better, even though the occasion wasn’t a social one.

  Something had shifted inside him recently. His feelings for Kaitlyn had grown by leaps and bounds. At first, his feelings had been rooted in the past. He’d always felt gratitude and admiration toward her. But what he was feeling now was so much more powerful. The reason he’d asked her to come to the hospital was because he needed her as an anchor. In the past few weeks he’d begun to rely on her for moral support. He couldn’t ever remember relying on a woman in his life, with the exception of his mother. Kaitlyn was different. She was burrowing inside his heart, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

  “Of course. I’m happy to be here. I love your family, Wyatt. And Sarah is such an amazing woman. Everyone loves her here at the hospital. Any updates?”

  “No, nothing yet. Blue and Delilah are back in the room with Sarah. We’re waiting for word from Blue any time now.” He raked his fingers through his hair, forcing himself to breathe normally. A precious little life hung in the balance. The situation was way more nerve racking than he ever imagined. Rather than coming to the hospital with balloons and flowers they were all waiting with bated breath, praying for a happy outcome for mother and child. He didn’t dare allow his mind to think of any other possible ending.

  Kaitlyn grabbed his hand and squeezed tightly. “I know this is frightening, but at times like this it’s important to hold fast to your faith.”

  He squeezed her hand back. “I know. I’ve said so many prayers lately I think God might be sick of me.”

  “That’s not possible. God is always there for us. We’re one with Him.”

  “I almost feel like this prayer should rise right to the top.” His eyes locked with hers. “Do you know what I mean? Of all the prayers I’ve offered up, somehow this one seems the most sacred.” His voice sounded shaky to his own ears. The situation was wearing on him. Why hadn’t Blue come out and given them an update?

  “Babies are so vulnerable,” Kaitlyn said with a sigh. “But any child of Sarah and Blue is bound to be a fighter. I know how hard they fought to be together.”

  What Kaitlyn said was the truth. Sarah and Blue had fought for their happy ending a second time around after their first attempt at happily ever after had ended so disastrously. Their actions had taught him that when two people truly loved one another, the sky was the limit. Nothing was impossible.

  He shot Kaitlyn a shaky smile. “You’re right about that. If ever a kid was going to come into the world prepared to fight, it would be this one.” That knowledge left him feeling more settled.

  Suddenly, Delilah came into the waiting room, her stride full of purpose. Everything in the room quieted down as soon as she entered. With her fiery red hair and strong features, Delilah didn’t bear much of a resemblance to her sister. Only separated by eleven months, the two women were the best of friends. Wyatt could see the stress etched on Delilah’s features. Layla, who was close friends with Delilah, rushed to her side and gripped her hand.

  His heart thundered in his chest. Where was Blue? He’d promised to come back and update them. He couldn’t help but think that the situation might have taken a turn for the worse.

  “Hi everyone,” Delilah said. “Blue asked me to update you. Doctor Sloane performed some tests on Sarah and the baby. The baby’s fetal heartbeat was irregular which means that the baby is in distress.”

  Sarah’s mother, Peggy, let out a gasp. She gripped her husband Eric’s hand. Eric’s face crumpled.

  “They took Sarah in to have an emergency C-section.
Blue is in the operating room with her so she’s not alone,” Delilah explained tearfully. She took a deep breath and continued. “Blue asked us to pray as a group. For the baby and for Sarah and for him also. They really need our prayers.”

  “Let’s gather around and hold hands,” Alec said, stepping forward and grabbing Delilah’s free hand with his left hand and Maggie’s with his right. Everyone grabbed hands and formed a circle, banding together as one united group.

  “D-Dear Lord,” Alec began, “please hear our fervent prayer for S-Sarah, Blue and the baby they are bringing into this-s-s world. We know You are with them in this time of dire need. We lift them up to you, Oh Lord so that you may w-watch over them. Amen.”

  A chorus of “Amens” rose up in the waiting room. His father’s speech deficits due to his stroke were greatly improved, although he still struggled with certain words and letters. Wyatt felt a burst of pride for his father’s forward strides and his willingness to take the lead in this moment, even though he still struggled a bit with his speech.

  Wyatt could hear sniffling from several people in the room. He tucked his head down, not wanting to give in the rising tide of emotion inside him. How could this be happening? Sarah had been having such an uneventful pregnancy. Now, out of the blue, she was dealing with an emergency delivery.

  “Are you okay?” Kaitlyn tugged at his sleeve.

  He turned his face away from her, not wanting her to see the depth of his emotion. Allowing Kaitlyn to see him like this made him feel vulnerable. And he already felt as if someone had hit him over the head with a hammer.

  “Oh Wyatt. It’s okay to be emotional.” Kaitlyn’s voice was soothing and nurturing.

  He turned towards her, not even bothering to wipe away the tears running down his face. “Everything just hit me like a ton of bricks. What could ever be more important than bringing life into this world? I can’t imagine if—”

  She reached out and placed her fingers across his lips. “Don’t say it. Don’t even think it. We have to stay positive and keep the faith.”