“I know.”
“Fortunately, as I watched you grow up, I saw you were a lot like your mother, not your dad.”
Danny lifted his head. “I am?”
“There’s never been any quit in you, son. You’d literally go through a wall of fire to protect someone you loved. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather trust with my daughter’s happiness.” He slipped his hand around the back Danny’s neck and squeezed lightly. “If I’d had a son I would have wanted him to be just like you.”
Tears blurred Danny’s vision. He’d never realized how much he’d counted on Chief Gray’s support, his encouragement, through all those years when he’d been without a father of his own. But he’d never needed to hear his words of encouragement so strongly as he did at this particular moment.
“I’ll take care of her, sir. I swear it.”
Harlan raised his brows. “Even when she’s giving you a hard time?”
Danny’s lips twitched into a grin. “Sir, that’s when I love her the most.”
Swiping the back of his hand across his eyes, Harlan gestured toward Stephanie’s bedroom. “She’s not going to be easy to live with but you might as well start getting used to it now.”
“Yes, sir.” Their eyes met in silent communication, then Danny turned away, turned toward the woman who would his wife.
Forever.
He found her standing in the middle of her bedroom, a diaphanous blue-silk nightgown tossed carelessly into her open suitcase on the bed.
And she was crying.
Dammit, she never cried. That she was doing it now nearly broke his heart.
“Hey, Twigs, don’t fall apart on me.” He took her in his arms and held her.
Trembling, she sniffed at her tears. “It already hurts. How am I going to manage twenty hours more?”
“We’re going to do it together. For however long it takes, and you’ll be great. You’re the strongest, the most determined woman I know when you set your mind to something.”
She shivered again. “I’m so scared, Danny.”
So was he, but he couldn’t admit it. Not to Stephanie. Not when she needed him to be strong for her and their baby.
Their baby. The thought, when it fully formed, nearly drove him to his knees. Vickie was his little girl, as well as Stephanie’s. Dear God! He was about to be a father. Oh, man, he didn’t want to mess this up.
“Let’s sit down.” His stomach rolled with a combination of terror and excitement as he eased them both down to the edge of the bed. Rubbing her back with one hand, he rested the other on her belly that was tight and hard.
“We’re going to take this slow and easy. Real calm.” He silently vowed he’d stay calm despite the hysteria that threatened to steal the oxygen from not only his lungs but from the entire room, like a flash-over, an explosion of fire and flame. “Now, where’s that list we’re supposed to follow?”
She gestured toward her dresser. “I forgot to get a tennis ball.”
He frowned and blinked. “Tennis? Now?”
“For massaging my lower back. That’s where it hurts the most.”
“Okay.” He remembered now, something about doing a firm countermassage with a ball at the small of her back. “I’ve got a whole case full of balls at home. We’ll get a bunch. What else do we need?”
“I don’t know. I can’t even think.”
“Not to worry, sweetheart.” He kissed her temple, the fine hairs there damp with perspiration. He could almost smell her fear, could certainly see it in her eyes. “Remember how Maureen told us to relax? It’s early yet.”
She grimaced. “Easy for you to say.”
“That’s my girl, always a smart mouth.” He grinned at her, then slipped away. His legs were still as weak as water but he managed to get the list and start checking off the items she was supposed to pack. Lotions and powders, a paper bag in case she hyper-ventilated—or he did—a brush and her pots of makeup from the bathroom. Heavy socks in case her feet got cold. A robe and slippers to go with the nightgown.
Her feminine scents surrounded him, slipped under his skin. Only hours from now she’d be his wife. To have and to hold forever, if she’d let him.
“You certainly know your way around a woman’s bedroom,” she commented when he dropped a couple of pair of silken undies in the suitcase.
“I read widely.”
She choked on a laugh, and that was good. She was beginning to relax, go with the flow.
“Are you keeping track of the time between contractions?” he asked.
“Not really. But they don’t seem so bad now.”
“See? You’re doing great. You should have known I’d never lie to you.”
“You’ve always lied to me. When I was fourteen, you told me I couldn’t go to the movies with you because it was a guys-only show. I found out later you took a date.”
He frowned. “I don’t remember that.”
“And when I was nine, you said there wasn’t a Santa Claus.”
“There isn’t,” he protested.
“He brought me a ten-speed bicycle that year and a boom box that could blast out the entire neighborhood. No way was I going to stop believing in him.”
Laughing, he snapped the suitcase closed. “Okay, you got me. I lied.”
Taking his hand, she brought his knuckles to her cheek, rubbing gently. “Thanks. For everything.”
A knot formed in his throat so big he didn’t think he could talk. He’d give her Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, too, if that’s what she wanted. And the Tooth Fairy for Vickie when the time came.
She squeezed his hand more tightly, and he knew she was having another contraction. They might have slowed but they were real. They had to be. She was in too much pain for her to be in false labor.
“You want to call the doctor yet?” he asked.
“No, but I could use a back rub if you don’t have anything better to do.”
“You got it, sweetheart.”
Lying down on the bed, she curled onto her side and he began massaging the small of her back like they’d practiced in class. Except this was different. This was the real deal.
Her father poked his head in the door. “Everything okay?”
“We’re fine, thanks,” Danny said.
“Anything I can do, you let me know.”
“Don’t worry, Dad.” She gave him a brave smile. “Women have been doing this for years.”
“I wish your mother were here. She’d know what to do.”
“She’d probably hover and drive me crazy like you’re doing.”
He laughed. “I’ll go boil some water or something. Call me if you need me.”
Danny kept rubbing her back, easing the tension between her shoulder blades, helping her through the relaxation exercises they’d learned. When the contractions remained about fifteen minutes apart, they got out a pinochle game as a distraction. Stephanie double skunked him.
Stretching, she eased off the bed and stood. “I think I’ll go—” Her eyes widened and she stood perfectly still. “Oh, my God!”
“What? What’s wrong?” Fear punched through him, so strong it was like a fire ax embedded in his chest.
“My water. I think it broke.”
An instant later, she groaned and reached for his arm, her fingers digging into his flesh, and he knew it was time to get her to the hospital.
SOME VICIOUS CREATURE had gotten inside her and was ripping her apart, clawing and stretching, pushing and pulling.
“Remember to breathe, Twigs. Let’s count it together. Six, seven, eight…”
She looked up into Danny’s beautiful blue eyes, the eyes she loved so well, and hated him. “Oh, God…”
“You’re almost there, sweetheart. You’re doing great. It’s peaking now. Almost over. Slide down the other side and relax.”
“Relax?” She puffed out a breath as the contraction finally eased. “Are you out of your mind? It hurts like hell!”
“Yeah, I know.”
“You can’t possibly know!”
He wiped her forehead with a damp cloth and slipped a piece of ice between her lips. She was so glad Danny was with her, she could have wept, but she no longer had the energy.
“What time is it?” she asked.
He glanced at his watch. “Eleven-thirty.”
“Any sign of the judge?”
“No. I’m going to send for the hospital chaplain.”
“Oh, he’ll be thrilled to come out in the middle of the night to perform a wedding ceremony. Maybe we can get an organist to drop by, too.”
“I figure by the time we’re finished, every nurse in the hospital will be crying.”
“Why? Because you’ll be out of circulation?”
“Naw. Women always cry at weddings.”
She grabbed his hand, threading her fingers through his. “Danny, maybe we ought to forget about the marriage. There’s only an outside chance anyway that we can beat Edgar and all his attorneys.”
“We’ll beat him, sweetheart. There’s no way in hell I’m going to let him steal our baby away from us.”
“Our baby?”
His expression softened. “Yours and mine. I’ve already got a plan to build her a dollhouse in the backyard, and I’m going to teach her to ride a bike and fly a kite and swing on a swing. All that good kind of stuff, you know?”
“Oh, Danny.” Tears flooded her eyes. “How can you say that when she’s not even—”
He hushed Stephanie with a kiss. “In every way that counts, Vickie is my daughter. I love her.”
What about her? Stephanie wanted to ask, but a new contraction began building, snaking inside her, gripping her so tightly, she wanted to scream. She held back, breathing as Danny coached her, and felt her heart break because he hadn’t said he loved her, too.
As the pain eased, the nurse came bustling into the labor room. “How’re we doing, folks?”
“The contractions are coming every three to four minutes and last almost a minute,” Danny answered efficiently. “They’re getting pretty strong.”
“A man of great understatement,” Stephanie muttered. Danny’s emergency training made him sound so damn calm, she wanted to rip out his eyes.
“Let me take a look.”
Stephanie tried to relax while the nurse peered under the sheet, poking and prodding her. Total lack of modesty appeared to be a prerequisite for having a baby.
“You’re doing beautifully,” the nurse said, all bubbly and upbeat. “You’re dilated to seven centimeters. Won’t be long now.”
“Only seven?” Stephanie groaned. After all this time she should be at twenty! Big enough to give birth to an elephant. A full-grown one!
“Could you arrange for the hospital chaplain to come see us?” Danny asked.
The nurse looked up with sympathetic eyes. “Prayer is always good at times like this.”
“Actually we’d like to get married. As soon after midnight as we can.”
“Married?” Her jaw dropped. “I’m not sure—”
“It’s important, ma’am.”
Another contraction overtook Stephanie while Danny and the nurse discussed the relative merits of a hasty marriage, unwed mothers and illegitimate children. She gritted her teeth through the pains, and when they eased she raised up on the bed and glared at the nurse. “Get the damn chaplain in here on the double or I’m going to go looking for him myself!”
The nurse’s eyes widened. “Yes, of course. I’ll see if I can locate him. And your doctor, too.”
“See that you do.” Stephanie collapsed back onto the bed. “I’m turning into a witch,” she said with a sigh.
“A lovely witch, if I do say so myself.”
“You’re only saying that so I won’t cast a spell on you.”
“You cast a spell on me a long time ago, Twiggy. I just didn’t realize it at the time.”
She looked at him blankly. Could he possibly mean—
Another pain rose faster and harder than those that had preceded it, ruthlessly pounding, grinding, making it impossible to think.
“It’s happening too fast—” she cried before she was no longer able to speak at all.
“Just don’t push yet,” Danny pleaded. “The preacher will be here soon.”
In a daze, one contraction after another swept over her, leaving her little time to recover. Dr. Pamela Ulrich arrived, looking pleased with her patient’s progress. A cheery gentleman with gray hair, bright blue eyes and a minister’s collar appeared, taking up a position beside her as the nurses wheeled her into the delivery room. Harlan Gray joined the entourage of witnesses all gowned in green.
“I’m sorry, honey. I know your mother wanted both you and Karen to have big weddings,” her father said. “Guess it’s not going to work out for either of you.”
“It’s okay, Dad. I don’t think there’s enough time to plan all the—” She groaned, trying to choke back a scream.
“Do you want some pain medicine?” Danny asked.
Though she would have liked about a gallon of whatever they had to give her, she shook her head. “I’d like to be able to remember my wedding.”
Through her pain she saw a wry smile that didn’t quite hide the depth of his concern. “I think this one is going to be truly memorable.”
“Mr. Sullivan,” the nurse said, “there’s a young man in the waiting room, a Tommy Tonka. He’s asking to talk with you. He says he hasn’t been able to sleep.”
“I’m pretty busy.”
“Why don’t you have him come on in?” Stephanie bit down as the peak of the contraction passed. “He can be your best man.”
“Really?”
“Danny, I just want this whole thing over and done with.”
Taking another look at her, Dr. Ulrich said, “Reverend, if you’re going to get this couple married before the baby puts in an appearance, you’d better hurry it up. She’s crowning.”
“Oh, God.” Stephanie groaned.
“Don’t push,” Danny ordered.
The door to the delivery room opened to admit Tommy with Emma Jean Witkowsky right behind him, dangling silver earrings flashing in the bright lights. “I had a vision in my crystal ball,” she explained. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Stephanie forced herself not to scream in either pain or dismay. “No problem,” she gasped. “You’re the designated bridesmaid.”
“I’d be honored.”
“Could somebody please lock that door?” Danny requested.
Vaguely Stephanie was aware of the wedding party gathering around the head of the delivery table while the doctor watched from the critical spot between her knees, ready to catch the baby. But Stephanie only had eyes for Danny, her groom, the wonderfully handsome man who held her hand while she dug her fingernails into his palm. He looked as disheveled as she felt but the smile on his face was downright possessive and thoroughly masculine. Almost as if—
“Do you take this man—” the minister began, then turned in question to Danny. “Your name is—”
“Daniel Michael Sullivan,” Danny provided, still smiling at her.
“To have and to hold—”
“Let’s hurry it up, Reverend,” the doctor said.
“I do,” Stephanie managed to say, not interested in the details of the vow she was about to take. The urge to push was incredible, irresistible, but she fought it, panting, focusing on Danny and the love she felt for him. For the sacrifice he was making.
“And I take Stephanie Ann Gray as my wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for so long as we both shall live.”
Let his words be true, the conviction in his voice genuine, she prayed as he slipped a golden band onto her finger. When had he had the chance to—
“Now, by the power vested in me by God and the State of California, I pronounce you—”
“Time’s up. Let’s get our new daddy down here so he can catch his baby girl.”
“—man and
wife.”
Danny kissed her sweet and fast, and she pushed. Hard. And her father stepped into position beside her, holding her, as Danny moved to the foot of the delivery table. She cried out because she couldn’t help herself.
“Easy now,” the doctor ordered.
Lifting her head, she watched Danny settle next to the doctor. He looked up and their eyes met, his expression so intense, so perfectly focused on her that she felt filled with his strength and purpose.
“Vickie’s coming,” he whispered.
“Don’t drop her.” Stephanie pushed, still watching him and the smile that shone in his eyes. She felt the baby move, slide from her body.
“I’ve got her head. She’s beautiful, like you.”
Tears poured from Stephanie’s eyes as the doctor told her, “One more time.”
And then she saw Vickie’s head for herself, her hair dark and matted, and her perfect little body held firmly and protectively in her husband’s big, gentle hands. In his eyes she saw the same tears of joy and awe that were blurring her vision.
The baby gave out a lusty cry, and in that moment Stephanie knew she’d never experience a greater love than she felt right then, both for her husband and the baby he held.
“I HOPE WE DON’T HAVE TO GO through that again anytime soon.” Sitting in a chair next to Stephanie’s hospital bed, Danny felt completely exhausted but he had so much adrenaline still swimming through his veins, there was no possibility he’d be able to sleep. It was like coming down after a big fire. Not something you could do in a few minutes, or even an hour or two.
Apparently Stephanie was having the same problem.
“She was worth every moment.” Holding Vickie in the crook of her arm, Stephanie smiled at their sleeping baby.
“Seems to me I recall a couple of times when you referred to her as a monster.”
“I didn’t say any such thing.” She blinked at him innocently.
In response, he shook his head and gave his wife a faint smile. “I’ll never tell.”
Wife. He still couldn’t get over the knowledge that they were married. They had a daughter. The three of them were a family. Nor had he ever been filled with such astounding love as that moment when Vickie slid into his hands, all slick and wet, and crying almost before she was fully free of Stephanie’s womb. And he’d looked up to see his wife crying, too.
With Courage and Commitment Page 18