by Rachel Hanna
“Southern chivalry?” she said, smiling up at him.
“Of course. How about tomorrow night?”
“It’s a date,” she said as she backed away. “And I won’t stand you up this time.”
* * *
Addison was excited about her date with Clay, and she didn’t hide that fact from her mother.
“So, Clay Hampton is your date?” Adele said.
“Yes, mother…” Addison said as she put her earrings in and checked the mirror for the sixth time.
“Well, I think that’s just great.”
“You do?” Addison said, surprised that her mother would be okay with her pregnant daughter dating.
“Of course. He’s like a son to me. I love Clay. I couldn’t have picked a better person for you to date. Besides, he’s loved you for years, sweetie.”
“Why didn’t anyone ever tell me that?” Addison screeched out. How had she been so blind to it all those years?
“Because love has to find its own way. You can’t push it. What’s meant to be is meant to be.”
“How many cliches can you pack into one sentence, Mom?” Addison said with a laugh as she hugged her mom’s neck. “Thank you so much for everything you’ve been doing with the baby’s room. It’s much appreciated.”
“It’s my joy to welcome a third generation of Parker women into this family, Addy.” Adele smiled and continued painting the walls of the nursery.
“Well, I’d better get ready,” Addison said. “He’ll be here in less than an hour.”
* * *
Clay stared at her for a moment before handing her a small bouquet of yellow roses.
“These are my favorite!” she said, putting them up to her nose to get an early whiff of springtime.
“I know,” he said softly.
“You amaze me.”
“The feeling is mutual,” he said with a smile. Those dimples did things to her that she couldn’t mention in polite company.
“So, where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” he said with a huge grin. She nodded her head slowly.
“Okay…. Hang on a sec… Hey, Mom, can you put these in some water for me?” she yelled into the house before handing the flowers to her mother through the door. Adele shot a quick smile and wink in Clay’s direction before closing the door behind them.
“Why do I feel like a teenager right now?” he asked as they walked down the steps.
He opened the door to his truck and helped her up inside. The truck wasn’t overly tall, but being six months pregnant was a challenge in several ways.
As they rode down the street, Addison mused in her head about the fact that she was going on a date as a pregnant woman. Never would’ve expected that.
“Close your eyes,” Clay said.
“What?”
“Close your eyes. Where we’re going is a surprise.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep. Here,” he said, handing her a neck tie. She put it around her face and decided to play along.
“This is already the most interesting date I’ve ever had,” she said laughing. “Are you driving in circles?”
“I’m just throwing you off track,” he said as he turned for the tenth time.
“I’m getting vertigo!” she said with a giggle.
“Okay, fine,” he said as he turned onto a road and finally stopped the car. “Stay there.”
She stayed where she was until Clay opened the door and helped her out, practically lifting her from the truck and placing her gently on the ground.
“Be careful. There’s some gravel on the ground,” he said. “Keep your eyes covered.”
He led her up some stairs and she could hear him unlocking a door. Had he brought her to his house? She tried to remember how many steps he had on his front porch. She heard him close the door and then take a deep breath.
“Okay, you can take off your mask now,” he said softly. Addison reached up and pulled the tie from around her eyes, taking a couple of moments to allow her eyes to adjust again.
At first, she had no idea where she was, but it was a beautiful place with thick moldings and shiny hardwood floors. She looked at Clay who was smiling like a Cheshire cat, and then looked behind them and out the window.
The Mallory house.
“Oh my goodness, Clay. We’re at the Mallory house?” she whispered.
“Why are you whispering?” he asked with a chuckle.
“Because we aren’t supposed to be here. What if we get caught?” she continued whispering. “The workers were just here yesterday.”
“Don’t you like to live a little on the edge?” he asked as he walked toward her. “Live a little dangerously?”
“Well, obviously,” she said pointing at her pregnant belly. “But still, we should get out of here. I don’t want to be the cause of you getting a reputation at the county jail!”
She started walking toward the door. “Addy?”
“Yes?” she asked, anxious to get the heck out of the Mallory house, as beautiful as it was.
“I own this place.”
“What?” she said, completely baffled and confused.
“I’m the buyer.” He smiled and waited for her to catch up.
“You bought this place? When? Why?”
“How ‘bout I catch you up over dinner?” he said, taking her hand and pulling her toward the kitchen at the back of the house. They dodged circular saws and other tools as they made their way to the large kitchen. It had been totally renovated along with the adjoining breakfast area.
Her mouth gaped open when she looked at the work that had been done so far. The granite countertops were top of the line, and the tile backsplash was perfect for the time period. The original floors had been shined up, and the cabinetry restored to its former glory.
He pulled out a chair for her at the mahogany reproduction table and sat across from her. On the table was catered food from the local Italian restaurant, Bel Cibo.
“Okay, Clay Hampton, start explaining.” She smiled at him as he started making their plates.
“Well, I started the purchase process right after we talked about it on the ferry that day. You were so hopeless, thinking you wouldn’t get a settlement, but I knew this was your dream. And your dreams are my dreams, Addy. So I made an offer, did some haggling and got it closed. Then I got my guys working on it, quietly of course.”
“I don’t know what to say…” she stammered, staring at him in awe.
“Say you’ll decorate it. I had the kitchen mostly done because I wanted our first official date to be here, in this place, but I want your stamp on it.”
She grinned. “Seriously?”
“And when you’re done with that, I want you to open that B&B. Here.”
“What?” she said, dropping her fork.
“I bought this place for you, Addy. I was hoping you’d live here with the baby, and run it as a B&B.”
“I can’t let you do this for me, Clay…”
“It’s my money, Addy. I want us to be partners. I’ll still run the ferry, but this can be my sideline. I’ll keep my house, and you can live here.”
“Why are you doing this?” she asked softly.
“Because I love you, Addy, and I have for years. And it’s okay if you don’t love me yet, but just know I intend to do everything I can to change that,” he said with a wink. “Now, let’s eat. I’m starving.”
She stood up and walked around the table, pulling his arm up. Standing in front of her, she realized how tall he was. He towered over her petite - well, formerly petite - frame, but she felt so safe with him.
She wrapped her arms around his midsection and put her head on his chest, closing her eyes and breathing him in. “Thank you…” she whispered. “No one has ever done anything like this for me before.”
“You’re special, Addy. I want you to believe that,” he said, his lips pressed to the top of her head.
“When I see myself through your eyes, I st
art to believe it.”
“Good. Now, let’s eat so I can take you to see the rest of the house,” he said. She grinned up at him.
“You’re too good to be true, Clay Hampton.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” he whispered. Before she could respond, his lips pressed against hers and she forgot every word in the English language.
* * *
For the next few weeks, Clay and Addison worked side by side. She planned the decor of the new B&B while he directed the rehab crew.
Anytime he could pull her into a dark closet for a snuggle or a kiss, he did. Her belly was enlarging by the day, and she felt like she would pop at any time, but she still had a good six weeks left. In fact, she was due to have Anna Grace about three weeks before her brother’s wedding in early May.
They hadn’t talked a lot about their “relationship” yet, or whatever it was, and she hadn’t told him she loved him. It felt kind of strange, having this wonderful man do so much for her and not being able to reciprocate yet. But Addison didn’t want to rush into anything. She wanted to take her time, for once in her life, and enjoy the ride.
“Hey, beautiful,” he whispered into her ear from behind as he slid his hands around her waist. He had big hands, which led to other musings in her mind, but she wasn’t about to go there. She was far too pregnant to be intimate with Clay. It wasn’t the way she wanted him to see her their first time. Truly, the whole thing was a bit of a rush - falling in love without the physical act of sex. It made her feel treasured and cherished for who she was instead of what she could give him.
“Well, hello… I thought you were running the ferry today,” she said as she turned her head and stole a kiss.
“I got a substitute today because I have something special to show you.”
He walked her to the front of the house and out onto the porch. The beginning of spring had brought with it warmth and a cool breeze. It was her favorite time of year.
There was a big item on the porch, draped with a white cloth. Clay pulled the cloth off in one motion revealing a handmade wooden sign. It said “Addy’s Inn”.
“It’s beautiful!” she squealed. They hadn’t even decided on a name for the place, but once again he’d surprised her. “Did you make this?”
“Yes,” he said, smiling at her. “I’ve been working on it at night for weeks.”
She hugged him tightly. “It’s starting to seem real.”
“It is real, Addy. This is going to be your place. Your new start. Your baby’s new home.” He brushed her hair behind her ear, grazing her cheek with his thumb.
“I’m so excited! I can’t wait to have my first guest! Do you think your mom might give me her blueberry pancake recipe? I’d love to serve that here.”
“I’m sure she won’t mind,” he said laughing.
“We can call them ‘Patty Cakes’,” she said clapping. “Isn’t that cute?” Clay smiled at her excitement, even over the naming of pancakes.
Suddenly, Addison was overcome with pain. It was a searing pain that didn’t feel like the Braxton Hicks contractions she’d started having a couple of weeks before. She doubled over, clutching her stomach and groaning, hardly able to speak.
“Addy? Addy?” Clay said as he knelt down in front of her. “Talk to me. What’s happening?”
“It hurts!” she screamed, tears streaming down her face. “Something’s wrong.”
Chapter 13
“Can I please see her now?” Clay begged the nurse.
“I’m sorry, sir. Unless you’re family or her husband, I can’t allow it.”
Clay felt helpless. It was too early. She still had six weeks left. He didn’t know if babies could survive that early. He thought they could, but what if he was wrong? Dear God, why hadn’t he paid better attention in health class?
“Clay!” Adele said as she rushed down the hall, Addy’s brothers right behind her. “What happened? Is Addison okay?”
“I don’t know anything. They won’t talk to me since I’m not the father… or the husband.”
“I’ll go get some answers,” Jackson said, moving past them and down the hall.
“It was so scary. We were just standing on the porch talking when she suddenly doubled over. I got her here as fast as I could…”
“I know you did everything you could for her, Clay. None of us question your love for Addison,” Adele said with a sad smile on her face.
“Can a baby make it this early? Please say yes,” Clay said, holding Adele’s hands.
“Yes. Absolutely. We just have to hope for the best.”
A few moments later, Jackson returned.
“She’s stable right now, but her labor has started. Her water broke right after she got here, so they need to deliver the baby within twenty-four hours. They can’t stop the contractions, so she could start delivering soon.”
“Did they say if she’s dilated?” Rebecca asked as she walked up to the group, with Jenna and Tessa behind her.
“Yes. She’s six centimeters already. Progressing very quickly.”
“Oh my God…” Tessa said.
“Clay Hampton?” a nurse called. Clay shot up like a rocket and almost ran into her.
“That’s me.”
“Addison would like you to come into the room. Please follow me…” Clay looked back at Adele and the rest of the family. They smiled and gave a thumbs up, but he could see the worry in their faces. He was worried too.
He entered the room and wasn’t prepared for what he saw. Addison’s face was streaked with tears, her eyes puffy and red. Her face contorted in pain as a contraction came right as he walked up to her bedside. She reached for his hand and squeezed the life out of it. How could someone so tiny almost break his big hand?
“They’re coming with my epidural…” she mumbled through panting breaths. “They promised!” she yelled, trying to get the nurse’s attention.
“Take slow, deep breaths…” Clay said, trying to mimic the breathing he’d seen on movies and TV shows before. He should have taken Lamaze classes with her, but she had insisted she didn’t need classes to teach her how to breathe.
“I’m trying…” she said, tears rolling from her eyes. A moment later, the contraction had subsided. She just looked so pitiful, her small frame crumpled over in the bed. “I’m so tired.”
“I know you are, sweetie, but you’re doing great.”
“It’s too early, Clay.”
“Women have babies a lot earlier than this, and they’re fine. Anna Grace is going to be fine. She’s going to be beautiful, just like her mother,” he said, leaning up to plant a kiss on her forehead.
“I love you,” she whispered, barely loud enough for him to hear.
“What?”
“I planned to tell you today, but then this whole thing happened. Not the romantic way I planned to say it, but I want you to know that I love you, Clay Hampton.” He stared at her and almost teared up himself.
“I love you too, Addison Rose. And I love Anna Grace too,” he said smiling.
“You haven’t met her yet!” she giggled.
“Well, she’s a part of you and that makes me love her.”
“But she’s also a part of someone else, Clay. Doesn’t that bother you?”
“Nope. Not a bit.”
“You amaze me again, mister,” she said, reaching up and pulling his head down toward her. His lips barely brushed hers when another contraction clamped down on her body, forcing a loud cry from her lips.
Nurses rushed in, and Clay was terrified for a moment. “Addison, your contractions are coming closer and closer, so we need to check you again.”
Clay stepped to the head of the bed so the nurses could work in private.
“Sweetie, you’re almost at nine already. This baby’s coming. We’re going to get the doctor to let you start pushing…” the nurse said.
“No! Where’s my epidural?” she cried. Addison wasn’t at all interested in a natural childbirth. She’d said i
t all throughout the pregnancy.
“Honey, it’s too late for that,” the older African American nurse said. “This baby’s coming whether we want her to or not. She’s kind of stubborn, that one.”
Clay smiled. Just like her mother, he thought.
“I’ll go get your mom…” Clay said.
“No…” Addison said. “I want you.”
“Me? But Addy, I think your mom would be more help…”
“Please stay. Hold my hand,” she said as she reached up. Clay took a chair at the head of the bed and held her hand, rubbing her forehead with his other hand. “And stay up here,” she whispered. “The first time a guy sees a woman’s… you know… should not be during childbirth.” Clay laughed.
“Fine with me. But does this mean I’ll get to see your… you know… in the future?” he whispered in her ear.
“I’d say your odds are really, really good on that one, Mr. Hampton,” she said before another contraction hit and took her breath away.
The doctor came in and checked her. “Addison, you’re ready to push, okay?” she said.
The next few minutes were frantic as Clay watched the woman he loved struggle with pains he couldn’t stop. It was hard to watch, so he just held her hand and occasionally pressed his lips to the top of her head, trying everything he knew to just let her know he was there.
And then he heard the noise that made it all worth it. A loud set of lungs let loose a cry that probably could’ve been heard down the street. Addison started to laugh and then cry herself, and Clay felt a few stray tears on his face too.
The doctor put the baby on Addison’s chest. She looked perfect. She had all her fingers and toes. Good color. Strong lungs. She was tiny, as to be expected, but seemed otherwise in good condition.
“Hi, Anna Grace…” Addison said softly.
“She’s beautiful, just like her Mommy,” Clay said, his chin resting on Addison’s shoulder. Maybe she had some of her father’s features, but he couldn’t see those. All he saw was Addison’s adorable nose and pouty lips.
“We need to clean her up and check some vitals,” the nurse said, removing the baby from Addison’s chest. She looked up at Clay.