The Baby Clause: 2.0 (The Contract Series)

by Melanie Moreland

  The Baby Clause 2.0

  Copyright © 2017 Moreland Books Inc.

  Registration # 1138826

  Published by Enchanted Publications

  All rights reserved

  ISBN #978–1-988610–02–3

  Edited by

  Jeanne McDonald

  Interior Design and Formatting by

  Christine Borgford, Type A Formatting

  Cover design by

  Melissa Ringuette, Monark Design Services

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are products of the author’s imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Contents

  The Baby Cause 2.0

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Acknowledgements

  Books by Melanie Moreland

  About the Author

  Turning into the large entrance of the hospital, I slammed on the brakes so hard my car shuddered. My tires squealed and left black marks on the pavement. Flinging open the door, I lunged out of the seat, not even bothering to shut the door behind me. I was lucky I remembered to take the keys.

  A security guard stopped me before I made it to the sliding doors of the hospital, holding up his hand.

  “Sir, you can’t leave your car there. The parking lot is across the street—”

  I interrupted him, shaking my head. I tossed my keys in his direction. “Look, kid, I trust you. Park my car and bring me the keys.”

  “I can’t do that!”

  Reaching into my pocket, I grabbed a wad of cash. I had no idea how much it was, but to this kid standing in front of me, blocking my way, masking his youth by pretending to be forceful, I was certain it was a fortune. I shoved the money into his hand, smirking as his eyes widened at the sight of the cash.

  “Sure you can. Think of it as a reward for a job well done. Park my car and bring me my keys.” I pushed past him.

  “Where are you going, sir?” he shouted.

  I glanced over my shoulder as I hurried away. “The maternity ward!”

  I tapped my foot as I waited for the elevator. My heart beat frantically, hands clenching and unclenching at my side, thinking about the call I received while having lunch with a client and Graham.

  “Hello?”

  “Richard, it’s Laura. I need you to come to the hospital.”

  Ice flooded my veins. “What?”

  “Katy’s gone into labor.”

  I was on my feet, rushing out of the restaurant without another thought. I heard my name being called, but I ignored it. I jumped in my car, speeding toward the hospital. Katy wasn’t due for another three weeks. The baby was early. I had to get to her immediately.

  The doors opened, and I cursed under my breath as I waited for people to exit. Didn’t they know I was in a hurry? I pressed six on the panel, then hit the ‘door close’ button, even though people were still filing in. My head fell back on my shoulders, as I inhaled a deep breath and counted to ten. I endured the slow ascent upward, trying not to snarl at people as they got off on other floors. I pushed the ‘door close’ button constantly, ignoring the frowns sent my way.

  When the door opened on six, I burst out of the elevator, running to the desk. A nurse entering some information into the computer ignored me.

  “My wife—”

  She held up her hand, stopping me, and continued to type, not at all concerned with my panic. I wanted to scream, but I fisted my hands and held my tongue. Katy constantly told me I needed to learn patience. A few seconds later, she looked up with a bright smile.

  “How can I help you?”

  “My wife—I got a call—she’s having the baby today!”

  “And the name?”

  I stared at her, my brow furrowed. “We don’t know the name. The baby hasn’t been born yet.”

  She scowled and opened her mouth, but I kept talking.

  “How would I know the name? We didn’t want to know the sex. We wanted it to be a surprise. But she’s gone into labor early. I got a call. I need to find her.”

  “Your wife’s name, sir.”

  I sucked in a deep breath. Well, that made more sense.

  “Katharine—but I call her Katy. She likes that better.”

  She arched an eyebrow.

  I said nothing in return, just glared. What the hell else did she want?

  A hand fell on my shoulder, and I startled, looking down to see the amused face of Dr. Suzanne Simon. She patted my shoulder. “Calm, Richard. Katy is fine.” She smiled at the nurse. “VanRyan, Shelly. It’s Katy VanRyan.”

  The nurse named Shelly grinned and threw me a look that made me think she was laughing at me. “I wondered. She warned me.”

  I looked between the two of them. Warned? Who warned her? About what exactly?

  Dr. Suzanne squeezed my arm. “Come with me, Richard. I’ll take you to Katy, and then I’ll explain everything.”

  I nodded, following her down the hall, my stomach tense and my nerves tight.

  “What did she mean, ‘she warned me’?”

  Suzanne glanced up with a knowing look on her face. “Katy said she had a feeling you’d be a bit less in control than usual today. ‘Freaked out,’ I think were her words.”

  I opened my mouth to protest, then shut it with a snap. As usual, my wife was right. I was rather freaked out right now. I needed to see Katy so I could calm down.

  Suzanne stopped in front of a door, regarding me patiently. “Katy is fine. The baby is fine. You need to be composed and strong for her, all right?”

  I exhaled hard. “Yes.”

  “She needs you.”

  “She’s really all right? The baby is early.”

  “Babies come early all the time, Richard. With all the books you’ve read and the questions you’ve asked, you know this can happen. Katy is young and healthy. You also know I would never hold anything back from you.”

  I relaxed a little hearing the honesty in her voice—and she was right. I had read a ton of books, and asked endless questions. Suzanne had always been honest, blunt, and to the point with us. She wouldn’t tell me Katy was okay unless she was, indeed, all right.

  “Okay. I’m good. Can I see her now?”

  She grinned at my impatience. “Yes.”

  When I entered Katy’s room, she was lying down, with Laura sitting beside her. I hurried over, dropped a kiss to my wife’s mouth, then drew back.

  “Hi, sweetheart.”

  She smiled up at me, clutching my hand, her eyes clouded in pain. “Hi. I’m glad you’re here.”

  “I got here as fast as I could.”

  Laura grinned and stood up. “That’s my cue. I’ll go sit with Graham and give you two a little time alone. Come get me if you need me.”

  “Graham is here?”

  “He didn’t come with you?”

  “Um, no, he didn’t . . . Oh, shit.” I shrugged my shoulders with a grimace. “I forgot him.”

  I left Graham behind in the restaurant. I ran out without telling him what happened or where I was going. Right in the middle of a pitch to a new client, as well.

  Laura began to chuckle. “I left my phone in the car. I’m sure he’s been calling.�
��

  I pulled out my phone from my pocket, seeing I had missed several calls and texts. I handed it to Laura. “Use mine. I owe him an apology. Or ten.”

  She took the phone, shaking her head. “I’m sure he’ll understand.” She paused beside me to give me a quick hug. “She needs you, Richard. She’s scared, but trying to be brave,” she whispered.

  I nodded and quietly thanked her. That was my Katy. Brave and silent. My gaze followed Laura’s departing form with gratitude. She was a positive force in both our lives and the closest thing to a mother I had ever truly known.

  I sat beside Katy, holding her hand in mine, and looked at Suzanne. “Well?”

  “We thought maybe it was Braxton Hicks, but Katy’s water broke, and her labor is progressing at a steady pace. I think you’re going to meet your child today if things keep moving forward like this.”

  I lifted Katy’s hand to my mouth, pressing a kiss on her knuckles. “Today,” I repeated, meeting her anxious gaze.

  “We’re going to monitor Katy, and we’ll move her when it’s time. Meanwhile, I need you to remember everything you learned in your classes. Help her with her breathing, keep her comfortable, and let her lean on you.” Her gaze went to Katy. “You can walk if you want to—in fact, I recommend it. There’re ice chips and water here. Are you certain no epidural?”

  Katy shook her head. She was adamant on that subject, no matter how I pleaded with her to change her mind.

  Dr. Suzanne smiled at Katy and patted her hand. “You can change your mind, if you want, but we can’t leave it too long. There is a point we can’t go back.”

  “I know. I want to do this without drugs.”

  “Okay, you two. Settle in. I’ll be back shortly.”

  She left, and I bent over and kissed my wife, meeting her worried gaze steadily. “I’m here, sweetheart. You’re going to be fine. I won’t leave you for a minute. And later, we’re going to meet our child.”

  “It’s so overwhelming,” she admitted in a shaky voice. “I’m scared.”

  I was relieved she said the words aloud. I pressed another kiss on her head.

  “What do you need?”

  “You to hold me.”

  “You never have to ask.”

  She shifted to the side, and I sat beside her, wrapping my arms around her body, spreading my hand wide across her stomach, and rocking her gently until I felt her relax.

  “Someone is anxious to meet you.”

  She hummed softly. “Meet us. It’s your voice he or she reacts to the most.”

  I smiled, dropping a kiss to her hair, then stroked her swollen belly.

  It had felt odd the first time I talked to her stomach. I felt like an idiot, lying beside her with my hand on her skin, muttering about silly things. Except, I liked it. I started reading books, humming music, talking about how much fun we were going to have when he or she was born—anything to connect myself to the life growing inside Katy. The first time I felt the push of a hand or foot against my skin, I actually wept. And for the second time in my life, I knew I was in love. Boy or girl, I would love and protect this child with everything in me. Knowing I would hold them in the next few hours made my chest ache with a sweetness I still wasn’t used to feeling. I glanced up at Katy, who was watching me with tender eyes.

  “I love you, Katy.”

  She smiled. “We love you.”

  She grimaced when another contraction hit, grabbing my hand.

  I inhaled hard, knowing this was only the start, and hoping I was strong enough for her to lean on—both physically and emotionally. “Okay, sweetheart. Breathe with me.”

  Things progressed to the point it was time to move to the delivery room. I had walked with her until she couldn’t walk anymore, fed her ice chips, rubbed her back and shoulders, and reassured her even as worry ate its way into my stomach. I blinked away tears when I saw the amount of pain she was experiencing. I let her hold my hand, not caring that she might break it with her death grip, as the contractions became stronger and closer together. She did change her mind about the epidural, and although I was grateful it took away the pain, I lost it when I saw the size of the needle they used. I had wanted to be involved, and they showed me how to hold Katy’s shoulders to help with the procedure. I stepped forward to do so, caught sight of the needle, and froze. They had to push me out of the way, and the same nurse who had been at the front desk, stood in my place, all the while chuckling about “men and pain.” I had a feeling I would never live it down.

  I would also never live down leaving Graham behind. Apparently, after I ran out of the restaurant, he explained to our client he was certain the call I took was about my pregnant wife. He tried to chase down my car, but I didn’t notice him. The client drove him back to the office, and once he spoke to Laura, he and Jenna made their way to the hospital. I gave them regular updates, and Katy and I walked down to see them. During one visit, Graham handed me my car keys and said it now was parked safely across the street. He leaned close when he muttered four hundred dollars was a bit excessive as a thank you for valet service, but I only grinned. It got me to Katy faster, and the kid probably needed it much more than I did, so I was more than okay with it. Laura came and went from the room, her quiet manner keeping us both composed. Her aura of calmness was exactly what we needed.

  I bent over Katy, praising her strength and bravery. Murmuring words of encouragement. Holding her hand, stroking her forehead with cool cloths. When instructed, I moved behind her, supporting her shoulders, encouraging her to push.

  When our daughter came into the world with a loud wail, I swore I had never heard a sound so beautiful. My hand was shaking as they let me cut the umbilical cord. My chest constricted, tightening to an almost painful level. My entire body vibrated as they allowed me to hold our daughter for the first time. Red-faced, wrinkled, and wet, she was the loveliest thing I’d ever seen in my life. Tufts of dark hair stuck up all around, and her eyes blinked open as she yawned, exhausted from the work of being born. For a moment, there were only the two of us in the world. I stroked her tiny cheek with my finger in wonder. Bending, I kissed Katy, who was watching us with tired, happy eyes.

  “Look what we made,” I whispered. “She’s perfect.” Carefully, I laid her back on Katy’s chest, where she nuzzled contentedly. “You were incredible, sweetheart,” I praised her gently. “Remarkable.”

  She looked down at our daughter. “We did good.”

  I placed one hand on our daughter’s back and laid my head beside Katy’s on the pillow.

  “Yes, we did.”

  I glanced at the clock, surprised how late it was. Katy was asleep, one hand curled under her cheek as she slumbered, completely exhausted. Graham, Laura, and Jenna left a few hours ago. Graham insisted I had to eat, and dragged me from the room, while Laura and Jenna stayed with Katy. I brought her back some cheese, crackers, and fruit, which she nibbled at while we all talked. Once I satisfied him, having eaten something, he took his girls home, leaving me alone with mine.

  My family.

  Katy tried to convince me to go home and sleep, but I didn’t want to leave either of them. I couldn’t. I wanted to be here with them and make sure they were both okay.

  My daughter slept in my arms. She was a tiny, fragile being, who I already loved more than I thought was humanly possible. I couldn’t put her down. I watched as she squirmed, swaddled in a soft, pink blanket. Her rosebud mouth was pursed, her small fists fighting to escape the material. Katy had explained the whole swaddling thing to me, but I couldn’t resist loosening the cloth and letting out one of her hands. She gripped my finger with a strength that surprised and delighted me. My baby girl was strong. Her sleepy blue eyes, already so much like Katy’s, peeked up at me, then drifted shut, her grip never loosening.

  “She’s perfect,” Katy whispered.

  I looked up with a grin.

  “She is, Mommy.”

  Katy’s smile was wide and beautiful. “We have to name her, Richa
rd.”

  “I know. None of the ones I liked suit her now that she’s here, and I can see her sweet face.” I ran my finger down a plump little cheek. “Are you sure you don’t want to name her after Penny?”

  My wife grimaced as she pulled herself up into a sitting position. “No. She didn’t like her name.”

  “Was there a name she did like?”

  Katy pursed her lips, the expression much like our daughter’s. “She liked her middle name, Grace. I like it, too,” she added.

  “Grace,” I repeated, liking how that sounded. I looked down at my daughter. “Grace VanRyan.”

  “Anne is Laura’s middle name,” Katy offered. “Grace Anne VanRyan.”

  It was right. The names went well together, and they honored two women we both loved. “I love it. Laura will be thrilled, and Penny would have been so happy and proud.”

  Lowering my head, I kissed my baby girl. “Hello, Gracie.”

  “I thought you didn’t like nicknames.”

  Standing, I slid Gracie into Katy’s arms. “I thought a lot of stupid things. She looks like a Gracie.” I nuzzled Katy’s cheek and brushed the hair back from her face. “You, sweetheart, are supposed to be asleep.”

  “You should go home and get some sleep yourself.”

  “Nope. I paid a lot of money for this private room. I’ll go home when you do.”

  “So stubborn.”

  I chuckled and took Gracie back. Katy had her long enough. “Yep. So you go to sleep. I’ll just sit here with Gracie and tell her all about her crazy, adopted family and her perfect, wonderful mommy.”

  “What about her wonderful daddy?”

  Hearing that word made me blink. Then I blinked again.

  Daddy. A title I never thought would belong to me. A swell of sentiment made my throat thick. I reached out and grasped Katy’s hand, needing her touch.

  “I’ll be the best daddy I can be.”

  “I know you will be. You’re already the best husband.”

  Leaning down, I captured her mouth with mine, feeling a thousand emotions. Ones only Katy, and now Gracie, could make me feel. Feelings I didn’t know existed—happiness and elation so poignant it made my chest ache. Contentment and peace that permeated my life simply from their presence. I had found a group of people I considered my family now, but Katy and Gracie belonged to me. They were my world, and I knew I was theirs. “Thank you, my Katy. For my daughter. For you.”