Late Arrivals (Special Delivery Book 4)

by J. A. Armstrong

  “Rach, you have seen some disgusting things. You’re trying to tell me that a bunch of screaming kids frightens you?” Brooke laughed. “Hell, you deal with screaming women all of the time.”

  “Yeah, not twenty of them at once,” Rachel deadpanned.

  “Oh hell, that would be like a Delpocalypse!” Brooke laughed. Tess and Rachel looked at Brooke as if she has gone mad. “Del-pocalypse. Get it? You know… a delivery apocalypse.”

  Tess kissed Brooke on the cheek. “Very clever, love.”

  “Don’t patronize me,” Brooke said as sternly as she could manage.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it,” Tess said honestly.

  “Brooke!” Dani called over.

  “Sorry, ladies,” Brooke apologized. “The birthday girl beckons.”

  Tess watched Brooke trot off toward Dani and turned to Rachel. “When are you going to tell her?” Tess asked. Rachel cringed. “Oh, no way. You want me to tell her?” Tess asked. Rachel grinned. “Oh, come on! Why me?”

  “She loves you,” Rachel said. “She won’t kill you.”

  Tess rolled her eyes. “She won’t kill you either,” she said. “She’ll be happy for you once she moves past her panic attack.”

  “It wasn’t planned,” Rachel said. “Not that it matters, but we were shocked.”

  “No, it doesn’t matter. I’ll tell her if you want me to,” Tess said. “She really will be happy for you, Rachel.”

  “I know she will. But, Tess… You and I both know she is a lot more nervous than she is letting on about this pregnancy.”

  “Actually, she was pretty honest about it last night,” Tess said.

  “Really?” Rachel asked in surprise.

  “Yeah, I know. It surprised me too a little. I think when I told her that I wanted to stay home… Well…”

  “Really?” Rachel was surprised by Tess’s revelation.

  “Really,” Tess replied. She laughed when she caught sight of Davey and Dani both standing in front of Brooke, clearly pleading for something.

  Rachel laughed along with Tess at Brooke’s expression in the distance. “I wonder what they are asking her?” Rachel mused.

  “Trust me; you probably don’t want to know,” Tess replied.

  “So? What did Brooke say?” Rachel inquired.

  “About which thing—my leaving my job to stay home or her pregnancy?”

  “Both. Either.”

  Tess shrugged. “Once we talked, I don’t think she was all that surprised that I suggested it—staying home, I mean. It makes sense. And, there is no way I am having someone we don’t know and love raise this baby,” Tess said. She heard Rachel sigh. “Rach, I didn’t mean that in a negative way about anyone else. It’s just… It’s just not what I want to do. I had my grandmother with the twins. And, I was home with them almost all the time for the first six months. I can’t…”

  “You don’t need to explain it to me,” Rachel said. “I’ve been thinking about the same thing,” she said.

  Tess looked at Rachel in astonishment. “Are you thinking about leaving the practice?”

  “Not leaving, no. Stepping back, maybe,” Rachel explained. “Maybe part-time for a bit, at least, for a while. I don’t know, Tess. A baby and a toddler? I just feel like maybe…”

  “Preaching to the choir,” Tess said.

  Rachel laughed. “See why I am afraid to talk to her?”

  Tess nodded. “I do, but she will understand, Rach.”

  “Yes, but if I were to step back, more would fall to her. And, I’m not sure that’s fair either.”

  “I think you two can make whatever you need to work out,” Tess said honestly. “Just talk to her,” Tess said.

  “How is she really doing?”

  “Good,” Tess said with a smile. “She is, I swear. Nervous. I think she’s starting to get more worried about not knowing what to expect than she is that something will go wrong this time.”

  Rachel laughed. “I get that. I was completely freaked out when I was pregnant with Eli.”

  “Really?” Tess asked.

  “Yeah. Sometimes having so much knowledge can be a curse, you know? Your mind runs through all these scenarios. Most women buy a gazillion baby books and cruise the internet trying to become experts. A few of us go to med school,” Rachel offered. “You can start to crawl into your head a bit. Know what I mean? Not just what could happen, but everything you have watched happen. The moms who are sick for almost their entire pregnancy, the stress it always brings—even in the happiest circumstances. You see it and you are used to advising and reassuring people, but somehow—I don’t know how to explain it—I guess I would say I felt pretty alone at a lot of points. Brooke would reassure me, and I would snap at her. I just wanted to pummel her a few times,” Rachel laughed. “She would say, ‘I know that you are feeling this or that.’ It pissed me off. She didn’t know. And, Dr. Garson’s advice? Please, he’s a he!”

  Tess chuckled. “I get it, I think. Brooke is okay. I think maybe she learned a bit from going through that time with you. She basically seems to be anticipating what you just described.”

  “Yeah, except I do have a clue now,” Rachel said. “So? You’re going to quit when the baby comes?”

  “No,” Tess replied. “I’m giving my notice on Monday.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t want the twins to think that I am only doing this because of the baby, for one thing. Davey…”

  “Yeah, Brooke told me.”

  Tess nodded. “And, honestly? It’s gotten stressful with all of their activities. Davey has baseball starting again soon and soccer in the fall. Dani has her drum lessons and dance. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to pass on chaperoning a field trip or missed an assembly. I just…”

  “Don’t have to explain it to me,” Rachel said. “I just know how you feel about being a partner, financially speaking.”

  Tess sighed heavily. “There is that.”

  “You know that Brooke doesn’t care about that?”

  “I know, but I do,” Tess said. “The thing is, all the running is exhausting with the twins. And, I…”

  Rachel smiled. Tess was worried about the stress it might put on Brooke. She reached out and laid her hand on Tess’s arm. “Brooke will be okay, Tess. You’ll feel better after our visit this week. Last time… Chances are that was just not a pregnancy that would have been…”

  “I know,” Tess admitted. “I can’t help it, Rachel. You know the pace she moves at.”

  “I do,” Rachel said. “God help you with this kid,” she laughed.

  Tess appreciated Rachel’s reassurances and humor. She looked back at the kids, and saw Brooke directing some new game and laughed. Truer words were never spoken.

  ***

  “Hey, Rach,” Brooke smiled when Rachel sat down in a lawn chair beside Brooke. Rachel smiled sheepishly. “Oh, no… Please tell me the kids didn’t break something or…”

  Rachel shook her head and chuckled at the mild look of panic on Brooke’s face. “No. I think they are preoccupied with the cake right now.”

  “Uh-huh, so what’s up with that look?”

  “What look?” Rachel asked.

  “The one you used to give me when you got drunk in college and missed puking in the toilet—that one.”

  Rachel shrugged. “That happened once,” she said. Brooke rolled her eyes. “Okay, maybe it happened a couple of times. I do not have that look.”

  “Do so,” Brooke argued playfully. Rachel looked into her bottle of water and sighed. “You feeling okay?” Brooke asked with a moniker of concern.

  “Yeah, why?” Rachel asked.

  “Water? You never have pizza without beer,” Brooke teased.

  “I’m pregnant,” Rachel said, sporting an upside down grin.

  Brooke spit out the water in her mouth and looked at Rachel. “Funny, Rach.”

  “Not being funny. I am. I’m pregnant. About two weeks behind you, give or take,” Rachel told
her best friend. Brooke stared at Rachel blankly. “Okay? Not the reaction I expected. Well, you blowing your drink across the yard, maybe—catatonic Brooke, not so much,” Rachel tried to joke.

  “You’re serious,” Brooke surmised. Rachel nodded. “Wow,” Brooke said. “I didn’t know you and Mike were trying.”

  “We weren’t,” Rachel replied. She was surprised to see Brooke’s face instantly transform into a smile.

  “That’s great, Rach,” Brooke said.

  “It is?”

  “Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?” Brooke was confused. “Think about it; our kids will be the same age—almost exactly. Kind of like twins all over again, only this time in separate houses,” Brooke chuckled.

  “You’re not mad?”

  Brooke was shocked by Rachel’s question. “Mad? What the hell, Rach?”

  “I just thought, well, you know… It’s possible I could go before you or that…”

  Brooke smiled. “I’m not that shallow. Just know, Jason is not going anywhere near my vagina or my kid—ever.”

  Rachel burst into laughter at the look of sheer horror on Brooke’s face. “Come on, Brooke. Jason Bennet is not that bad. He’s a capable doctor.”

  “Oh? You go ahead and have him look up your Who Who then!”

  “Who Who?” Rachel roared with laughter. “Who Who?” She could not stop laughing. “Poor Tess,” she managed between breaths.

  “What do you mean, poor Tess? What do you call it?”

  Rachel was doubled over in her chair. “Uhhh, maybe what it is? A vagina?” Rachel replied indignantly. Brooke waved off her friend. “Oh, no!” Rachel grabbed Brooke’s hand. “If you have a boy will you tell him to clean his What What?” Rachel cracked.

  “Funny, Rach. No issue there. It’s a girl.”

  “Oh? Psychic now?” Rachel asked.

  “I know things.”

  “Oh, okay… So you are like what? The Long Island Medium come to Massachusetts? Oh, God… Do not tell me you went down to Derby Street to get your Tarot Cards read.”

  “No,” Brooke scoffed. “Wise ass. I just know. You don’t have to believe me. Tess doesn’t either. She thinks it’s a boy.”

  “Huh,” Rachel pondered Tess’s guess. “Anyway, what is it with you and Dr. Bennet?”

  “He annoys me,” Brooke said.

  “You don’t say.”

  “Come on, Rach. I’ll give you the fact that he is bright. He is an arrogant ass.”

  Rachel nodded. “He does suffer from a real case of EOS; I agree.”

  “Yeah, well… I don’t want his overdriven ego in my overstretched Who Who.”

  Rachel lost it completely. Brooke was so serious, and Rachel found it impossible to take anyone seriously who insisted on calling a vagina a Who Who—particularly a well-established OB/GYN who happened to be her best friend. Every time Rachel looked at Brooke and tried to gather her thoughts, she would fall instantly into another fit of laughter. Finally, Brooke lost all hope of maintaining her stoicism and joined her best friend.

  “You know,” Rachel said as she caught her breath. “I will still be there for you through all of it. I hope to the end. I really do hope I will be there at the end.”

  “I know you do,” Brooke said. “Rach, I am happy for you guys—even if it wasn’t planned.”

  “I was worried there for a minute. You went almost catatonic.”

  Brooke nodded. “I was surprised you wouldn’t tell me you were trying.”

  “I would have if we had been.”

  “Yeah, I know. I thought for a second maybe you had been afraid to,” Brooke explained.

  Rachel smiled compassionately. “I probably would have been,” she admitted. “You put up a good façade, Brooke. I know how much that miscarriage rocked you.”

  “I guess it did. I would never want you to feel like you couldn’t confide in me. The thing is, Rach… I probably don’t say it often, but I don’t know what I would do without you—almost as much as I don’t know what I’d do without Tess and the kids.”

  “I get it,” Rachel said. “Same for me.”

  “Shit! We will both be on maternity leave at the same time!” Brooke realized.

  “Yeah, so? It won’t be the first time two doctors were out. We do have seven in the group now,” she reminded Brooke.

  “Ummm…”

  “Brooke, Jason is not that bad. Is there something you’re not telling me?” Rachel wanted to know.

  “No, there is isn’t. It’s just a feeling.”

  Rachel chuckled. “I think you are confusing your hormones with psychic ability,” she teased. “Maybe you are giving birth to the Massachusetts Medium!”

  “You really are hysterical. I can’t explain it, Rachel,” Brooke sobered. “He worries me.”

  Rachel considered the change in Brooke’s demeanor. Brooke was not an alarmist, not in her personal life nor in her professional life. For months, Rachel had taken Brooke’s concern about the newest addition to their practice in stride. Brooke was one of the most thorough doctors Rachel had ever encountered. Brooke was a master at observation. That did not only pertain to patients. Brooke possessed a talent for discerning behavior that often times other people missed seeing in the first place. She noticed subtle mannerisms and changes in expression that most people passed over. It was a talent that Brooke had honed into a skill as a doctor. And, in more than one instance, Brooke’s ability to notice things that might have seemed insignificant to another doctor, had led to an early diagnosis that had prevented potential disaster. Brooke was a reserved physician. She did not advocate interventions of any kind unless they were warranted, and she always sought more information. Something about Dr. Jason Bennet troubled Dr. Brooke Campbell. As much as Rachel loved to tease her friend, she completely respected Brooke’s opinions. If Brooke had lingering doubts about Dr. Jason Bennet, there was likely reason to.

  “I’ll pay closer attention,” Rachel promised.

  Brooke nodded. “It’s probably just me. You know how I feel about rushing to conclusions and he…”

  “Maybe,” Rachel said. “But, if we are both going to be away, let’s agree not to take any chances.”

  Brooke did agree. “So? Can I tell Tess your news or can I guess that you have already done that?” Brooke asked suspiciously. Rachel shrugged. “Made you tell me yourself, did she?”

  “No, but she did suggest it.”

  Brooke smiled. “Smart woman.”

  “What do you think about her decision?” Rachel asked.

  “You mean to stay home with the kids? I think it’s great. I just hope it is great for her,” Brooke answered.

  “Sounds like she’s thought it through.”

  “Mmm… She has. Tess doesn’t jump into things,” Brooke replied. “But, Rach, Tess sometimes doesn’t see how much she needs an outlet too. Trust me on that. She disappears for hours when she gets a chance to paint. And, you of all people know how much she prides herself on being able to provide financial support.”

  “I know. Are you worried? That she’ll get stressed?”

  “A little. I have an idea. I just hope she’s open to it.”

  Rachel looked over at Tess, who waved. “Never know until you ask her. Hell, she married your fool ass.”

  Brooke laughed. Now, that’s the truth. Guess there is hope after all.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “Does that mean you’re going to be here like all the time?” Dani asked her mother.

  “Like all the time?” Tess laughed. “I will be here most of the time, Dani—yes.”

  “Does that mean that Brooke won’t take me to lessons now?” Dani wanted to know.

  “No,” Brooke replied. “I will still take you to lessons and get your brother to baseball when I can.”

  “It does mean that you will be able to take the bus home after school,” Tess told the twins.

  Davey had kept his eyes down, focused on the floor at his feet until he heard Tess’s revelation. He looked up at his mother
with wide eyes.

  “Something wrong, Davey?” Tess asked.

  Davey stared at Tess. Brooke watched carefully as mother and son seemed to measure one another at a slight distance. One thing that Brooke was certain of, as much as Tess adored her son, Tess was prepared to put her foot firmly down regarding Davey’s recent behavior. Brooke had been surprised that after the chaos of the twins’ birthday party, Tess had approached Brooke wanting to talk about her concerns for and about Davey. Brooke hadn’t said much. She had listened late into the night as Tess expressed her frustration, her guilt, and her fears. Now, Brooke felt the tension rising in the room. She hoped as she regarded her wife and son that Davey would use better judgment now than he had exhibited at school.

  “Afterschool program isn’t over til five,” Davey said.

  “No, it isn’t,” Tess agreed.

  “You’re not going to pick us up?” he asked, his tone indicating he already knew the answer.

  “Not unless you are required to stay after school for some reason,” Tess replied evenly.

  “Yeah, like for detention,” Dani mumbled.

  “Shut up, Dani!” Davey yelled at his sister.

  Brooke braced herself. Tess had sucked in a deliberate deep breath. That was a definite indication that she was ready to lose her temper with Davey. And, Brooke had no intention of trying to calm things until and unless she thought it was truly in everyone’s best interest. Brooke was sure that Davey was underestimating his mother’s resolve. His classmates might not be pushing back on him; Tess was not his classmate.

  “That’s enough,” Tess said through slightly gritted teeth.

  “She,” Davey began to argue.

  “I said, that is enough,” Tess repeated.

  “I’m not taking the bus,” Davey said gruffly.

  “And, why is that?” Tess asked him.

  “Cause, I have things after school,” he replied.

  “What things might those be?” Tess wanted to know.