Late Arrivals (Special Delivery Book 4)

by J. A. Armstrong

  “I can’t afford to be sick,” Brooke complained. “I don’t get…”

  Tess smiled and squeezed Brooke’s hand lightly. “You’re not sick. You’re pregnant, love. What would you tell a patient?” Brooke groaned. “Okay? What would you say if it was me sitting there instead?” Tess asked. Brooke sighed. “Um-hum. That’s what I thought,” Tess commented as she pulled into the driveway.

  “Whoever named this morning sickness should be fired,” Brooke grumbled as she made her way out of the car and toward the front door.

  Tess snickered softly as she followed behind. She recalled vividly the short period of sickness she had endured during her pregnancy. She hoped it would end as swiftly for Brooke as it had for her. Being nauseous constantly was miserable. And, Brooke was not accustomed to being sick. She rarely sniffled. Tess unlocked the door and pushed it open for Brooke.

  “Why don’t you go upstairs and,” Tess began to suggest.

  “And, die?” Brooke joked.

  Tess chuckled. “No dying, Dr. Campbell. Sleeping is acceptable, though.”

  Brooke nodded and to Tess’s surprise, immediately made her way up the stairs.

  “Oh, boy,” Tess watched Brooke climb the staircase slowly. “Good thing I don’t have to work.”

  ***

  Tess walked into the bedroom to find Brooke lying in bed, talking on her cell phone.

  “No, that’s fine. Thanks. I promise I will. I’ll see you then,” Brooke said as she hung up her call.

  Tess stopped in the doorway and arched a curious eyebrow. Brooke smiled half-heartedly.

  “Do I want to know?” Tess asked cautiously.

  “How are the kids?” Brooke asked.

  “Change the subject much?” Tess replied with her own question. Brooke shrugged. Tess sighed. “They are getting along at the moment,” she said. “Might be helping that I said they could watch a movie before bed now that their homework is done,” Tess explained. “Brooke?”

  Brooke let out a heavy sigh and patted the bed next to her. Tess followed the unspoken direction and took a seat next to Brooke.

  “Brooke, I know you are worried about work, but Rachel…”

  “I wasn’t talking to Rach,” Brooke interrupted her wife. Tess raised her brow again in questioning. “It was my dad.”

  “Your dad called?”

  Brooke shook her head. “I called him,” she said. “Actually, I called Mom, but then I had an idea I wanted to talk to him about.” Tess was curious. Brooke sighed heavily again. “He and Mom are coming home a couple of days earlier. I hope you don’t mind; I asked if he could stay for a couple of weeks—here, with us.”

  Tess narrowed her gaze. “Of course, I don’t mind. I have to admit; I am a bit surprised. Why do I think I am missing something here?”

  “Probably because you are,” Brooke admitted. “Look, I don’t know how long this is going to keep me down—a day, a week…”

  Tess nodded. Brooke wasn’t just feeling poorly; she had been violently ill most of the afternoon. “It will pass, love.”

  “I know, but…”

  “I don’t mind at all, Brooke. I will be here. You don’t need to worry…”

  Brooke smiled. “Yes, I do. And, I know that you can handle it, Tess,” Brooke promised. “It’s not that; it’s just… Remember when I told you that I had an idea about something to do with Davey? You know, to maybe help get him back on track a little?”

  “Yes, I remember. That’s what this is about?”

  “Kind of,” Brooke replied.

  “Care to explain?” Tess asked.

  “Well, you know he loves baseball.”

  “Yes…”

  “And, we both know he needs some guidance, maybe something to change his focus.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “And, I think we both can guess he is worried about fitting in, and maybe he is concerned about me, and then there is the whole baby piece, plus he’s…”

  “Brooke!” Tess laughed. Brooke jumped a bit. “Rambling, love.”

  “Sorry.”

  “What’s cooking up there?” Tess asked as she gently tapped a finger on Brooke’s forehead.

  “Do you know who Tad Wilson is?” Brooke asked.

  “The Red Sox pitching coach?”

  “That would be the one, yes.”

  “Yes—still lost here, love.”

  Brooke chuckled. “Dad treated him several years back when he was playing for The Angels. I know you’re not a big baseball fan, but he had a head-on collision right in the middle of the season and…”

  “I remember,” Tess said. “It was all over the news. Jared and Don follow everything baseball. What does that have to do with you calling your dad?”

  “Well, he and Dad sort of became friends after that. When I’d visit, while Tad was still in Los Angeles, we usually made a point to see him and his wife.”

  “Uh-huh,” Tess was still confused.

  “Well, his wife, Jessica just moved here this fall. Settling things back there, you know?

  “And?”

  “Well, she’s my patient. I haven’t really seen Tad since he moved here. He’s dad’s friend, you know, so I didn’t want to assume…”

  “Brooke?”

  “Anyway, I saw Jessica last week. We got talking about everything—catching up, you know? They have two older boys. I sort of mentioned things with Davey.”

  “Okay?”

  Brooke laughed. “Well, Tad isn’t just a player or a coach. We sort of hit it off because of other interests we share,” Brooke continued. “He’s an accomplished musician, Tess. I mean, he probably could have made a go of it if he had wanted to.”

  Tess smiled. “Just like you.”

  Brooke shrugged off the compliment and observation. “Thing is; he’s starting a camp in Newton for kids. It’s… Well, he likes the kids to learn discipline. How to focus. And, well, thing is… Tad, he’s seen parents put their kids on one track—baseball.”

  “Brooke,” Tess laughed. Sometimes Brooke had a tough time just making her point.

  “It’s not just about baseball. See, Tad thinks that kids need to stretch. You know? Music, dance, art, other interests require attention and practice. It’s good for kids to apply that to baseball. And, he thinks parents need to understand that. So, he doesn’t just teach them about baseball. He ran a similar program outside L.A. Sometimes, Jessica said, the kids find out that what they really want to do isn’t baseball after all.”

  Tess nodded. “Let me guess; you think Davey should attend.”

  “Actually, yes, but I think it would be good for him to help out with the camp.”

  “Help how?” Tess asked.

  “Just help. You know, help to get things ready. Jessica said that Tad fronted the money for most of it. Kids who can pay tuition will eventually offset the cost, but he doesn’t like to turn kids away. It’s new here. There are program packets to be put together—all that kind of stuff. And, Jessica is doing most of it with their two boys. Then, they need volunteers to help set up in the morning and break down once the camp starts. They could use an extra hand.”

  Tess smiled. “And, this relates to your dad, how?”

  “Tess,” Brooke hesitated.

  “What is it?” Tess asked.

  “Well, for one thing, I don’t know how long this is going to last. Me being sick, that is. That means you have to run both Dani to her activities and Davey, plus you have to deal with the house. I had thought I would help. You know? I’d already talked to Rachel about our schedules, trying to clear Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons as much as I could to go with him. Now, this. If Dad is really serious about moving here… Well, maybe he could take Davey when I can’t, or at least until I can, and he would love to do that. You know how he feels about spending time with the kids and…”

  “Okay,” Tess agreed.

  “Okay?”

  Tess smiled. “Yeah, okay. But, why do I think there is more to this than getting Davey so
me structure? I mean, Brooke, Davey will see this as a reward more than…”

  “Maybe,” Brooke admitted. “It isn’t meant as a punishment or a reward. It’s meant as a lesson. Plus, I think it might be good for Davey to be,” Brooke hesitated.

  “Good for him to be what?”

  Brooke sighed and looked at Tess apologetically. “To be around some men,” she said honestly. “And, some boys that aren’t Brian Greer, frankly.”

  Tess considered the statement and closed her eyes, shaking her head lightly.

  “It’s not because I think he needs his father. I think he’s ten and trying to…”

  Tess opened her eyes and nodded. “No, you are right.”

  Guilt and pain were immediately evident in Tess’s eyes and Brooke reached over and cupped Tess’s cheek in her palm. “Listen to me, don’t do this to yourself.”

  “I can’t help it,” Tess said. “I just hear my mother echoing in my ear. You know, those children need a father,” Tess groaned.

  “No. They certainly don’t need anyone who isn’t interested in what is best for them, but some strong male influences aren’t a bad idea,” Brooke said with a smile. “And, that’s no reflection on you or me,” she reminded Tess.

  Tess smiled. “You know; you are pretty good at this.”

  “What’s that?” Brooke wondered.

  Tess leaned over and kissed Brooke on the cheek. “Being Mom,” she said.

  Brooke blushed. “I don’t know about that,” she said.

  “I do,” Tess said. “How are you feeling now?” she asked. Brooke groaned. “Think maybe; I could entice you with crackers?” Tess prodded hopefully. Brooke shuddered. “Well, at least you will have something to…”

  Brooke held up her hand. “Don’t even say the words.”

  Tess nodded, kissed Brooke on the head, and got up from her seat on the bed. “I’ll get you something light while we have a window.”

  “Tess?” Brooke called after her. Tess turned back. “Are you sure you are okay with my dad staying with us for a bit and well, with…”

  “More than okay,” Tess promised. Brooke let out a sigh of relief. “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Tess told Brooke.

  Brooke let her head fall back on the pillows. “If I survive this, there isn’t anything those kids can do that will kill me.”

  “Don’t count on it,” Tess called back from just outside the door.

  Brooke snickered. “Well, it was a good thought. Not gonna let your big brother have all the attention, huh, kid?” Brooke asked her unborn child. She closed her eyes just as another wave of stomach churning began. “Come on, at least let me get the crackers first, please?” she pleaded and then laughed. I have lost my mind along with the contents of my stomach—completely.

  ***

  “Brooke?” Davey’s voice called cautiously into his parents’ bedroom.

  “Shit,” Brooke grumbled when she heard Davey’s voice in the distance and then bent over the toilet again.

  Tess walked up behind her son. “Davey?”

  Davey turned to his mother and Tess immediately noted the fear in his eyes. She smiled at him compassionately. It amazed her how his ten-year-old bravado could shift on a dime to the innocence of a small child. She looked at him and then looked in the direction of the bathroom and sighed inwardly. Poor Brooke.

  “Did you need something?” Tess asked Davey.

  Davey shook his head. “Mom, is Brooke…”

  “She’s okay,” Tess assured him. He looked at her skeptically. “Honest, Davey—she is.”

  Brooke sat on the bathroom floor and leaned against the wall. She could hear the conversation beginning to take shape outside the bathroom door. She took a deep breath, flushed the toilet, and stood to face herself in the mirror. You look like shit, Campbell. Brooke splashed some cold water on her face and took another deep breath. She looked down at her belly. Okay, listen. I need you to behave for a few minutes, okay? Maybe a little longer. All right? Brooke closed her eyes and steadied herself. With one last deep breath, she put her hand on the door and opened it.

  “Hey, D.,” Brooke greeted Davey as cheerfully as she could manage.

  Tess watched Brooke carefully. Brooke kept her focus squarely on their son. Davey looked up to Brooke with worried eyes.

  “What’s up?” Brooke asked him casually. Davey shrugged. “You feeling okay?” Brooke asked him, beginning to wonder if there was more than concern for her driving his expression. Davey shook his head. Brooke exchanged a glance with Tess. “Want to come hang out with me for a few minutes?” she asked Davey. A silent nod was his only reply. Brooke gestured to the bed for him to join her.

  “Think you can eat something? Anything?” Tess asked Brooke.

  “I think so,” Brooke said with a confidence that her eyes betrayed.

  Tess held back an audible groan and forced a smile. “Davey? Do you want me to bring you something up here so you can eat with Brooke?”

  “I’m not hungry,” he answered softly.

  Tess regarded Davey thoughtfully before catching Brooke’s concerned expression.

  “Are you sure, D.?” Brooke asked him. He nodded.

  “Maybe just some toast?” Brooke suggested. “Maybe I can coax D. to share.”

  Tess nodded and headed off to fill the request. Brooke turned her attention to Davey.

  “D.? Something bothering you?” she asked him.

  “How come you’re home?” he asked.

  Brooke smiled. She had been scheduled to be on call for the next few days. She was relieved to know that in spite of recent tension and issues, Davey was still keeping track of her schedule. Guess he doesn’t hate us all that much after all. “Well, to tell you the truth, D. I have been feeling pretty awful since yesterday afternoon.”

  “Are you sick?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” Brooke admitted.

  Davey looked down at his hands and spoke so quietly that Brooke had to strain to make out the words. “Is he going to die?”

  Brooke was perplexed. “Who?”

  “The baby,” Davey explained.

  Brooke mentally slapped herself. Oh, God, he thinks me being home means we are losing the baby. “No, D., the baby is fine. It’s just me who is sick.”

  Davey looked at Brooke. “But, if you are sick then won’t he get…”

  Brooke put her hand on Davey’s leg and squeezed gently. “It doesn’t work that way,” she told him. “It’s just that my body has to adjust to the baby. That’s all, D. It’s normal. It sucks,” she whispered to him, “but, I promise it is normal.”

  Davey looked back down. “Brooke?”

  “Yeah?”

  “But you could, right?”

  “I could what?” Brooke wondered. Davey looked back at her with unshed tears. “Die?” she asked him. Davey nodded. Oh, Jesus, now what the hell do I say?

  “Cause I heard that,” Davey said. “Like sometimes that happens.”

  Brooke took a moment to gather her thoughts. She’d almost prayed for death a few times over the last twenty-four hours. And, the truth was that every pregnancy was unpredictable. She’d never taken a patient’s for granted, and she certainly did not take anything for granted with hers. But, she was healthy; by all accounts, the baby was growing as it should, and Rachel was an amazing doctor. Brooke’s fears had subsided substantially about the pregnancy. Most of her anxiety surrounded anticipating the pain and the sickness she was currently lamenting. That all paled by comparison to her concern for Davey at this moment.

  “Davey,” Brooke gentled her voice. She took a deep breath. “You know; the truth is that everything we do in life has some risks. There’s a risk when you ride your bike or go swimming, or even when you drive a car.”

  Davey had injured himself several times on his bike and in the pool, thankfully never seriously, and usually as the result of recklessness or carelessness. “Yeah, but that was cuts and scrapes,” he pointed out. “And, that’s ‘cause I dove in the shallow end.�
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  “True. You were lucky,” she reminded him.

  “I know.”

  “You’re right; you got hurt because you were careless and not following directions,” she said flatly.

  “I know.”

  “But, things can happen even when you are careful, D. That’s one of the reasons we tell you to be responsible so that you are less likely to get hurt in any way.”

  “Yeah, but that’s doing something,” Davey observed.

  Brooke tried not to chuckle. “Having a baby isn’t doing something?” she asked him.

  “I guess. It’s kinda like being sick, though,” he said. Brooke’s gaze narrowed curiously. “Like, you have to go to the hospital and stuff,” Davey explained. “And, you have to go to the doctor, and like now, you are home from work ‘cause you are sick.”

  Never really thought of it that way, D. “I guess I can understand why you would see it that way,” Brooke said.

  “Did Mom?” Davey asked.

  “Did Mom what?” Tess asked as she stepped into the room carrying a tray with some toast and ginger ale for Brooke. Davey’s eyes grew wide, and he looked at Brooke for help. “Well?” Tess urged.

  Brooke winked at Davey.

  “Were you sick ‘cause of me?” Davey asked Tess. “Like, you had to go to the doctor and the hospital and stuff?”

  Tess handed Brooke the tray and took a seat on the end of the bed. “I did have to go to the hospital when you were born—yes.”

  “Hospitals are for sick people,” Davey said.

  “They are for people who need care,” Brooke said. “That doesn’t always mean they are sick, D. There’s a difference.”

  “But, you’re sick,” he pointed out the obvious.

  Tess couldn’t help but giggle softly. Got you there, love.

  Brooke nodded. “I am not feeling all that great; that is true,” she confessed and then sighed.

  Tess waited to see who would speak next. Brooke and Davey seemed to both be considering what to say—how to explain to the other what needed to be said. For Tess’s part, she was not all that surprised by her son’s line of questioning. She’d wondered when his fears might finally surface in front of Brooke. Tess had been hoping that the dam would break sooner rather than later. She’d discussed Davey’s worries with Brooke. Rationally, Brooke understood. One thing Tess realized was that no matter how she tried to explain things to Brooke, Brooke still failed to understand what drove Davey’s fear. To Davey, Brooke was invincible—a superhero of sorts.